Page 69 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

Amber checked her phone for text messages, knowing she didn’t have any from him as he’d still be out of cell phone range.

“Did you want to leave a message for him?” the neighbor asked.

“No, it’s okay. I was just coming by to say hi.”

The woman gave her a knowing smile. “I think it is very cute, the two of you getting together.”

“Thank you.”

“I met your sister the other day, very nice woman. Very put together.”

Amber pushed aside the feeling that she was being judged, and maybe coming up lacking. The two of them were different, that was all. Amber had her own value and skills. Everyone brought different talents to the table.

“Yes, I really like her,” she said. “And I hope you do, too.”

The neighbor paused. “Many blessings, Amber.” She smiled and went back into her house.

Amber sat on Scott’s steps, wondering how long it would be before he came home. He had been right. A month ago she hadn’t been ready for him, and she would have messed it up with her fears and spontaneous knee-jerk reactions whenever she felt in over her head. She knew who she was now. And she’d take their relationship seriously and meet any issues head-on. She was still the person he’d always known, but she was stronger now. She could handle it, stick with it.

Amber stood. She and Scott were going to rock the whole relationship thing.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was Gloria, asking her to come over.

Was this the moment she’d been waiting for? The one where she walked into a living room to find her mother and father sharing a couch, in love, ready to be parents? Or had something gone wrong?

Bring cake,the text said.

Did her mom want to celebrate, or to stuff her feelings under layers of chocolaty frosting?

There was only one way to find out.

* * *

Amber’s momheld the door open as Amber awkwardly maneuvered through the doorway with a slab cake that saidHey, You’re Pretty Great.

“Miss me?” Amber asked, holding her cheek out for a kiss.

Her mother gave her a peck and said, “Always. What’s this about?”

“I wasn’t sure if I should have them putCongratulationsorSorryon it.” She leaned closer and whispered, “John’s car is still here.”

“Nothing goes unnoticed.”

“I’m allowed to stalk my own mother. So…” She passed her the cake. “What’s up?”

“Amber!” John came out of the kitchen, smiling. “Let me take that,” he said to Gloria. He craned his neck to reading the cake’s message. “Running family joke?”

“I didn’t know what to have them write on it,” Amber said, feeling silly. She didn’t know what was going on and was afraid to make assumptions.

“You didn’t have to put anything on it,” her mother stated.

“I love having them do it. Edible ink--best kind ever. And it’s free.”

She studied her father. He was like a blank wall, giving nothing away. Her mother seemed happy and relaxed, but Amber wasn’t sure if it meant that she had told him everything or if she had decided not to.

“So what’s up?” Amber asked.

“We’re having a family dinner,” Gloria said. She headed to the kitchen, John following her, cake in hand.

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