“These are Iris’s original decorations.” Angi could see the people passing the shop pointing and smiling at the bright storefront. Although the kitschy vintage trimmings weren’t the traditional decorations someone would expect from a florist, they were unique and unexpected. Much like Gabe, she mused.

Her heart picked up speed as they entered the shop, which was as crowded as she’d ever seen it. In the center of a group of locals, Iris sat in a wheelchair that had been decorated with ribbon and boughs of holly. She wore a red sweater with three festive trees stitched on it, her silver hair pulled back into a neat chignon. She looked so joyful as she spoke to friends and customers. Behind the wheelchair, Gabe stood like a sentry, but even he seemed surprisingly relaxed.

“Hey, Mom,” Andrew called from where he stood next to a table of iced cookies from the bakery, a few crumbs dribbling from his mouth.

“Hi, Gabe’s mom,” the pint-size girl standing next to him shouted.

“Close your mouth when you chew, Violet.” Avery sidled over to Angi and Emma as she spoke to the girl. “Your stepmother is raising you with better manners than that.”

The girl gave Avery a big thumbs-up and continued to gaze at Andrew like he was her own personal superhero as she took another bite of cookie.

“She’s got sass for days,” Avery told Angi as Emma greeted a couple who Angi guessed were guests at the inn for the weekend. “It’s what I love best about her.”

“I’m guessing her stepmom has taught her that, as well.” Angi knew the little girl was Gray Atwell’s daughter from his first marriage, which made her Avery’s stepdaughter.

“I think she was born that way.” Avery grinned. “But I support it wholeheartedly, although remind me of that when our kids are teenagers. I might regret it then.”

“I can’t imagine Drew as a teenager.” Angi’s heart flipped at the thought of her boy at that age and then fluttered for a different reason as Gabe waved to her. There was no mistaking the warmth in his gaze, and it made her toes curl with pleasure.

“Andrew’s going to be a great teenager, I’m sure. Just like he was this week. It’s a bummer about the punishment, but I’ll tell you Violet has a regular case of hero worship at the moment.”

Angi turned to face Avery more fully. “What are you talking about?” She guessed it had something to do with the scene on the playground earlier that week, but she couldn’t imagine how Drew fighting another boy who teased him about his lack of a father could make him a hero to Avery’s girl.

“That stupid Johnny kid takes great pleasure in terrorizing the younger kids, but he’s sneaky about it. He’s got that whole Eddie Haskell vibe going with the teachers, so they don’t realize what a snake he is.”

She shook her head. “Gray has been coaching Violet on how to handle herself, but I think after Andrew stood up to him, the kid is going to think twice about picking on the other children again. And maybe the teachers will pay more attention, too.”