Page 9 of Undeniable You

“I’m named after two book characters. My full first name is Josephine, from Little Women, and my middle name is Emily.”

Larison gasped and Juniper’s eyes lit up.

“That’s my middle name too!” She jumped up and down a few times excitedly.

“No way! That’s an amazing coincidence.” I risked a glance at Larison and found her looking at me with a strange and somewhat shocked expression on her face.

“My middle name really is Emily for the book character Emily of New Moon. I didn’t make that up,” I told her, in case she thought I was lying just to ingratiate myself with Juniper.

“So is hers,” she said.

“You loved that book,” Larison’s mother said, finally speaking. I met her eyes to find her watching the three of us with a smile on her face.

“You and my mom would get along then,” I told Larison, standing up, my knees popping.

“Why don’t you come inside for a moment?” Larison’s mother said. “I’m Allison, by the way.”

I shook her hand, marveling at her strong grip.

“You should rest,” Larison said, but Allison shook her head.

“I’m fine, don’t fuss,” Allison said, limping back toward the front door.

“Oh, uh, sure,” I said, not really sure if I had another choice.

“What other books do you like?” Juniper asked, looking up at me with wide blue eyes. They were her only feature that didn’t match Larison’s.

“I love alllll kinds of books. Have you read the one about the caterpillar who eats everything?”

“Yes, yes!” Juniper was one enthusiastic kid, and that was downright adorable. Once she got started telling me her favorite books, she was on a roll.

The inside of the house was so homey and soft and full of art and pictures of the family. Instantly I felt comfortable and the anxiety I’d felt before and at the beginning of the interview evaporated.

Even the raging lust I felt for Larison had finally decided to take a backseat, which was a relief.

“Mama, please sit down,” Larison said, pulling out a chair at the table in the kitchen that had fresh flowers and a small stack of mail on top of it.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Allison said, but she did sit down.

“Mama, can I have some mango?” Juniper asked, tilting her face up and making her eyes big and pleading.

Larison, stroked a few wisps of hair back that had escaped Juniper’s ponytail. “Let’s just have a few pieces because we’re going home soon and we’re going to have dinner.”

“Okay, Mama,” Juniper said before dashing to the fridge and pulling out a container of sliced mango.

Larison turned to me. “Can I get you anything?

“Not going to lie, mango sounds pretty good right about now.”

“Juniper, can you share your mango with Jo?” Larison asked as she went to get two forks.

“I guess,” Juniper said.

“Juniper,” Larison said in that Mom Tone that even made me stand up straighter.

Juniper looked at her mom and then came over to me. “I’ll share the mango, Jo.” Larison handed both of us a fork.

“Thank you, Juniper. Is mango your favorite fruit?”

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