Page 33 of Coming Home

“Yeah.” Noah chuckled, shaking his head. “It was a scene. Mathew forgot the change of clothes in the diaper bag.”

“But he remembered his bear costume,” Nat chimed in with a small smile.

“Yep.” Noah gazed at her, a strange intensity in his blue eyes.

“Well, at least Francisco will grow out of it, but Mathew…” Summer trailed off as all of them laughed.

“If you ladies don’t have plans, I was headed to the bakery to do some taste testing of a few of the autumn treats we’ll launch at Fall Fest. We could use some free focus group people. Otherwise, it will just be Todd and me.”

Summer and Nat’s gazes darted back and forth in their own visual morse code. In the quick exchange, Summer’s chocolate eyes seemed to ask if Nat was okay or if an excuse was needed.

She could do this.“Yeah. That’d be great,” Nat verbalized what her eyes had communicated to Summer.

The foursome walked down the street to the Farmer’s Wife. The Main Street bakery had been in the village for forty years. Five years ago, Noah bought it from the previous owner who wanted to retire. It was his first venture into the business world, and soon the budding mogul expanded with the wine bar and brewery.

The bell above the door chimed as Noah opened and held the door. Liam scampered into the half-filled bakery, claiming a large round table near the front windows.

“Nat!” Liam shouted.

“Inside voice, baby,” Summer corrected with a warm smile before looking at Nat.

“Like mother, like son.” Nat elbowed her friend.

Summer poked Nat’s ribs.

“Nat,” Liam said with his indoor voice. “They’re the color of your Jeep.” He pointed to the sunshine-yellow painted walls, dotted with framed pictures of old-timey country kitchens.

They are. Nat’s mouth dropped open. She’d never noticed that before. Until Noah bought and renovated the bakery, the walls had been off-white. In fact, Noah teased her when she’d posted a picture of her obnoxious bright-yellow Jeep on Instagram after she’d bought it five years ago.

Summer placed her right hand beneath Nat’s chin and pushed up. “You’ll catch flies.”

“Well, well, look at what the tomcat dragged in.” Todd sauntered through the swinging white kitchen door. His muscular arms and cut torso on full display in a form-hugging sky-blue T-shirt.

Summer’s mouth dropped open. Nat placed her hand below Summer’s chin and repeated the same action. Both women giggled as Summer batted her hand away.

“Mom, what are you and Nat doing?” Liam asked, face pinched.

“Nothing,” they replied in unison.

“Girls are weird,” he groaned, turning to Noah.

“One day you’ll like weird,” Noah said, his eyes anchored on Nat.

Is he… No.Her throat grew dry.

“I love weird.” Todd’s focus settled on Summer like she was a tray of pastries and he was starving.

Nat squeezed Summer’s upper thigh from below the table. Summer kicked her with her flip-flopped foot. They were both acting like twelve-year-olds. One with a self-admitted crush and one refusing to own up to hers.

“We created a few new treats for the fall,” Todd explained, pointing to the different goodies. “This is a cinnamon vanilla chai-inspired scone.” He picked up a knife from the tray, cutting the pastry into four pieces.

“You’re doing it wrong.” Liam frowned.

Todd winked, silencing Summer’s readied correction. “I’m always open to feedback. How should I do it?”

“Five pieces. There are five of us. You need a piece too.”

Todd’s lips lifted in an appreciative smile. “You got it, little dude.”

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