“I think so.”
The little bell rang again, and this time Lola Worley walked in.
“Is she gone?” Lola asked.
“Just missed her,” Annabeth said.
Lola put her hands on her hips. “Probably for the best. I don’t know what she’s up to, but she had no business coming in here, stirring up trouble.”
Josie shook her head. “She was picking up pastries—”
“She was stirring up trouble, mark my words,” Lola affirmed. “That one lives for it. After Hunter kicked her out, she spent a good month causing fights around town, getting the men all dazed and confused by her big...” Lola waved her hands in the air. “Well, you know.”
Annabeth nodded.
“Hunter kicked her out?” Josie asked.
“Teddy told me all about it. He was fit to be tied.” Lola nodded. “He’d come home to find Eli in his crib, screaming and filthy. Amy was gone.”
“Eli was alone?” Josie was horrified. “But—” How many times had Annabeth or her dad tried to bring up Hunter? But she’d cut them off, too caught up in herself to consider what those she’d left behind were dealing with. She hurt for Hunter. And Eli.
“He gave her a lot of chances, Josie.” Annabeth nodded. “When Eli started kindergarten, he was one of those kids that was always in the office after school when it was her turn to have him. She’d forget to pick him up, or didn’t want to.” Annabeth looked at Lola, who nodded.
“She was real good at coming in with presents, big smiles and stories for Eli before she’d leave again.” Lola moved around the counter. “That boy holds on to those memories, desperate to have a real mother, I guess.”
“That’s natural,” Josie argued. She knew what it was like to want a mother. How many times had she made excuses for her mom? Rationalized her behavior? There were flashes of brilliance. Museum visits. Opera performances. Traveling to exotic locations... But the everyday version of her mother was something altogether different.
“Seems to me his daddy did a good enough job for two parents.” Lola beamed at Cody. “Look at how big you are. I swear, you look more like your pa every time I see you, Cody.”
The little boy grinned.
“You want a cookie?” Lola asked him.
“He just had one,” Annabeth protested.
“One’s not near enough for a growing boy.” Lola winked at Cody as she handed him a huge frosting-covered sugar cookie.
Annabeth laughed. “We don’t need a nap today.”
Lola hugged her. “Sorry, sugar. It’s the holidays, you know? Calls for extra treats and breaking the rules now and then.”
Annabeth smiled. “It’s fine.”
Josie’s father came out of the kitchen. “Did you believe that Amy? I didn’t know what to say to her. Can I ban her from the shop?”
“Absolutely not.” Josie sighed. “If she is back for good, we will all be on our best behavior. For Eli.”
Lola, Annabeth and her father looked at her.
“Okay?” she added, needing their cooperation.
Annabeth and her dad nodded quickly.
Lola sighed and said, “I’ll try, Josie, but I sure as hell won’t like it.”
* * *
“DR. BOONE,” A VOICE called over his intercom. “Your two o’clock is here.”