He flipped the waffle onto a platter with extra force and split it onto two plates. He added cherry topping and whipped cream just as Ivy walked into the room, the boot cast barely slowing her down. Lauren had been right. Physically, Ivy didn’t need her anymore. Emotionally, however, was another story.
Seth forced a smile and poured two glasses of orange juice. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Ivy took a seat at the table, but instead of digging in, she simply gazed down at the golden-brown waffle.
Seth sat opposite her. “Remember how Mommy used to make waffles for us every Sunday before church?”
Ivy nodded and picked up her folk. “I miss Mommy.”
“I know you do, princess.” The minute the words left Seth’s mouth he realized the pain that had always accompanied thoughts of Jan had disappeared.
For a second he felt a twinge of guilt. Until he remembered his grandmother promising him during the depth of his grief that this day would come. She’d told him that when he could enjoy the memories of the life he’d shared with Jan without his heart aching, that was when he’d know he was ready to move on with his life.
“Maybe Miss Lauren can come to the penny pond with us today.” The hopeful gleam in the little girl’s eyes tore at Seth’s heartstrings.
“I don’t think so,” Seth said gently. “But you and me, we’ll have a good time. I have a whole pocketful of pennies. You can make lots and lots of wishes.”
Years ago, someone had supposedly thrown a penny into a particular pond near town and made a wish. When the wish had come true, the pond achieved local lore status.
“I only need one penny,” Ivy told him.
“You only have one wish?” Seth teased.
“Yep.” Ivy smeared the cherry topping over the top of her waffle and added a big blob of whipped cream.
“What’s the wish?” Seth asked, suddenly curious.
Ivy shook her head. “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”
“Duh, I knew that.” Seth smacked himself on the side of his head with the flat of his palm, the exaggerated gesture bringing giggles from his daughter.
A second later, Ivy’s face grew serious. “Before Mommy died, she told me a secret.”
Seth placed his fork on the table. “What was the secret?”
Ivy’s mouth closed over a big bite of waffle. She chewed for several seconds then took a sip of juice. “Mommy told me that even though I was sad because she was leaving me, I’d be happy again. That you would make sure we were happy.”
While it definitely sounded like something Jan would have said, Seth wasn’t sure the comment qualified as a secret. Surely there had to be more. “What else did she say?”
Ivy shrugged and dropped her gaze to the plate. “Nothing.”
“You can tell me,” Seth said as persuasively as he could. “You know there isn’t anything you can’t tell me.”
“Mommy didn’t say anything else. I just didn’t think it was true.” Ivy whispered the words. “But then you brought Miss Lauren home. It was like Mommy said, we were all happy. But—”
“But what?”
“You let her leave.” Ivy lifted her gaze and the look in her eyes broke his heart. “Why did you do that, Daddy? Why did you let her leave?”
Seth hoped the walk to the park on Main Street would clear his head. It wasn’t even noon and he was already drained. He tried his best to answer Ivy’s questions in a way she could understand, while trying to process Jan’s words. Had his wife really wanted him to fall in love again?
His thoughts churned as they headed to the penny pond where Ivy had insisted on throwing one—and only one—penny into the water.
Now she was eating a catered lunch at Sew-fisticated with Anna and several women who’d been Jan’s childhood friends. That gave him an hour of thinking time.
He’d just reached the gate to the town park when Mitch pulled his 4x4 to the curb with Josh in the passenger seat.
Seth walked over to them. “What’s up?”
“Anna’s hosting some luncheon at the shop.” Mitch jerked a thumb in Josh’s direction. “Stacie’s helping Lauren pack.”
“You’re a fool if you let her leave,” a voice called out from the sidewalk.
An eerie sense of déjà vu washed over him. Seth forced a smile and turned. Loretta Barbee—who must have either been already in the park or lurking behind the large evergreen—stood in front of the gate.
“Mrs. Barbee.” He lifted a hand in greeting. “Good afternoon.”
“I’m disappointed in you, Seth Anderssen,” she said, apparently deciding to forgo a greeting and get right to the point. “I know what’s been going on between you and Lauren Van Meveren. I’m shocked that you—”
“Hold your horses.” Seth raised a hand, his voice as tight as a crossbow. “Nothing improper occurred between Lauren and me.”
“I’m not saying it did. But you are in love with her.” Loretta pinned him with her sharp-eyed gaze. “That’s as plain as the nose on my face. What I and the rest of this town can’t figure out is why you’re letting her leave.”
“It’s complicated,” Seth muttered, wondering why he bothered saying anything. It wasn’t like any of this was her business.
“It’s only as complicated as you make it” The woman’s gaze shifted over Seth’s shoulder, and her expression brightened. She smiled and waved. “Miranda. Wait a second. We need to talk.”
Keeping the smile firmly on her face, the pastor’s wife lowered her voice to a confidential whisper. “Alex Darst is going to propose. Miranda will say yes. Then they’ll put a bid on your grandma Borghild’s house. But you didn’t hear the news from me.”
She hurried off without a backward glance.
Sounds of laughter erupted from the truck.
Seth scowled and turned back to his friends. “Yeah, she’s a barrel of laughs.”
Josh’s smile faded. “She’s right about one thing. Lauren is leaving. Stacie
