Free Starting From Scratch by Georgia Beers

“He tries really hard and
    he’s a pretty good listener.”
    e glance she favored him with was filled with equal
    parts pride and love. “I’m glad to hear that. He’s always
    been good about making an effort. e listening part? Not
    so much.”
    “Mom,” he said, drawing the word out to make it
    sound like it had three syllables. He led Steve to a different
    part of the yard, obviously wanting to be away from the
    embarrassing adult talk.
    Elena lifted her gaze back up to me and my heart did
    a weird, triple-thump kind of thing in my chest. “I know
    we see each other in the bank fairly often, but it’s a
    pleasure to meet you officially, as neighbors.” She stuck her
    hand out. “Elena Walker.”
    I almost snorted. Like I didn’t know her name. “Avery
    King.” Her skin was warm and soft and everything I
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    thought it might be and I didn’t want to let go of her hand.
    She held mine tightly and…for two or three seconds
    longer than necessary? Or was that just my wishful
    thinking? I wasn’t sure. “Welcome to the neighborhood.”
    “anks.”
    “How goes the unpacking?”
    She groaned and I laughed. “I think the boxes are
    multiplying in the night,” she said.
    “I’ve been here for two years or so and I still have
    boxes I haven’t unpacked. ey say if you haven’t opened
    them after a year, you should just throw them away
    without looking inside. ey’re obviously filled with stuff
    you have no need for.”
    “I think I’m too much of a worry wart to do that.”
    “Understood.”
    “But at least I’m putting everything where I want it to
    go, so if I can’t find something next week, I’ll have nobody
    to blame but myself.”
    Together we watched Max toss the rope for Steve.
    “Cindy do the packing and you do the unpacking?” I
    asked. It was an honestly innocent question, just me
    making small talk with her, not wanting her to leave and
    not trying to wrest any personal information out of her, but
    she certainly gave me some.
    “Oh, no. Cindy and I have been separated for quite a
    while. It’s just me and Max in the new place.”
    How I managed to not whoop with joy and do a little
    dance right there on the grass, I’ll never know. Instead, I
    glanced down at my shoes and gave her my sympathy. “I’m
    sorry. I had no idea.”
    She brushed away my apology. “Don’t be. It was over a
    long, long time ago. It just took me a while to realize it.”
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    “I hate when that happens.”
    She gave a little snort at my lame attempt at humor,
    and for that I was thankful. “Well, anyway, it was really a
    pleasure to meet you. Come on, Max.”
    I wanted her to stay and talk to me forever, but it
    might look a bit weird to be inviting her in so quickly. I
    decided right then to make more cookies and bring them
    over.
    Max patted Steve on the head. “I’ll come and play
    with you again really soon, Steve. Be a good boy.”
    I couldn’t help but smile at his gentle words. Steve
    actually looked sad to see him go. My dog and I were
    going to have a little talk about loyalty in the very near
    future, that was for sure.
    “Now, I don’t want you bothering Coach King all the
    time,” Elena said to her son calmly as she took his hand
    and helped him over the little fence.
    I wanted to protest, to tell her he wasn’t a bother at all,
    but I didn’t want to step on her toes when she was being
    Mom. What Mom says, goes. Even I know that. I kept my
    mouth shut.
    “Can I come back and play with Steve again, Coach
    King?” His big brown eyes were wide and his smooth face
    was so sweet I’d have given him the keys to my car if he’d
    asked.
    “As long as your mom says it’s okay.”
    “Cool!”
    Elena caught my gaze and gave me a half-grin that
    was so damn sexy I felt a little pang low in my abdomen. I
    wondered if she had any idea at all how incredibly
    attractive she was. “It was nice chatting with you,” she said.
    “Same here.