Ally waved a dismissive hand. “Are you kidding? She’ll be thrilled. We would love you to join us.” She handed Jenna her credit card.
There was something about Ally’s energy that drew Jenna in, made her feel warm and welcome. She didn’t always get that from her own mother, who loved her very much, of course, but because she struggled with Jenna’s “lifestyle choices,” as she called them, they hadn’t spent much time together over the past several years. Before she could allow herself any more second-guessing, she nodded.
“I’d love to go. I could use some fresh apples.” She bagged up Ally’s purchases. “As long as you’re sure.”
“I am one hundred percent positive.” Ally reached across the counter and squeezed Jenna’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re coming. We’re going to have so much fun!” She gave a little squeal of delight. “I’ll send you the details about when and where. See you soon!”
And she was off.
Jenna watched her go and stood staring after her at the closed door for another moment or two, and then Dakota entered her vision as she came through the door carrying a to-go cup.
“Just passed a very happy-looking woman carrying one of your bags,” Dakota said, setting the cup on the counter. “And I brought you some sustenance.”
Jenna smiled at her and took the cup. “Oh, you’re the best.” She took the lid off and held the cup up so she could inhale the earthy aroma of Dakota’s house-made chai. Vanilla, cloves, ginger, cinnamon; she could pick it all out. She took a sip and hummed her approval. “God, that’s good.” Meeting Dakota’s eyes, she added, “Yeah, that was my neighbor’s mom.”
Dakota looked at the door as if Ally was still in sight. “The one you had dinner with?”
Jenna nodded. “She’s invited me to go apple picking with her and her daughters—and I think she said her mom, too—this weekend.”
“Babe, I hate to break it to you, but she is so trying to fix you up.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Jenna said. “At dinner, she kind of hinted that Sawyer’s had a breakup.”
“Recently?”
Jenna squinched up her face. “I’m not sure.”
Dakota shook her head. “Doesn’t even matter, though. When a mom finds somebody they think is perfect for their kid, nothing can stop the matchmaking. It’s, like, in their mom blood or something.”
“And you know this how?”
Dakota shrugged. “I read.”
Jenna looked pointedly at the shelves in her shop. “And I don’t?”
“Okay. Fine.” Dakota pulled out her phone, typed up a quick message, and sent it. Seconds later, Jenna’s phone pinged and she looked at the text in the group chat.
Jenna’s neighbor’s mom invited her to go apple picking with them.One simple, truthful sentence.
Dakota stared at Jenna like they were in a standoff until both their phones pinged a second later with a text from Ronni.
OMG, she’s trying to set Jenna up with her daughter!
“And I rest my case,” Dakota said, holding up her phone and tipping it side to side.
Sawyer couldn’t believe her mother had invited Jenna to go apple picking with them and hadn’t even cleared it with her first.
“Would you have said no?” Colton had asked her when she’d told him.
Sawyer’s hesitation did her in.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” When she made a worried face at him, he grinned. “You’re not getting married. It’s not even a date. How about you just try to have a good time? Pick some apples. Laugh a little. Enjoy yourself.”
That seemed like good advice, and it was how Sawyer planned to spend the time, but apparently, she’d forgotten to tell her face that. The second Jenna stepped out onto the porch to meet her, she grimaced and said, “Look, if you don’t want me to come, just say so, okay? No hard feelings.”
Her voice was soft and kind, and Sawyer knew she meant it, which made her feel worse. “No, no. It’s totally fine. Let’s go pick some apples.” She did her best to shoot Jenna a genuine smile, then clicked the key fob in her hand to unlock her car. The second Jenna slid into the passenger seat and closed the door, she looked like she was maybe second-guessing whether she should’ve driven her own car. “If you need to escape, just give me a look,” Sawyer said. “I’ll give you my keys and get my sister to drop me off. Okay?”
Jenna nodded once. “Okay.”
