Her three-year-old daughter wordlessly nodded her head.
After they left, Abby couldn’t help but think about how reserved Annie always was.They were new in town, and Abby hadn’t had a chance to get to know them better.But she knew there wasn’t a husband or father in the picture.In that moment, she knew what her New Year’s resolution was: to slow down and take time to know people better.
With a smile, she headed back to the couch.
Ding.
It seemed like Brad was in a chatty mood.She picked up her phone and found that only one of the two messages was from him.The other was from her mother reminding her that Christmas brunch would be at eleven…just like it was every year.She typed back that she wouldn’t be late.
She moved back to Brad’s message.
Brad:I’m on a blind date.*frowning emoji*
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.Not that she wanted him to be miserable.
Abby:What happened to Christmas with your mother?
Immediately his response pinged back at her.
Brad:She set me up on this date.My mother does not have good taste.
Abby let out a laugh.His mother was playing matchmaker.She counted herself as fortunate that her mother had never tried such a thing.She inwardly shuddered at the thought of who her mother would set her up with.
Abby:Have fun!
Brad:*frowning emoji*
Buzz-buzz.
The ringing startled her.Surely he wasn’t calling her when he was out on a date with someone else—even if it was a blind date.She looked down at the phone, which was still in her hand.When she saw Sadie’s name, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Abby:Gotta go!
For the rest of the evening, Brad kept intruding in her thoughts.She really wanted to know if his date had gotten any better.Just as quickly, she would remind herself that it was none of her business.
Chapter Eight
New Year’s Eve
Aweekhadpassedsincehe’d heard from her.
Brad was still at the office, working on the final patch to secure their server from being hacked again.He had worked night and day, even spending some nights in his office until they’d regained control of their databases.
He was almost to the point where he could breathe easy again.But that worried him.He couldn’t help but wonder what new problem would befall them next.
But in between all of the work, he found his thoughts often drifting back to Abby.For some reason, he’d expected more messages asking him a random question, like what color he thought the flowers should be.
Maybe he should check in and see how the party preparations were going.If nothing else, he could offer to pay for the decorations.It wasn’t a lot, but it was something.He reached for his phone.
Brad:How are things going?
He set aside his phone, not expecting an immediate response.And yet a few seconds later, his phone dinged.
Abby:Are you on another blind date?
He let out a laugh.That wasn’t the response he’d been expecting.He thought back to his mother’s matchmaking.Her and her neighbor got it into their heads that their single offsprings should get together.
It didn’t work out.He wasn’t interested in dating.And his date already had a rocker boyfriend who had a lot of tattoos that she didn’t think his mother would approve of.
