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Andre also checked the time. “And I need to learn more about the job offer and catch up from the festival.” Andre took another bite and covered his mouth as he spoke. “Dinner tonight?”

“Of course.” Though I hated for the lovely morning to end, at least I had the promise of seeing him again in a few hours.

“At my place?” Andre asked after a sip of his beverage. “I’ll pick up dinner, and tomorrow I can make you breakfast.”

“Yes, please. I’ve wanted to try out your breakfast specialty.” I stood and he followed suit.

Jenny had Liam’s coffee ready, with the 3 on the cup to identify it, when we reached the front. She wished us a good day as we exited. We walked to Andre’s car, our hands linked. At his driver’s door, he turned to face me.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

“For what?”

“For giving us a chance.”

Instead of words, I pulled him close and kissed him. His hands framed my face as he kissed me back, the world around us fading to nothing.

We reluctantly parted. Andre slipped into his car while I watched him back out and drive away, his little wave through the window making my heart flip.

“Well, isn’t that just the sweetest thing?” Mom’s voice came from behind me.

I turned to find both my moms watching with knowing smiles. “Hey! Breakfast?”

“We were headed that way,” Momma said, linking her arm through mine. “And it looks like you’ve already had yours with a certain someone.”

“Come sit with us for a minute,” Mom said. “We’d love to hear how you’re doing.”

Liam would understand the delay in getting his morning fuel. We grabbed a table near the window, and Jenny brought coffee for my moms. She also took Liam’s, promising to keep it warm.

“So,” Momma said, stirring cream into her coffee, “you and Andre made up?” The lilt in her voice indicated she already knew the answer.

I nodded.

“Are you both being careful with your hearts?” Mom asked.

“We are,” I assured them. “We’re taking things slow, even talking about therapy together. But we don’t want to miss out on seeing where this could go. Especially with his Seattle opportunity.”

Momma’s eyebrows rose. “Seattle?”

I explained Andre’s potential position and our plans to take a summer trip there.

“That’s wonderful that you’ll be in the same city.” Concern threaded Momma’s voice even as she was acknowledging the good news.

“We’re not rushing into anything permanent,” I said to clarify. “We’ll use this summer to get to know each other, discover how we fit together.”

Mom reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I’m glad you’re on the same page.”

“I’ve never felt like this before.”

Their faces softened with understanding. After all, they’d known their own hearts quickly too.

“Just promise us one thing?” Mom asked.

“What’s that?”

“Keep talking to each other. Especially about the hard stuff.”

“That’s the plan. We have a troubled history. The whole town witnessed that over the weekend, so we want to make sure we’re communicating well so we don’t do that again.”