Amused, Kelly nodded. “I do.”  She gave him a finger wave.

“Well, I better get going. Give me a call if your pipes get blocked again.”

Seriously, did he just say that?

Kelly cut her eyes from her mother’s confused expression just in time to see Mr Edwards give her mum an exaggerated wink.

Ignoring the not so subtle exchange, Kelly slid her backpack down her arms and retrieved the plastic container.

By the time she looked up, the lightbulb had gone off in her mother’s eyes. Figuratively and damn near literally. They were radiant, positively glowing.

“Bye, Mr Edwards.” Kelly picked up the kettle, trying not to grin when she turned on the tap. “Thanks for looking out for Mum.”

He tipped his head. “Any time, kiddo. That’s what neighbours are for.”

Clearing out blocked pipes?

Apparently, Kelly and Mr Edwards had something in common. A warped sense of humour. But the question was, did his words have the underlying meaning Kelly’s had had when she’d teased Lucy, or were they innocent?

Either way, Kelly intended to have the answer before she left her childhood home.

Once they were alone, her mum kissed her on the cheek.

“It’s good to see you, sweetie.” She reached for two mugs and tossed a teabag in each.

Kelly quirked an eyebrow. “Tea?”

“You’ll like it. Trust me.”

In response to Kelly’s frown, she added, “It’s berry nice.”

Overcome with love for the woman standing before her, looking delighted to see Kelly, yet jittery at the same time, Kelly kissed her on the cheek.

“Okay, I’ll try it.” Hopefully the berry flavour would complement her baking. “I made some cookies. Chocolate chip.”

“Colour me purple, what’s gotten into you?” Grinning, her mother put a hand on Kelly’s forehead. “You’re not sick, are you?”

Lovesick maybe, but not physically ill, unless an endless supply of butterflies whenever she thought of Lucy counted.

Batting her mother’s hand away, Kelly pulled the lid off the container. “They look like crap, but taste delicious.”

“I’m sure they do. Besides, it’s the thought that counts.” Her mother placed two steaming mugs on the dining room table, pulled out a chair, and sat opposite Kelly.

The setting made Kelly long for days gone by. It took her back to many family meals shared around the table, her father at the head, her baby sister, Jo, at the foot.

God, she missed her dad. Sure, time had eased the pain, but the ache, the sense of loss, never went away.

“Why the sad look?” Her mother, who had always been too perceptive, eyed Kelly over the rim of her mug.

Shaking off the memory, because the last thing Kelly wanted to do was guilt trip her mother if she’d started dating again, Kelly forced a smile.

“Better?”

“Much.” Her mother chuckled.