Zoey made sure she and he didn’t sit together. She’d taken a seat next to Vickie Pendergast—the only empty seat left at the dining table inside. She winked at him when he spotted her, as if she’d just won a battle. Vickie was staring at him intently. What had they done that caught so many people’s attention? Nana was staring at Zoey. And that Rick guy from the book club was watching Vickie watch Mike. Great. He decided to eat outside.

He had a nice meal with Owen, Lucy, Finn and Bridget. Owen’s landscaping business was running hot and heavy now that summer weather had arrived. He was still doing a few cleanup jobs from the storm, but mostly he was planting and doing some hardscaping projects, installing stone patios and retaining walls. Lucy was working more hours than ever at the flower shop, now that the original owner—and now partner—Connie was dating Stan Perelli. Connie was edging closer and closer to retirement.

Finn and Bridget had one topic of conversation—life with baby Moira. The lack of sleep. The silly sounds the baby made. The lack of sleep. How adorable she was. The lack of sleep. Mike nodded and laughed when appropriate, but the conversation brought him back to Zoey’s question about whether he wanted children. They’d talked about that before, and she’d been clear that she didn’t want another baby now that Hazel was thirteen.

Had she changed her mind? Was she feeling him out for the possibility of having a child together? His fork fell from his hand. Was Zoey pregnant?

“Dude, you okay over there?” Owen asked.

Mike blinked and looked around the table. He had no idea what they’d all been talking about. His skin went clammy. He had to know why Zoey had asked, and he had to know now. Because if she was pregnant... He stood, doing his best to smile at his tablemates as his stomach churned.

“Fine. Sorry. I’m fine. Just remembered something I forgot to do at the office, so I’ll uh...have to go in early tomorrow. But it’s fine.” He glanced inside the house and saw Zoey heading into the kitchen with a stack of dirty paper plates. With any luck, he could catch her alone in the kitchen and get some answers. He gathered up his plate and utensils. “I’m going to check out the desserts...”

Bridget winked at everyone else at the table. “I’m sure they’re fine.”

He didn’t know why there were snickers around the table at that. He shrugged it off and headed to the kitchen. Zoey was there alone, putting the paper plates in the trash.

“We need to talk.” He barked out the words like an order.

She looked up in surprise. “Now?”

“Right now.” Once the thought of pregnancy was in his head, it wouldn’t go away.