Page 6 of Dreaming of Dawson

“You might have to do both,” she says. “I’ve got Cooper and Mallory coming by when they finish work to go through their wedding plans, and later on, Zara’s coming over to get my opinion on her wedding dress.”

“Isn’t that something brides normally do with their bridesmaids?” he asks.

“She’s not having any bridesmaids, and she’s had the dress adjusted and wants someone to see it on her, other than the woman in the shop, who was evidently very gushing.”

“They have to be, don’t they?” Ryan says.

“Yes. She’s also bringing their dog with her.”

“Their dog? Tanner and Zara’s? I didn’t know they had one.”

“He’s a puppy,” Peony says with a starry-eyed smile. “He’s called Bentley, and I said I wanted to meet him, so Zara agreedto bring him over. I—I hope you don’t mind, but I told her you’d be okay with taking him for a walk around the orchard.”

Ryan nods. “Of course I don’t mind, and I’ll try to come home early so you can concentrate on your meeting with Cooper and Mallory, rather than fussing over Rory.”

“Did anyone ever tell you what a fabulous husband you are?” Peony says, and he smiles.

“Yes, but I’ll let you tell me again later. Or you can show me, if you like?” His meaning is obvious and Peony blushes, although she doesn’t say a word and while I know I should probably be embarrassed myself, I’m not. It’s heartening to see a couple who are so much in love.

Ryan turns, shaking his head, a slight smile on his lips, although he’s clearly decided not to pursue that line of conversation, and looks at me instead. “Sorry, Macy. I feel like we’re ignoring you.”

“That’s okay,” I say, swallowing down my sandwich.

“How are you finding life in Hart’s Creek?” he asks, adjusting his position slightly, although Rory doesn’t stop drinking from his bottle.

“I really like it. I might be new here, but I guess it helps that I’m living with my aunt. She may not be a native of the town, but she’s lived here for almost thirty years, so…”

“So, she’s almost at the point of being accepted by the locals?” he says and we all laugh.

“It’s not that bad,” Peony says, turning to Ryan. “We all love Bernie. She was the music teacher at the high school for years, and when she retired, she started giving piano lessons from home.”

“She still does,” I say, sipping my coffee. “I helped update her website when I first got here, just so she could drum up some more business. It seems to have helped. She’s had two new bookings this week alone.”

“That’s great,” Peony says. “I wish I’d known you when I was setting things up here. Building the website nearly drove me crazy, and I wasn’t actually doing it myself. Ryan paid for someone to build it for me… and I still found it too confusing for words.”

Ryan laughs. “You don’t think being pregnant and hormonal might have had something to do with that?”

“No,” she says, although she’s smiling, and I have to wonder if there might be a grain of truth in his comment.

Ryan was right about something else.

Rory is in no mood to sleep, and after he’s finished his bottle and had his diaper changed, he’s happy to sit on his mom’s lap while I finish my work and Ryan wolfs down his lunch.

“I can give you a ride home,” he says to me, putting his coffee cup on the table.

“It’s not exactly on your way.”

“It’s fine. I don’t have any meetings this afternoon, so it won’t matter if I’m ten minutes late getting back to the office.”

“If you’re sure. It would be great not to have to walk. I could use the extra time to do some research.”

“Into what?” Peony asks.

“Into where I might find another job.”

Her face falls. “You’re leaving?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head, just to be sure she understands. “I’m looking for a second job… one I can do as well as this one.”

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