“It’s okay,” Angela said, glancing up at Jude with a soft smile. “He’s not wrong.”
Angela was so glad that Jude was letting her see this lighthearted side of him. She liked his serious, professional side. In fact, it was that protective nature of his that had first drawn her to him.
But now, it was his smiles and occasional teasing that made her feel special. She didn’t see him interact with anyone else that way, though he was definitely more relaxed around Cooper and Melanie than the others she’d seen him interact with.
“Oh goodness,” Melanie said. “This is just sosweet!
“Melanie has been trying to set Jude up with a woman for ages,” Cooper explained. “To no avail.”
Angela didn’t like the thought of Jude dating someone else. It must have shown on her face, because Melanie reached out to touch her arm.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “He was never interested in any of them. I was beginning to think he’d never find someone to love and settle down with.”
“I’ve always been pretty settled already,” Jude said as he cut into the piece of roast chicken he’d taken. “So I didn’t really need anyone to settle me down.”
“That’s true,” Cooper agreed. “You do live a pretty boring life.”
Jude chuckled. “Well, don’t make me sound too unappealing.”
“Like anyone would find you unappealing,” Cooper scoffed.
“Anyway,” Melanie said. “Suffice it to say, we’re thrilled that the two of you have found each other. I pray you find much happiness together.”
Angela smiled at the woman, grateful for the support of Jude’s friends. It would have made their relationship more challenging if Jude’s hadn’t thought she was good enough for him.
The rest of the meal was spent sharing stories about their lives. Even Alex and Chloe contributed, both of them happy to talk about stuff they’d done at school that week.
By the time they decided to leave, Angela was happier than she’d been in a while. Meeting and spending time with Cooper and Melanie and the kids had made Angela feel like she was finally putting down roots in Idaho.
Now she had friends there who had nothing to do with who her father was. Nothing to do with Kiara. Nothing to do with Annie, Julian, or Benji.
They were in her life now because of Jude, and that made her happy.
“Do you have your list for the store?” Jude asked as he pulled his truck away from the curb in front of Cooper and Melanie’s house.
“Yep. Kiara has a few things she wants me to pick up too.”
“I’m surprised she hasn’t wanted to go shopping herself.”
“She probably would have wanted to today, but she isn’t interested in going to a new church.”
“Did she go to church with you in Briar Hollow?”
“Sometimes,” Angela said. “But she wasn’t as committed as I was. Not sure why.”
“Maybe after she’s been here for a bit, she’ll feel more comfortable.”
“I’d like that.” But she doubted that would be the case.
Kiara had only come to church with Angela when it was a special occasion like Christmas or Easter, with a smattering of other times thrown in.
It didn’t take long to get to the store they’d shopped at previously. This time, Jude took the cart right from the start, allowing Angela the opportunity to gather the things on her list.
Now that she had access to more money, it made shopping easier. But she still struggled with spending too much all at once.
“Could we get a laptop here?” she asked as she spotted the electronic section.
“A laptop?”
