“Oh, yes, I’m sure your mommy would love to climb that volcano.”
The woman sent me an overexaggerated wink.
Oh my god.
Redness flushed, and I wasn’t even shy.
“I bet so! They’re so, so big!” Juni hopped her way.
“Oh, yeah, definitely big.” Tessa sent me a smirk when she said that before she bent at the waist and leaned toward my daughter. “And you must be the one and only Juni that Gage cannot stop talking about. He told me he has a brand-new best friend and she is pure awesomesauce.” She tapped Juni’s nose.
Juni scrunched it up and giggled. “He did?”
“Yep, he sure did…and let me tell you, he is one happy little boy that he has someone as cool as you living across the street.”
Exasperated laughter tumbled out, and I took a step forward, setting my hand on Juni’s shoulder, still in protector mode even though I was pretty sure the only danger this woman posed was killing you with kindness. “Tessa, this is Juniper, my daughter.”
Juni stretched out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
Tessa cracked up. “Oh, the manners…but I’m way too young for someone to call me ma’am.” She said that out of the side of her mouth, whispering it to Juni with a tease slipping from her tongue.
“How olds are you, anyway?”
That time, a straight shot of laughter ripped from me. Scrambling forward, I put my hand over my daughter’s mouth and hauled her back. “We are actually still working on that manners thing.”
Tessa cracked up. “Oh, don’t even apologize. I love her.”
The woman smiled at me. “Seriously, I’m really glad you’re here. I need a little backup on my side since loverboy over there came and stole all my BFF time with my Eden.”
With an exaggerated pout, she hooked her thumb in the direction of Eden’s house. “She’s always over there after all that cake.”
My mind raced to keep up with her.
Cake?
“I mean, I can’t blame the poor girl, the man is h-o-t,” she rambled on, “kinda like his brother, if you know what I’m sayin’.”
She checked me on the shoulder with hers, words all kinds of suggestion.
Wow.
“Okay, I better bolt. It was so nice to meet you both.”
My head spun.
Before she made it a step backward, her face lit up. “Oh my gosh, wait.”
Her voice dropped with whatever epiphany she’d had, and she took me by both hands, as if we’d been friends forever, a secret on her breath when she buzzed, “Guess what?”
“Um…?”
Her voice dipped into an excited hush, the words barely breathed as she mouthed, “Trent is proposing on Friday.”
My heart panged, and I looked to the house where the woman who lived there had been so kind. One who’d welcomed us without question and apparently told her wild friend about us, too.
Home.
It whispered at the back of my mind. I shook it off before it took root.
“That’s wonderful,” I forced out.
She squeezed my hands. “Yes, we have this surprise planned for her at the school where we work. Both their families are going to be there, and oh my god, it’s going to be so romantic. Then Jud is going to take Gage camping that night, but we’re doing a big surprise celebration dinner for them on Saturday. You and Juni have to come.”
“Oh, I don’t—”
She cut off my refusal before I got the chance to get it out. “Um, you do. Eden already claimed you, which means I claim you, and apparently Jud has, too, so…”
She let that hang.
“Jud hasn’t…” I couldn’t even form the words.
A salacious grin took to her mouth. “Um, that bad boy is nothing but charm and charisma and cockiness, never missing a beat, and here you had him stumbling around like he didn’t know his feet from his ass. I’m pretty sure he has.”
A frown pinched.
“He did leave really super-fast, Mommy. Like he had ants in his pants. I’m pretty sure he has the nervous about his new adventure.” Juni beamed up at me, like the child had it all figured out.
Tessa laughed. “Oh, yeah, he’s definitely nervous about his new adventure.” She went to winking again then she reached out and tapped Juni’s nose. “I like you, sweet one.”
Juni beamed. “I like you, too.”
Tessa returned her attention to me. “Okay, I really have to run.”
She rushed in and squeezed me tight, shocking me again. But this time…this time…I hugged her back.
A fool.
A fool.
She backed away, talking as she did. “I’m going to swindle your number from Eden’s phone, and I’ll text you the details. Be there, baby. I won’t take no for an answer. Your presences are expected. And shhh…”
She made an exaggerated sound with her finger pressed to her lips.
“I can keep all the secrets, Miss Tessa, don’t you worry, not even a little bits,” Juni promised.
“I’m counting on you,” Tessa said before she spun and went darting back across the road and up Eden’s walkway.