Sherry looked down at Jake. “No, baby, we talked about this. You’re not allowed Coke or coffee before you’re twelve.”

“But Madison said I could have a glass.”

“Did she, now?” She was pretty sure Madison hadn’t said that. “Shall I ask her?”

Jake rubbed his neck instead of answering.

Madison had turned out to be a wonderful second parent to Jake, and both Sherry and Rita Mae trusted her unconditionally. They didn’t always agree on everything, but they both tried not to spoil Jake too much. That’s why she didn’t need to see Jake’s reaction now to know that her son had yet again tried to play Madison and her against each other. She folded her arms in front of her chest. “What exactly did Madison say?”

Jake mumbled something unintelligible.

“Speak up, please.”

His shoulders slumped. “She said I could have a glass of Coke if you agreed.”

Sherry had to bite her lip not to laugh out loud. “We’ll talk about this when we get home.” Less stern, she asked, “Where’s Rita Mae?”

Jake sighed and pointed to a group of people. “She’s talking about the wedding arrangements. So boring.”

Uh-oh. Who knew what they were planning behind her back? She faced Danielle and Ruth. “Excuse me, please. I have to prevent a disaster.”

Danielle held her beer up. “No problem. Good luck.”

Madison let her gaze roam through the Archer. Most of their guests today were new friends they’d made over the last two or three years. Her old friendships with Phil and the other guys seemed to be from a different life.

Over the course of the last few years, Phil had contacted her just twice. In both cases, it was to ask her for money. But since Grandmother Eileen had disinherited her for good, the Archer was her only income. The quarter-million dollars she had left in her savings were solely for Sherry’s studies and Jake’s education. Not a penny would go to financing Phil’s party life.

At least she knew now that Phil had never really cared about her but only about her money. She shook her head to get rid of these gloomy thoughts when Janice walked up to her. “Hey, Janice. I’m so glad that you could make it.” She engulfed her friend in a hug. “How’s Robert? Did he come too?”

“Congratulations on your engagement. I’m so glad for you two.”

“Thanks.” Madison smiled when she saw Sherry in a heated discussion with Rita Mae, Lillian, and Bill. What were they talking about so animatedly?

“To answer your question, our babysitter called in sick at the last minute, so Robert had to take over.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Robert’s been working overtime a lot within the last months, so a little more father-son time is exactly what they both need.”