Page 34 of Recipe for Rivals

My hesitation was slight, but it was there, and he seemed to notice. I was grateful he didn’t say anything about it. “Sure.” We exchanged phone numbers, then Desi brought her friend Annie to meet me, a short blonde woman who looked a little younger than me, holding a little baby wrapped in a muslin blanket.

She smiled widely. “My friend told me about you. He said your son joined his football team recently.”

“Oh, yeah, he did. Jake?”

“No, Dusty. He said your son joined with no experience, but picked it up before the first practice was over.” She laughed, the sound friendly and pleasant. “I’d say he must have some Texas blood in him somewhere.”

She was so likable I couldn’t help but return a bit of her smile. “Maybe. He’s trying his best to fit in.”

She blew a raspberry and started rocking when her baby began to fuss. “We don’t care much about that. I hope he has fun. He’s got great coaches.”

Chad had gone silent, which wasn’t a surprise. There was definitely some weird tension between him and Dusty both the times I’d seen them together.

“Are you planning to put Alice into cheer?” Desi asked.

“Oh. I hadn’t thought about it.” My little quiet girl? I didn’t think she’d enjoy standing in front of a crowd of parents shouting encouragement to the boys, but maybe I was wrong.

“Too late now,” she said, cringing. “You could get her in tumbling so she’s ready for the fall season.”

Goodness, this was a lot to absorb. Who knew if we’d even be here for the entire fall season. Andwhydid a six-year-old need tumbling lessons to throw pom poms around and chant at six-year-old boys? I still needed to talk to my parents about options, but it was difficult to find time to chat with the twelve-hour time zone difference while they were in the Philippines. My skin started to itch, and I worried this conversation was bringing on my friendly companion: hives.

I gave them a bright—probably too bright—smile. “Right now, I think we’re just going to get through the rest of this school year and see how we feel.”

Motto of my life right now. Get through today. Survive today. Squeeze my kids extra tightly when I read them bedtime stories.

Then, tomorrow, do the same thing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

NOVA

Gigi had pushedme into a corner. Literally. Then she settled her hands on her hips and raised her white eyebrows. She was like a garrison leader burdened with the personal conviction that I needed protecting at all costs. It hardly mattered that I’d lived in Texas for weeks now and was finding my own routine.

The kids were growing used to their new school and making friends. Ben’s flag football practices took place three days a week in the evenings, sometimes shifting—I learned recently—with Dusty’s schedule. The boys had two coaches, so they maintained a steady routine, but things changed sometimes.

Like now. It was Tuesday, not a regular practice day, but a text had gone out saying Jake had been called to Dallas for a work thing and Dusty started his next shift at the firehouse in the morning, so practice was tonight. They’d get the next two days off.

Gigi, watching me read the text in the diner’s kitchen, pressed her lips together and positioned herself as commander of my protective forces. “I will take Ben to practice. You go home and finish those cookies for your New York friend.”

Friendwas a loose term when it came to Trish. I was one hundred percent doing this for the money.

Gigi knew my deadlines, she knew my schedule, and she’d known I was overwhelmed merely from whatever my face did when I read Dusty’s text. It was hard for me to accept help. Aside from being a woman and a mother—there was nothing like female determination to prove we can do it on our own—I had come to Texas because it was the only way I could maintain a semblance of independence while trying to get back on my feet.

But my choices were to stay up all night with the cookies for Trish or make Ben miss his practice.

“You aren’t needed here?” I asked, glancing at the swinging door that led into the diner’s dining room.

Triumph shone in her eyes. She knew I was weakening. “It’s my diner, love. I can leave if I want.”

“Which isn’t actually answering the question.”

“Vicky will be here soon. Between her and Tyler, they have the floor covered. Bonnie will take over for Dal.”

“Who’s washing dishes?”

“I’m trying to hire someone for that. Phyllis can’t do evenings anymore.”

“I’ll come back tonight and help, then,” I said.