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“What’s going on?” he asked quietly.
“Nothing.” She shrugged and tapped a pencil on a notepad. “Making a grocery list.”
“That’s pretty glamorous.”
“You get to be my age, you forget anything you don’t write down.”
“I do that at my age.” He shrugged off her comment with a laugh. “Looks like quite a list.” He eyed it as he approached her slowly.
“Cooking for your sister’s fortieth birthday,” she reminded him. “You do plan to be at her party, don’t you?”
“Of course.” He nodded. No need to admit he’d forgotten not only the party, but also Joy’s birthday.
“Good. She’s had a rough patch. She needs us to rally around her.”
It was what they did. Rally around any family member who needed an extra boost, a little bit of love, or confidence. Joy’s husband had left her the summer before. Charlie didn’t know the whole story, but he knew Joy desperately wanted babies, and she didn’t have any. And then Falk had up and left her.
“We’ll be at Breena’s.”
Charlie nodded. “Sure. I’ll be there.”
“And it’s a surprise.”
“Got it, Mom.” He nodded. If it was him, if he were in Joy’s situation, the last thing he would want was a surprise birthday party, but he supposed maybe his mom and sisters knew Joy better than he did.
“Are you bringing a date?”
“Dunno.” He shrugged. “Why?”
“Well, I’m making the list.” She nodded at the pad of paper in front of her again. “Just wondering how many people I’ll be feeding.”
Charlie snorted. “That’s pretty good.”
“What?” His mom tipped her head and frowned.
“You’re using a grocery list to poke into my love life and be nosey.”
“I am not.”
Charlie arched an eyebrow at her.
“And even if I do plan to bring a date, she doesn’t eat much anyway. And she doesn’t drink.”
His mom squeezed her eyes closed and nodded. “That’s very specific for not knowing if you’re bringing someone.”
Charlie laughed softly.
“You look well-rested.”
Relieved at the change in subjects, Charlie answered with a nod. “I slept well last night.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You look well-rested. She was glowing.” His mom shrugged as she slipped off the stool and stood. He watched her pick up the pad of paper. “I’d think maybe you both would look pretty tired.”
Charlie nearly swallowed his tongue as she slipped by him and grabbed her purse from behind the counter.
