Hannah took a deep breath. “Absolutely. She’s bringing pecan pies. See if she needs any help with them.”
She noted that her grandmother was watching her closely. “You have to stop doing that,” she warned. “I’m fine.”
To prove it, she plastered a warm smile on her face and went to the door to greet Abby. As she neared, Hannah reached for the pies.
“It’s okay,” Abby said. “I have hot pads to carry them. They’re just out of the oven. I got a later start today than I’d planned.”
“Ooh, that aroma is amazing,” Hannah said. “You’ve obviously mastered your mom’s recipe.”
Grandma Jenny turned with her own welcoming smile. “Those pecan pies of hers were always the hit of the Christmas bazaar at church. I can’t wait to taste yours.”
“I can’t promise they’ll live up to hers, but they’re close, I think,” Abby said. “She had a knack with the crusts that I’m still working on.”
“Well, these look perfect,” Jenny told her. “But if you need any more coaching, come over one day. I bake pies every few days at the inn.”
Abby looked startled by the offer. A pleased smile spread across her face. “If you really mean that, I’ll take you up on it.”
She set the pecan pies on the racks that Hannah had set out, then caught sight of Gracie. “Well, hello, there. You must be Gracie. Your dad has told me about you. I’m Abby.”
“She’s a very old friend of your dad’s and mine,” Hannah said. “She’s just moved back to Seaview Key.”
Interest sparked in Gracie’s eyes. “You knew my dad when he was little?”
“Sure, but we got to be good friends when we were in high school,” Abby said. “He, Hannah and I were together all the time.”
Gracie frowned. “Hannah says they didn’t date back then. Did you date him?”
Abby glanced at Hannah, then nodded.
Gracie seemed to be absorbing that news, but to Hannah’s relief she didn’t ask any more probing questions. To be sure that the topic died, she glanced at Abby. “You said you got a late start. Any particular reason, a late night for example?”
“Not the way you’re thinking,” Abby replied, laughing.
Before Hannah could probe any further, there was a tap on the back door that caught their attention. A blush immediately tinted Abby’s cheeks with a telltale glow. Though she started to take a step in Seth’s direction, Gracie was already racing for the door. Abby stood back and watched.
“Seth!” Gracie exclaimed, throwing herself at him. “I missed you.”
A grin spread across his face as he lifted her in the air. “Hey, short stuff. How are you doing?” He gave an exaggerated groan as he set her down. “You’re almost too big for me to keep doing that.”
“I’ve grown another inch since I was here last summer,” she announced excitedly. “I’m almost as tall as my mom. And it’s only fourteen more months till I’m a teenager.”
That particular countdown had begun a full two years before her thirteenth birthday, Hannah recalled. Shortly after she’d set eyes on Seth, as a matter of fact. The child had suddenly been determined to grow up fast.
Seth shook his head at Gracie’s announcement. “Not possible,” he insisted.
“Really,” Gracie said.
“Don’t be too anxious to grow up,” he advised. “You’ll have a lot more responsibilities.”
“But I’ll be able to date,” she reported excitedly. “Mom said.”
“And what did your dad say?” Seth asked.
Gracie hesitated before responding to Seth. “I don’t think he liked the idea.”
A massive understatement, Hannah thought, recalling Luke’s vehement reaction. Fortunately he’d held off on his tirade until after Gracie had gone to bed, so his daughter had missed the profanity. Though Hannah hadn’t been around when he’d spoken to his ex-wife, she imagined the woman had gotten an earful about allowing a thirteen-year-old to date.
Hannah glanced at Abby and noted that she was fascinated by the exchange, or maybe it was just Seth’s arrival that had captivated her. At just that moment, he glanced over Gracie’s head and gave Abby a wink.
“Hello to you, too.”
“Where’s your contribution to dinner?” she teased. “I brought pies.”
“I brought myself,” he said as if she were crazy to suggest anything more was needed. “Oh, and there are bottles of wine in the car,” he added, as if they were an afterthought.
He held Abby’s gaze. “I forgot all about them. Want to give me a hand?”
“Sure,” she said eagerly.
Hannah watched them go, amused by Seth’s clever maneuvering to get Abby to himself. She had a hunch that wine had been deliberately left behind.
Unfortunately his best attempt was thwarted when Gracie bounced out the door after them.
“Oh, boy,” Grandma Jenny said. “Those two are going to be in competition for his attention all day.”
“Seth knows Gracie has a crush on him,” Hannah said. “He’ll be careful not to hurt her feelings. I give him a lot of credit for how sweet he is with her.”
“Do you think Abby will mind sharing his affections?”
Hannah laughed. “I don’t think she’s going to feel threatened, if that’s what you’re asking.” She hesitated, thinking about something she thought she’d seen on Abby’s face just now. “Did you notice anything when she was watching Seth with Gracie?”
“You mean that longing in her expression?” Jenny asked perceptively.
“Exactly. I think she really missed out on having kids.”
“Which makes you luckier than she is,” her grandmother commented. “Something else for you to remember.”
Hannah laughed at the pointed reminder. “Yes, ma’am. Today is all about gratitude.”
Her grandmother nodded, looking satisfied. “I’m just saying.”
* * *
Seth gave Abby a frustrated look as they collected the bottles of wine from the car, Gracie right there to give them a hand. Though he adored Luke’s daughter and would never do a thing to hurt her feelings, he’d hoped for a moment alone with Abby.
Maybe it was just as well, though. He was likely to bring up the incident in Luke’s office, and today definitely wasn’t the day to insert Cara into the conversation.
Back in the kitchen, Hannah apparently sensed his frustration, though, because she
