when she comes.”
Ava could have told Kristen that her grandmother didn’t think enough of Ava to “run ideas” by her but decided against it. Instead, she asked, “And Dylan?”
Kristen made a face. “It’s weird thinking of him as my dad. But I guess he’s okay. Not everyone can say that about a parent.”
“Did you ask if you could live with him?”
“No!” Kristen flushed. “I don’t want to, either. It would be awkward.” She shook her head. “That was a stupid idea.”
“It wasn’t stupid. It was hopeful. And sometimes hope works. You never know until you try.” Ava’s gaze moved around her tearoom. “Not that hope works every time.”
“Things will turn out fine. Call it a hunch or a—”
The door opened, and Ava turned. She’d just opened her mouth, ready to welcome her next customer, but instead she came to a surprising halt. “Dylan?”
She’d expected to see him, but not in a well-tailored suit. Not only that, but sometime between yesterday and today, he’d gotten his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
He looked good.
Better than good, in fact.
Her staring must have made him uncomfortable because he awkwardly touched his hair and then shrugged as if telling himself to stop it.
Kristen waved at Dylan, and he waved back. “Hi, Kristen. Are we still on for Saturday?”
She nodded.
When Ava sent her a curious look, Kristen said in a casual tone, “We’re going bowling.” She rolled her eyes. “Dylan thinks it’ll be a ‘fun’ way to get to know each other.” She air-quoted fun as if her sarcasm wasn’t enough.
“I didn’t say it would be fun.” Dylan made a show of cracking his knuckles. “I said I’m going to beat you soundly at bowling. Then I’m going to take you out for Putt-Putt. Once I’ve destroyed you with my master windmill Putt-Putt-one-stroke-genius, I’m going to plan a tennis outing where I’ll dazzle you with my Venus Williams–like backhand.”
“He’s getting uppity,” Ava announced. “Kristen, I hope the bowling gods shine their blessings on you.”
“Getting uppity? He’s always been that way. You’ve just never noticed.”
Dylan adjusted his tie. “At least one of you should tell me I clean up good.”
Ava pretended to suddenly see a spot on the bar that needed scrubbing while Kristen collected the tray from the sink and disappeared into the kitchen.
He sighed and took a seat at the bar. “May I have a cup of hot tea and one of those scones, please?”
“No manly coffee for you, eh?”
“Nope. I’m going full Bridgerton.”
“How about Earl Grey? That’s a manly sounding tea.” At his nod, Ava dropped the rag. “Do you want the scone warm? With butter?”
“Is there any other way?”
Ava put a scone in the toaster oven, then fixed him a cup of tea. “There you go. It’ll be another minute or so for the scone.”
“Thanks.” He picked up his cup and blew in it.
“So… it’s been a big twenty-four hours for you, hasn’t it?”
He put the cup down. “I’m a father. A dad. A pop. I’ve said it about a hundred times and I still can’t believe it.”
She leaned against the counter across from him. “You don’t seem old enough.”
“I know, right? I haven’t told anyone yet, because I felt that should be Kristen’s decision. But to be honest, it’s sort of wonderful.” He shook his head, surprise lighting his eyes. “I wish Julie had told me. I missed out on so many things. I—”
The door opened, and Ed and Maggie Mayhew came in. The owners of the local pet shop, Paw Printz, Ed and Maggie were Dove Pond movers and shakers. He was a short, wiry-haired man with a rotund figure, while Maggie was even shorter, more wiry-haired, and even rounder in size. “Hi, Ava!” Maggie called.
Ava’s heart warmed. Not everyone would come, but at least a few of her closer friends would be here. That would be more than enough.
“I hope we’re not late,” Maggie said. “Ed overbooked us for grooming.” She rolled her eyes. “Again.”
“It’s only five thirty,” Ed pointed out. “We made it in plenty of time. The opening is from five to eight, right, Ava?”
“Right.”
Kristen came out of the kitchen and, seeing the new customers, sent a quick I-told-you-so glance Ava’s way.
“Are those scones?” Ed said in a hopeful voice.
“Strawberry, raspberry, chocolate, and pecan,” Ava said.
Kristen added, “We have muffins, too. Lemon, poppy seed, oatmeal, and blueberry.”
Ed beamed. “You’re singing my song. I’ll have a raspberry scone and a decaf, please. Maggie, what about you?”
“A pecan scone and a cup of…” Maggie’s gaze went to the board