Before Matt could respond, the back door swung open. Aria appeared first, her dark hair pulled into slightly uneven pigtails, followed closely by Lucy, who was still in her pajamas with unicorns printed on them.
“Matt!” Lucy exclaimed, her face lighting up. “You came back!”
“I did,” he replied, unable to suppress his smile at her enthusiasm. “And I brought breakfast.”
Rachel appeared in the doorway behind them, moving carefully but with noticeably less pain than before. She leanedlightly on a cane rather than the makeshift crutch she’d been using.
“Something smelled too good to stay in bed,” she said with a knowing smile as she surveyed the scene. “Morning, Matt.”
“Morning, Rachel. How’s the ankle?”
“Much better,” she replied, making her way to the table and lowering herself carefully into a chair. “Another day or two and I should be able to handle a shift again.”
Matt felt a strange mix of emotions at her words—happiness for Rachel’s recovery, of course, but also a flicker of concern. Once Rachel returned to work, Tessa would no longer need to cover her shifts. The temporary arrangement that had brought them together would end.
“That’s great news,” he said, keeping his tone light despite the sudden tightness in his chest.
Lucy climbed onto the chair next to him, her small face peering up with undisguised interest. “Did you make these?” she asked, pointing at the pastries.
“I did,” Matt replied, warmed by her curiosity. “Do you like to bake?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Mom lets us help sometimes. I’m the official chocolate chip counter.”
“Very important job,” Matt said seriously. “Can’t have too many or too few chocolate chips. Has to be just right.”
Lucy beamed at his understanding of her crucial role in the baking process. She selected a pastry with careful deliberation, as if making a life-altering decision.
“So what brings you by so early?” Rachel asked, her tone casual but her eyes knowing as they darted between Matt and Tessa.
Matt cleared his throat. “Actually, I was hoping to talk to Tessa about something.” He turned toward Tessa, whose expression held a hint of surprise. “The farmers’ market is today in the town square. I thought maybe you’d like to go? It’ll give you a real taste of Bear Creek.”
His bear held its breath, waiting for her response.
“That sounds wonderful,” Tessa said, her smile sending a wave of warmth through him. “I’d love to.”
“Great,” Matt said, trying not to sound as relieved as he felt. “It starts early...”
“Why don’t you go after breakfast?” Rachel suggested innocently. “I’m perfectly capable of getting the girls to school.”
Aria looked up from her pastry, chocolate smeared at the corner of her mouth. “Can you see if there is anything pretty we can use in our fairy garden?”
“I wishIcould go to the farmers’ market,” Lucy said, aiming her adorable puppy-dog eyes at her mom.
“We can go during spring break,” Rachel replied.
“But Tessa won’t be here then,” Aria said as she took a bite of her pastry.
“I could always come back for another visit,” Tessa replied.
“I don’t want you to just visit.” Lucy hooked her arm through Tessa’s. “I want you to stay here forever.”
So do I!Matt’s bear roared.
“Come on, eat up, then go and get dressed, or you’ll be late for school,” Rachel said, deflecting Lucy’s wish so Tessa wasn’t put on the spot to answer.
The girls ate their pastries and then ran over to their fairy garden for an inspection before heading inside.
“I’ll go make sure they don’t get distracted,” Rachel said and winked at Tessa, who blushed.
