“Ivy? What?”
Turning to face me, she grinned as she pulled my phone out and handed it to me. “Just thinking this visit with your family is going to be a lot of fun.”
My heart beat ramped up again. “Um, no.We’renot visiting with my family. I am.”
Ivy shook her head at me as she moved to bring Addie’s dinner to the chairs at the island. “Addie, dinner,” she called. Looking back at me, she smiled. “Your parents are coming for the brewery’s anniversary party, right?”
“Yeah.” I had no idea where this was going.
“Well, I already told Emma I’d be there that night. I have a sitter and everything. And I can’t wait to meet your mom. She sounds like a hoot.”
Addie came running in then with Chief. She scaled the bar stool to begin devouring her grilled cheese and strawberries. My mind whirled while I set out Chief’s dinner.
Glancing down at my cell, my day went from strange to a disaster. Or, at least a large headache.
Steph:So it’s settled, right?
Drew:Yep. Meeting you all at Jake’s this weekend for the party. Clear off the couch and the basement, bro. We’ll be there with bells on.
What in the hell? Drew was coming back? Now? Steph and her family lived up in the suburbs near my parents. It wouldn’t be as surprising as Drew coming in from Colorado.
Me:WTF. I don’t have time to scroll back through the novel you two have left on here. You guys are coming this weekend?
Drew:Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
My mom was going to meet Ivy in a week. My siblings were coming into town. This could only end in disaster.
5
Pancakes and Stories
Ivy
I woke up gradually, stretching and letting the day ahead roll over me. Saturdays meant an afternoon at the bookstore, small crafts for Addie to keep her entertained. Tonight I’d go over the numbers for the week and prepare to do the whole thing again come tomorrow.
Rolling to my side, I quickly took in my surroundings. Memories of yesterday came flooding back. Jake’s. If you had asked me yesterday morning how my day would go, I’d never have guessed correctly in a million years. It had actually been a nice night, which was just bizarre. Addie had eaten while the chili simmered. Then we poured some in mugs so we could eat while sitting on the couch with her and watching a Peanuts movie. Jake hadIt’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.Addie had gotten a kick out of it, and I smiled, remembering when I had watched the same one when I was her age. Parenting was fascinating. It was both the longest days combined with the quickest years. Sometimes it took my breath away.
Looking around Jake’s guest room, I realized that Miss Addie must’ve already woken up. I wasn’t too concerned. She really was a good kid. I’d put money on her waking early because she wanted to see Chief. Rolling out of bed, I moved to tug on my jeans. Jake had given me an old brewery T-shirt to wear to bed. I wondered what he’d think if it went home with me. In all honesty, it was incredibly soft and smelled like him. It would be criminal not to take it.
As I left the guest room, I took a quick glance down the hall. The door to Jake’s room stood open. Shoot. I hoped he hadn’t been woken by Addie. I mean, the guy could be annoying, but he’d already given up his Friday afternoon and evening. He should’ve been able to sleep in today.
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, I heard Jake’s voice coming from the kitchen along with Addie’s sleepy one. Peering around the doorway, I saw her tousled blond head sitting on the island next to Jake as he mixed what appeared to be pancake batter.
“’Nother one, Jake. Please?”
“You sure, peanut? You aren’t all storied out?”
I chuckled and leaned against the doorway, watching them. Poor Jake. Addie didn’t get storied out. I had resorted to limits—one book, one made-up story a night. Otherwise she was never satisfied.
“Story please!” Addie rocked happily in place.
Jake stopped mixing as he let out a breath and looked at the ceiling. I took the moment to appreciate all that was Jake Spencer. I mean morning scruff, tousled black hair, gray sweatpants—thank the goddess I was here for that—waffle T-shirt, and black-framed glasses. I had no idea he wore them, but holy sexiness, I was a fan. Jake moved around the kitchen, keeping his eyes on Addie as he gathered plates and syrup. His T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. The gray sweatpants, while loose, hugged his ass tight. Now if he’d just turn around… I mean, the man was a runner. He wasn’t as bulky as Max and Sully, but he was solid, lean muscle. This was not a view I minded. Nope, not one bit.
“Okay, here goes. One night Princess Addie lay down in her bed, trying to go to sleep. Suddenly, she heard a noise. Da-da-dum-dum-dum. Da-da-dum-dum-dum. Looking around, she got out of her bed. She followed the noise to the window that looked out on her garden, and guess what? Addie was bug-eyed! Do you know what she saw?”
“The Little People!” Addie squealed, arms thrown high with, not shocking, jazz hands.
Jake grinned and turned to grab a griddle. He started preheating it for the pancakes, I guessed, as he continued. “That’s right, babe. It was the Little People. A line of people only six inches tall or so were marching through her garden, around the apple tree, right up to her house. There was a band, which is where the music was coming from. Addie counted, and do you know how many little people she saw?”
