Annie giggled. “I did not lie on her profile, right?”
I ignored her, taking scissors from Dorian.
“I’ll get some napkins out of the pantry,” Dorian said. “I think I have something in there that would satisfy an artist.”
“I can make them work,” I said, already headed out the door to the garden.
His rose garden was mature, probably planted by his mother. I clipped four pale pink roses, then snipped rosemary from a large bush near the porch. Lastly, I chose a few sprigs of lavender, figuring they would add a gorgeous scent to the table.
Back inside, I grabbed the mason jars and arranged the flowers in the laundry room before bringing them out to the table. Dorian had found three linen napkins in a pale pink and a bag of votive candles.
“The napkins were my mother’s, obviously,” Dorian said, chuckling.
“They’re perfect,” I said.
I went to work and soon we had a lovely table with the bouquets, strategically scattered votive candles, and Maureen’s pink napkins that matched the roses so well it was as if I’d planned the color scheme.
Seeing three plates at the table, instead of the two we normally had, unsettled me, gave me almost a homesick feeling. As if I missed a home I never knew existed.
After simmering for a good forty minutes, Dorian added the chocolate to the sauce. Annie scooped polenta onto each plate and Dorian placed a piece of chicken and generous amounts of sauce on each one.
“Mom, the table looks amazing,” Annie said. “A triangle of plates. Looks good.”
“It does, yes,” I said.
We sat, eating in silence for a few minutes, murmuring how good it was. Then we chatted about our days. I told them I’d sold another of Maren’s paintings that afternoon. Annie described a busload of elderly folks showing up at the store.
“They were sweet, but they made a mess of my tables,” Dorian said. “One of them remembered my mom, so that was nice.”
“They bought books too,” Annie said. “I got a couple to try Seraphina’s latest, which I felt very proud of.”
“You’re a considerate person on the inside,” I said. “Seraphina will be delighted.”
“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” Annie said. “Today at practice, Coach said we have an away game up in Cliffside Bay day after tomorrow. Their team invited us. So I have to get up there somehow. I’m sure Gillian and Alex would take me with them, since Bella’s going. I know you have to work, Mom.”
“I could take a day off,” I said. “I’d hate to miss that game. It will be a good one.” .
“We could all go,” Dorian said. “Maybe stay overnight? There’s a great lodge up there. We could get two rooms. My treat?”
“Um, I don’t know,” I said.
“Mom, can we? I’ve always wanted to stay at the resort up there.”
“Yes, I guess so,” I said.
“Really?” Annie jumped up to give me a hug, then Dorian. “I’m so excited. I can’t wait.”
We talked some more about logistics. Theo would have to take over the store for a few days.
“He’s been asking for more hours,” Dorian said, pulling his phone from his pocket. “Let me text him to make sure.” He typed, then waited. “Theo’s in. Now let me see about booking rooms.”
I got up to clear the table while he booked the rooms, feeling uncertain but also really happy. I had someone to share Annie’s games with me. Not that I didn’t have support from my friends, but to have a man there specifically to see Annie play and sit next to me, cheering? Heaven.
“Okay, done,” Dorian said. “Two rooms. We’ll need our swimsuits. The pool looks amazing.”
Annie clapped, bouncing on her toes. “Dorian, you’re the best.”
I offered to do the dishes, but Annie said she would and suggested we sit outside and enjoy the last of the light.
