Brook’s frown ended, and a smile split her face. “But she could bring in the man who is your soul mate.”

“Like Ryson is Cassidy’s?” Tawny asked.

Brook shook her head. “Don’t try to throw me off the subject. And Cassidy just has a crush on him. He’s not her soul mate. I do feel sorry for him because he doesn’t have a good life at home, and the day after that drug thing, he came to school with a black eye and a bloody lip. Cassidy said that his mama beat on him with a belt because he lost that bag of pot.”

“What ever happened with that? Did the police do anything?” Harper asked.

“Don’t know. He didn’t get expelled. Cassidy said there were too many fingerprints on the bag to even get it processed, and since no one could prove where it came from, well . . .” She shrugged.

“Does Flora know about this crush?” Harper asked.

“Cassidy really likes him, but I’m sworn to secrecy, because Flora would have a fit. His mama is white, but his daddy is black. He kind of looks like he’s Hispanic, but, well, it’s a problem with Flora, I guess,” Brook whispered.

“Uncle Zed’s mama was half white, and Flora doesn’t hate him,” Tawny said.

“Yep, old people are strange,” Brook said. “But I’m still not going to like Mama’s new man, Aunt Tawny.”

The doorbell rang, and Dana opened it wide. “Come on in and meet my sisters and daughter.”

Payton’s blue button-down shirt matched his eyes perfectly, and his blond hair was slicked back into a short ponytail. His jeans hugged his body and stacked up over alligator cowboy boots. He handed her a bouquet of red roses.

“Oh, Payton, red roses are my favorite.” She sank her nose into the roses and inhaled deeply. “And they even smell like roses. I love them.”

“They can’t come close to matching the aroma all around this house or the beauty of the first rosebushes of spring . . . or you,” he said.

“Well, thank you. Now introductions.” She blushed as if she’d just remembered that there were other people in the room. “This is Harper and that’s Tawny, my sisters. And this is my daughter, Brook.”

His hand shot out toward Brook first, and his smile lit up the whole room. “I’m pleased to meet all of you. Has anyone told you that you look a lot like your mother?”

“Of course.” Brook dropped his hand. “Her curfew is eleven o’clock, and if she’s not home by then, I will text her every five minutes. So I’d advise you not to be late.”

“Yes, ma’am. And I will promise to walk her to the door,” Payton said seriously. “Harper?” He shook hands with her and then turned around. “Tawny? Pleased to make y’all’s acquaintance. Now if you’re ready, Dana, our reservations are in thirty minutes. You look stunning tonight.”

Brook rolled her eyes toward Harper, who had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. Dana frowned at Brook, and Harper covered the escaping laughter with a cough.

Finally, Dana and Payton were out of the house, and Brook threw herself on the sofa with a loud moan. Harper couldn’t contain it any longer and her laughter echoed off the walls.

“What’s funny?” Brook asked but didn’t wait for an answer. “Mama wouldn’t let me leave the house with a boy if he had a ponytail like that. And did you see the way he looked at her? Like he was the Big Bad Wolf and she was Little Red Riding Hood. Like he couldn’t wait to get her into a motel room. Well, I’ll tell you one thing—they aren’t sleepin’ in this house together. Not while I’m here. Oh. My. God!” She sat up with a jerk. “What if she gets pregnant?”

“Talk about role reversal,” Tawny laughed.

Harper sat down beside Brook and patted her on the shoulder. For the first time, she realized that raising a daughter wouldn’t have been all sweet-smelling baby powder and cute little pink ruffles. “When was the last time your mama went out on a date?”

Brook jumped up and paced the floor. “Two years, and I didn’t like him, either. I’m tryin’ to remember if she’s takin’ the pill.”

“Good grief, girl! Give your mama some credit. She’s not stupid,” Harper said.

“And this is a first date. He won’t get lucky that fast,” Tawny said.

Brook flopped back down on the sofa and put her head in Harper’s lap. “Raisin’ parents is so hard.”

“You are doin’ a good job.” Harper toyed with Brook’s thick hair, twisting a few strands into a tiny braid. “Me and Tawny didn’t do too well with our parents.”

The doorbell rang, and Brook hopped up. “Maybe she’s changed her mind.”

But Dana didn’t come into the house when Tawny beat Brook to the door. No, sir. Dana did not fall down on her knees and tell Brook that she’d been right about Payton. It was Zed on the porch, with a pumpkin pie in his hands.

“Come right in, Uncle Zed. We were thinkin’ of making a fire in the backyard and havin’ s’mores. You want to join us?” Tawny asked.

“I was just bringin’ over this pie that we had left over today. Thought maybe y’all might like a little snack tonight. And besides, it’s startin’ to rain, so you won’t be buildin’ no fire tonight.” Zed handed the pie off to Tawny.