“Mom.”
She crosses her arms and goes full-on Mom on me. “I’d say that to any man. Even a serial killer. Are you still going to your grandmother’s party tonight?”
I sigh. Then wince at myself for sighing. Then sigh again. “Yes.”
“Then you’d better head back to the cabin and get ready. It’s getting late.”
I look up at Dane.
He nods.
He’s in.
“Mom?” I say quietly. “I’m not the best person to join you here. I’m honestly not.”
She blinks quickly as her eyes start to shine too. “I know, sweetheart. But I don’t know what else to do.”
“I need the recipe.”
“Why?”
“Just ... trust me. Please. I need the recipe. I think—I think it might be able to tell me what to do.”
“It’s not in the drawer?”
I shake my head.
“Then your grandmother must have it.” Her brow furrows. “Or it’s with your engagement ring.”
“Or both.”
“Oh, honey ...” She crosses the kitchen and pulls me into a hug.
She doesn’t tell me Grandma didn’t take the ring.
She doesn’t tell me I won’t find answers in a recipe.
She just hugs me.
And then the best-worst thing ever happens, and Dane loops his arms around both of us and hugs us too.
Chapter 29
Dane
Wanting to punch something isn’t my default, but I want to punch something now.
For the second night in a row, Amanda’s on edge as we head into town for a family event where everyone in town except the other’s family is invited.
She’s in the gold dress tonight, and all I can think of is how much I want to peel her out of it.
“I know we need to talk about how we’re going to not go through with the wedding,” she says as I drive us into town for her grandmother’s announcement, “but can we maybe wait until after the party tonight?”
A million knives slash my heart, but I give her the only answer that anyone could possibly give. “Of course.”
“I just—it’s dumb to think a recipe could’ve been Maud’s dowry.”
“It’s not dumb.” Especially since she can’t find the recipe. It’s not in the desk where it was this morning. It’s not in any other hidey-holes that Amanda knows of at the bakery.
