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“Don’t ask,” Mia says from across the room. “We’ve already tried to help, and she shoos us from the room. You know how she is.”
Maggie loves to cook and feed her family, but I feel bad leaving her to do all the cooking. Especially because I know she’ll make enough to feed the room full of people.
“Thanks for the offer, sweetie, but I’ve got this.” She shoots a look over my shoulder, her eyes narrow. “I’ve got to get in all the cooking while I can since Jaxon is forcing me to retire from the diner.”
My eyes widen and I look over at Jaxon. “You finally managed to talk her into it?”
“Yes,” he grunts. “By threatening to sell the place out from under her feet.”
I force back a laugh at the disgruntled look on Maggie’s face. She doesn’t say anything before she turns around and goes back into the kitchen.
“I bet that conversation wasn’t pleasant,” I remark, my lips twitching.
“That’s putting it mildly,” Jaxon comments.
“It’s about time though,” Trent says. “She should have retired years ago. She needs to sit back and enjoy life.”
“Agreed.” I lean against Trent when he steps up next to me. “But I get why she doesn’t want to leave. The diner is a connection to Thomas.”
“Come on, let’s go sit.”
Just as Trent leads me to the couch, the front door opens and Chris and Nick walk in, followed closely by Junior, Mason, and Lydia. It’s the person who’s walking in last who has my heart jumping in joy though.
“Grace!” I shout and leave Trent’s side. I quickly give Junior, Mason, and Lydia hugs on my way over to her.
The pretty brunette I haven’t seen in months laughs as I nearly tackle her with a hug. She was gone when I left, staying with a friend for the summer in east Pennsylvania.
“Wow. You’d think I haven’t seen you in years,” she says with a giggle.
I take a step back, but keep my hands on her upper arms. “It sure feels that way. Two months is a long time.”
I used to babysit Grace after school. The little girl with the bouncy pigtails is all grown up now.
The amusement leaves Grace’s face and her expression turns more serious. “How are you doing?”
“I’m doing much better now that I’ve seen everyone.”
“You only have a few weeks left before you can come home, right?”
“That’s the plan. When did you get back?”
“A couple days ago.”
“How was Lucy?”
Lucy is Grace’s best friend. They moved from Jaded Hollow a year ago so her parents could help take care of her grandmother, who isn’t doing well.
“She’s good. It was great seeing her, but I’m glad to be home.”
We spend the next few minutes catching up before she goes to the kitchen to demand Maggie to allow her to help. I go to the couch and take a seat, tucking my feet under me and looking around the room. My heart feels full seeing all my family and friends.
When Andrew introduced me to the people in Jaded Hollow when I was six years old, I didn’t realize I’d be gaining a new family.
I’ve always considered myself lucky. That feeling grows tenfold as I take everyone in.
* * *
Later that evening,with the sun setting behind the horizon and a fresh breeze blowing around us, I sit sideways on Trent’s lap as people mill about in our back yard. I lay my head on his shoulder as he rubs smoothing circles on my thigh.
