the fenced area where they immediately began toddling around in the grass.
To Ian’s astonishment, Amelia hugged Samantha. “Thank you for going with us on our hike today,” his daughter said.
“You’ve been hiking?” his mother said, raising her eyebrows.
“We saw a giant waterfall,” Thomas said. “It was as high as the Eiffel Tower.”
The waterfall, in fact, didn’t come close to being as high as the tower, which they had seen a few years earlier on a weekend trip to Paris. At nearly a thousand feet, the tower would dwarf the hundred-foot waterfall, obviously. Through a child’s eye, everything was relative and Ian didn’t want to correct his son.
“How nice to see you’re getting around and exploring the backcountry around here,” his father said.
“And how nice of your neighbor to show you around.” By now, his mother looked positively giddy. How would she react when she found out he had invited Samantha to be his date to the wedding?
Oh, lord. Why had he invited Samantha to be his date for the wedding?
Should he back out? Tell Samantha he had reconsidered? That might be the safer route, all the way around. He hadn’t thought things through and now realized that his mother was bound to sit up and pay attention when she found out he had asked her to the wedding. If he didn’t do something, he was very much afraid he and Samantha would both find themselves on the receiving end of his mother’s determined matchmaking efforts.
“Wait. I’ve just had an idea,” Margaret said suddenly.
Ian swallowed a groan, afraid it was too late to stop her now.
“I still don’t have anything to wear for the wedding. Nothing decent, anyway. I brought along a couple of options I picked up here or there but I’m not particularly fond of either. I don’t suppose there’s any chance you might have time to help me with something new, would you?”
Samantha’s eyes widened in surprise. As he swallowed his own relief that Margaret had something else to focus on besides her son’s love life, or lack thereof, he could almost see Samantha performing a complicated mental inventory of her workload.
He knew she was overwhelmed right now but he guessed she also didn’t want to disappoint a potential customer. Especially one who happened to be the mother of her good friend.
“I... Perhaps,” she said tentatively.
“It wouldn’t have to be anything elaborate,” his mother assured her. “I tend toward simple styles, anyway. Just something flattering for the mother of the bride.”
“Still, that’s a high order,” he protested when he saw Samantha waver. “The wedding is only two weeks away, Mother.”
Margaret looked abashed. “You’re right. There wouldn’t be enough time, would there? Especially as you’re working on Gemma’s gown. Forget I said anything.”
“Gemma’s dress is nearly finished,” Samantha said. “You’re right, we don’t have much time but I can look through a few pattern books tonight and perhaps come up with a few ideas that might work. If I hurry, I might be able to finish something in time. Why don’t you come into the boutique tomorrow and we’ll do some measurements, then you can look through some of my designs to see if anything pops for you?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to burden you.”
“Positive,” Samantha said firmly.
“That would be perfect. Thank you.” Margaret beamed and Ian tried to put away his unease. His mother couldn’t have an ulterior motive for going to Samantha’s boutique, could she?
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Samantha said with a general smile for all of them. “If you’ll excuse me, I have errands to run this afternoon. Thank you for a lovely day.”
“Our pleasure,” Ian said, meaning every word.
She looked at the children, still watching the puppies as they talked to their grandfather. “Please don’t worry if your children are too busy visiting your grandparents to check in on the puppies for me this week. I easily can make other arrangements.”
“They’ll do it,” Ian said firmly. “They made a commitment to you and will be happy to fill it.”
“If that changes, please let me know. They’re on holiday and should feel free to visit with their grandparents all they would like without having to worry about my puppies.”
A few raindrops suddenly splattered on the grass from one of those quicksilver showers he was discovering hit the lake on many summer afternoons.
“Everyone inside,” Ian said to his parents and children, ushering them toward his door.
“What about the puppies?” Thomas asked. “They’ll be soaked.”
“I can take care of them,” Samantha assured his son with a