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“My son, Drew.” Ellie reached for him.
I hadn’t expected Drew and Kendall to be friends. They were in that in-between stage where they weren’t quite sure about the opposite sex, but Kendall must have been happy to see someone her own age because when he asked if she wanted to play video games, she readily agreed.
“She doesn’t even like video games,” Mark said when they’d disappeared into the basement.
Ellie laughed. “She wants to escape us, and I don’t blame her. We can be overwhelming.”
“It’s just been her and her mother for a long time,” Mark said.
“It must be tough being away from her,” Dad said, even though he never had to experience that.
“It was. She’s the reason I was discharged.”
Something passed between my dad and Mark. I think it was respect.
“I wondered about that. You want to talk outside? I’m grilling tonight.”
“Sure thing.” Mark followed him outside on the deck.
Ellie folded her arms over her chest. “Are you sure he’s here for his daughter?”
“He brought Kendall into the bakery and said he was worried about her finding friends here. She’s lonely, not knowing anyone. She misses her friends from home.”
I didn’t mention that he’d stopped by the bakery early in the morning, and he’d vowed to walk me from home to work.
“Uh-huh,” Ellie said, her expression skeptical.
I gestured with my hand. “Trust me. That ship has sailed.”
“You’re resorting to corny clichés now. Nice,” Nora said as she dumped lettuce into a large bowl.
“No one asked for your opinion,” I said, resorting to childish retorts. Something about Nora being the youngest made her sassier.
Ellie leaned in to ask, “What do you think they’re talking about out there?”
I glanced outside where Mark stood next to my dad. “Should I be worried?”
I shifted on my feet.
“I bet Dad’s grilling him,” Nora said in a singsong voice.
I was a little worried about Dad’s reaction, but he’d been so respectful when Mark came in, I didn’t think he’d say anything to him. “We broke up years ago. What could he possibly be grilling him about?”
Nora snorted as she tossed the salad with wooden forks. “Why he’s here.”
Ellie pointed a finger at Nora. “I guarantee you it has nothing to do with his adorable daughter.”
It was suspicious that he stopped by the bakery after his run. The first time was an accident, but every time thereafter? It couldn’t have been an accident.
As quickly as the hope soared in my chest, I shook my head. “We aren’t right for each other.”
“I’ll give it to you—it was bad timing for you back then, but he’s living here now. He wants to make Annapolis his home again.”
“You act like it’s inevitable.”
“Tell me who’ve you dated seriously since Mark.” Ellie grabbed the bamboo salad bowls from the cabinet.
I tapped my chin with my finger. “I dated Pete Brown.”
