“Yes, the smell always makes me feel like home,” Angelle said.
“Where’s everything else you had out?” Avaleigh asked.
“I put most of it back. Boon won’t be coming this morning. I decided to just keep it light.”
“Sounds good to me, the pound cake is the best part.”
“I’m going to slice some peaches and make some whipped cream to top the pound cake slices, and call it good.”
“Throw in some coffee and I’d call it fantastic,” Daniel said.
Angelle glanced their way quickly before looking back at the peaches she was slicing.
Daniel and Avaleigh saw her face when she glanced at them and knew something was wrong.
“Everything okay?” Daniel asked.
“Oh, yeah. No big deal. I’m just adjusting my plans for breakfast.”
“You said Boon can’t make it?”
“Yes. It’s fine, though.”
“Why can’t he come?” Daniel asked.
“He’s gone,” Angelle said.
“He what?” Daniel asked.
“He’s not at Maverik’s. Uncle Maverik said that Aunt Valerie said that he’s probably with Tempest, but he didn’t say anything to either of them so they aren’t sure.”
“That’s a lot of people saying things with no real information,” Avaleigh said. “Why don’t you just call Tempest and ask if he’s there so you can invite him like you planned?”
Angelle shook her head as she tossed another peach pit into a bowl that she’d later clean and prepare for planting.
Daniel’s voice cut through the few moments of silence in the kitchen. “Hey, Brandt. It’s Daniel. Boon over there? We wanted to invite him to breakfast.”
Angelle spun around in time to see her father speaking into his cell phone. “Daddy!” she exclaimed.
“Sorry,” he said, shrugging. “I’d already called.” Then Daniel’s gaze looked away from her as he focused on the voice on the other end of the phone. “Really? About when was that?”
Daniel listened for a few moments before he spoke again. “Two in the morning? Well, he must have needed to get home pretty quick.”
Daniel nodded like he thought Brandt could see him. “Alright. Thanks for the information. You need help with Elijah, come on over.”
Daniel ended the call and first met Avaleigh’s questioning gaze, then Angelle’s. “He showed up about two A.M. and asked Tempest to take him home. Tempest tucked Elijah in bed with Brandt and said she’d be back. So far, she’s still gone.”
“Did he say why?” Avaleigh asked, her voice clearly conveying her irritation at the situation.
“He didn’t talk to Boon, just to Tempest.”
“It’s okay, really,” Angelle said. “He didn’t know I was planning breakfast. And he didn’t have to tell me he was leaving.”
“He could have still let you know,” Avaleigh said.
“It’s not a big deal, Mom. We just spent one day together.”
“It is a big deal. I could tell you were excited and feeling hopeful. Whatever you two talked about yesterday made you feel hopeful. He could have at least let you know he was leaving.”
