“Don’tmomme in that tone.”
“I’m a grown man.” His tone was surprisingly patient in the circumstances. “I don’t need my mother to organize a date. I can organize my own social life, thank you.”
“Well, forgive me for not knowing that. I can only go on the evidence before me, which is that you’re slower moving than your father.”
“I moved at the exact pace that was right for me,” Roy protested, and Noah reached across the table and helped himself to a slice of cake.
“And I’m doing the same.”
“When you decided to move back here, we were delighted of course. But I don’t like to see you sacrificing your own social life for this place. And I’m your mother. It’s not a crime to want to see you happy.”
“I’m happy.” There was a pause. “Has it occurred to you that she might not want to spend an evening with me?”
“You’re a grown man, as you keep pointing out, so I’m sure you’re big enough to handle rejection if rejection is coming your way.”
Now would be a good time to wake up, Hattie thought, before the conversation got worse.
Fortunately for her, Delphi stirred at that moment and Lynda immediately stopped the conversation.
“The little one is awake. Who knew Panther would make such a good cushion?There, honey, come to Lynda and have a big old hug. How do you feel about chocolate milkshake?”
Hattie opened her eyes in time to see Delphi wrap her arms around Lynda’s neck and rest her head on her shoulder as she was carried to the kitchen table.
“Noah, you hold her for a moment while I make the milkshake. I need two hands for the task.” She handed Delphi over and Noah took her, settling her on his arm.
Delphi thrust her soft toy dinosaur at him.
“He’s called Huge.”
“Good name.”
“He’s a diplodocus. He has a very long neck. See?”
Noah gave Huge his undivided attention. “I do see.”
“I sleep with him.”
“That must be comforting. He doesn’t wake you up?”
Hattie, who had woken to find Huge wedged under her back on more than one occasion, thought she should probably be the one to be answering that question.
And talking of waking up, she decided it was time to officially declare herself awake.
She sat up, dizzy from having slept so heavily. “I passed out. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Lynda wiped her hands on her apron. “You obviously needed the sleep.”
“It’s all the Christmas tree decorating.” Hattie slid her feet back into her boots. She wasn’t going to look at Noah. She didn’t dare. “And talking of Christmas trees, Delphi and I really should be going. The tree in the library isn’t going to decorate itself.”
“All the more reason to have something to eat first. It will give you both energy.” Lynda placed a milkshake and a cookie on the table.“We’re just having a snack. I made one for you, too.”
Lynda had made her a milkshake?
“My dad used to make the best milkshakes.” Sometimes memories stung and sometimes they soothed. This one soothed. “Takes me right back to childhood. He was heavy-handed with the chocolate.”
“Sounds as if your dad had some serious parenting skills.”
“He was the best.” Hattie sat down and watched as Noah settled Delphi in the chair next to her. Delphi drank her milkshake, holding the glass carefully with both hands. When she put the glass down she had a ring of chocolate around her mouth and a big smile on her face.
