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“Are you ready to go, Juniper?” he asked his daughter.
“Can I ride with Mia?” she asked, still standing with Tess.
“I don’t know if Mia is going,” Math told his daughter, not asking his cousin the question.
“Yes, Math, dinner is at my mom’s house. I’m going,” Mia said sarcastically.
“I did not realize you would be there, Mathias.” Tess crossed her arms, her hands leaving his daughter as if she just realized what she had been doing.
Mathias almost groaned at the movement since it pushed her breasts high and made him long to touch them again. Did she know and do it on purpose?
“Math’s mom and my mom are sisters, so it’s tradition,” Mia explained to her friend, even as she gave Math the side-eye.
“I did not realize. I should just head home. I have things I should do before work tomorrow.” She turned and started to walk away.
“Tess, I will make sure Math is nice,” Mia started after her.
Mia finally caught up to her at her little red Chevrolet, and the two women talked for a bit before Tess got in her car and drove away. Mia stomped back towards him, no pretense that she was going to do anything but yell at him.
“What is your problem, Math Nordskov? I invited Tess to Dinner at my mom’s house, and you made her feel like she wouldn’t be welcomed.” She poked his chest with her finger. Mia was nearly a foot shorter than him, but she had never backed down from a fight. She always stood her ground, even today.
“I didn’t say anything,” Math defended himself. It was true, but so much had already been said that he didn’t have to.
“I thought after spending an entire day with her, you would realize how great she is.” Mia poked him again.
“I don’t know about great,” he hedged, hoping Mia wouldn’t see the truth.
“Because you are so mean to her. Do you know she matched your contribution to the flood fund? She told me before it happened that she would match the funds she brought in.”
“So, the bank is out a little money.” He smirked. It’s easy to give away money that isn’t yours.
“No, she did it, not the bank. She didn’t give you a loan for a reason. I’m sure she has told you why,” Mia said.
“She told me her reasoning, but it’s not true,” he argued.
“Why would she have it out for you? For what purpose?” Her words stumped him; he really didn’t know why she would just be spiteful to him.
“Because she is an unfeeling witch,” he replied.
“You keep thinking that, Math. But remember, she is home alone today—no family, no friends to spend the day with. Alone. Because of you.”
“She was supposed to go home for the holiday, Mia.”
“She is. Next weekend, when her religion celebrates Easter.” She poked him again.
“There is only one Easter, Mia.”
“Look it up, you idiot.”
She turned and left him standing with his parents and two of his sisters looking on. Of course, one of them was Mandy, who was just smiling at him because now she knew who he had been with a few days before when he had called.
CHAPTER10
Main Streetin Landstad was dead. Tess knew it would be since everyone she knew who lived on the street would be celebrating with family today. That meant finding a parking spot right in front of her door was not a surprise. This morning, she had driven the four blocks to the church with the idea that she would have to drive to Mia’s parents’ farm, but now she just drove back home.
Heading up to her apartment, she tried to decide what to do with her day. Definitely read the book for book club. Though she had read this week’s book already, she could get a jump on the next one. Or she could just get caught up on paperwork since she would be gone late the next week. So, nothing pressing.
Slipping out of her white sundress, she hung it in the closet for the next church service she would attend. It had been a little cold today in Landstad for the dress, but next weekend, she would get to spend at least three hours in a hot, stuffy church.
