Max grins. “Nope. But that kid looks like she could use some love. And our family is just the right group to give it to her.”
“Should we warn her about Emilia?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Max kisses my forehead.
“We did the hard thing.”
“We sure did. Now we get to do the best thing.”
Engaged Or Married
Fiona
Scrubbing down the counter signals the end of my workday. It’s been a long one and cleaning up makes it feel even longer, but I’ve loved every minute.
“Fea?”
“Yeah, Hope?” I stop to turn towards where she’s refilling napkin holders.
“Can you talk to my dad?”
That’s a loaded question. “About what?”
“I think I’m ready to start my coffee shop and bookstore.”
What? “Hope, that’s a big step.”
“I know.” She sets the cloth to the side and sits down. “But I’m ready.”
Why the sudden change? “Did something happen with the guy you love?”
“Yes, and no. This isn’t about him. It’s about me.”
Oh, it’s definitely about him. “What happened?”
“We talked.”
That’s obvious.
“He understood my position.”
Which is an all-too-rational response for a teenage boy in love.
“But then he told me he’d kill any man who touched me. Isn’t that sweet?”
Um…who am I to judge? Max said the same…and I think he might have done it, but I’m smart enough not to ask questions like that. “I don’t know how many people would think that’s sweet.”
She shrugs. “Don’t care.”
“So what did you two agree on?”
“He’s still adamant that he won’t touch me. But he’ll take me to prom. And I can call him my boyfriend in school.”
That sounds like five-year-olds dating. They call each other boyfriend and girlfriend, walk to class together, and share their snacks.
“It’s better than nothing, I guess. But I need something else to distract me. I need to work. To get things done, instead of waiting for a boy to decide he’s man enough to marry me. Talking about getting married, when are you and Dad tying the knot?”
“Your dad hasn’t even asked me yet.”
