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“So back to the gossip,” she offered with a grin. I looked over at her expectantly. “There’s no way I can catch you up on all the gossip in one coffee visit.”
Janet’s voice reached us. “Girls, you’re up.”
“Oh!” Amelia took one step with her long legs and stopped at the counter.
I needed two steps to catch up.
Janet smiled at us. “So glad you’re back, Alice,” she offered. She flipped her braid off her shoulder. “I’d offer you a job, but I understand you’re taking over at the vet clinic,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.
“I am. I start next Monday. It’s Wednesday.” I hadn’t been counting the days or anything.
“That gives you four days. You’re coming to card night Friday,” Amelia announced.
“That’ll definitely be the quickest way to catch up on all the gossip,” Janet offered with a sage nod. “I know what Amelia wants, but I don’t know your coffee choice. Back in high school, your mom wouldn’t let you have it.”
I laughed softly. “I know. It was kind of ridiculous.”
Janet shrugged. “It’s neither here nor there. Do you like coffee now, or tea, or cocoa?”
“I like all of them. For now, definitely dark coffee and not sweet. Just a little bit of cream.”
“Anything to eat?” Janet asked as she began prepping our coffees.
“I need a box of muffins,” Amelia said. “We have a whole crew up on a project today.”
“Oh, that’s right. You have your construction business,” I said, looking over at her. “Do you run the entire crew?”
Janet snorted. Amelia grinned at her and shrugged. “No, it’s just me and my friend Lucy. Remember Lucy from high school? She moved here right at the end. She was a few years ahead of you.”
“Blond hair, tiny?” I prompted as I sifted through my memories.
“Exactly. Total tomboy and a badass and married to Levi Phillips now.”
“Levi the flirt?”
Janet snorted again. “He’s still a flirt. He flirts with everyone and everything. But he’s deeply in love. He’s a really good man and a good father.”
“I always liked Levi,” I offered. “I was too young for him to flirt with me in high school. Anyway, if it’s just you and Lucy, do you need a whole box of muffins?” I pressed on.
“We’ve got an electrician team there today, along with the paint crew. They’re consulting with the couple whose house it will be.” Amelia shook her head. “Men, they’re all men.”
“You know Amelia married Cade, right?” Janet asked as she passed our coffees over.
“I knew that. I heard you had a baby too.”
“Oh yeah, she’s one year old now. I don’t know if you’re ever going to have kids, but wow, it’s a lot of work. Make sure you have people who can help,” she said so earnestly I almost started laughing. “Seriously. My mom is worth her weight in gold when it comes to babysitting, and she freaking loves it, so you already have a built-in babysitter if you have kids.”
I couldn’t imagine dating or contemplating romance, much less considering the concept of babies. But I wasn’t about to get into all that with Amelia.
I fished in my purse for my wallet, pulled out some cash, and said to Amelia, “I’ll get yours.”
“But I’m buying a box of muffins,” she protested.
I shrugged. “Consider it my happy-to-see-you gift.”
Amelia grinned. “I’ll return the favor next time we run into each other here.”
Just then, the bell jingled again, and I reflexively glanced over to see Jonah Adams walking in. The mere sight of him was a fiery jolt to my system.
