Of course she did. Petula probably knew everyone in town.
“And as for your new sisters, let me see if I have this right. Besides Tabitha and Jett, you must be talking about Bobbie,” Petula responded smartly. “And you probably consider Sheila part of the clan, now, as well.”
“That’s right,” Julian confirmed. “Those four, but there’s also Mason’s wife Everlee, and Kyle’s wife Rowan.”
Petula nodded and grinned. “I knew that. I see Everlee on my route quite a bit. She and Mase order a lot of toys for their daughter, who’s…now two?”
Julian chuckled. “Yup. They spoil Reilly rotten. But she’s the sweetest little thing, so it’s easy to do. Rowan and Kyle have a different philosophy for their son, Benny. He’s only six months old, though, so we’ll see how well they stick to their “minimal toys”, “adventure-kid” philosophy once he’s up and about. It’s possible he’ll want to be a nerd, rather than an action hero.”
Petula laughed.
She actually laughed.
Julian’s stomach did a gleeful flip-flop. The woman was beautiful on any given day, but when she showed overt happiness?Stunning. If only he could think of more things to say that would light her up. Perhaps…
“Did you know that Bobbie and Tabitha are both pregnant?”
Julian didn’t know how much the women talked when Petula did her deliveries.
“I know Bobbie is,” she smirked. “When I was dropping off paper-goods one day at her catering place, I caught her throwing up in one of the dumpsters in the alley. I held her hair while she barfed. That was…” Petula tapped her lip. “…a little more than two months ago and she was just getting out of her first trimester, so she’s five months along now?”
“That’s right. And Tabbi is three.”
“I didn’t know about Tabitha. I’ll have to give her my congratulations next time I come into your shop.”
“Schedule a little extra time. Between Tabbi and Sheila, they’ll talk your ear off about all the baby books they’ve read.”
“Good to know.” Petula stared down at her feet, then looked at her watch again.
“Listen…” they both said at the same time.
It was Julian’s turn to laugh. “You go first.”
“No. You,” Petula countered.
“Okay.” This part was easy. “I was going to mention that I was glad I caught you.” Dare he say more? He glanced at the window again to see Tabitha grinning and giving him a thumbs up.
Okay. Here goes.
“You brighten my whole day when you show up with our deliveries.”
Color crept into her face, and Julian hoped that was a good thing. Since Petula was a redhead, it might just be a blood-vessel reaction that happened all the time, say from the cold or something. But… Was Julian being selfish wanting that blush to be just for him?
Still, it might embarrass her to have her emotions—whatever they were—scrutinized, so he changed paths.
“What wereyougoing to say, before?” he questioned.
Instead of her redness toning down, it actually ramped up. If Petula weren’t so young and fit, Julian might have worried she was headed for a stroke.
“I, um…” she fumbled with her clipboard, not meeting his eyes, then blurted out one word.
“Yes.”
“Yes?” Julian repeated, confused.
What did she mean?
Petula rolled her eyes, brought her clipboard up in front of her face and groaned.
