Page 72 of Forbidden Flame

Remembering the blueish ice cream with confetti pieces in it from our visit the other night, I wasn’t so sure there was any cake in it, but I didn’t correct her. “That’s right.”

“I can’t wait to taste it.”

“You’ve always been my best taste tester.”

Izzy looked out the window. “That’s because I’m always around.”

“Your grandpa and uncles like it too.”

“We should have an ice cream party.”

“Let’s wait until she makes the ice cream with my pies. Maybe it won’t turn out.”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “Your pies are the best. Everyone says so.”

I loved that she had faith in me. “And what better mix than ice cream?”

“Right?” Izzy said as we pulled into the lane for the Monroe Christmas Tree Farm.

Cole had said the gate would be open, and no one would be at the little gate house because it wasn’t the season yet. Customers came to the shop in the barn, but it would be closed this late. I think it was only open during the day a few days a week, and maybe on Saturday mornings.

I went past the main house and the red barn and continued down the lane to Heath’s cabin. Cole had said the girls were coming to his house to play. I hoped I wouldn’t have to talk to his cousins. I wasn’t ready for an interrogation about what we were doing.

Chapter 16

Cole

When I heard a vehicle on the lane, I went out to the porch to meet Daphne and Izzy. When Izzy got out of the van, I said, “Addy and Ember are already out back.”

Izzy hesitated and looked at her mother. “Can you go with me?”

“We’ll all go.” I jogged down the steps to join them and led the way around the house to the backyard.

The girls were sitting on large cushions on the patio playing a game.

“Addy, Ember— Izzy is here.”

“You want to play with us?” Addy asked.

Izzy stood next to them looking down at the configuration of cards. “What are you playing?”

“Sleeping Queens,” Ember said, moving over so that there was room for Izzy to sit on one of the cushions.

I gestured toward the table and chairs a few feet away so that Daphne would know I wanted to sit.

Daphne sat next to me. “I hope this goes well. She doesn’t have many friends outside of school.”

“Ember and Addy are sweet girls. I’m sure it will be fine.” Sarah and Sebastian readily agreed to a playdate when I said Izzy didn’t have anyone to play with.

“I never realized how nerve wracking my kid’s social life would be.”

I shook my head. “Being a parent is tough, huh?”

Daphne smiled. “Toughest job there is. Izzy has a cousin, but my brother Ryder doesn’t live nearby. I’m secretly hoping he’s able to work a miracle at some point and move back home.”

“Why hasn’t he?” The Calloways seemed close to me.

“His wife’s family lives in Virginia, so that’s where they settled.”

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