“You know I’m never going to hear the end of this,” Dani said.

Ivy smiled. “I know.”

“All part of your evil plan?” Dani asked.

“Exactly.”

“When you have your first child, remind me to fill her with sugar and give her a puppy.”

“So warned.”

Dani looked around the house. “How’s it going?”

“Tackling the last of my old room today. I’m now down to crammed dresser drawers and remains of my childhood.”

Bella set the puppy beside her mother and lay on the floor beside all the dogs, cooing, lost now in her own world.

“Hey, I was wondering if I could ask a favor?” Dani asked. This was the part that really sucked. She’d been chewing on this since she’d first seen Ivy.

“You can ask.”

“I have to drive up to Norfolk on Monday for a doctor’s appointment while Bella is in school. I’d arranged for a friend to take me, but she just bailed.” Christ, the last thing she wanted was to need Ivy. But this was a small favor. “The doctor’s office is requiring I have a driver. I know I’m asking a lot.”

“What kind of doctor?” Ivy asked. “Is it serious?”

“No. Nothing serious. I need new glasses. They’ll be dilating my eyes.”

“I thought all the different glasses were fashion statements.”

“Well, they are, but they also serve a practical purpose. I have astigmatism. Irritating but a fact of life.”

“You never had trouble with your eyes when you were a kid.”

“As we get older, it starts to fall apart.”

“You’re thirty. That’s not old.”

“Motherhood ages you faster.”

“When’s the last time you went out drinking with friends or on a date?”

“Been a while.”

“Same.”

“There’s a winery on the other side of the bridge. We’ll go before you leave.” Dani didn’t feel like dancing around her thoughts. “I didn’t send you off in style the last time, but this go-around I will. I owe you that much. I’ll take you to lunch once the house is cleared and the puppies are older.”

“Sure, I’ll drive you to Norfolk on Monday.”

“Thanks.”

“I had dinner with Matthew last night. He’s still very charming.”

She glanced toward Bella, who was holding a different puppy and patting Libby on the head. “Yes, he is.”

“He’s opening a new restaurant.”

“He’s been talking about that for the last few months. I don’t pay too much attention.”

“He’s put some thought into it. Did you know he had an option on a building across from the gallery?”

“Again, it’s Matthew. Lots of ideas.” Dani regarded Ivy, expecting her to shoot down Matthew’s entire sales pitch.

“What do you think of his idea?” Ivy asked.