Jan’s the only one dabbing her eyes. “David really deserves the best. And you came back.”
“Were his options that bad?” I joke, although I’m touched that she thinks I’m the best David deserves. And she’s not the only one. Mrs. Darling was doing the cabbage patch dance on the lawn when David and I finally ended our kiss, and Alexandra hugged me hard and air-kissed my cheeks.
“No. I’m just so emotional now.” Jan fans her blotchy face, looking upward to stop the flow of tears. “It’s the hormones.”
Matt smiles and wraps an arm around her. “She’s going to be fine.”
“Yeah, I am.” Jan nods. “I’m just happy. Did I say I’m happy?”
I nod with a wide grin. “You just did.”
“I want a sausage,” Jan says to Matt. “With extra mustard.”
“Coming right up.”
I smile, then lean my head against David’s shoulder. “Your family’s amazing.”
He takes my hand and kisses my fingertips, his lips warm and sweet. “Thank you for not giving up on us.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
David
I open my eyes. The bedside clock says it isn’t even nine yet, but Erin’s gone. Where did she go?
I sit up and look around, raking my fingers through my hair. Get a whiff of freshly baked brownies. And I know.
With a grin, I put on a shirt and shorts and make my way down to the kitchen. Mom and Erin are taking baking pans out of the oven.
Erin looks up and smiles after placing the hot pan she’s holding on the cooling rack. “Good morning.”
“Morning. I was wondering what you were doing up so early.”
“Not so early,” Mom says, placing her pan next to Erin’s. “I was showing Erin how to make brownies.”
I put a hand to my chest. “You gave her your recipe?”
“Obviously. Recipes are handed from generation to generation.”
“Wow. You said your recipes were secret and I wasn’t worthy.” Although I’m feigning pain, I’m thrilled Mom and Erin are bonding so well.
Erin flushes with a smile she can’t suppress.
“But Erin is.” Mom is both shameless and unrelenting. “Besides, she told me she loves baking. You don’t. But at least you’re good at cleaning up afterward. That’s something.”
I know a hint when I hear one. “Want me to wash the bowls?”
“Why, yes, that would be very nice.”
“But first…” I pull out a fork from a drawer and reach for the brownies cooling on the rack.
“No, no!” Erin slaps my hand, not hard enough to hurt, but firmly enough to deter me. “You have to wait at least half an hour or it’s going to fall apart.”
“You’re a cruel woman.” I sigh, even though she’s right and I really should wait. But damn it, I haven’t had Mom’s brownies in ages.
“Listen to your fiancée,” Mom says as she starts up the stairs. “I need to g
o wake your father up. Now be good and wash the bowls.”