Page 147 of Mistletoe and Mischief

Mom knew about this? Bailey thought that was a good sign. Lana was a petite attractive blonde who seemed as effervescent as Ted was low-key.

Ted stood with his hand protectively around Lana’s waist. “Everyone, this is Lana Carr.”

Bailey and Sophie introduced themselves after their parents did.

“Sit down, please,” Beth said and gestured Ted and Lana toward the chairs. While they took their seats, Bailey and Sophie handed them plates with cake and took drink orders.

“You know, your mother and I haven’t had any cake yet,” their father said. “I don’t suppose we could get a slice, too?”

“Sure thing, Dad.”

Bailey cut two additional slices and brought them in while Sophie prepared coffee for their guests.

Bailey went back to the kitchen to start cleaning up, and Sophie joined her there a couple of minutes later. When she opened the kitchen door, the sound of their parents’ laughter drifted toward her.

“Everyone seems to be getting along,” Bailey commented.

“They are. I think Mom and Dad and Ted and Lana are going to be good friends. Did you hear how they met?”

“Mom and Dad?”

“No, Ted and Lana, silly.”

“Tell me.”

“She brought in a dog who’d been hit by a car. She used to work for a vet in Tacoma, a friend of Ted’s, until she moved to Cedar Cove. His friend had mentioned Lana was single and wanted to introduce them, but Ted said the timing was bad.”

“Yeah, he had his eye on our mother,” Bailey murmured.

“Lana saw his picture and thought he looked like a nice guy, but let it go. She figured he’d contact her if he was interested.”

“But he didn’t.”

“No. And then Lana found the injured dog and brought him to the nearest vet, not even knowing it was Ted until she got there. She helped him operate on the dog and did such a good job that he offered her a job at the animal hospital.”

“And she accepted.”

“That’s such a romantic story,” Sophie said.

Bailey nodded. “This is a romantic town.”

Her sister gave a contented sigh.

“You know, I like Cedar Cove,” Bailey said. “I like it a lot.”

“I do, too.”

It was the kind of town anyone would love to call home.