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“You think you’ve gotten past me and my nosiness, but you haven’t. What’s with the cheeriness this evening?”
“I’m always cheery, Mama,” Baylee said then took a bite of her dinner. Mmmmm, no one made mashed potatoes like her mom.
“That’s true, but there’s something else.” Her mom put a small amount of potatoes, roast beef, and gravy on Casey’s plate and placed it in front of him. He began to eat in quiet.
“Well, if you must know, I’ve got a lunch date tomorrow. Well, not a date… just lunch with a friend.”
Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “If you say date and you’re this chipper about it, I’m going to venture it’s with a man.”
Baylee nodded and took another bite of potatoes.
Her mother placed her hands in her lap and stared.
Baylee finished her bite of food. “Don’t give me that look. It really isn’t a date.” She set down her fork and looked at her mom. “He’s Kate’s brother. He’s in town visiting and asked if I wanted to go on a picnic or something. I’m just being nice to my friend’s brother while he’s in town.”
Her mother harrumphed and picked up her fork again, stabbing a piece of roast beef and putting it in her mouth.
“His name is Drew. He came into the bakery today and we got talking. He’s nice. And sad.” She shrugged. “It won’t hurt to have a meal with the man. Maybe it will cheer him up.”
Her mother looked at Casey and then at Baylee. “What about Casey?”
“He invited him along.”
That knocked her mother off her game. “Really?”
“Really. He didn’t seem to mind that I have a son.”
“Well, one point for Kate’s brother, Drew, but I’m still not sure it’s a good idea.”
Baylee had had the same thoughts herself, but continued to reason them away. It was one picnic. Not a marriage proposal. She looked at her son who had placed his cut pieces of meat in a tidy row on his plate. His potatoes now sat in a perfect circle.
Having lunch with Drew wasn’t a bad idea, but maybe taking Casey along was. At least not right out of the chute.
Reading her mind her mother said, “Why don’t you go on ahead by yourself. I’ll get Casey from school tomorrow.”
Baylee nodded. The only person more protective of Casey than Baylee was her mother. Drew had been receptive to Baylee having a son, but she stepped carefully where Casey was concerned. Maybe spending a little time with Drew on her own first was a good idea.
Her mother patted her hand. “Finish up your dinner and don’t worry. Have a nice afternoon with Drew and leave Casey with me.”
Baylee nodded and took a bite of her meal. A nice afternoon with Drew. That sounded all too appealing.
Casey looked at her and tilted his head.
“I love you too, little man.”
He went back to eating his dinner.
She sighed. Loving the tiny man across the table from her was overwhelming sometimes. Was her heart was ready to love a grown man again? She shook her head. Tomorrow was only about lunch, not love. She’d do well to remember that. Nice afternoon. Not love. She could do that.
Her head said so. Her heart wasn’t so sure.
