Getting the old man to agree to that part of the deal had been easy, but it had taken three days for him to agree that the women were to be paid the bulk of the sales price. Only when a diner in Ottawa told Adam what they’d be willing to pay did Mr. Gresham agree to the deal.

“Adam was wonderful,” Nella said to Kelly. “I think Robbie is a lot like him.” That was an unsubtle hint to her daughter to start dating the younger brother.

Kelly had excused herself and gone to her room. In the last month she’d been on four dates, all arranged by her mother, all to hometown boys.

On the first date, as they left the restaurant, the guy told Kelly to get into the back seat of his big car. When she asked why, he said, “I’m just trying to save you from the gearshift.” She demanded that he take her home.

Another guy spent the evening telling her how she’d snubbed him in high school. He told in detail how her lack of attention had caused him great pain. She honestly didn’t remember him.

Number three talked about what their life would be like after they got married. He wanted Kelly to promise that she would quit work as soon as she got pregnant. She smiled. “I won’t be having your baby, so my job is safe.”

The fourth one was the worst. He was allergic to dogs. And horses. And cats. “Did you wash your hair? I’m wondering because you’re making me sneeze,” he said. Kelly handed him her napkin to blow his nose. When he came up from four sneezes in a row, she was gone.

Other than the dates, everything was the same with Kelly, but not so with anyone else.

Forey was at the Exton house all day and cooking not just baked goods but soups and stews and side dishes. It was enough to feed a city. From the amount sold at Mr. Gresham’s diner, it was certainly enough to feed the town of Mason.

They were so busy that only Kelly remarked on the fact that Vera was gone every weekend. “So is Adam,” Nella said, and then she and Forey giggled like schoolgirls.

Kelly went into her room and shut the door. Good, she told herself. Adam and Vera were spending whole days together. They needed to do that. Get to know each other all over again.

Part of Kelly was angry, but the larger part told herself that she was the one who’d made a big deal about the time she’d spent with him. But the truth was nothing they’d done had been out of line. Adam went to the bridal shop with her because Vera had stood her up. He went to meals with Kelly because he was hungry. They’d watched TV together because it was convenient.