Page 74 of Building What's Meant to Be

“Take it easy, Mae Bae,” Taylor says.

Mae pushes to sitting. “I’m just saying if she so much as—”

“You already warned Tinsley,” Taylor adds.

“You warned her?” I ask, aghast.

“Just doing my sisterly duties.” She juts her chin defiantly.

I scrub my hand down my face. “Thank you, I guess.”

“You’re welcome.”

Taylor kisses his wife and son on the forehead then comes over to me when the ladybosses arrive.

“Did you have to pick Tinsley?” he asks in a low voice.

“I don’t think it was a matter of selection. It just happened, but if you’re uncomfortable with it, we can talk.”

“No, it’s not that. As mentioned, we never officially dated. I’m just worried that you won’t walk away unscathed.”

I almost roll my eyes. “I think I can handle it.”

Taylor’s expression wrinkles. “What about the, uh, ‘If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you’ situation?”

“Taylor, I don’t typically kill people. I’m a federal investigator.” I rub my temples.

“But does she know about your job and the case?”

“Oh. Uh, not yet.” Uncertainty pinches me inside. This far down the road, I’m not sure how to tell her without one of us getting scathed.

The pursed-lip look Taylor gives me suggests I may have a problem on my hands.

“Don’t worry. I’ll deal with it. I always do.”

After we visit for a while longer and well-wishes filter in and out, Mom has everyone leave to give the new family some time to rest.

I exit into the hallway in a daze to find Tinsley standing there.

She holds a pastry box from Sweethearts. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Mae and Taylor have a healthy baby boy.”

“I made brownies.” Her smile wavers.

“That was sosweetof you.”

“I didn’t burn them.”

“And very responsible.”

“From now on, I’m going to do a great job at Sweethearts. Nearly burning the place down was a wake-up call. Rhondy came by in case I hadn’t heard about the baby, and I told hereverything. I’d been on my phone, distracted when I set the timer. I wasn’t focused.”

I smoosh her cheek and am tempted to do the same on her lips, but she draws back.

“I don’t know why I’m here.”

“Is that an existential question?” I guide Tinsley toward the door and outside where there is a garden and bench. We sit down with a nice view of the town.

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