“My pleasure.” Madison took a step back but kept one arm around Lillian Fielding. “Danielle told me the car looks great.”

“Great? The car’s a dream. And without your financial contribution, it could have taken Bill many months or even years to fix it up. I never would have thought I’d ever drive a 57 Corvette, yet alone own one.” Over Madison’s shoulder, Danielle’s mother beamed at Sherry. “And you are the woman who managed to conquer Madison’s heart.” She nudged Madison. “What are you waiting for? Introduce us.”

“Sherry, Jake, this is Danielle’s mother, Lillian.”

Sherry wanted to give Mrs. Fielding her hand, but Danielle’s mother stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Sherry.

“I know Eileen, so I’m pretty sure she hasn’t welcomed you to the family. Let me be the first to do so.” Still holding on to Sherry, she leaned back to meet her gaze. “Or did Danielle already do this?”

“I, um…no, she didn’t. Thank you, Mrs. Fielding.”

“Heavens, it’s Lillian.” More quietly, she added, “Mrs. Fielding is the always grumpy woman over there.” She pointed to Madison’s grandmother standing at the bar, draining a glass of scotch if the color of her drink was any indication.

Sherry smiled at Lillian. It was hard to get a word in with Danielle’s mother, but Sherry liked her anyway.

Lillian crouched down in front of Jake. “Hello, you.”

Jake looked up to Sherry as if unsure how to respond. When Sherry nodded at him, he shoved his hand in her direction. “Hi, I’m Jake. Are you my fake aunt too, like Aunt Danielle?”

Lillian had just taken his hand. Now, her jaw dropped. “Fake aunt?”

Sherry stepped behind Jake and put her hands on his shoulders. “Baby—”

Lillian waved her off. “I have to admit nobody has ever called me that,” she said thoughtfully. “So, you’re calling Danielle aunt?” She let go of his hand.

Jake nodded and leaned closer. “Yeah, but she’s not really my aunt,” he said in a conspiratorial voice.

“Ah, now I get it.” She rubbed her chin. “Well, in that case you can call me aunt and Bill uncle, if you like.” Imitating his earlier conspiratorial voice, she added, “But maybe we can leave out the ‘fake’ part.”

“Cool! I’m getting an uncle too.” He glimpsed at Bill, who was standing close by, talking to an elderly woman. At Jake’s whoop, he looked over and smiled before going back to his conversation.

Lillian stood. “Great. So now that the introductions have been taken care of, we have to get Danielle to dance with somebody.”

Didn’t Lillian know Danielle was interested in a mechanic working for her dad? When Madison had told her, she made it sound as if everybody knew. Well, everybody but the mechanic in question. Where was Danielle’s crush anyway? Wasn’t she supposed to be here?