Page 43 of Quintessentially

“What stipulation did Miss Ruth have?”

“Dax and I have to work together at the store for two days.”

Her laugh echoes in my car. “Oh my God. She did it.”

I shake my head as I drive toward the farm. “She didn’t do anything.”

“How did Dax find out about Molly? I swear, Kandi, no one in Riverbend would spill. You know we love you. Was it the pictures?”

I scoff. “I’m glad he finally knows. And you were right, maybe she did do something.”

“Who?”

“Ruth. He’s staying at Ruth’s house, like I told you. He found a box of pictures in her closet. He put two and two together.”

“That little matchmaker had this planned,” Chloe says with a laugh.

“I have no time for a man in my life. Right now, all I can think about is Quintessential Treasures and all the things I have planned for the future.”

“What about Molly?”

“You know better. I’m always thinking about her. This is her future too.”

“No,” Chloe says, “I mean what about her and Dax?”

The sky is filling with purples and reds as I drive out of town. “He wants to meet her. He says he wants more than that.”

“I told you.”

“He offered child support.”

“That’s great,” Chloe says. “It will help with the renovations above the store.”

“No,” I say adamantly. “I told him I don’t want his money.”

“Yeah, superwoman is back, but seriously, he’s her father, and he’s a big lawyer in Chicago. I bet he has plenty of money.”

“Nope. I’m not taking it. I agreed to introduce him and Molly. He said he met her yesterday morning at the diner.”

“And Joyce didn’t tell you?” Chloe asks.

“I was thinking about it. When she brought Molly back to the store, I was freaking out about Mr. Murphy’s email about inventory. Maybe she tried.”

“Is Dax coming out to the farm?”

“With Justin?” I ask with a scoff. “I told Dax that Molly and I will meet him at Tastee Freeze tomorrow night.”

“Mick and I were just talking about ice cream. I’ll call Judy, Linda, and Crystal.”

“No, you won’t. This will be hard enough. Molly doesn’t need an audience.”

“We can all sit in our cars. She won’t know we’re there. What time?” Chloe asks.

“I’m not telling.”

“Don’t make me spend all evening at the Tastee Freeze. You know I love their hot fudge sundaes. If I gain ten pounds, I’m blaming you.”

“Bye, Chloe.”

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