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“What’s going on?”
Jake rolled his eyes at his mother as she slid into the booth. “Not everything is an emergency.”
“Well, you’ve never invited me to breakfast before, not without some reason.”
He realized that was true and felt a twinge of guilt. “I have a favor to ask.”
She smiled wryly but didn’t tease him any further. “What’s the favor?”
“I want to sit with Hannah at church,” he said.
She nodded slowly, understanding what this meant. He would be announcing his interest in her to the entire town.
“And you want me to butt out?”
“No. Just the opposite. I want you to sit with us, and officially meet her.” After a pause he added, “Without asking her to clean your house.”
She sighed. “I guess this time was going to have to come eventually. I just wasn’t expecting it so soon.” She emptied a sugar packet into her mug. “Would it be OK if I invited you both to dinner?”
He held up a cautioning hand, afraid that might be moving too fast for Hannah. “Let’s just start with church.”
As Jake approached the pew, Olivia started elbowing Georgie and pushing Jesse and Sam down the bench.
Hannah looked up, and Emma waved. “Hey, Jake.”
“Good morning.” He gave a little wave. “Is there enough room for my mother and I to join you?”
“Sure!”
“Hannah, do you remember my mother, Elaine?”
“Yes, nice to see you again.” Hannah extended her hand.
“Jake’s told me a lot of nice things about you.”
Hannah smiled and said, “I’m glad you came to sit with us.”
And he let out the breath he’d been holding, the tension melting out of his back and neck. So far, so good.
At first, Elaine declined Maggie’s invitation to lunch at the farm, but she finally gave in.
Jake offered to drive her. “Would you like to come by, after? See my new pet?”
“Don’t tell me you got another pig?”
He shook his head. “Nope, a Morgan.”
“What?” Then she figured it out. “Did you get ahorse?”
He nodded. “He’s beautiful, too.”
“So, you’re really sticking around?” He realized then just how much she wanted that.
“Yeah, Mom, I think I’m going to stick around.”
She leaned over the console, squeezing his arm. “Then, you’d better hurry up and make me a grandmother!”
