By Sunday, Becca had turned into a basket case. She had trouble sleeping and found excuses to be too busy to deal with Mitch, still processing all he’d said and meant. And all she felt.

At the teahouse, just as they were about to close, she worked with Simon and Nora, having given the rest of the staff the weekend off. Snow fell outside, coming down in big, fat, fluffy flakes. The white powder covered the sidewalks and masked the bright Christmas lights strung over the trees lining the street.

“It’s like we’re in a Norman Rockwell painting,” Nora said as she stared through the front window.

Simon joined her, and Jenna joined him. Apparently, the girl needed even more volunteer time for the Honor Society. Yeah, right. She and Simon were holding hands.

Nora glanced at them, then looked back at Becca and raised a brow.

The last two customers drinking tea stood and left with a wave goodbye.

Becca smiled. “Hey, Simon, Jenna. Why don’t you two walk home? We have cocoa and marshmallows. And you can turn on the fire to warm it up for when I get  home in a bit.”

The teenagers nodded and grabbed their jackets, not needing to be told twice. But before Simon left, he crossed to Becca. “Are you okay, Mom? You’ve been acting weird lately. Did Mitch say something to bother you?”

“No. Why is that the first thig everyone thinks when I look upset? Why does it have to be about Mitch? Maybe I’m stressed for other reasons.”

Simon took a step back. “Oh. It’s that time of the month. Sorry.”

“Simon,” she growled. “It’s not that time— Oh, go home!”

“Seriously, Simon.” Jenna shook her head. “You know better than to always think a woman’s on her period. Are you going to ask me that when—not if—I get mad at you?”

He blushed. “No. Stop with all your lady talk. Ew.”

She laughed, and the pair left together.

“Then what is your problem?” Nora asked as she wiped down tables. “Because Simon was right. You’re acting like you’re on your period.”

“Mitch told me he loves me.”

Nora stopped, frozen. “Say that again.”

Becca blew out a breath. “He said he loves me. And he texted that to me too.”

“Oh my God. Seriously?” Nora squealed and raced over to hug her. “That’s great… Why are you looking like you’re going to cry?”

“I don’t know!” Becca sniffed. “I’m so confused, emotional—”

“Pregnant?”

“No!” Becca hated that she grew even weepier at the thought. “And I’m kind of sad because I’m not. God, what is wrong with me?”

“Honey, sit down.”

Becca let Nora lead her to a table.

“When Mitch told you he loved you, what did you say back?”

“Nothing. We just kissed some more…and did a few other things. He’s so good in bed.” Becca sighed.

“Lucky bitch.”

“Nora.”

“Oh, shut up. I’m kidding. Mostly.” Nora grinned. “So, he told you he loves you. You gave him happy time.”

“You can say sex, since we’re both adults and all.”

“Fine. You sexed him up. Then what?”

“I left.”

“And?”

“And what? I left. That was Friday night.”

Nora stared. “Have you talked since Friday?”

“No. I told him I was busy.”

“I was right. You are a bitch.”

“Hey.”

“Becca, think. You have a guy any woman would give her right boob to have. Note I would have said right nut, but since we don’t have those, I went with a better analogy. My point, though, is that I know you feel something for the guy. You’re different around him. You smile more, and Simon loves him.”

“But it’s too soon.”

“Is it? You knew with Neal after a year. And that was when you were seventeen. Just a baby. Now you’re older and wiser, and you feel something for this man.”

“I do.”

“So, stop hiding and deal with it. With him.”

“I think I love him.”

“Good. Go with that.”

“I’m scared, Nora.” This time she felt the tears and accepted them. “It was like when I looked into his eyes that first time, really looked, something clicked. Even when I didn’t want to like him, I liked him. He’s smart and funny. Handsome.”

“And rich.”

“Stop.”

“Well, he is. He can be that rock for you, Becks. Neal is gone. Mitch is here, and he’s a good man. I like him.” Nora didn’t like just anyone.

“But it’s not just me. It’s Simon, too. We’re a package deal.”

“Don’t you think Mitch knows that?”

“Well, yeah.” She put her head in her hands. “Where do I go from here?”

“You invite Mitch over for dinner. You include him as a part of your family with Simon. Then you have him sleep over.”

“I don’t think I can do that.”

“You had the sex talk with Simon, right? The kid knows how babies are made?”

“Of course.”

“Then let him see his mother in a healthy, adult relationship with a man. I’m not saying you should blow the guy in front of your son, just be real.”

“Ew. You really have a way with words.”

“Yes, I’m quite the pontificator.”

“Ten points.” Becca acknowledged her word choice. “I’ve been really immature about this. I hate that. I’m just not good at conflict.”

“Bullshit. You’re fine when it comes to managing the store and customers. You handle Linda and her cronies with a kind of quiet defiance.”

Becca gave a small grin. “As opposed to your mouthy rebellion.”

“Yes, I’m straight-up small town mafia.”

“Huh. I must have picked up the mafia references from you.” She remembered saying something to Mitch about football mafia. And yes, it sounded just as silly coming from Nora.

“What?”

“Never mind. I appreciate the tough love. Now I need to go home, make sure I have another ‘where babies come from’ talk with Simon after Jenna leaves, and invite Mitch over for dinner. Do you mind missing out on chicken night?”

“No problem. I’m on a seafood kick anyway. But I’ll bring dinner over Tuesday night, okay?”

“Sounds good.” She hugged Nora goodbye, finished cleaning up, then walked home. Only to find Mitch waiting for her in the driveway.

 

******

 

Mitch had half expected Becca to pull away from him after Friday night. He wished he hadn’t been surprised, but having sprung the L-word on the poor woman so soon, what had he really thought she might do?

“Mitch, hi.” She smiled at him.

Hmm. She seemed pleased to see him. That he hadn’t expected. “Hey.”

She took two steps forward and kissed him full on the lips.

Well, hell. He hadn’t expected that either.

Before he could speak, she put a finger over his lips. “Sorry, but we need to talk out here. Simon and Jenna are in the house.”

He nodded.

She took her finger away. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you. It was childish, and I won’t do it again.”

“Ah, okay.”

“It’s just… You’re wonderful, and it doesn’t seem real. You’re the first man after Neal that I—I mean, I feel so much for you, Mitch.” She cupped his cheek, and the cold no longer bothered him.

“I moved too fast.”

“Yes, you did. But I’m glad.” Her smile took his breath away.

“You are?”

“I won’t lie. You scare me. You’re sexy and smart. What’s to keep you from being with any of the other fine ladies in Hope’s Turn? I don’t know. I can only hope we’ll be together for a long time.”

Forever. Wisely, he kept that to himself. He’d have time to work up to that, he hoped. 

“And then there’s Simon.”

“Yes, we’ve met.”

She sighed. “You know what I mean. I have a teenage boy to raise. He’s a handful.”

“He’s fine. You’re amazing. I’m the one who’s not all together.”

“You’ve got ideas, and you’re making things happen.”

“And I’m rich. I have a pool. And a library. Have you seen my kitchen?”

She bit her lower lip. “I have. I admit, I have kitchen envy.”

“Good.” She needed to know he could provide for her. “I have money, Becca. You never have to work”

“I’m going to stop you right there.” She poked him in the chest. And yeah, she had that mom-poke-of-death thing going on that all mothers seemed to have. “I love my job. I don’t want your money, Mitch. I just want you.”

Probably best not to mention he’d bought the row of businesses on her side of Main Street then. He gave her the most innocent smile he could drum up. “Okay then.”

“But I might want your kitchen stove. Maybe.”

He laughed.

“Since I was going to invite you over for dinner, would you like to stay for baked chicken night?”

“I’d love to.” He walked her to her front door.

“And Mitch?”

“Yeah?” His heart pounded. She looked so serious.

“I, ah, Simon knows about us.”

Not what he’d been hoping to hear, but he could wait for a declaration of love. Especially if it happened inside, where it was warm. “I guessed he’d figure it out when I’m taking you out to dinner, the movies, bowling.”

“Oh, right.” She cleared her throat. “The thing is, you and I haven’t been together and around him at the same time.”

“Becca, honey, it’s okay. I promise not to mount you in front of the kid.”

“Mitch.”

He laughed. “You are so red right now. Come on. Let’s go inside and let the boy interrogate me. His nose is pressed up against the glass as it is.”

“Oh, Simon.” Becca shook her head at her son and said to Mitch, “You’ve been warned.”

 

 

Jenna stayed for dinner as well. While Simon asked Mitch a ton of questions, Becca did the same to Jenna.

Mitch found it amusing as hell to be in the same predicament as a fourteen-year-old girl. One smart enough to realize the same thing, because she shared grins with him throughout the meal.

At one point, she said, “Simon, enough. Mitch isn’t out to steal your mom’s money or ruin her credit. And I’m pretty sure he’s not after her business either.”

“Nope. Just her sticky buns,” Mitch confessed. “I hear those are to-die-for.”

“They are.” Becca smiled.

Simon stared from his mother to Mitch, nodded once, then ceased with the questions. “Fine. Then Mom has to stop giving Jenna the third degree.”

“Fine.” Becca patted Jenna on the shoulder. “Besides, it wasn’t the third degree. I happen to like Jenna. I was just catching up with her.”

“She was,” Jenna agreed.

“Chicks,” Simon muttered.

Mitch gave him a commiserating look.

After the meal, Mitch and Simon did the dishes while Jenna waited for her mother to pick her up.

“So, you and Mom,” Simon said as they cleaned up. “You’re a for real item?”

“Yep.”

Becca was laughing at something Jenna said. He watched them from the kitchen before they disappeared into the front room.

“We talking marriage and babies or what?”

Mitch bobbled the dish he held, covered in soapy water. “Ah, we haven’t gotten to that conversation yet. Your mom was a little hard to pin down just with the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. I don’t want to scare her off.”

“Oh, good call. But you want kids at some point, right?”

“I guess.” Yes. With Becca, he wanted it all. “Family, friends, kids. Sure.”

“Right. Then trust me when I say Mom’s going to get weird on you a few more times before you nail down a date for the wedding.” Simon kept his voice low and kept looking over his shoulder. “I’m on team Mitch. I got your back.”

“Thanks.”

“But you mess with my mom, I’ll end you.” The look Simon shot Mitch told him the boy meant business.

“You’re a good son, Simon. Your mom is the best. You keep looking out for her okay? At least, until she’ll let me take over.”

Simon relaxed and held out a hand. “It’s a deal.”

They shook.

A sly look entered the boy’s eyes. “When do I start calling you Daddy?”

“As soon as I call you my little ball of boy joy” Mitch said drily.

Simon thought that hilarious and wouldn’t stop laughing.

“What’s going on in here?” Becca asked. At Simon’s questioning look, she said, “Jenna went home. She’ll text you later.”

“Cool. I was just teasing the old man about something I heard at school.” Simon shot Mitch a grin. To his mom, he said, “And don’t forget. Thirty-five is coming, Mom. Tick-tock.”

She pointed to the door. “Get upstairs and play your video games or something. Go!”

Simon left, laughing, and Mitch swore he heard the boy humming Here Comes the Bride.

Becca flushed but maintained eye contact. “Package deal,” she reminded him.

Mitch held open his arms. “Hold me. I’ve been traumatized.”

She laughed and hugged him.

And the hummed wedding march going up the stairs grew louder.