Iris, petite and silver haired, stared hard, then stepped back. “At least come in and have some tea with me.” Zoey knew Iris was a big Anglophile. The woman loved her British porcelain tea sets and delicate Victorian furniture. And she always had a tin of Scottish shortbread on hand. It was tempting, but she shook her head.

“I’d better not. The wind’s already picking up outside, and I want to get home before that cold front hits.”

Iris looked at the large windows behind her. “Oh, it is getting dark out there, isn’t it? You go on, then, and batten down the hatches for you and Hazel before the storm.”

“It’s just me this weekend. Hazel’s with her dad and Genna. They’re working on the new nursery.” Maybe the more she said it out loud, the better she’d feel about it. But that hadn’t worked yet.

Iris’s blue eyes narrowed in concern. “And how do you and Hazel feel about a new baby? And a wedding, too, right?”

Zoey blew out a sigh. Iris had been a part of her life for as long as Vickie had been. And Iris was even less likely to accept a bullshit answer.

“It is what it is. I’m trying to stay upbeat for Hazel’s sake, and...” She lifted a shoulder. “It’s not like I don’t want Chris to be happy. He and I are over-over. Genna’s been nice to Hazel. And a baby is, well...it’s a baby. I can’t resent them for having a baby.”

“Sure you can,” Iris scoffed. “You can feel any way you want to. But don’t you think it would be easier to handle if you were building a fresh start of your own with someone? Are you sure that nice sales guy, Mason, didn’t raise any sparks?”

“Not a single one,” she answered. Although he’d noticed the sparks between her and Mike. “Besides, I’ve got my hands full with the house and Hazel. A man in my life is the last thing I need right now. And it’s the very last thing Hazel needs. She has enough new people entering her life.” She gave Iris a reassuring smile. “When the time’s right, I’ll put myself out there again. When Hazel’s ready.” She reached up to brush her hair behind her ear and winced, forgetting about the wrist she’d strained last night.

Iris, who never missed anything, reached out and took Zoey’s forearm. “Your wrist is swollen. What happened?”