“We’ll send some home with you. Do you have a basket or a backpack?”

“Backpack, although I’m thinking since I’m using my bike to get to work and around town that a basket might be better. Or one on the rear.”

“I saw one with a crate on the rear, full of grocery bags.”

“It does keep me from buying a lot when I do go.”

“Good for you, leaving your car parked so much of the time.” Roxie gave in to another cookie. “Your mixing was delicious, Nate. Thanks for the idea. Are you coming to the UFO meeting again?”

“I’m not really working on a project, although Dad reminded me I could use his shop anytime. He’s coming right along on refinishing that boat. I think he put it off only a year or two. He plans on giving it to my brother’s kids but keeping it at his house, painting it really bright colors so it will be easy to pick out with binoculars.”

“Smart man. Oh, that reminds me, Loren, we are supposed to celebrate tonight. Marcie is pregnant. Their announcement came in the mail today.” She paused to explain to Nate who Marcie was.

“They didn’t call with news like that?”

Roxie shrugged. “Guess they do things differently nowadays.”

“Oh, yeah, reveal parties when they learn the baby’s sex. There’s parties for everything.”

“Maybe because there is so much bad news these days, we need to celebrate the good more than ever.”

“You could be right.” Loren nodded slowly. The two of them exchanged a special kind of look.

Roxie kept her joy to herself. This was looking better all the time. And going faster than she ever dreamed possible. Not that she’d spent a lot of time dreaming of her daughter’s future—or had she? A picture of Rich floated into her mind. Two men from the same family? This was absurd. Or was it?

Chapter Twenty-Two

Grandma, are you sure this is okay?”

“Yes, Addy, your leaving me is okay. I will see you later this evening.” Ginny smiled at her granddaughter and hoped she was nodding with encouragement. “You go and have a good time. Now promise me you are not going to worry about me. And I’m sure the oven will manage to not be heated today, but I promise you that if I hear it crying, I will bake something.”

Addy rolled her eyes. “Grandma.” A car honked so, with a wave, she flew out the door. Spook followed her, hoping she would throw the stick for him, but instead she shut the door in his face, with a “you be a good boy and take care of Grandma.” He went to the big window in the living room and watched the car leave then came back to flop at Ginny’s feet.

“Sorry, boy, but she can’t be here all the time.” Ginny patted him and gave him a belly rub for good measure. “There now, better?”