I put the eggs in my canvas shopping bag and follow him to a pastry stand, where a petite blonde woman is paying for her purchase.
"Sweetie," he says, "I'd like you to meet someone."
When she turns around, she's holding her very pregnant belly and biting into a frosted mini coffee cake. She's beautiful.
"Hi," she says, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I'm sorry, I have uncontrollable cravings these days."
"This is Sharon," Patrick says, "Sharon, this is my wife, Cara."
"It's nice to meet you," I say. "Do you know what you're having?"
"A boy," Cara says, licking frosting off a finger.
"Congratulations," I say, feeling genuinely happy for Patrick and his little family.
"You're going to have your hands full," I say. "How far apart will they be?"
"Well, if I make it to my due date, fifteen months apart."
I talk to them for a few minutes and then start heading toward my car, parked a couple of blocks away.
My heart skips a beat, and my mouth goes dry when I spot Jon and Susan walking towards me. She's laughing and holding onto his arm.
I hope they don't see me. Oh no, no, it's too late. Here they come.
"Hi, Sharon, right?" Susan asks in greeting, tightening her grip on Jon's arm.
"Yes. Hi."
"I thought you lived in San Diego."
"Los Angeles," I correct her. "I moved back."
"Oh. Was it something planned? I don't remember you mentioning it when we met at Loren's funeral."
"Plans change," I say, "and so here I am."
The entire time Susan and I talk, Jon's gaze is focused on me, but he doesn't say anything.
"Looks like you found a lot of things," Susan says, pointing at my shopping bag.
"I did," I say. "Well, I better get going. It was nice seeing both of you."
"Likewise," she says.
"Goodbye," Jon finally says before they both walk away.
Back at the house, I try to focus on something other than what happened at the farmers’ market.
I decide to make a fried egg sandwich for lunch using some of what I bought today.
I was so tired when I got here last night that I didn't even walk into the kitchen.
I set the bag on the counter and notice a letter addressed to me propped against the coffee pot. It's in Loren's handwriting.
I open it and pull out two smaller envelopes. One is addressed to Jon, and the other to me.
I open the envelope and begin reading.