Page 50 of The Cowgirl's Forever Love
Amusement snuck in. “While the silent labour part was a nice surprise, I doubt she would’ve picked April first as Tyler’s birthday if she had a choice.”
“You’re probably right. Anyway, I’m stuck here in Grand Prairie, but as soon as I can get away, I’ll be over.”
“Whenever you can get here. Tamara might be caught up on her sleep if you put it off for a bit.” Lisa held her tongue about the EMT with a similar face to theirs. If Karen wasn’t going to be around for a few days, that might give Lisa a chance to at least touch base with the woman. “He’s a cute kid. Barely even squished.”
Karen laughed. “You’re so maternal.”
Lisa chatted for a little longer, then hung up before she was tempted to poke Karen for details regarding Finn Marlette.
Amazing how seemingly overnight there were all sorts of secrets she was keeping.
Which meant when Josiah texted her the next morning to ask if she wanted to get together with Julia for coffee, Lisa was even more eager to make it happen.
She’d had her years of juggling a million balls in the air at once. She was looking for simple, but she needed to figure out the mystery of the doppelgänger. Figure out the mystery of Finn and Karen.
And drat—somewhere in there, figure out what the heck she was doing next with her life, and where Josiah fit in.
Lisa approached Caleb at the breakfast table. Tamara and Tyler were still sleeping. Sasha and Emma were flying around the room gathering last-minute items for their backpacks. “I know this is short notice, but you mind if I step out for an hour or so this morning?”
Caleb shrugged. “Of course not. I might send you with a shopping list, if you don’t mind. But I’m taking some downtime, so there’s no reason for you to be here every minute of the day. Other than Tamara loves your company.”
“Shopping, no problem. And I’m glad you get to enjoy time with Tyler.”
She hurriedly made her way to the Buns and Roses coffee shop where Josiah had set up the meeting.
He met her outside the doors, tugging her next to the building to offer a sweet kiss.
She slid her fingers into his. “This is really weird,” she said.
“It’s weirder than you think. You asked me to set this up, but Brad Ford phoned me about thirty seconds before I could dial him. Said his trainee was completely floored after meeting you guys and both of them are curious as heck.”
Lisa nodded. “It’s probably just one of those weird coincidences. The type of thing when people keep saying ‘I know somebody who looks exactly like you. Do you have any family in Ontario?’”
Josiah grinned. “I had somebody swear they saw me on a mountainside in Germany.”
She snickered before forcing an innocent expression. “Billy goats run in your family?”
“Jackasses, I was told.” He squeezed her fingers. “Come on. I’ll buy you a coffee.”
It was a quarter past nine, so the early-morning rush was done. Buns and Roses wasn’t a typical hangout for the older crowd. Most farmers who took a morning break went to Connie’s where they could get bottomless cups of simple brewed. Or at least that’s what Lisa had been told by Kelli and heard mutterings about during the girls-night-out evenings she’d enjoyed with the owners of Buns and Roses.
So the place was only a quarter full, which meant a dozen people were seated at small tables. Still, the instant they walked in the room, questioning gazes started darting back and forth between Julia and Lisa.
She and Josiah stepped up to the counter to order their coffees, the question in her friend Tansy’s eyes clear.
Tansy did a quick little finger twitch between the two women, hiding the motion behind her other hand.
“Two shot sixteen-ounce latte, and I have no idea,” Lisa admitted.
“Brad ordered breakfast croissants, so unless you’re stuffed, I’ll make you and Josiah some as well,” Tansy informed them.
“You don’t really expect me to turn down food, do you?” Lisa asked.
“Always good to check. Josiah rarely raids the goodies counter.” She turned to Josiah. “Coffee, black?”
He nodded, sliding cash across the counter before Lisa could break out her wallet.
And then there was no more procrastinating. Josiah marched them over to the table where Brad and Julia were waiting.
