Chapter 17

Jessie had tossed a salad and opened a bottle of wine, just as she’d promised. She’d lit a few candles and preheated the oven to warm the lasagna. Now she waited for a man, which she’d never done before. What kind of seriousness was this, she wondered.

With a glass of wine in her hand, Jessie sat down on the couch and turned on the basketball game. The Lakers versus the Warriors, that was a game worth watching. 

Only a few minutes into the first quarter and Jessie saw Todd’s truck pull up in front of her house. Warmth spread though her body just knowing he had arrived.

Jessie walked to the kitchen and poured him a glass of wine. Before Todd could ring the doorbell, she opened the door and saw the warmth that flashed in his eyes.

“What a sight,” he said as he stepped onto the porch. “A beautiful woman and a glass of wine.”

“I was thinking the same thing. A man and a lasagna,” she joked as she handed him the glass of wine and took the wrapped pan from him. “I have the oven on to warm this.”

Todd followed her into the house, stopping briefly by the TV. “What game is this?”

“Lakers and Warriors.”

“I’ve never dated a woman who voluntarily had on sports,” he said as he walked toward the kitchen as Jessie slid the pan into the oven. “Glenda says it’ll only need twenty minutes.”

Jessie nodded and set the timer. “Then that gives us a few minutes.” 

Turning to Todd, she took his glass and set it on the counter. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and took his mouth with hers. She’d been dreaming of kissing him like that all day, and now she eagerly fulfilled that need.


Todd wrapped his arms around Jessie’s waist, taking in the sweetness she offered. Oh, how easily he could accept this as normal now. He’d been standoffish about his brother, sisters, and cousins all rushing off and getting married, but in her arms, he could see the charm in having someone to go home to every day.

“This is the best way to end a day,” he said when their lips had parted, but their arms remained around one another.

“It is. Maybe after dinner we can discuss you staying the night. It was a good way to start the day too.”

Todd brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and lingered his hand on her cheek. “I packed a little bag just in case. I rather enjoyed that kind of start to my day too.”

A warm smile crossed Jessie’s lips as she turned to pick up his wine. Handing it to him, she took his hand and led him to the living room, where her wine waited and so did the game.

“How was your visit with your aunt and Susan?” she asked as she sat down and lifted her glass to her lips.

“Nice. Glenda sat me down for sandwiches,” he said with a chuckle. “She likes to feed people and gather information, though you don’t realize that’s what she’s doing when you’re spilling your guts.”

“I have a grandmother like that.”

“By the time I got to Susan’s, she seemed to know all about you. I’m not sure if that was a phone call from Glenda during the time I was driving to Susan’s, or if my sisters have already put two and two together.”

“You did say I was one of your favorite girls this morning when you walked into my shop while your sister was there.”

“I did do that.” He sipped his wine. “And Pearl knows her relationships. She makes a living on them.”

Jessie turned toward him. “Is she usually right? I mean about being able to tell how long a marriage will last?”

“Usually she can call it within months. It’s a strange skill.”

Easing back against the couch, she smiled. “Then my sister will be happy for a long time.”

“And that makes you happy?”

“Of course. I only want what’s best for her. She deserves to be happy. We all do.”

“And you come from a happy home, don’t you?”

Jessie tilted her head and considered the question. “I do. We had some serious down times when Freddie died. Mom and Dad almost didn’t make it through that—their marriage I mean.” She sipped her wine. “Dad refused counseling, but mom got it. Dad drank more. Mom prayed more. Carlie and I dove into school activities. I played more basketball. But we managed, and yes, I came from a happy home. What about your brother and sisters? What was Pearl’s call on their marriages?”

“They’ll all be married forever.” He chuckled when he said it. “I have to admit, I’d been skeptical with Audrey because she married a famous and sexy actor. But he dotes on her. Jake, he has his hands full with matched wit from Missy, but it works. Pearl knew what she wanted when it showed up. And the fact that she married a Morgan makes her all the more a bad-ass. But I think that knowing Bethany is in a solid and loving marriage forever, that makes me happiest,” he admitted. “She had a rough start. Hell, she had it rough until she came here. She lost her mother to drugs and did her own time in rehab. She has a solid foundation to raise her family now. She’s happy and healthy and in love with a wonderful man.”

“What more could you ask for, right?”

He nodded. “I can smell that lasagna now. Man, that brings back memories.”

“Good ones?”

He shrugged. “Yes. Good ones because Aunt Glenda always doted on us, me and Jake that is. She’d make that lasagna for Christmas every year when we were forced to spend the day with my dad. But then all of their boys would be around, and my grandfather would sit in his chair and fall asleep after Christmas dinner and make weird noises.” He chuckled. “Who knew the smell of lasagna could take you down memory lane like that?”

“My great-grandmother would make caramel corn for Christmas dessert. So you’d be stuffed from all the food you ate, and then she’d be in the kitchen making popcorn. I can’t go by one of those stores in the mall without buying a bag. It’s never ever as good, but even thinking about it, it makes my mouth water.”

“All of this talk just makes me realize I’m lacking in any kind of talent that my non-existent kids will find amazing.”

Jessie leaned her head on his shoulder. “I know of a few talents you have, but those aren’t the kind you discuss with kids.”

He felt the heat rise in his cheeks at that. “I’ll find something to impress them.” Setting down his glass, he took hers and did the same. “But, since you brought it up, maybe I could impress you with those skills before dinner.”

It was Jessie who stood first and headed toward the hallway to the bedroom. As she walked away, she pulled her sweatshirt over her head and let it drop as she kept on walking.