Andrea turned to see Vickie Pendergast standing beside her at the bar. She didn’t know Vickie as well as some of the other book club matchmakers, like Maura McKinnon. She remembered that when she was a child, Vickie and her mom had been friendly rivals for a while. Two Rendezvous Falls socialites trying to outdo each other with their garden parties. Then something had happened, as it often did with Mom’s many short-term friends, and Vickie wasn’t part of their life anymore.

“I know this sounds a bit forward,” Vickie started, “but have you talked to Zayne today?”

“Um, yes. This morning. Why?”

“But not since then?”

Andrea shook her head, not wanting to share the date-busting text he’d sent two hours ago.

Vickie looked away, her eyes squinting as if she was arguing with herself. Then she sighed and looked back to Andrea. “He and your mother had a bit of a...scene at the diner this afternoon.”

Oh, no. She straightened. “Define scene.”

“Apparently your mother didn’t know you two are...involved. Hudson ran to jump in Zayne’s lap and Marissa lost her mind. She treated Zayne like he was some monster and yanked Hudson away.”

“Oh, shit,” Tani muttered.

“Exactly,” Vickie answered. “It wasn’t pretty. Evie got Hudson away from them with a milkshake, but your mother was...well, she was Marissa. All about her, and how your life choices have affected her, and basically just me, me, me, as always.”

“Sounds like good old Mom.” Marissa’s world had always centered on Marissa. “How did Zayne react?”

Vickie smiled, putting her hand on Andrea’s arm. “He defended you, of course.” Andrea felt a blossom of warmth in her heart, but Vickie’s smile faded. “Not that your mother listened. She’s still hung up on who the Rutledges used to be. What their father did. How rough they grew up. I don’t know how Zayne kept his cool.”

“How did it end?”

“Gordy and I left while they were still...uh...talking. I put in a good word for you and Zayne, but...”

“Mom didn’t listen to you, either.”

Vickie looked uncomfortable. “No. I talked to Helen Russo after—you know her niece is best friends with Evie, right?” Andrea nodded. “Well, I wasn’t hunting for gossip or anything. I was just worried... Anyway, Evie told Whitney that Marissa said some things Evie couldn’t hear, and Zayne left in a hurry. Didn’t even take the two take-out meals he’d paid for.”

“Uh-oh,” Tani said. “Forget what I said about giving him space. You need to find out what line of nonsense Marissa fed him.” Andrea was already sliding off the bar stool. Tani pointed to the door. “I’ve got the drinks. Go. And text me later to let me know your mother didn’t drop a bomb into things.”