Mind Games

I’m in for the chops and the wine. Give me a hint on the news.

Nope. You get nothing until you get here.

I’d say that’s mean except I’m getting food and drink. Omw.

Considering Maddy had an apartment in town, Thea judged she had more than enough time to set the table, put on music—obviously Code Red—feed Bunk and the chickens.

She’d just poured the wine when Maddy came in the front door.

“There’s a car at Miss Leona’s. The great-grandson? That’s the big news?”

“Part of it.” Thea handed over a glass of wine.

Maddy wore her hair in locs these days. She’d changed out of her doctor-at-work clothes into calf-length sweatpants and a short-sleeved hoodie, both in bright, bold pink.

She had half a dozen studs running along both earlobes.

“I’m sitting. On my feet since eight this morning. Sitting out on your porch so I can enjoy my wine and you spill the news I don’t have to be psychic to see you can barely hold in.”

She ran a hand over Bunk as she strolled out. Then let out a huge sigh as she sat in one of Thea’s summer-sky-blue porch chairs.

“I’m guessing you met him, so what’s he like? Got a kid, right? How long are they staying? Putting the house up for sale? I’d buy it myself so we could Mr. Rogers it. Won’t you be my neighbor? But you’re just too far out from the clinic.”

“And Doctor Dreamboat. When are you going to give Arlo a break and marry him?”

Maddy smiled her smug smile. “I’m closing in on living together. Maybe, say, this fall. We’ll give that a year once I do, and see how it goes.” She slid a look toward Thea. “Or you could just tell me.”

“I’m not Madame Carlotta with her crystal ball. And I’m not looking into your future if I could. But”—Thea toasted with her wine, then drank—“I know a close-to-perfect match when I see one.”

“Why only ‘close to’?”

“I’m not sure there are many absolutely perfect ones.”

Her parents, she thought, but they’d been robbed of all the decades they might have had together.

“Okay, I’ve stalled you long enough. What’s with the next gen down the lane? Tall, dark, and handsome?”

“Tall, handsome, and the little boy’s not only a mirror image, but adorable. They drove down from Philadelphia with a lot of boxes in the car, so I think they’re planning on staying awhile.”

She sipped wine again. “I didn’t look, at least not deliberately, but I could feel how much he loves his son. Bunk scared him—not the boy but the dad.”

“Sweetest dog ever.” Maddy made kissy noises that had Bunk’s tail swishing. “But he’s big as a house, so I see that as first reaction.”

“He loved Miss Leona, too, the great-grandson. Just a lot of emotion I didn’t manage to block out. Love, guilt, regret.”

Eyes narrowed, Maddy pointed. “You, Thea Fox, are smitten! You who never get smitten got smitten in five minutes.”

“Oh, it’s been a lot longer than five minutes. He’s been in my life and heart for years.”

“I know everyone who’s been in your life and heart, and none of them are Miss Leona’s great-grandson.”

“Well, you missed one.” Tilting her head, Thea listened to the music rocking through the windows. “One look,” she sang, “one word, one touch, and lightning strikes.”

“Save the concert. Who the hell is he?”

Thea laughed. “You must be tired not to catch on. Miss Leona’s great-grandson is … drumroll. Tyler Brennan. Code Red, Maddy. My teenage crush Tyler Brennan.”

“Get out!” Reaching over, Maddy gave Thea’s arm a slap. “No possible way.”