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“Have you and Wyatt ever . . . dated?” Arya asked carefully.
“Me and Wyatt?” Sadie made a face. “Are you joking? No way, no how, never ever. He’s not someone I could date. We grew up together.” She shook her head, and I thought she was protesting far too much. There was definitely a pink hue to her face.
I didn’t know Sadie well enough to tell her that she could be honest with me and that if she liked him, I’d be willing to help her figure something out. I knew I could still technically tell her that, but I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries, especially given my situation with Beau.
That was quite complicated. Or maybe it wasn’t complicated at all. Maybe I wouldn’t kiss him again. Maybe I wouldn’t even talk to him again. That way, it wouldn’t complicate his life at all anymore.
A car door slammed outside, then we heard the front door open and Amelia and Ranger’s voices in the hall. I looked around the kitchen, wondering what Amelia was going to say.
“We’re in the kitchen, Amelia!” Sadie shouted, not looking nervous at all.
“Oh, who do we have here?” Amelia said as she entered the room. She was smiling, but she seemed more tired than when I’d seen her earlier, the lines on her face appearing a little deeper. Ranger was standing behind her looking somewhat somber.
Amelia gave Sadie and me quick hugs and surveyed the kitchen. “Baking, are we?”
“Yeah, we thought we’d make some cookies. This here is Arya and her niece, Eloise.” I nodded over to Arya and Eloise, and Amelia smiled at them.
“Why, hello. I didn’t know you had any friends in town, Olivia.”
“Oh, they’re not . . . Well . . .” I stammered because I didn’t really know what to say. I didn’t want to be the one to say that Arya had shown up saying that Beau was Eloise’s dad.
“No. She doesn’t know me.” Arya walked over to Amelia with her hand held out. “I’m Arya. I actually came because my sister, Eloise’s mom, left me a letter, and she told me that Eloise’s dad lived here. And so I thought I’d come. But it turned out that it wasn’t true.”
“Oh, I see.” Amelia didn’t look fazed at all. “One of my sons isn’t the father?” She looked around the room.
“No, I don’t believe he is,” Arya said quickly. “We can go if you want to. I didn’t mean to intrude or—”
“No, dear. How could I have you leave when you’re baking such delicious cookies?”
“I’m so sorry about the mess, Amelia,” I said as I looked around the kitchen. “We’ll clean up.”
“I have seven boys. This is nothing.” She laughed and looked over at Ranger. “Honey, you should sit down. Would you like some tea?”
“I’m fine, Amelia. Don’t fuss.”
“I’m not fussing.” She sighed. “Please sit down, Ranger.”
“Fine,” he said, and he walked over to the kitchen table and took a seat. “And I guess I will have tea with some sugar, then.”
“I’ll make you an herbal tea, honey. Would you like chamomile or peppermint?”
Ranger sighed. “Here we go. You decide, dear.”
“Okay.” She picked up the kettle and headed to the sink so she could fill it with water. “Would anyone else like some tea?”
“I would love some,” Sadie said.
“I’d like some as well, please.” I nodded.
Arya looked nervous.
“Do you want some, Arya?” Amelia asked.
“Well, I don’t—”
“Oh, dear. Of course, you’ll have some tea. And what about Eloise? Would you like some hot chocolate?”
“Yes, please. I love hot chocolate.” Eloise started bouncing up and down excitedly.
