“If you’re anything like your mother,” Emily said, arching an eyebrow, “then yes.”
“I’m nothing like her,” Sienna said, but she couldn’t be sure that was true. Dana had tried her best to mold Sienna into her own image. Sienna had followed along because she hadn’t felt like there was another choice. How much of it had become embedded into the fiber of who she was remained to be seen away from her mother’s influence.
Her comment seemed to surprise Emily, and she nodded slightly. “We’ll see about that. Come to dinner tonight.”
Sienna felt her mouth drop open. “You just read me the riot act about not messing with you, and now you’re inviting me to dinner? Are you nuts?”
“Rhetorical question,” a voice chimed in and both women turned to see Katie standing behind the cash registers. “Don’t question how Emily’s mind works. It’s a mystery to us all.”
“Very funny,” Emily muttered, but Sienna felt an easing in the tension rolling off her brother’s wife. She expected nothing less from the sweet-tempered bakery owner. Katie Crawford could likely tame a grizzly bear by whispering lullabies into its furry ear.
“Not as funny as most of my customers watching this little exchange with great fascination.” Katie inclined her head. “I’m pretty sure Mrs. Wasinski recorded the whole thing on her new smartphone. If we’re lucky, she’ll upload the video to Facebook and tag you both.” Saccharine-sweet sarcasm dripped from her tone.
Emily whipped around and pointed at an elderly woman in a lavender tracksuit and thick hiking boots. “Delete it, Mrs. W., or I’m going to take Ruby for an after-dinner walk every night this month and let her poop in your rosebushes.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” the woman said, looking shocked. “My roses took first place in the county fair last year.”
“Then you probably don’t want extra fertilizer on them.”
“I assume Ruby is your dog,” Sienna said, “and not your daughter.”
“Best dog ever,” Emily confirmed. She patted her belly. “My girl is on the way.”
Mrs. Wasinski messed with her phone for several seconds before looking up again. “I don’t care what Jase has done for this town, the Crenshaws have always been trouble, whether they grew up in Crimson or married into the family.”
“Thanks for your opinion,” Emily said sweetly as the older woman hurried out of the bakery.
“You’re chasing off my customers now,” Katie said with a groan.
Emily rolled her eyes. “She’ll be back. No one can stay away from here for long.” She turned her full attention on Sienna again. “Dinner at six tonight.”
“I don’t think—”
“You don’t have to think. Just show up. If you’re not here to make trouble, that’s fine. If you are, we need to deal with it sooner than later because when this baby comes I need Jase’s full attention.”
Sienna glanced at Katie, who shrugged. “She won’t take no for an answer at this point.”
“Will you and your husband be there?” Sienna asked Katie.
“You need a buffer between yourself and your family?” Emily demanded.
Sienna winced slightly but nodded. “It can’t hurt.”
“Noah and Katie will be there then. I’ll call my brother and tell him the good news,” Emily said. “He’s got dinner plans.”
“I’ll bring dessert,” Katie offered.
“Make it chocolate,” Emily said, then added, “Please.” She pulled a small notepad from her purse, scribbled something on it and handed a sheet of paper to Sienna. “Here’s our address. See you tonight.”
“Um...thanks.”
With a sharp nod, Emily turned and walked out of the bakery. Sienna let out a long breath as she stared at the address written on the slip of paper. Family dinner.
“Here you go.” She looked up to find that Katie had walked around to the front of the counter. She handed Sienna another brown paper bag. “It’s banana nut to go with your blueberry. I figure after that it could be a two-muffin morning.”
“Thanks.” Sienna took the bag. “Is she always so intense?”
“More so with the pregnancy. She really loves your brother.”
