Sherry laughed. “I can’t argue with that.”
A dark-haired woman wearing a navy cardigan over a polka dot ruffled blouse walked up to the table, holding the hand of a small boy in a baseball cap. “Sherry, do you mind if I get Joey something to hold him over until we eat? He skipped his snack.”
“Not at all.” Sherry smiled at the boy who hid his face behind his mother’s straight-legged jeans. He looked to be a little older than Penelope. “It’s so hard for the little ones to wait.”
“Thanks. Wow, that’s gorgeous,” the woman said as Sherry took the cover off the platter, revealing the cake’s red-and-yellow swirled mirror glaze. “Did you make it?”
Sherry shook her head. “Hallie did. She’s an excellent baker. You should’ve seen the birthday cake she made for Isla.”
“I can’t wait to try it.” The woman extended a hand. “I’m Jenna, by the way. Paul’s oldest daughter.”
Hallie returned the greeting, but it was Sherry who made the introduction. “Where are my manners? This is my son, Christian, and his girlfriend, Hallie.”
Girlfriend? Being addressed that way for the first time bathed herwhole body in warmth. She glanced at Christian, gauging his reaction. He met her gaze, the same question hanging in his eyes. She gave him a reassuring smile.
Joey tugged on Jenna’s cardigan, and she shifted her attention to his pleading eyes. “Okay, okay, buddy.” To the adults, she said, “I better get him a snack.”
She walked off and Sherry linked arms with Hallie, speaking to Christian. “Let me introduce you to Paul. He’s been anxious to meet you.”
As Hallie was being pulled away, she latched onto Christian’s hand, dragging him with her. He followed stiffly. Their steps took them over to the man working the grill on the far side of the yard. His jeans and short-sleeved button-down gave him a casually friendly air. Or maybe that was caused by the smile lighting his face when Sherry walked up to him. Whatever the reason, Hallie liked him immediately.
“Paul.” Sherry wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’d like you to meet my son, Christian.”
Paul pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head. Though his hair was still dark, the gray peppering through it made him look distinguished and polished. “Good to meet you, Christian. Your mom has told me so much about you. I’m assuming those sweet girls belong to you?”
“They do.” Christian accepted Paul’s offered handshake, and even gave him a smile, though Hallie could sense the discomfort emanating from it. He’d put on his cloak of composure, the mask she now recognized as his way of protecting himself through tough situations.
She feared he was in for a long afternoon.
After most people had finished eating and resumed their chosenactivities, Hallie found herself sitting on a lawn chair across from Jenna, matching dessert plates in their laps. Sometime earlier, Christian had disappeared to help Penelope use the bathroom, but the child had already rejoined the unorganized soccer game playing out a few feet from where the women sat. Her father was still missing.
“Hallie, this cake is incredible.” Jenna sliced off another bite of the delectable cranberry-orange mousse. “I just want to eat the whole thing.”
“I’d probably join you. It’s really hard not to sample it whenever I make it.” Hallie took her last bite.
“Do you work in a bakery?” Jenna’s question caught Hallie with her mouth full, leading to the typical awkward pause as she chewed. “Sorry.”
Hallie waved away the apology and swallowed. “I started a home bakery back in college.”
“A self-made woman,” Jenna said brightly. “I like it.”
Self-made? Hardly. More like an insignificant entrepreneur, attempting to figure out her place in the business world.
“Do you still do that?” Jenna asked, scraping her plate clean with her fork.
“Yeah.” Hallie set hers on the grass beside her chair before picking up her water glass. “I’m trying to scale up now that I’ve graduated, but it’s a lot harder than I expected.”
Jenna hummed in understanding. “I get that. The entrepreneurial world is challenging. Our family is in real estate. My dad managed to build the company from the ground up. He claims he knew nothing about owning a business before he started. He only wanted to be his own boss. And now it’s a whole family empire.”
Hallie took a drink of water, processing Jenna’s words. Was she just making conversation?
The woman answered her question in the next breath. “I’m sure he’d be happy to offer you some advice on how to get things rolling.”
“Really?” Hallie could use a little help.
Okay, a lot of help.
“I don’t see why not. He’s taken a lesser role in the company now that he’s close to retiring, so he has more time. And he’s pretty passionate about helping fellow businesses. Especially small ones.”
