They filled plates while Pam poured chamomile tea. Serenity enjoyed watching the girls sip their tea daintily. The innocent laughter transported her back to the times she’d spent with her mother, sister, and grandmothers doing the same thing. Some traditions were worth keeping and passing along, and she knew she would do the same if she ever had daughters. An image of Gabriel cradling a baby flashed in her head, and she choked on her tea. All eyes shifted her way. “Sorry. I think the tea went down the wrong way.” She dabbed her mouth and gave them a quick, reassuring smile.

“Ms. Wheeler, you should try to swallow your tea the right way then,” Kaylee said sagely.

It took everything in her to keep a straight face. Pam and Bri were trying as well. “You’re absolutely right. Let’s see if I can do it the correct way.” Serenity took a careful sip.

All three girls’ eyes lit up, and Brianna said, “She did it.”

This time the adults all laughed. Hard. She managed to finish the remainder of her tea without mishap.

“Oh, honey, these cookies are fabulous,” Pam said. “They’re not too sweet and are almost like a tea cake. Just perfect.”

Bri held up one. “I totally agree. Please tell me you can share this recipe.”

Serenity smiled. “Of course. I’ll write it down before I leave.” While she did possess a few prized secret family recipes, the one for vanilla crisps didn’t fall into that category. Obviously, the girls enjoyed them, too, if the way they crammed the pieces into their mouths was any indication.

When it came time to leave, Pam declined assistance with the cleanup. The girls were happily playing on a swing set on the other side of the large backyard. “You made all the food, so you are most definitely not going to be washing dishes. I’ll wash your plates up real quick, so you don’t have to do it when you get home.”

Before Serenity could protest, the woman picked up the plates and strode off.

Bri leaned over and whispered, “She’s always been bossy.”

“No, I haven’t,” Pam said over her shoulder and disappeared into the kitchen.

Bri shook her head. “And she can hear everything within a two-mile radius. I think it’s a mama thing because my mother is the same way. But I wouldn’t know.”

“So is mine, and neither do I.” They both laughed. Once again that previous image floated through her mind, and she didn’t understand why. She’d known Gabriel less than three weeks, and it wasn’t as if they had some romantic relationship going on. They had barely decided to become friends.