I hesitate only a second before typing again.
Me:
Is it okay if I come over to drop something off for you?
Another quick response.
Aiden:
Yeah. Uncle Mike’s there with Andres.
Perfect.
I glance up at my sisters. “Okay. I need help with a small project.”
“What kind of project?” April asks slowly.
“You’ll see.”
A few minutes later, we’re walking across the lawn toward Aiden’s house.
“I made labels for Aiden’s bread and jam,” I whisper quickly. “We’re going to label everything he’s made before he gets home.”
Their eyes widen in identical realization.
“Oh,” April says, dragging out the word.
June smirks. “That’s… very sweet of you.”
“Stop,” I mutter, knocking before they can say anything else.
Andres opens the door, smiling when he sees me.
“Hey,” he says. “Come in.”
“We’re here to work on the farmers market stuff,” I explain, lifting the envelope slightly.
He nods and steps aside to let us in.
The second we walk inside, Skye trots over, tail wagging so hard her whole body moves with it. I crouch to scratch behind her ears while my sisters immediately melt, both reaching down to pet her. “Girls, this is Skye,” I say as she happily accepts the attention, wandering between us before settling in her bed.
Uncle Mike sits in his usual chair by the window, sunlight falling across his lap.
“Uncle Mike, these are my sisters. April and June.”
Both of them step forward and give him a quick hug without hesitation, and his face softens.
“Well, look at that,” he says warmly. “It’s nice to finally meet you, ladies.”
“Nice to meet you, Uncle Mike,” April says with a smile.
“We’re going to help Aiden get ready for the market,” I explain. “I brought some labels I want to surprise him with.”
He waves a hand toward the kitchen. “Take your time. Do whatever you need.”
Crates take over the kitchen, four loaded with different breads, one full of bagged bagels, and several stacked with blueberry and peach jam.
“Wow,” April says, looking around. “He made all of this?”
