Joey opened his mouth to ask something else, but we were interrupted by the sound of small footsteps on grass.
“Jasmine!” Mollie yelled. “Get back here.”
It was an automatic response. I gently put my hand on Piper’s elbow and moved her out of the way. Jasmine kept running, stopping right in front of me instead.
“Didn’t your mom tell you to wait?” I asked.
“That’s boring.” She pouted.
It was just enough time for Mollie to catch up.
“Thanks!” she said. “Sorry, Piper.”
“It’s fine. I know how kids can be.” She looked down at Jasmine and waved. “Hi.”
Jasmine waved back with more energy than I had in a day. “Do you wanna pick some blueberries?”
“I think we do,” Piper said with a smile. “Where can we pick?”
“Between the flags.” The little girl recited it like she’d memorized it.
Mollie watched it all before she turned to Mitch and Joey. “Are you guys picking too?”
“I sure am,” Mitch said as he grabbed the basket. “This place is incredible.”
“Thank you. It’s passed down from my grandfather, and I’ve tried to make it as awesome as it was when I was a kid.”
“You’re definitely doing that,” Piper said. “I wish I’d made it in time for strawberry picking.”
“We try to keep it going all through the growing season, so I do have some everbearing strawberries you could check out.”
“Yes, please.”
“They’re in the other field. I’d go with you, but Jasmine is demanding to see one of the cows.”
“Moosely!” Jasmine added.
“That’s her name,” Mollie explained. “Will you call me when you’re done?”
“Yep,” Piper said. “Thank you!”
“So, do you know her?” Joey asked when Mollie was halfway to the animal fields.
“Yeah, she’s one of my friends. I’ve gone to a few events with her and three other women in town.”
“All at the same time?” he asked slowly.
“They’re all really understanding about the no-touching thing. Most people here are.”
Joey’s gaze cut to me, and I knew he was aware that I was an exception to Piper’s rule.
I wasn’t sure he liked that fact.
“That was a smooth move,” Mitch said to me. “You moved her out of the way just in time.”
“Thanks. Most people respect personal space. Kids don’t.”
“There was this one time I dumped my coffee on myself when she ran at me like that.” Piper sighed. “I’ve come a long way since then.”
