Page 11 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

Hannah waved a hand. “Men just complicate things.”

“You’re not looking to date again?”

“I have the boys. I’m busy enough.”

“They’ll grow up faster than you think. You’re going to need more than a dog to fill that hole.”

Hannah felt a pang at the idea of her sons leaving the nest. “Then I’ll get a second dog.”

Cass didn’t laugh. “The boys are going to be on a different continent for almost a full week. When do they go? Tomorrow?” Hannah nodded. “Their lives are already becoming separate from yours.”

Seriously. Did her friend know her every sore spot?

Hannah fiddled with the sugar bowl in the middle of the table. Wade and Thomas were tagging along with Calvin and their grandmother on the trip to Paris. The four were making an official vacation of it, with a planned stop at Disneyland Paris. The boys were going to bond even more deeply with their dad, which had always been a secret wish of Hannah’s. And yet she had reservations, too, as though she feared being replaced in their hearts, or that she might not be able to keep up with the excitement and adventures Calvin was able to provide. She wanted to be there for her children, create stability and consistency in their lives, but she also didn’t want to be boring.

“You don’t want to move there, do you?” Cass asked.

“Oh,” Hannah said, waving her hand again. “You know me. I’m happy in Sweetheart Creek, but family comes first. I’m sure France will be an incredible experience for all of us if it comes to that.”

The front door opened and a woman called out, “I hope y’all didn’t start without me.” Obi scrambled to his feet, let out a bark and careened out of the kitchen to go check out the visitor.

Cassandra called, “Perfect timing, Athena! The coffee’s ready.”

“So’s the tea!” Hannah added.

“Bet she chooses coffee,” Cass whispered.

“She likes tea.”

“Yeah, but she’s burning the candle on both ends at the moment with her job and trying to open the shop next month. It’s gonna be coffee.” She lifted her voice and called out, “I’m just nagging Hannah about speaking up for what she wants.”

Cassandra stood, sloshing dark coffee into the red-and-white cup Thomas had painted for Hannah on Mother’s Day—a thoughtful gift arranged by his teacher. Then she poured hot water from the kettle into the teapot, filling the room with the scent of chocolate chai, Hannah’s favorite.

“Hannah, listen to Cassandra,” Athena Gavras ordered, followed by the resounding thunk of her cowboy boots hitting the mat at the door. “Who’s the hottie next door? Is he the reason for this conversation about speaking up for what you want?”

Hannah choked on a fake laugh. “It’s Louis.”

Since her cousin worked for the Dragons NHL team in San Antonio, like Louis, but as their dietician, she should have recognized him.

“Because I can see why you’d want that hunk of hotness, even though jocks aren’t my type,” Athena said, entering the room while unwinding a stylist, rose-colored scarf that brought out the cheerful pink highlights in her dark brown hair. “So if you’re trying to summon the courage to request some adult time with him, I totally back up Cass. Although he looks an awful lot like Louis Bellmore from a distance, don’t you think?”

“HeisLouis Bellmore,” Hannah grumbled, as Cass handed her a cup of chai. “Thanks.”

Athena began laughing. “I assumed my eyes were lying and that it couldn’t be him. I mean...next door? To you?” She laughed again. “How is he even still alive?”

“Apparently looks don’t kill,” Hannah said mildly.

“Well, if you need help hiding his body, I’ve been eavesdropping on the mystery novel book club that meets in the bookstore near the arena, and I might have a few suggestions.”

“I’m not going to kill the man,” Hannah muttered into her cup.

Maybe her spats with Louis had been more legendary than she’d realized if Athena still remembered her ranting about him. Then again, Sweetheart Creek had never gone light on gossip, and him being back in town was no doubt stirring up old stories.

“We were talking about Paris,” Cass announced, pushing the red cup closer to Athena. “I assume you want coffee?”

“Yes, please!” She grabbed the mug and raised it to her lips.

Cass shot Hannah a look of triumph. Hannah stuck out her tongue, realizing that maybe Thomas was picking up habits from her, not Wade.

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