hair beckoned to Patsy, then glanced around furtively.
“Where’s Sharon Lynn?” she demanded in a hushed voice.
“She went out to run an errand,” Patsy said, dropping her own voice to a whisper in response.
The woman’s smile was relieved. “Great. Then we can talk. I’m Jenny, Sharon Lynn’s stepaunt technically, but that’s neither here nor there. Dani should be here any minute. We’re planning a surprise bridal shower for Sharon Lynn tomorrow. Can you help?”
Patsy grinned, delighted to be asked to be in on the surprise. “Of course. What do you need me to do?”
“Get her there.”
“Where? And how on earth can I get her to go anywhere?”
“Well, that’s the beauty of it. We thought we’d have it at your place. I understand you’ve moved into Dani’s old house. Sharon Lynn will never suspect that. Maybe you could invite her to dinner or something. We’re going to have it right after she closes up here.”
Patsy thought about it. “I suppose I could manage that. I owe her a lot for giving me this job. I’ll tell her I want to repay her by having her over for dinner.”
“That’s perfect. Do you mind us having it there? I suppose I should have asked that first thing, but we were already planning it for Dani’s and now you’re there, so it didn’t seem to make sense to move it. In fact, it works out even better this way, if you don’t mind, that is.”
“Of course not. The house is Dani’s, after all. She’s been wonderful about letting me and Billy stay there.”
“You’re invited, of course. No need to bring a present. Sharon Lynn won’t expect it.”
“You don’t need to include me. I’ll lure her over and then Billy and I can just go out to eat.”
“Absolutely not. Besides, if you’re the one dragging her over there, you can’t turn right around and leave. And we all want to get to know you better. Seven o’clock, okay? We’ll take care of everything.”
“I’ll have her there,” Patsy promised, already looking forward to the chance to pay Sharon Lynn back for her kindness by helping with this surprise.
“Terrific. Dani said we could count on you. Got to run. I’m overdue at home and my husband tends to get restless, especially now that I’m pregnant.”
She was out the door before Patsy could blink, another whirlwind Adams entering into her life and drawing her into the family circle.
Weighed down by the assignment just given to her, she was a nervous wreck until Sharon Lynn returned.
Forcing a casual note into her voice, she asked, “Sharon Lynn, do you have plans for tomorrow night?”
A frown of concentration knit her brow. “I don’t think so, but let me check my calendar. I can’t trust myself to remember anything these days. Why?”
“I’d like to have you over for dinner after we close. Nothing fancy, but I really want to do something special to thank you for being so nice to Billy and me. I know you won’t have a spare second once all the wedding plans kick into gear.”
“Oh, sweetie, that’s not necessary. All I did was give you a job and work you to death.”
“But after what happened the first time I came in here, a lot of people wouldn’t have been so understanding.”
“You’ve more than made up for that. You’ve only been here two days and already I can’t imagine what I ever did without you. You’re fitting right in.”
Patsy warmed under the heartfelt praise. It had been a long time since anyone had complimented her. Will’s constant carping had eaten away at her self-confidence, eroding it to the point that she hadn’t been sure if there was a single thing she could do right at all.
“All I’m doing is scrambling eggs and frying hamburgers,” she said quietly.
“It’s a lot more than that,” Sharon Lynn insisted. “The customers around here can be stingy with praise, but they already love you.”
To Patsy’s embarrassment, she could feel tears stinging her eyes. “Stop. You’re going to make me cry.”
Sharon Lynn stared at her. “Just because I’m pointing out the obvious, that you’re good at what you do?”
Patsy nodded. “Please,” she begged. “Don’t ask me to explain.”
“I won’t,” Sharon Lynn agreed, her expression turning fierce. “But if some man has made you feel worthless, then shame on him.” She drew in a deep breath, then said more quietly, “If you ever need to talk, I’m a good listener.” She gave Patsy a pointed look. “So’s Justin.”
“I know,” Patsy responded. “But there’s nothing to talk about.”