“Have the girls been?”
“Yes. Clara and I took them when they were three. My grandparents had already moved to America before the girls were born, but I do have some aunts and uncles in Italy. So we rented a little home with a lot of outside space. We had a blast and ate ridiculously good food. My aunts, uncles, and cousins are better company than my parents.”
I sigh, remembering how happy Clara was there. “Clara wanted to start the process of moving there, actually. She asked me to come with her, but she began not feeling well soon after that.” I take a deep breath before continuing because my next thought stings to think about. “She told me she wanted her ashes spread there one day, and I haven’t had the nerve to go back and do it yet.”
A rush of air leaves Millie, and she says, “It could be healing to bring the girls there and show them some places and people their mom loved.”
I let that thought sink in, picturing the girls with their extended family, adventuring on Zia Sofia and Zio Filippo’s property and eating as much pasta and bread as their little tummies can handle.
My thoughts are interrupted by a soft ring from Millie’s phone. She pulls it out of her purse and groans. “My mom is FaceTiming me.”
“Go ahead.” I motion with my chin for her to take the call.
Her eyes scan me before she swipes to answer it. She holds it in front of her and smiles. “Hey, Mama.”
“Millie, sweetie. Where are you?”
Glancing around the shop, she assesses what her mom can see and hesitates a little too long. “Maggie’s.” She looks as suspicious as a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
“It’s a little dark there.” I can’t see her mom’s face, but I can hear the uncertainty in her voice. She’s onto her.
“Yeah, Maggie is trying out this new vibe to see how the customers like it.”
I take a sip of my tea a little too quickly and choke when it slides down the wrong pipe. I cover my mouth and bend over to muffle the sound of sputtering, but it’s no use.
“Honey, there’s a reflection in the window behind you. Does that handsome man at your table need help?”
Millie shifts her face to look at me, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Oh... yeah, my friend Finn is here.”
I’ve contained my coughing enough to offer a silent “Sorry.”
“Finn,” Millie’s mom practically squeals. “Move your chair around and join our conversation.”
Millie rolls her eyes, but she’s grinning. My chair scrapes onthe floor as I slide it around beside hers, and she adjusts the phone to include my face.
“Hello, Mrs. Oaks. Nice to meet you.”
Millie’s mother is beautiful, with gray hair framing her round face and glasses perched on her nose.
“Oh, call me Mary,” she says, grinning from what looks like her kitchen table. “It’s nice to meet you too. How’s your evening going?”
“Perfect,” I say, turning to smirk at my coworker turned friend turned maybe-date.
“Looks like it,” Mary coos. “Millie, is this the man you were telling me about whose twins were in your summer camp?”
“Yes. Avery and Eloise.”
My chest warms at the thought that she told her mom about me. That must mean something, right?
“That’s so sweet,” Mary says. “I won’t keep you long. I was calling about your trip out here this weekend. Do you mind picking up a few things from one of those big-city grocery stores you go to before you make the trek to Fern River on Saturday?”
Millie nods. “Just text me a list.”
“Of course. Thank you.” She smiles at Millie before her eyes shift like she’s looking at me now. “Finn, it’s my birthday, and I think you and your girls should come. We have so much for them to do. They could collect eggs and help Dave in the garden. Oh, and swim in the pond and feed some animals. It’s like a personal petting zoo over here.”
Millie stays silent beside me, and I’m not sure what to say. “I don’t want to intrude on a family weekend,” I try.
“Don’t worry.” Mary waves off the idea. “My best friend from next door and her son are coming. The more, the merrier at our house. Dave and I always believe that. Besides, it would make my heart happy to have some kids out on the farm.”
