Page 16 of Take Me to the Wedding

Ugh. I should’ve kept quiet about my family quirk. And I needed to stop analyzing his eyes.

“Maybe you can try out some of your skills with me and Lilly,” he said, returning himself to total annoyance level.

“That’s not a good idea,” I said, shutting that idea down quick. “I’m not my grandmother. I can only help you using my brains like normal people.”

But I could tell the wheels of his mind were turning. Stubborn man that he was, he wasn’t going to let this go.

“And I suppose it’s bad luck to match yourself?” Mrs. D. asked.

“No, it’simpossibleto match yourself.”

Caleb tossed me a puzzled expression.

“It just doesn’t work. Matchmakers are as blind to their gift as everyone else.”

I was talking about myself as if I believed in my grandmother’s abilities. As if I believed that I possessed them too.

In truth, I’d scoffed at the process. Evaded Oma’s attempts to teach me. And while I still didn’t believe it was a thing, I regretted not learning what she was trying to pass along to me. For the family folklore part of it at least.

“Tell you what,” Caleb said. “You help me and Lilly, and I’ll fix you up with Quinn. How’s that?”

I held up my thumb and index finger and pinched them together. “With you, there’s such a teeny-tiny line between help and torture.”

“I think it would be fun to give you a dose of your own matchmaking medicine. You never know. It could be fun.”

“I feel right at home,” I said to Mrs. D., still looking at Caleb. “Caleb endlessly tortures Mia, and since she’s not here, me.”

Caleb looked surprised. Taken aback. “Well, I’ve got to keep my skills up for her, right?” He glanced at his phone. “Looks like Quinn’s decided to drive right to the farm. So no worries about getting to know him during the long drive to Waukasaw.”

“Great. I’ll just focus on sitting in the back seat and doing my hocus-pocus on you and Lilly.” I wiggled my fingers in the same way he had.

Mrs. D. burst out laughing. “You two are the cutest.”

Mr. D’Angelo appeared at the door. He walked over and smooched his wife on the cheek. “Hey, Beth, sorry I’m late. Tractor stalled on me. I’ve still got to wash up.” He saw me and broke out into a big smile. “Hey there, Sammy. I owe you a big hug. Except I’m covered in tractor grease.”

I made air hug motions, and he made them back, chuckling. He was the only person who called me Sammy, but I didn’t mind. I liked how he said it in an endearing way.

“I’ll come with you.” Caleb hightailed it after his dad, his enthusiasm to leave apparent.

“Hurry back,” Mrs. D. called. “I’m about to take the frittata out of the oven.” She linked her arm with mine as we stood there. Then she patted my arm. It felt awkward and sweet at the same time. “I can’t really see you and Quinn together,” she said in a conspiratorial tone.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to date anyone you’re in a wedding with.” That seemed like a safe thing to say. Mrs. D. had this way of making you talk, and I really didn’t want to open myself up to any questions. So far, I’d been immune to her attempts to get Caleb and me together. I was hoping she’d give up, now that Lilly was back in the picture. And she was so nice—but did she not like Lilly? If that was the case… why? I mean, sometimes Mia referred to her mom as Saint Beth. Ifshedidn’t like someone, then we were all in trouble.

“I don’t usually weigh in on these things, but I’m not sure you want to be fixed up with him,” she said.

I took a seat at the island. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“Oh, he’s nice enough.” She put on mitts and peeked in the oven. “Needs a few more minutes.” She closed the door and pulled off her mitts. “I’d wager to say he’stoonice.”

I lifted a brow. Did she think I didn’t deserve nice men?

“What I mean is, he’s—well, he’s quite agreeable. Like, extremely agreeable.”

I couldn’t repress a giggle. “That’s a bad thing?” I envisioned a man who didn’t buck me at every turn, like her son. A peaceful coexistence would be delightful.

She sat down and took a sip of coffee, which was in a mug that saidKissin’ Don’t Last—Cookin’ Does. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to survive with a spouse who agreed with me all the time. I think disagreeing leads to more passion.” She gave me a wink. “Poor Quinn recently had a bad breakup. I think he feels a little desperate for love right now.”

“Good to know,” I said. “How do you… know all this?”

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