Page 70
“If that’s what you want to call it,” Calvin jested.
Jess’s mouth fell open. “Did you just sass me, Ball?”
“You deserve it sometimes,” he chafed, following Kevin as the two of them made their way to her counter. He crossed his arms in that familiar military-like I now mean business stance. “Okay, do you want bad news or worse news first?”
She rubbed her face. “Just tell me.”
“The breakfast rush you have is great, but it’s not enough to make up for the lull in the afternoon. You guys are behind.”
“And the worse news?”
“Even if you do find a miraculous way to get customers in here during the afternoon, you may find yourselves needing another investor or a new owner.”
She perched her elbows on the counter and placed her head in her hands.
“It’s all right, Jessica, we’ll figure it out,” Kevin said softly.
The tiny bell at the door made a cheerful ding as someone entered the shop. Jess stood up straight, recognizing the platinum blonde hair and the round belly.
“Dakota, hi!”
Her sister smiled, waddling her way over to the counter. She was in her seventh month now, yet she still looked radiant as always; glowing skin, hair shiny and silky, freckles dotting across her nose and cheeks. She looked down at the half-eaten hand pie on the counter. “Whatever that is smells amazing, do you have another?”
Jess pushed the plate to her. “Finish it and tell me what you think, I can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong with it.”
“There’s probably nothing wrong with it,” Kevin bantered.
Dakota smiled, taking the plate. “You know Jess, always a perfectionist.”
She rolled her eyes. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, do you—um—have a minute?”
Jess nodded, making her way around the counter. Kevin pulled a chair out for Dakota at one of the tables by the window and held out a hand, assisting her into it.
He took a step back and bumped into Jess, then held out his hands in apology. “Sorry, didn’t mean to—”
Jess sidestepped and took a seat. “All good.”
Kevin gestured for Calvin to join him outside, the two of them mumbling to each other again as they exited the shop.
Dakota cocked her head. “That was weird.”
“Yeah, weird is an understatement,” Jess grumbled. “Let’s not talk about it. What’s up?”
Her sister raised her brow, but she obliged. “I have something for you.”
Dakota slipped a sage-green envelope across the table. Jess picked it up timidly, noticing the way her sister was beaming again at her, like she was the damn sun. Jess ripped open the envelope and pulled out an invitation.
Come shower Baby Carver with lots of love!
Jess gulped, reading the rest of the invitation details. It was two weeks from now, and it was being held at the house. Their house. Her childhood home.
The RSVP was to her mother, Whitney Valerie.
Jess froze, eyes on the invitation, not daring to make a move or a sound. She felt like her brain short-circuited as she remained in that spot, thinking through what she should do next and never coming up with a solid plan.
“I…I know it’s a lot,” Dakota hedged after their bout of silence. “But I can’t imagine not having you there, sissy. I need you, and I need you in this baby’s life.”
