“Loren baked them.”

“You like to bake?” He looked at Loren. She nodded. “My sister does too. But now that she has kids, she doesn’t share with the rest of us as much.”

Roxie waved a hand. “You two go sit out on the deck and I’ll bring the tray. Do you want coffee or sweetened peach iced tea?”

“Iced tea, please. I drink coffee only in the morning.”

“Wise man.” She watched the two of them sit down at the table. He held her chair for her. Oh my gosh, real manners. What is this world coming to? Glasses, pitcher, and plate of cookies. Oh, napkins. She bumped the screen with her foot to make it slide back and stepped out on the deck. She could hear someone’s lawnmower in the distance, but other than Sir Charles’s toenails clicking on the deck and the birds twittering, heavenly peace. Setting the tray down, she paused for a moment. Thank you, Lord, for such a place and time as this. “Help yourselves.”

Nate rose and pulled out a chair for her. “Thank you for the invite. How it can be so peaceful here right in the middle of a busy neighborhood…amazing.”

“I know. We should have a grand sunset tonight too. Just enough clouds.” She pushed the plate of cookies his way. “Please, don’t be shy.”

“Please don’t tell me you took time to bake these this afternoon.”

Loren laughed. “She would be lying. They were in the freezer.”

“An old Realtor trick. Put cookies back in the oven just long enough to release the flavor and the fragrance. I tell my clients to do this or bake a loaf of bread before the showing. I even give them a package of frozen bread to bake the day of their open house. It helps visitors think of the place as a home and just might be one of those things that encourages a buyer. I’ve learned that small things count big.”

“My mom is one of the top Realtors in Fond du Lac.” Loren pushed the cookie plate closer to him.

“I’m not surprised.” He leaned back in his chair, glass in one hand, a cookie in the other.

“So, did you go directly out of college into your father’s firm?”

“I really started working at the store in Racine when I was in junior high. I broke my leg playing baseball one summer and went to work dusting, polishing, general cleanup to keep from being bored. I’d read about every book in the library, and for some reason, I’ve never been much interested in video games. Dad had always encouraged us to want to be part of the company, but you know, every boy dreams of playing professional ball.”

Roxie asked, “You said each of you kids now manages one of the stores?”

“Three of us, four stores, Dad has the fourth but one of our cousins is just finishing college and has been working each summer at a different store. They all have their own personalities, the stores, I mean. Dad tailors the store to the needs of the community.”