Page 12 of The Marrying Kind
We both chuckled at that.
“I have more laugh lines than I ever wanted. They’re a good bunch, though,” she said.
Jameson poured himself a cup of coffee, and I watched the family banter about the bees for a few minutes. There was something inexplicable in the way they spoke, so uniquely familial, it made my chest ache.
“Ella might help with the bees today.”
At the mention of my name, I perked up out of my dark place. “Uh, y-yeah. Maybe,” I stammered.
“I can’t say you look familiar. Do you have a place nearby?” Jameson asked me.
I shook my head. “I’m on vacation. Just passing through.”
“She’s got a bucket list,” Austen said for me.
Jameson frowned. “You’re not dying, are you?”
Natalie choked on a sip of coffee just then. “Really, Jameson, what a rude thing to ask.”
I offered him a polite smile. “No. Nothing like that. I just was ready for an adventure, so I made a list of things I wanted to do this year. This is my first stop, actually, but with the lodging issues, I think I’ll need to skip ahead a little.”
“I told you, you’re welcome to stay here,” Austen said again.
“You know, Nana told me she once made a bucket list,” Natalie said suddenly. “That’s my mother, she lives with me on the property.” She hitched her thumb toward the woods.
“What was on her list?” I asked, curious if there was anything good I’d missed.
“The usual. Win big on a slot machine, sleep with Tiger Woods ...”
Everyone broke out in laughter.
“She sounds like a good time.”
“She is.” Natalie nodded. “So, what’s on your list, if it’s okay to ask?”
“Nothing so wild as all that. Mine are much tamer. Like learning to ski and volunteering for charity.” I might have had a scandalous thing or two on the list, but I wasn’t about to divulge that detail.
Natalie’s eyes lit up. “Volunteer for a charity? You don’t say.”
“You’re shameless,” Jameson said to his mother with a laugh.
“Hey, it’s on her list, after all.”
“What is it?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“I just opened a bakery in town, and I’m donating a big delivery to the hospital this week. I could sure use a second set of hands making cupcakes. No pressure, of course.”
“It’s for a worthy cause, though,” Austen added for good measure.
I thought it over for half a second. “Only if Austen really doesn’t mind me staying another night.”
Was I really going to stay again? He seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement, even though I felt guilty about the imposition.
Jameson scoffed. “Oh, he doesn’t mind, I’m sure.”
“What has gotten into you today?” Natalie scolded him before turning to me. “It would be lovely if you stuck around the Hart compound. If you want to help out later, I’ll be at the Hearthstone Bakery downtown at four. And if you need anything any other time, I live in the house next door.” She pointed out the window again.
“Thank you. I think I’ll take you up on that.”
