Page 21 of Apple Orchard Bear

“You’re welcome.” Janice let go of her hand and sat back down beside Penny.

Alan came in from the kitchen carrying a tray with three mugs of hot chocolate.

Penny immediately sat up straighter. “Did you put whipped cream on mine?”

“I did. Your grandma said a little wouldn’t hurt.” Alan set the tray on the coffee table. “Although I’m told I’m not allowed to touch any of it until after the first story.”

“Because it’s for bedtime,” Penny explained, as if the rule should have been obvious.

Kate looked from the hot chocolate to the stack of books and smiled. “At this rate, she’s going to start asking me to go out every evening.”

“We can live with that,” Janice said warmly. “You don’t have to worry about her. She’s going to have a lovely time, and so are we.”

Penny looked perfectly happy, curled up beside Janice with Fox tucked under one arm and two bedtime stories waiting. The hot chocolate was on the table, and her grandparents looked as pleased with the arrangement as Penny did. Kate could leave knowing Penny was right where she wanted to be. So why was she still standing in the doorway?

She touched the earring she had just put in. Penny didn’t need her for the next few hours. It still felt strange. But perhaps her mom was right. Strange did not mean wrong.

A knock sounded at the front door, and Kate glanced at the clock even though she knew perfectly well what time it was. Janice smiled but said nothing as Kate went to answer it. When she opened the door, Wes stood on the porch in dark jeans and a charcoal shirt beneath his jacket.

“You look really nice,” he said.

“Thank you,” Kate said. “So do you. I wasn’t entirely sure what people wear to a barn dance.”

“You got it right.” His gaze lingered as it moved over her, and when his eyes finally met hers again, Kate knew she was blushing.

Thankfully, Penny appeared at Kate’s side with Fox under one arm. “Mom is going dancing. She says she doesn’t know how.”

“I said I haven’t danced in a long time,” Kate corrected.

“So you do know how.” Penny looked up at her mom.

“Well, I’m not sure about a barn dance.” Kate looked at Wes for help.

He smiled. “I’m not much of an expert either. So we can make it up as we go along.”

Kate crouched and kissed Penny’s cheek. “Have fun with Grandma and Grandpa.”

“We’re having stories and hot chocolate,” Penny told Wes.

“That sounds good. You’ll have to tell me tomorrow which story was best.”

“Make sure you brush your teeth, and be good.” Kate hugged her close.

“I will.” Penny wriggled free to return to her books.

Janice came to the doorway. “Go on, honey. We’ve got her.”

Kate grabbed her jacket from the hook and squeezed her mother’s hand. “Thank you.”

Wes waited until they were halfway to the truck before asking quietly, “Are you okay?”

Kate looked back once at the warm square of light spilling from the farmhouse windows. “Yes. It just feels odd going somewhere in the evening without Penny.”

“We don’t have to go if you’ve changed your mind.”

He meant it. Kate turned back to him. “I haven’t. That’s the odd part. I want to go.”

Wes’s smile was slow and warm. “Good. Because I’ve been looking forward to it all afternoon.”