“Yes, ma’am.”
“And then what? Come straight back?”
“Might grab a couple hours of sleep first, but yeah, I’d need to get back. This is our busy season.”
“It’s an extremely generous offer and I’m touched, but I’m not taking it.” She finished her sandwich.
“I’ll leave it open, in case you change your mind. How much extra were you looking at for the flight?” He took a mouthful of cider.
She tapped the phone. The screen with the total came up and she turned it so he could see.
He swallowed so fast he almost choked. “Holy crap. Don’t tell me you’re considering that.”
“I’d rather pay it than have you risk your life making the trip. I’d offer to share the driving, but I’m horrible at long drives, especially at night. I fall asleep.”
“I don’t. Neither do the other guys.” He grinned. “You see, we’re cowboys and cowboys—”
“Are insane. I get it.” She put down her cider when her phone chimed with Naomi’s ring. “Excuse me. I’d better take this.” Pushing back her chair, she picked up the phone and stood. With the phone to her ear, she walked toward the kitchen nook. “Hey, sis.”
“I checked the flight situation and you’d have to book in business class on top of the change fee.”
“I know.”
“I’m asking you not to come. That’s a lot of money.”
“We’re spending a lot more than that on the roaster. I should be there to—”
“What, exactly? Hold my hand? I’m a big girl, Izzy. I can do this.”
“I know, but—”
“You don’t trust me to take care of it?”
“No! I trust you!”
“I don’t think so. Flying back here at great expense proves it.”
That stunned her. “Then…” She gulped and did a mental one-eighty. “Then I won’t.”
“Thank you.” A gusty sigh came through the phone. “I’m damn proud of how I’ve reacted to this crisis.”
“You should be. You’ve done a spectacular job.” Too bad she’d questioned her sister’s every move. Ugh. “I apologize for not acknowledging that. You came through in the clutch.”
“Yes, I did. And by the way, I’m having the old roaster hauled off tonight after we close. Fred’s going to stop by and make sure that goes okay.”
“Right. Good thinking. Don’t forget the service door has to come off.”
“I remember.”
“Give Fred a hug for me, too.”
“I will. And I’ll keep you in the loop tomorrow with texts. I’ll call as soon as the truck shows up. I’ll text you pictures.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“But that’s tomorrow.”
“Getting the old roaster out is no piece of cake. The thing’s heavy.”
“It’ll be fine. I hired the same guys who hauled it in. They know the drill. Is CJ still there or did you send him away?”
“He’s here.”
“I’m guessing you planned to spend some time together tonight.”
“We did.”
“Then please hang up and enjoy your evening. Don’t give this another thought.”
She smiled. “That’s a tall order.”
“Hey, if he’s as cute and fun as he looked in the wedding photos, I’ll bet he can make you forget your roaster problems.”
Chapter Seventeen
CJ didn’t try to eavesdrop, but it was a small space. If he’d correctly interpreted the conversation, Naomi had just done him a huge favor.
Izzy disconnected the call and came back to the table, phone in hand, her expression subdued.
He stood and helped her into her chair. “I heard some of that.”
“Evidently if I’d insisted on flying back, she’d think I don’t trust her to handle the crisis.” She laid the phone beside her plate.
“Ah.” He returned to his seat. “Do you trust her?”
She hesitated. “With most things, but this is huge.”
“And Cup of Cheer is everything to you.”
“Not everything, but it’s my passion. My dream. That said, my relationship with Naomi is more important than the shop. Even though originally she told me not to come back, I thought in her heart she wanted me there for moral support. I was wrong. She sees this situation as a chance to prove to me that she’s capable of handling a crisis.”
“And prove it to herself?”
She nodded. “Probably, and that’s even more important. I wouldn’t knowingly do anything to undermine her confidence. She was my rock when I found out about the pregnancy last Friday. Our roles reversed. She started giving me advice. I loved that.”
“She’s been pregnant?”
“No, but she immersed herself in the subject. While I was busy obsessing about the emotional implications for you and me, she unearthed everything she could find about the joy of pregnancy and childbirth. Then she shared it with me.”
“I wouldn’t mind having some of that info.”
“I’ll text you the links. It’s great stuff. Thanks to Naomi, I changed my focus from our less-than-perfect circumstances to the miracle of bringing a new life into the world.”
He regarded her silently for a moment. “Sounds like she responded well in that crisis, too.”
“Very true.” She took a deep breath. “And I’m sure she’ll handle this one just fine. Putting it out of my mind isn’t easy, though.”
“Tell you what.” Shoving back his chair, he stacked the empty plates. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Where?”
“Down to the barn. Horses are a very calming bunch.”
“I believe that. Especially Lucky Ducky. That horse is totally Zen.”
He carried the plates into the kitchen nook. “Do you want to grab a jacket?”
“I don’t think so. It was nice when I brought the food back from the dining hall.”
He took his hat from the counter where he’d left it, started toward her and glanced at the phone in her hand. “Gonna take that?”
“Naomi might—”
“Really?”
“No, not really.” She held up the phone. “My security blanket.”
“I’d be happy to volunteer for that position.”
She smiled and put the phone on the table. “You’re hired.”
“Thanks for the opportunity. Let’s go.” He ushered her out the door and took her hand as they descended the steps. “Moon’s up.” He pointed to the pale crescent in the fading light. “Waxing moon.”
“I always liked that better than a waning moon.”
“Me, too. Henri’s fond of a new moon.
