Chapter Twenty-One
If You’re Here, You’re Family
She should have known bringing Cal to lunch would send the wrong message to her friends.
Of course, when she texted to ask about Cal attending, she knew they would tease her.
She hoped that once they got it out of their system, they’d go back to normal.
But as soon as Cal showed up to the Blueberry Muffin, Rachel was subjected to her friends’ sighs, swoons, and little heart eyes every time they looked at her.
While she had to curtail her friend’s doe-eyed stares, she couldn’t fault them either. Cal walked in and her universe narrowed to him. His jeans hugged his body perfectly and the quarter zip green sweater he wore made his eyes almost glow. Or that’s how it seemed to her.
When he arrived, he immediately looked around until he found her, coming to join her. She had to forbid herself from reaching out to touch the rough texture of his unshaven face.
She introduced him to everyone, trying not to stare.
If she wasn’t careful, she’d be the one making heart eyes at him.
Rachel scowled at Lottie and Alex again, hoping this time they’d get the message and chill.
They hadn’t even sat down to eat yet, and the pair was practically measuring her for a bridal gown.
At least Lottie had the decency to look embarrassed while Alex flashed a huge smile and a thumbs up.
Mercifully, Cal was busy chatting with their other friends, so he missed the entire exchange.
Mrs. S breezed in, carrying a few large, blue Pie boxes. Dragging her attention away from Cal, she went to help.
“Hey Mrs. S,” she said. “I’ll take these from you.”
“Thank you, dear. Much appreciated.”
Lottie and Lisa joined them too. Lottie hugged the older woman as soon as Rachel had taken the packages. “Mrs. S,” Lottie said. “I really appreciate you delivering my order. I could have come and gotten it.”
“No need, Lottie. It was on my way. Besides, I wanted to see Lisa and wish her the best.” She reached out and gave Lisa a big hug.
“Please tell me you’re staying,” Lisa said when they’d stepped apart.
“I’d love to, but I’m having dinner and playing cards with George and Jackie later. And if I’m not there to keep George in line, he cheats something fierce,” she laughed.
“Dad says the same about you,” Adam said as he joined them. Giving Mrs. S a kiss on the temple, he added, “Meanwhile, with you two fighting, Mom always seems to sneak in there and take both of you to the bank.”
“That she does,” Mrs. S laughed. “It’s always the quiet ones.” She smirked. “Speaking of which, where is Jake?”
“Right here, Mrs. S,” he called, hustling over.
Mrs. S grabbed the top box from Rachel’s hands and gave it to Jake. “This is the cake. So just take that one to the kitchen for me, would you?”
Jake squinted at her. “You mean to tell me you made today’s cake? I am perfectly capable of making… Lisa a cake.”
Rachel really wanted to know why he’d hesitated.
Was it perhaps because he wanted to say something like ‘my girl’ or ‘my girlfriend, Lisa’?
That would be incredible if Jake and Lisa ever got out of their own way and realized how much they cared for each other.
But now she sounded a little too like Alex and Lottie, so she pushed that thought away.
Their group did not need any more matchmaking and scheming.
“Jake, honey.” Mrs. S patted his cheek lovingly, her lips curving up in a big smile. “You and I both know you should stick to the savory stuff and leave the sweet stuff to me.”
Jake laughed, shaking his head. He and Mrs. S had an ongoing friendly argument over whose recipes were better. Honestly, it was difficult to choose, as both were amazing.
“I bow to your greater expertise,” Jake snickered, turning to go into the kitchen. “But just this once,” he called over his shoulder before he disappeared.
“He’ll never learn,” Mrs. S said fondly, grabbing the next box from Rachel’s arms. “Now Lisa, this is the long promised…”
“BUCKLE!” Lisa yelled, her hands shooting out for the box. Mrs. S handed it off with a chuckle.
“Yes. This is the blueberry buckle I promised you. Happy birthday.”
Lisa hugged her with one hand, the other clutching the box tightly. “Thank you so much, Mrs. S. This is the best birthday ever.”
“My pleasure. Now there’s enough in there to share.” She started laughing when Lisa scowled at her. “Since I know you’re so generous with all your friends,” she went on. Grabbing the remaining box from Rachel, she passed that to Lisa and said, “So this is buckle just for you and Lottie for later.”
“This is the best Lisa birthday ever,” Lottie said, grinning.
With her hands now empty, Rachel looked over and saw Cal standing behind her. She stepped back beside him as Lisa, Lottie, and Mrs. S were talking.
“You remember Mrs. S, right,” she asked quietly.
“Maybe?” he intoned. “I don’t think I ever officially met her. But I certainly was in her bakery enough that she looks familiar.”
“Okay. Let me introduce you. And just so you get all the connections, the Jackie and George she’s playing cards with are Adam’s parents...”
“That part I got,” he smirked at her, his eyes dancing with humor.
“Anyway,” she stressed. “Then I guess you know they own MacDonald Dry Cleaners in Jennings. Adam and Lottie are dating. In fact, they officially started dating at Alex’s wedding.”
“That was a hell of a wedding,” Cal said with a wink.
Her breath hitched. It should be illegal for a man to be that attractive, she thought, trying to downplay her reaction. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Rachel stepped toward the group.
“Mrs. S,” she interrupted, putting a hand on Cal’s arm. “I’m not sure you remember him, but this is Cal Fitzgerald.”
Mrs. S took a second to regard Cal before smiling. “Of course, I remember. He and his brother were both regular customers for quite a while.”
“Mrs. S,” Cal said. “It’s great to see you again.”
“And you Cal,” she replied. “I hear you were able to help my friend out with her gala.”
Cal’s smile grew. “I was and I really appreciate you recommending she contact us.”
“My pleasure, dear. Now, I have to run,” she added, looking at Lisa. “You behave yourself and have fun. And I want a full report on the blueberry buckle.”
With assurances of a thorough taste testing, Mrs. S left, and the group sat down at the large table Jake had set for them.
Cal sat next to her, of course, but she hadn’t factored in how close they would be.
She registered his presence, jumping slightly when his thigh brushed hers.
She had the crazy thought that if she just leaned slightly, she’d be engulfed by his heat.
Something made her want to curl up into him and just bask in his energy.
Once everyone was seated, Lottie rose. “So, we have a gift for you,” she sang, causing Lisa to scowl. “I know. I know,” Lottie waved her off. “But Alex, Rachel, and I thought it was perfect.”
Rachel only smiled harder when Lisa turned to glare at her. “Ignoring the no gifts rule is just fun, but the three of us also decided we needed to make an exception for this particular present.”
While Rachel was explaining, Alex reached underneath the table and with Jason’s help, pulled out a plant. Thudding it on the table, she smiled. “We’ve named him PJ.”
“PJ?” Lottie interrupted. “You named it PJ?”
Alex glared over at Lottie. “We named it PJ.”
Lottie looked over to Rachel, who gestured in exasperation. “Don’t look at me, I did no such thing.”
“We’ve gone over this,” Alex exclaimed. “Plants deserve names.”
Rachel tried not to chuckle when she saw Lisa’s eye roll.
“And we, yes we,” Alex shook her head at Lottie. “Named him PJ. Don’t you remember?”
“No,” Lottie laughed. “And I know I’ll regret this. But what the hell does PJ stand for? Because I’m sure it stands for something.”
“Pajamas?” Someone threw out, starting a chorus of responses.
“Plant justice?”
“Private jet!”
“Air Force Special Tactics pararescuemen,” Adam tossed out last, making everyone turn in his direction. “What?” he responded with a shrug. “My uncle was a PJ.”
Alex huffed, “No. Absolutely not. We named him PJ for Plant Jubilation. You know.” She paused, looking pointedly at Lottie and Rachel as if one of them would remember.
“Because we had to be sure to get a happy, healthy plant, so it had a better chance of survival,” Alex announced as if it was the most logical choice.
“Oh, dear lord,” Lisa muttered, her head dropping into her hands.
“So,” Alex turned back to Lisa. “This is PJ, and we’re ever so fond of him. Please try not to kill him,” she added, which made everyone laugh.
Rachel turned toward Cal, her heart stuttering when he leaned over, the deep smoky scent of his cologne surrounding her. Gulping, she told her body to stand down and focus.
“Lisa is a talented gardener,” she explained. “But for some reason, she has a great deal of trouble keeping rosemary alive.”
“It’s Lisa’s reign of herbicide terror,” Lottie said loudly from the far side of the table. “Some years, our house has looked like a rosemary killing field,” she said with a laugh.
“Which is why,” Jake called out as he emerged from the kitchen. “I got you a secret weapon,” he said, producing a planter from behind his back. “It waters from the bottom, and will increase your chances of rosemary plant survival.”
Jake leaned over, adding quietly, “I can help you find the perfect location for PJ in your house. We both know how prickly rosemary can be about things.”
Lisa said nothing, just gave him a quick nod. But once Jake retreated into the kitchen, Rachel saw her trailing her fingers over the planter, a smile playing across her face.
Lisa put up a front that she didn’t have feelings about Jake, but her friends knew better. Rachel wasn’t sure why her friend felt compelled to downplay her obvious attraction; she was just thankful that it seemed like Jake wasn’t easily scared off.