Page 56 of A Touch of Spring Magic

“Dad or Mom never said to follow my heart,” Jessica said. “It was always focus. Set goals. Be smart. Don’t let anyone outwork you.”

“Good advice,” Grandma Millie said taking one of the spinach and delicata squash empanadas Chloe and Meghan had made.

“Are these from the book you found in my library, Chloe, dear?” Grandma Millie sounded way too innocent, and Jessica practically saw Sarah and Meghan’s ears vibrate to attention.

“No,” Chloe said. “I stole this and innovated it from something that Rustin makes with the fried Manchurian cauliflower appetizer the Wild side offered last month. I did use the book to make the scalloped and leek potatoes because we worked so hard today and need the carb coma energy boost, but if everyone falls crazy in love with me over dinner, I’m already taken. Cheers.”

They all clinked glasses. Grandma Millie smiled fondly at Chloe. It was wonderful to see Chloe so happy and confident.

“We’re already crazy in love with you, monkey,” Jessica said. “We don’t need an old mysterious cookbook.” Jessica looked hard at Grandma Millie who sipped her drink and looked out toward the darkened garden. Her expression was too innocent to believe. “Anything you want to tell us, Grandma Millie?”

Maybe it is a family heirloom.

She looked at Sarah and Meghan to see if they were thinking the same thing.

“Delicious drink, dear.”

“Speaking of the book.” Chloe picked it up from where she’d tucked it between her thigh and the arm of the Adirondak chair. “I thought tonight’s the perfect night to choose what party food we will make for my and Rustin’s party. We want bite-size food, easy to serve and tasty, but not fussy but not just Southern traditional. We want a pop of magic. Unexpected zest. Perhaps you can lead off, Grandma Millie. I’m sure you have a favorite,” Chloe said slyly.

“I don’t know what you mean child.” Grandma Millie took another sip of her drink and stared Chloe down like she was the dictionary definition for guilelessness.

Chloe frowned then laughed. “You win that round. But back to the book. If we all make something from it, then it will reflect the Maye and Cramer Families, and Lucas and Rebekah are going to make something too, and Clara’s inventing a celebration cocktail for us so it’s all in the family and on this beautiful historic property where we made so many memories, and Jessica is building her new future.”

Jessica sighed. No way she could work her way out of this ask, and judging from her sisters’ stunned expressions, they too knew they were caught. The book it was.

*

She should haveexpected the summons.

Better yet, she should have called her mom for the ‘lunch date’ so she could have told one parent at a time and not be double-teamed. But she’d procrastinated too long so she should consider herself lucky that only her mother called—because she never texted—at an inopportune time—of course she did. Jessica had spent yesterday afternoon digging holes for the small olive grove she was planting this morning, and while Storm had offered her at least one helper, the olive grove was something that felt very dear to her heart. She was planting the olive trees in two staggered circles around the mosaic, and Storm was going to repair the fountain they’d found. To keep with the Tuscan theme—and protect against deer—she’d plant lavender lavishly as a border.

It was her own design, and she was excited to execute it and see her vision come to life.

She swallowed her scowl at the interruption. “Of course, Mother. Where would you like to meet? Or shall I pick you up? What time?”

“You sound very pressured in your speech,” her mother said. “You’re out of breath. Did I interrupt anything?”

Her mother could convey more in a tone than the final winner at a Toastmasters’s convention.

“I’m working.” She kept the sugar in her mouth.

“Hmmmm, about that…”

Jessica closed her eyes. Of course her mother knew she was no longer gunning for the corner office in a prestigious downtown Charlotte accounting firm.

She wouldn’t have invited her to lunch today because ‘gunners’ didn’t take lunch unless they were asked to entertain clients.

“How about the Humble Goat?”

“That is a ridiculous name for a restaurant. As if a goat could be humble.”

“The food is flavorful and innovative and light. Lots of seasonal salads.” And it was in Cramerton, not Belmont, so the possibility of privacy existed.

“I am unclear what salad could possibly be in season in early March, but your father has a meeting in Charlotte, and he will drop me off on the way. Shall we say twelve? I have a meeting with the library foundation at two so that will give us plenty of time to chat. You can drop me off on your way back to…work.”

Jessica could practically hear the air quotes.

“Lovely.” Jessica looked down at her dirt- and mulch-smeared clothing. She was likely covered in dust from supervising the dump of the pea gravel that she’d hopefully be spreading by tomorrow—that was if she could get all the trees planted today and tomorrow morning—and she’d just lost a huge chunk of time and daylight.

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