15
“Ice cream?” Jake asked Megan as they strolled past the row of food trucks. They’d just finished eating an early lunch of chicken and waffles, a staple of his upbringing that Megan had never experienced before.
“I never say no to ice cream,” she said with a smile. “But then I’ve got to get back to the table so Elle and Ruby can take a break and have some fun too.”
“Want me to sit with you while they’re gone?”
“Sure.” She gave him a sweet smile that seemed to melt something inside his chest. Or maybe it was something in his knees, because he felt a little wobbly as he stared into the sparkling depths of her cinnamon eyes. “Your brochures are on our table, after all.”
He led the way toward the ice cream stand, which miraculously didn’t have much of a line.
She gripped his hand. “Oh look, it’s the kind where they dip your cone in that chocolate shell.”
He loved this side of her, the happy, carefree woman who forgot to hide her face behind the curtain of her hair. “I haven’t had that since I was a kid.”
“It’s my absolute favorite.”
They made their way to the front of the line and ordered two chocolate-dipped cones, which they licked as they crossed the field toward the vendor tables to relieve Ruby and Elle.
“Oh, I meant to tell you,” Megan said, grinning as he swiped a dot of ice cream off her nose. “There was a woman at our table this morning who was interested in Barnaby. Who knows if she’ll follow through, but if you’re interested in him, you should let me know soon.”
“Hmm.” He crunched through the chocolate shell, taking a big bite of his ice cream. These things were messier to eat than he remembered. Already, he had melted ice cream running over his hand. “I hadn’t really given it much thought yet.”
“I figured you hadn’t, but just a heads up.”
“Thanks.” His gut reaction was to tell her to let the woman go ahead and adopt Barnaby if she followed through. But he’d enjoyed the company the last few days. Barnaby was a quiet, well-behaved dog, maybe just what he was looking for in a barn companion. “I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.” She gave his hand a squeeze.
“Jake!”
He turned at the familiar voice to find the Robertsons walking toward them, and a funny feeling raced through his gut, replacing the usual pleasure of seeing them with something much more…uncomfortable. Because even though he’d talked to them about his relationship with Megan, introducing them to her definitely felt awkward.
But there was no way around it now. Thankfully, Tina saved the moment as she was so good at. “You must be Megan,” she said warmly, extending a hand. “I’m Tina Robertson, and this is my husband, Walt.”
“Of course,” Megan said. “It’s nice to meet you. Jake’s told me so much about you both.”
“Likewise.” Tina abandoned her handshake and pulled Megan in for a gentle hug. “He’s like family to us.”
Megan darted a glance in his direction. “I know it must be hard to see him with someone else.”
“It is.” Tina’s smile fell, her eyes going glossy. “Alana couldn’t have asked for a more loving and devoted husband. We’re so blessed to have him in our lives.”
Jake felt an uncomfortable squeeze in his chest. After his own turbulent childhood, he wasn’t sure where he’d be today if he hadn’t met the Robertsons. “That feeling is definitely mutual.”
“I haven’t seen you at church,” Walt said to Megan. “Have you found a place to worship since you moved to Towering Pines?”
“I’m Jewish,” she told him. “And yes, I’ve visited the nearest synagogue, although it’s a bit of a drive from Towering Pines. Everyone has been very welcoming.”
“Glad to hear it,” Walt said with a polite smile.
“Well, we won’t keep you guys,” Tina said. “But I’m so glad we bumped into you.”
“It was great to see you,” Jake told her.
“You too, honey.” She pulled him in for a brief hug, and then they were on their way.
“That went surprisingly well,” Megan said, returning her attention to her half-melted ice cream as they started walking again.
