“I liked that post you did about the cats,” Beth said.

“Everybody liked that one,” Amy said. “But your branding is wrong. You need a new logo.”

“If you want to redesign something, look at the farm website,” our mother said.

I stared at my phone screen. My heart ricocheted to my throat. Not a comment. Not a text. A phone call.

“Who is it?” Beth asked.

Amy craned to see. “Eric. Oh my God, is that him?”

“Answer it,” Meg said.

“Hello?” I croaked.

“I talk, Auntie Jo!” Daisy demanded.

Meg hushed her.

“Jo.” His voice; oh, his deep, remembered voice.

“Hi.”

Daisy, denied the phone, broke into wails. Meg picked her up, murmuring soothing sounds.

“You are well?” Eric asked politely.

I’m pregnant.

“I’m fine. That’s Daisy. My niece.” It seemed absurd to be making small talk after our online flirtation, the intimacy of his late-night comments. “How . . . How are you?”

“I am here. In North Carolina. Bryan has a tournament this weekend. I did not call before because I did not know his schedule. If his team would advance. But I would like to see you before I go.” His deliberate sentences, his Old World courtesy, made him sound very formal. Or possibly . . . nervous?

Warmth filled my chest. He wanted to see me!

“He has a playoff game this afternoon,” Eric continued in that deep, delicious voice. “But when we are finished, perhaps we could visit you. If that would be okay.”

My brain scrambled. “Here? Today?”

“This is a problem?”

Meg grabbed my arm. “He’s coming here?”

“Who? Eric?” Amy asked.

I flapped my hands at them to be quiet. “It’s just . . . There are people coming over.”

“You have a party.”

“It’s only family. A dinner for my mother.”

“I’d like to meet her,” Eric said.

“But your boys . . .” I objected weakly.

“They have been asking about you since the airport. I want them to know you. I want to see you.”

“Invite him,” my mother said.

“Jo.” Eric’s voice was quiet. Serious. “‘Come,’ you said. If this is the wrong time . . . If you have changed your mind . . .”

No running away. No pushing away. “No,” I said. “I want you.”

“Then I will be there.”

My heart swelled. “Stay for dinner,” I said recklessly. “You and the boys.”

“Everybody’s dying to meet them,” Amy said, loudly enough to be overheard.

Our mother gave her The Look.

“Thank you,” Eric said. “We may be a little late, but we will come. After two days of fast food, we all are hungry for a good meal.”

“Great. That’s . . . Great.”

We said good-bye. I sat there, stunned.

Meg smiled. “I should have brought another pie.”

Three hours until dinner. Then two. Then one. Beth cleaned. Amy set the table. I helped our mother in the kitchen while Meg got Daisy and DJ up from their nap.