“Tea party! Sleepover! Tacos!”
“I’ve been replaced by tacos,” Roan said with faked forlornness. “Do you want to commit to this, Mom?”
“Absolutely, I can’t wait to see her eyes light up when we walk into the Paradise Court at the mansion. I’ve been looking forward to this since Trinity was born.”
“If you say so.” Roan chuckled.
“The Bolger mansion tea party is pretty impressive,” Jazzy said. “I never got to attend the grandmother-granddaughter Christmas tea, but my dad did take me there for the daddy-daughter dance after my mom left town when I was six. It meant the world to me. Trinity is going to love it.”
“I guess it’s a done deal, then,” Roan said. “Let’s find her a dress to wear.”
“I’ll take care of it. No worries.” His mom hitched Trinity higher up on her hip. “You go on with your baking.”
“You sure?” Roan asked.
“Positive. We’ll be out of your hair in no time,” Ava called over her shoulder and carried Trinity off to her bedroom.
“I can’t believe I forgot the tea party.” Roan gave a rueful shake of his head. “What kind of dad am I?”
“A very busy one,” Jazzy soothed. “And Trinity having to get stitches on Friday threw you off your game.”
“I’ve got to get better organized.”
“You’ll figure it out. I have complete confidence in you.”
“Thanks,” he said. Was he staring at her mouth? Maybe it was her imagination. Her gaze hooked on his lips and she remembered what they tasted like. “I appreciate the pep talk.”
“I’m a former cheerleader. It’s what we do.”
“You must have been a fantastic cheerleader. I can just see you on the sidelines, cheering your team on to victory.”
“Walking cliché,” she said. “I was the head cheerleader, and my boyfriend was the quarterback.”
“Let me guess,” he said. “You and Danny were homecoming king and queen as well.”
Her face flushed. “I had a terrific senior year.”
“I’m glad for you.”
“How about you?” she asked, watching him shift the flour into a bowl. “What were you like in high school?”
“I was working the ranch with Dad and didn’t have much time for a social life,” he said. “Until Claire and I started going out. She got me out of my shell.”
“I’m sorry you lost her,” Jazzy murmured, feeling a strange pang in the middle of her heart.
“It is what it is,” he said gruffly. “Is the butter soft enough yet?”
Change the subject. Right. She got it. Jazzy poked the stick of butter with her finger and the foil packaging dented easily. “Ready to go, Iron Chef Roan.”
He snorted playfully and rolled his eyes.
They’d just finished mixing the rugelach dough when Ava reappeared holding Trinity’s hand and carrying an overnight bag. The little girl looked adorable in a burgundy velvet dress, matching tights, and black patent leather shoes. The only thing out of place were the stitches on Trinity’s chin.
“You three stand together,” Jazzy said, waving Roan toward his mother and daughter. “And I’ll snap a pic.”
Trinity mugged for the camera as Roan put his arm around his mother’s shoulder. What a lovelyfamily. The ache in her heart widened. Claire should be here with them. Not her. Life just wasn’t fair.
Carrying the overnight bag, Roan walked his mother and Trinity to the car, and when he returned, Roan and Jazzy headed to the patio to get the fire going. The air was chillier than it had been on Friday and Jazzy wished she’d worn a coat instead of a heavy sweater. They stood huddled in front of the firepit, waiting for the flames to grow.