Page 44 of Home in the Country
He giggles, and she reaches into the pastry case and pulls out a vanilla wafer cookie dipped in chocolate and hands it to my son.
“Thank you!” he practically yells, but I’m just happy I didn’t have to remind him, so I take it as a win.
“And for you?”
“Can I get one of the blueberry scones, please?” I say as I reach into my purse and pull out my wallet.
“It’s on the house.”
Growling, I glare at my new friend. “No, it’s not.”
“Itis,because I have a favor to ask you.”
“Sure, what’s up?” My gaze never leaves hers as I drop a couple of dollars in the tip jar on the counter.
“You’re a pain in my backside, you know that, right?”
“Backside, huh?”
She rolls her eyes. “Little ears and all that.”
We both glance toward Briggs, who sits at a small café table with his cookie and a napkin and his little legs swinging without reaching the floor.
“He told me I look pretty.”
“Well, you are,” Rhea says with a smile. “Also, I was super bummed to miss Nephew Night.”
“What?” I ask on a laugh.
“Nephew Night. That’s what we’re calling it when we get Briggs. Marlee and Cheyenne got to hang with your guy, and I’m still jealous.”
“He’s actually pretty good in the kitchen. He can make boxed brownies almost all by himself.”
Rhea looks horrified at the prospect, and I can’t help the grin that takes over my face.
“What? We make those cookies that come in the refrigerated section where you just place them on the bakin’ sheet and put them in the oven. You don’t even have to cut them.”
Rhea’s eye twitches, and it looks so out of place I snicker.
“The humanity!” she gasps and clutches at her chest before pointing an accusatory finger at me. “Find yourself a date or whatever.” She waves her hand around for emphasis.
The thought makes the single bite of scone I ate sit like a lead balloon in my stomach. The idea of being out with anyone other than Otto makes me want to be sick and that’s…telling.
I’m such an idiot.
“What’s that look for?”
“What?”
“You made a face.”
“It’s nothing,” I say even though Otto is the furthest thing from nothing, “What’s this favor you needed to ask me?”
“Oh, it’s Everett’s birthday and Hayden ordered a cake, but he’s swamped at the hospital and Ella won’t be in till later so I can’t run it over. Also, I totally don’t believe you.”
Choosing to ignore the last part, I ask, “Hayden wants it delivered to Everett at work?”
“Yup.”
