Emma took a seat at the table with Hannah. Though she and Molly were sisters, they were quite different. While Molly wore her gray hair in a pretty braid, Hannah’s was cut short, and while Molly smiled all the time, Hannah was less animated and more serious. Now that Emma knew more about the Coleman family, she also understood the tinge of bitterness she’d seen in Hannah.

“How cold is it out there?” Hannah asked.

“Not too bad.”

“Is your daughter enjoying her visit to Vermont?”

“She is. She spent last night with Lucy and Colton, and today they’re teaching her to ski. I’m afraid she won’t want to go home.”

“Surely the city is more exciting than what goes on here.”

“Simone would disagree. She loves it here.”

Hannah eyed her with obvious curiosity. “You’re cozy with my son.”

Whoa… “I like him.”

“He’s a good man. Maybe the best man I know.”

Emma wasn’t sure where this was leading, so she took the cautious route. “I agree.”

They watched TV in uncomfortable silence for long enough that Emma was relieved to hear Grayson’s heavy footsteps on the stairs.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Whenever you are.” Emma stood and pushed in the chair. “It was nice to see you, Hannah.”

“You, too.”

“See you later, Mom.” Grayson guided Emma from the kitchen with a hand on her lower back. He held her coat for her and then put on his own.

His hair was damp, he’d shaved and he smelled delicious. “What’d she say to you?” he asked the second they were out the door.

“Nothing.”

“At all?”

“No,” she said, laughing, “nothing to be concerned about. She told me you’re a good man, maybe the best man she knows.”

“Hmm, is that right?”

“Yep. I told her I agreed.”

“Did you now?”

“I did.”

He held the car door for her. “And you already know that?”

“I knew that the first time we talked.”

Grayson smiled at her and closed her door.

After he got in the car, she said, “Was she warning me off you?”

“I’m not sure why she would.”

“Maybe because I live in New York and you live here?”

“Possibly.”

“Where’re we going?”

“I want to show you my new place.”

Emma wondered if that was code for “pick up where we left off last night,” which would be fine with her. He made her feel young again, and with Simone off having fun with Lucy, Emma was free to do something for herself for a change—and she felt a sense of urgency with their time in Vermont limited to only a few more days. “I’d like to see it.”