“Don’t care,” Donna said from the living room. “I forgot how tall these ceilings were. The place is so roomy.”
Anna put a maple bar on a plate and then took one with sprinkles for herself. “How’s the ankle?”
Heather ate a bite of the fresh donut. If she kept hanging out with the Albertinis, she’d need to buy new clothes. “It’s okay. I find that hopping is easier than using crutches.”
Anna ate her donut. “Yeah. I hurt my ankle earlier this summer, and hopping was definitely the way to go.”
“After falling out of a tree,” Donna said quietly against her latte, her lips twitching.
Anna rolled her eyes. “I was being chased by a couple of guys with guns. It happens.”
Heather paused. What in the world?
Anna waved the unspoken question away. “Long story. I’m a lawyer.”
Did that explain guys with guns and trees? Perhaps for the Albertini family, it did. “Listen. I really appreciate you coming, and it was nice of Quint to call you, but you must all be busy with your own lives.” Running from guys with guns at the very least. Although, the idea that Quint had tried to provide her with assistance warmed her in inappropriate places, and she had to knock that off right now.
Tessa reached for a partially unpackaged box on the small table in the kitchen nook. “It’s either us or our mom, Quint’s mom, and probably Nonna. You’ll be engaged by sundown in that case.”
Heather gulped.
“Sundown?” Anna sputtered. “What are you, in a western now?”
Tessa grinned. “I’ve been watchingLongmireon Netflix. That Bailey Chase is a hottie. He plays Branch.” She pulled out a bowl made of pink depression glassware. “Oh, this is beautiful.”
Heather nodded. “I found it in an antique store near Sun Valley. We don’t have many family heirlooms or collections or anything like that, so I figured I’d start one, you know? I like the pink, green, and watermelon depression glassware.” It was classic and beautiful.
Tessa looked around. “You need a curio cabinet.”
“It’s on the list,” Heather agreed. “There are several antique stores around here, and I was going to start shopping before all of this happened. I’ll still shop but not as fast.” Her ankle wouldn’t be broken forever. It really was nice to have company. “There are four green glasses wrapped up in the bottom of that box.” She’d found those on a trip to Portland.
Tessa instantly dug for them.
Donna looked around. “I say we do one room at a time instead of splitting up. Start with the kitchen?”
Three sets of very different colored eyes turned their focus on Heather. She knew when she was outnumbered, so she smiled. “Sounds good to me. Thank you.” Since she’d put Quint in the friend zone, maybe she could be friends with his whole family, too.
For the first time in a month, she didn’t feel so alone. “But I am buying lunch, and nobody gets to argue with me.” It was probably a good idea to set limits with all of the Albertinis right off the bat.
Donna set her latte down and reached for a box on the floor. “We already ordered from Nordeliano’s across town. We’re distantly related.”
Well. All right then.
Late afternoon,Heather looked around her newly put together office. It was perfect. The Albertini women had been great help, and Donna was an amazing organizer. By the end of the day, Heather felt like one of the family.
Anna sat on the floor, organizing file folders in the cabinet alphabetically. “You’re dumb to put Quint in the friend zone.” She didn’t look up.
Heather started and then returned to organizing her pens in the top drawer. Donna and Tessa were finishing up in the guest room, so at least she didn’t have to explain to all of them. “I’m not in a good place for a great guy like Quint.” It was the easiest explanation.
Anna looked up, her eyes more green than gray in the soft sun coming through the wide window. “I get that. Is there a good place?” She frowned and looked back at the file folders. “I’ve found that when you find the guy, you create a good place. Well, probably. Heck. What do I know?”
Heather reached for a notepad to stack with the others near her computer. “Have you found the guy?”
“I think so,” Anna said. “You’ll meet Aiden, I’m sure.”
It was so odd to feel such quick acceptance. It was nice, too. Heather was saved from answering when the door rang. “Please tell me you didn’t order dinner as well?”
“Nope.”
