“Well…” Claire scraped the remnants of foamy milk from inside her cup and licked her spoon. “We usually go classic. Like the letterpress one.”

She ran a fingertip over the engraving. “It is beautiful.”

“But, maybe for a change…” Claire drummed her fingers on the desktop.

“We choose the pocket watch?”

“Done.” Claire high-fived her and swept the rejects into the recycling can.

She trashed her cup and wiped the wet ring from her desk with a napkin. “I suppose I should run the design by Richard—since he’s technically planning this thing, too?”

“You can tell him on your next date.” Claire swung petite, pedicured feet onto her desk. “How was Judy’s anyway?”

She chuckled. “Wow. Can’t keep anything on the down low in this town.”

“Please. Didn’t you grow up here?” Groping in her bag, Claire produced a small, pink envelope. “You and Richard dating? I couldn’t be happier if I planned it myself. Which”—she tossed the envelope on Tessa’s desk—“I kinda did.”

Tessa nodded toward the desktop. “What’s this?”

“How about you shower my son with some of those prize winnings this weekend? Sam’s birthday is Saturday, and he’s dead set on a party in the birthday pavilion at Benton’s Grove—you know, the giant, pink cake that says, ‘Happy Birthday?’ And if that’s not enough, he wants his birthday cake to be a miniature replica of the pavilion. Like exactly. Hence, the pink envelopes.” She pinched her forehead between her thumb and middle finger. “He’s got a color scheme. I swear that kid—he’s either a design genius, or he’s absolutely bonkers.”

Tessa laughed. “Hey, that’s somebody’s child you’re talking about. And he’s pretty cute from what I hear.”

“He takes after his father.” She unwrapped a stick of gum and offered one to Tessa. “He keeps asking if Richard’s new friend who saved him from the bees is okay.”

With a groan, she accepted the gum. “Seared in your kid’s memory as the lady who sent him into anaphylactic shock.”

Claire shook her bob. “He says you flew him away like a superhero. According to the kid, you have powers. He specifically requested you to come.”

She inhaled a cool breath of relief. “Not sure Benton’s parking lot has room for my invisible plane, but I’ll figure something out.” She smiled. “After all, I have powers.”

****

On the Saturday of Sam’s party, Tessa hopped into Richard’s SUV and swallowed a groan. The dude was glued to his phone. Again. “Don’t tell me you have work.”

He shook his head. “Just mapping the route.”

Chuckling, she clicked her seatbelt and settled into the cushy seat. Through the open moon roof, the sky was a perfect azure rectangle. “It’s Benton’s Grove, not Cleveland. Just go the regular way.”

“I don’t know the regular way.”