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Turning to go out, Chet stopped in his tracks. Standing just a few feet away was the one person he hadn’t planned on seeing and yet the only one he would’ve done anything to touch. Lydia’s eyes locked with his for endless seconds before dipping to the bag in his hand. Other customers scooted around them without much irritation at the pair of statues in their way.

His fingers tightened around the bag. He’d spent the morning thinking of what he could tell Lydia. Misty making it past the bend in the trail. The new horses they’d be getting. Now that she stood in front of him, a simple hello wouldn’t come.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked away. There were dark smudges beneath her eyes. He’d hoped she was sleeping better than he was.

He took a step toward her, then waited for a customer to pass between them. “Lydia?”

She stayed beside the display, her hand resting on the strap of her purse. Chet closed a little more of the distance. “How are you?”

She gave him a wistful smile. “Great.” Then she turned to look over the pre-packaged truffles on a nearby display.

He nodded, though her smile hadn’t quite reached her eyes. “That’s good.”

“You?” She peeked at him before returning her gaze to the truffles.

He could tell her about the work he’d finished. He could ask her to come see Misty’s progress. But what waited behind those ordinary offers was harder to keep to himself. He missed her. Working beside her. Eating with her. Having someone to call when a horse did the trick they’d spent days teaching it.

“I’m doing fine.” He moved the bag to his other hand.

She looked up at him again. For a moment, neither of them glanced away. Then her gaze dropped to the bag, and her fingers loosened on her purse strap.

“I thought you hated Black Forest brownies,” she whispered.

One side of his mouth lifted in a sad sort of smile. “I do.”

“Then why⁠—”

“They reminded me of you.”

Her lips parted with surprise. “Oh.” Her hand lifted a little toward the bag before she let it fall to her side. When she looked at him again, her face softened. Chet held still, wanting to give her a chance to say whatever had brought that look into her eyes. She pressed her lips together, and he glanced toward the door.

Chet lifted the bag. “I should probably get going. I’ll see you around, Lydia.”

She nodded. “See you around.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“You went to Sweet Everything today and you didn’t take me?” Wren snatched the goodie bag from Lydia’s hand the second she came into the kitchen. The smell of dinner cooking had already permeated the house. Happy conversation drifted from the living room where Jason and Cece were sitting with Tate.

Rylee glanced up and smiled brightly. “Thanks for picking that up for us. We definitely needed something special for dessert today.”

Wren peered inside. “Black Forest brownies?” She wrinkled her nose. “You always get these.”

“That’s because they’re my favorite. They’re so good, I’m kind of shocked they’re not everybody’s favorite,” Lydia said, taking the bag back. The paper crackled beneath her fingers. She set it on the counter before Wren could catch how tightly she held it.

Chet was still there in her mind, standing in the bakery with the same kind of bag in his hand. They reminded me of you. She’d thought of three replies since then. None had come to her while he was there.

Wren eyed her a moment, then reached into a drawer for a bread knife.

“What?” Lydia asked.

“Nothing. Can you get the butter?”

Lydia opened the refrigerator. Being handed a task was a relief, until she turned and caught the look Wren exchanged with Rylee.

“You can ask,” she said, setting the dish beside the bread. “Whatever it is.”

Wren put the knife down. “Are you doing okay?”