Page 119 of Eight Years Gone

“You do?”

He nodded again. “There’s nothing selfish about what you’re doing. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel close to your mom. Give yourself the gift of knowing who she was.”

She exhaled a deep breath. “I need to think about it more, but not right now. My brain’s tired after today.”

He nuzzled her skin. “I was going to run to the grocery store and pick up some things.”

She stroked her fingers through his hair. “Like what?”

He shrugged. “Just some stuff. I’ve been looking at some recipes. I want to cook for you.”

Her heart melted as she sat back enough to hold his gaze. “That’s really sweet, Jagger.”

He jerked his shoulders again. “I’m handling dinner tonight.”

“And what are you making for us?”

“I was thinking about chicken pesto paninis with tons of mozzarella and maybe some French fries. We could do a salad too.”

Her heart went gooey all over again as he remembered one of her favorites. “I love paninis.”

“I thought I’d heard a rumor about that.”

She smiled. “Do you want some company—at the store and in the kitchen?”

“I always want your company.”

“Ditto.” She kissed him. “We should get out of here, then.”

“Definitely.” In a lightning move, Jagger picked her up, spinning her once.

Her gasp turned into a laugh. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you to the grocery store.”

“But I should pick up my mess.”

He walked with her from the room, moving down the hallway toward the living room. “We’ll deal with it later. My mind’s on chicken paninis.”

Laughing again, she grabbed her purse off the island as they moved through the kitchen to the door. “I’m suddenly starving.”

“Then let’s get this show on the road. We have an insanely delicious dinner to make.”

Twenty-Eight

“Have a good afternoon,” Grace said as she sent Mrs. Harrison on her way with a gorgeous lavender and pale-pink Sweet Sixteen arrangement for her granddaughter’s special day.

Mrs. Harrison stopped by the door. “I will, honey. These flowers will be just the thing to set next to Emma’s cake. They’re stunning.”

“We’re glad you like them. Tell Emma happy birthday for us.”

Mrs. Harrison beamed. “I sure will.”

Grace waved when Mrs. Harrison walked outside into the chilly but sunny afternoon. Blowing out a breath as she looked at the clock, she stepped into the back, where Aunt Maggie and Jen worked on a final couple of orders for the last delivery run of the day.

Aunt Maggie looked up as she slid a grouping of red berries among the cheery sunflowers and orange roses she was making into a gorgeous arrangement. “Today turned into a busy one.”

Grace huffed out a laugh as she nodded. She hadn’t stopped moving since she stepped into the shop at seven thirty. Somehow it was already three fifteen. “I was thinking about a chai tea. I need a pick-me-up. Can I bring either of you anything?”

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