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“Is order twenty-one ready?” Suzie asked from over at the door, causing the two to jump back from each other, breaking whatever invisible bond was between them just now.
“Oh, yeah,” Jo managed to find her voice.
“Great,” the server cheered, unaware of the tension in the room.
Jo plated the salmon with the rice and asparagus while Daniel plated the steak and potatoes.
A frown marred her face as her thoughts went to everything she’d just spewed from her mouth. She hoped her babbling hadn’t given him the wrong idea, and she wanted to clear up what she’d said further but was too embarrassed to bring it up. She looked over at the man who was busy preparing the ingredients for the chocolate mousse for dessert. She made a step in his direction when the kitchen door swung open again.
“Jo, there’s a lady out there who says she’d like to speak with you. She says she is a friend of your mother.”
Jo furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the blond-haired waitress with bright blue eyes and an effervescent smile.
“Did she give you a name?” she asked Suzie.
“No, she didn’t.”
Jo excused herself and followed the waitress to a table at the far corner of the room closest to the entrance. The woman sat alone, her gray hair in a neat chignon bun at her nape. Her light brown eyes raised at Jo’s approach and a smile of recognition graced her lips. The woman looked familiar, but she couldn’t place her.
“Well, look at you, little Miss Josephine, all grown up,” the woman drawled. Her accent was distinct and indicated she was from the south, Texas, maybe. Just then, it clicked, and instant glimpses of her past came rushing back.
“Aunt Greta,” Jo greeted warmly. “It’s so good to see you.” She hugged the woman tightly against her chest.
“It’s good to see you too, darling,” the woman echoed. “Why, I haven’t seen you since you turned sixteen years old,” she continued to say. “Still, you haven’t changed that much that my old eyes can’t pick you out of any crowd.”
Jo smiled at the petite woman. She was much older now, with loose skin around her eyes, neck, and hands, but she was just as sassy as she remembered her.
“Have you seen, Mom?” she asked the woman.
“Oh no, not yet. I was thinking about taking a room by the inn, and then in the morning, I’ll surprise her.”
“That’s a great idea, Aunt Greta. I know she’ll be so happy when she sees you.”
After a few more minutes of chitchat, Jo excused herself and made her way to the kitchen.
“Hey, everything okay?” Daniel asked the minute she stepped into the room.
“Oh yes. I just met one of my mom’s friends that we haven’t seen in years,” she informed him.
“That’s great,” he returned.
“Yeah, I can’t wait for Mom to see her. She’s going to be so happy.”
Daniel smiled at her enthusiasm. Jo averted her gaze. “So, now that we’re done for the night, shall we get started cleaning up?” she asked.
“Yes, we should,” Daniel answered simply.
The two worked in silence for the next half hour, washing the dishes brought in by the servers before Daniel advised them that they could leave for the evening.
She felt his gaze on her every time he turned his head in her direction, which made her hyperaware of his presence beside her, filling up her thoughts about what he was thinking.
“What is it?” she finally asked, turning to him.
Daniel turned off the faucet and turned to her, eyes unreadable. Jo furrowed her brows, wondering what he was thinking.
“You did well today. I’m proud of you for accepting this challenge,” he informed her seriously.
Jo felt a flutter in her chest, and the corners of her mouth curved upward.
