Page 39 of Love, Untangled

Birdie rose from her chair. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go.”

Birdie told her goodbye and Pen wandered down the street toward her car. A few people waved at her and Joanna called her name. Pen squinted against the sun and walked toward the other woman.

“Ooh, you look upset,” Joanna said. “What’s got you so glum?”

Pen shook her head, not willing to burden Joanna with her problems. “Some family stuff.”

“Oh. Well, I hope that works out.”

It wouldn’t. At least not how Pen wanted it to. “Me too.”

“So, I’m not trying to pester you, but I’ve seen how many people you bring in at the café each week, and I’d really like you to do a class at my shop. I thought we could call it Sip and Knit.”

“Really?” Pen asked. She’d just put her request for more financial security out into the ether. No way the universe would answer so quickly.

“You’re so talented! I just know people are going to want to try to replicate some of your creations. In fact, I know it because the girls and I were talking about it.”

Pen’s mood lightened. “Oh, wow. That’s so nice.”

“Why are you so surprised? I mean, combining fiber arts with alcohol just means we’ll still have to buy your cute hats and coats, because ours will be wonky. But yeah, I think it would be a smashing success. We can try one, at least, don’t you think?”

“Yes, of course. I’d like that.” Excitement bubbled in Pen’s chest. Maybe the situation wasn’t as bleak as Pen had painted it. After all, she still had those new orders and now this…plus, she planned to offer more classes in her studio. The Sip and Knit would be a good way to showcase her talents and maybe drum up more business.

“Great. How about the first Tuesday of the month? That will give me some time to promote the event.”

Those bubbles of excitement fizzed through her bloodstream faster. She leaned in and hugged the other woman, surprising a laugh out of her. “Yes, of course. Thank you, Joanna. This means a lot to me.”

Pen continued back to her car, feeling stronger. Her mother might have taken something else from her but this was Pen’s community, her home, and she would find a way to make it work for her.

That’s what her nana had wanted. But more importantly, it’s what Pen wanted for herself.

Chapter 16

Carlo

Carlo tapped his fingers on his steering wheel as he drove toward Pen’s house. Urgency pushed his foot down on the accelerator and more than once he had to ease back on his speed. The door to the single-stall garage was closed so he couldn’t tell if her small hatchback was inside or not. He sighed with relief when he saw her walking toward the house from the barn, Alpaca Man in tow.

She wore a flowy top and leggings, and her hair was pulled back from her face with a thick headband that matched the floral pattern of her top—no doubt one she’d made.

“She needs a real watchdog,” Carlo muttered. “Someone to keep her safe.”

Or maybe he wanted the dog for himself.

She seemed to be talking to herself. As he climbed out of the car, she continued the conversation.

“There’s a solution. And it’s not like you’re asking him to fix it for you—you’re just asking him for ideas. Carlo will respect that. He’ll see how much you’re trying to be responsible.”

He smiled with grim amusement as he realized Penelope thought he was perfect. She thought because he could use a hammer, bake bread, grow apples, and clean his bathrooms, he’d managed a level of adulting that eluded her.

If she only knew how much of a mess he’d made of his own life. Hell, at twenty, he hadn’t been able to care for himself, let alone start a business and take on an alpaca.

But that was what Penelope was doing. And doing well.

If only she’d see herself as he did. But she seemed determined to measure herself up to him, now, at thirty-one.

Of course their situations were different.

He was over a decade older than she was. A widower. How he hated that label. He hated that Cora was gone and that her loss still felt like a huge piece of himself had been ripped away.

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