“Ohhkay?” Finola was at a loss, the respectful options that she’d learned were basically exhausted.
“You can call me, Finola.” She nodded. “That works.”
Noelle smiled at that. “Finola.”
Finola nodded. “That’s good. Or someday…” she sighed dramatically, “you can call me Mom.”
Noelle almost choked on her iced tea at Finola’s words.
“Come now, dear.” Finola brought over two plates and tipped her head to the side. “We can sit at the table behind you.”
Noelle blinked back the tears in her eyes and turned.
There was a cozy little round table beside the sliding door that they’d used to enter the house. “We can sit here and enjoy lunch and watch the show.”
Again, Noelle startled, wondering what Finola meant.
McCrae’s mom set the two plates down in front of the chairs facing the glass and took the seat closest to herself.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. You won’t be able to see the body.”
Noelle nodded, relieved at her reassurance, and then took the seat beside her hostess.
Finola gestured at the yard. “McCrae and the others moved most of the benches out of the barn earlier. They’ll be eating out there.”
Noelle took a bite of the chicken sandwich and started to chew.
“So, do you think my son is handsome?”
Noelle started to choke on the bite she was chewing.
“Oh, dear.” Finola gave her back a few pats until Noelle waved a hand to make her stop. “Better?”
Noelle coughed one more time and then sat back against the chair. “Better.”
Finola waved at her plate. “Now, we’ll eat while you tell me if my son is handsome enough for me to set you two up.”
The sandwich triangle that she had in her hand was set right back down on the plate and Noelle was starting to wonder if she’d be able to eat without choking.
Or just eat in general.
“Finola, I-”
“Awww shucks. I was only half-kidding.” She picked up her own sandwich triangle and took a dainty bite off of the end.”
Noelle hesitated for a moment, but Finola gestured at her to eat.
“Eat. Eat.”
Noelle smiled at how much Finola reminded her of her own mother at that moment.
Taking a moment to make sure that McCrae’s mom was eating and not likely to continue her motherly interrogation. Noelle picked up the sandwich triangle again and took a bite.
There were chewing, happily so, when movement outside the window drew Noelle’s attention.
She recognized Blue and Jack, both walking with several trays of food.
“Is that lunch and dinner?”
