"I've been known to do that."
Diana hit me with another one of her sly winks.
"—we will still have enough spreadable fruit for several years."
"Where would I sell it?" she asked, tossing her hands up like it was a real mystery. "And I don't have the time for that. I just like making my preserves and giving them to the people I love. I'm not interested in any kind of entrepreneurial adventure. Please. I have grandbabies on the way." She shook her head at him like he should've known better than to start with her. "I'm sure you'll manage. Give your clients a jar or two when you visit. They'll enjoy that. A personal touch."
He stared at her. "Not gonna happen."
"Anyway," Diana started, patting my hand again, "I am looking forward to Jasper joining us on Sunday."
For a split second, Linden looked completely stricken. He recovered before Diana glanced up at him but I saw his jaw hang open and his eyes pop, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.
"I will have to check my schedule," I said. "Now that I think of it, I might have a commitment that day."
He cut a sidelong glance in my direction. "Jasper is really busy."
Diana shifted in her seat, made a pointed glance at the wall clock which clearly stated it was eleven thirty in the morning and I was hanging out in her son's kitchen, and offered a pleasant grin. "I hope you can make it. I understand if you can't, given the short notice."
I figured that would be the end of it. I figured Diana would find something else to talk about and Linden would let her because this wasn't the conversation he wanted to have with her today, mainly because there wasn't a conversation to be had. I wasn't his girlfriend. I was the girl next door who showered here every day, occasionally slept over, and engaged in some very un-kitchenlike behavior in this room when the mood was right.
I didn't figure Linden would drop his hands to my shoulders and say, "We'll see what happens, Mom."
Diana rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, whispering, "He tells me we'll see. We'll see!" She pressed her hands to her chest again. "I'd love to have both of you around my table on Sunday. It's just supper. Only a few hours from your busy days. You have to eat, right? You can't spend all day on the go." She shrugged, and wow, this lady was slick. She knew a maneuver. "Linden, I know your sister is hoping to get some time to speak with you and Ash together. While you do that, Jasper can help me make sense of the menu for Magnolia's shower." She smiled at me. "I can just tell you have the best taste. You'd really be doing me a favor too."
"I know a few senators who'd do well to get you on their payroll," I said under my breath.
Linden kneaded my shoulders, his thumbs digging into the back of my neck. "Do you think you could swing it, Jas? What do you think?"
I peeked up at him as best I could while he massaged me. Did he want me to say yes? That couldn't be the case. He didn't want to bring me home to the family. When I caught his eye, he gave me a quick, jerky nod.
Okay. I was rolling with this.
I smiled at Diana again, who was busy beaming at her son. "Thank you for the invitation. It's very generous. It would be my pleasure to join you."
"Oh, my word. I cannot hardly contain my excitement," she cried.
"That's enough out of you, Scarlett O'Hara," he quipped.
"Tell me what I can bring," I said.
"No, Peach, you don't have to do anything. I'll grab a few bottles of wine."
"That's right," Diana said, gripping my hand again. Very handsy, this one. "When you come to my Sunday supper, you're coming home. All I need is your smiling face, sweetheart."
There was no way in hell I could live with that but I said, "Thank you."
"And you'll have to come to the party too," she continued. "It's going to be such a fabulous time."
From behind me, I heard Linden's ragged exhale. Then, "Mom."
"What?" She worked hard at looking very innocent as she stared at him.
"You know what," he replied.
"I haven't a clue." She turned her attention back to me, saying, "We're having a little get-together—"
"Two hundred people at a country club but sure, call it a little get-together," Linden muttered.
"—to celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary. Can you even imagine it? I couldn't see myself being forty years old when I got married but here we are, all these years later."
"You don't look a day over thirty-nine," I said.
"I knew you were special when I saw you but now I believe it too," Diana said with a hearty laugh. "So, we decided to seize the day and throw ourselves a bash before we become grandparents. Knock on wood that my daughter doesn't go into an early labor. The invitations have already gone out but, of course, all we want is to see these babies born healthy."
"And your party to go as planned," Linden added.
"It sounds wonderful," I said to her.
"It will be with you there," she replied. "You don't have to decide right now but having someone as special as you there"—she shot a meaningful grin at Linden—"would make my day. And Carlo's too. You'll meet him on Sunday but I can already tell you, he'll be thrilled."
He traced his thumbs along my hairline, behind my ears. I had to fight off a shiver. "I think Jasper might be able to make that work," he said. "What do you say, Jas?"
This wasn't real. I knew that. I was going along with this because Linden seemed to want that but none of it was real. He'd explain the nuances of this situation and I'd put on a good face come Sunday and again whenever this party took place but I wasn't here to stay.
And yet here I was, wondering how it was possible to want a man who insisted—and a mother figure who did too. I didn't know how I could live all these years believing I didn't want such a thing because it would rob me of all the self-reliance I'd built like fortress walls when it seemed as perfect as an overly tight embrace right now.
"I'll have to check my book though it really does sound wonderful. I'd love to celebrate with y'all."
"Y'all!" she hooted. "Oh my god, I love you already."
"Okay, all right, you've delivered your preserves and backed Jasper into a corner she's too polite to kick you out of. You've done your damage. Go harass someone else, would you?"
Diana pushed to her feet with an exaggerated sniff. It was sweet hilarity to watch these two ribbing each other. "I just left Magnolia, and Ash is at the office. Since your father is a golf devotee in his retirement, he won't be home until dark."
Linden circled a hand in her direction. "I see your game."
"No games," she replied. "Just very excited to meet Jasper. What a happy accident it was that I stopped in today."
"And now that you've caused this accident"—he gestured toward the door—"you have places to go, too many pumpkins to buy."
"Too many pumpkins?" She swung her purse over her shoulder. "I've never heard of that." Ignoring her son entirely, Diana bent down and wrapped me up in another soul-squeezing hug. "I am just so happy to finally meet you, Jasper. So happy."