“Do you know this woman, honey?” I asked Hope.
Hope tilted her head and stared at the woman then shook her head. “Nope!” She jumped up and down and then jetted toward my car. “Come on, Izzy, I want to go to the store and get the frosting!”
“Little miss, we’re making the frosting not buying it, remember? We’ll get the ingredients for it.” I turned back around, and the woman was staring at Hope in a weird way I couldn’t read, but didn’t like.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I asked politely, knowing that I’d never seen that woman in my entire life.
“No, uh, no. I know Kyson, and uh...” She lifted her chin. “Hope. She must not remember me.”
I shrugged. “Sorry. Kyson’s at work. Would you like me to give him a message?” What I thought was stranger was the fact that she was at Hope’s school instead of locating Kyson by phone or at his business.
She frowned and then picked at her dry lips. “Who are you?” she asked.
I squinted. “I’m Isabeau, Kyson’s girlfriend.”
The woman huffed. “Of course. His girlfriend. That’s rich. Another little woman to take care of his prized possession.”
I jolted my head and then took a step back. “I’m not sure who you are, or what you want, but I’d prefer if you not approach me again. If you want to speak to Kyson, you can look him up on your own. The company is...”
“Turner Brother Construction. I know. I know everything about Kyson Turner. Far more than you ever could. Tell him I said hi and I’ll be seeing him.” She sneered acidly, making her once pretty face look shrewd and hollow. Then the woman looked at my car where Hope was patiently waiting inside but bouncing up and down in her seat, so maybe not so patiently though she was still being good.
She waved at Hope until Hope waved back good-naturedly through the window.
I ground down on my teeth, my protective instinct kicking in as she started to walk away.
“Who should I tell him came calling?” I hollered.
The woman smirked and called out, “His wife.”
My stomach dropped. Kyson Turner’s nightmare was back in town. I inhaled fully and let it all out in a long, slow breath. I repeated the pattern a second time until I felt calm enough to drive. Then I got into my car, checked the mirrors, made sure Hope was safely buckled into the booster seat I borrowed from Kyson and motored off toward the grocery store.
The instant we pulled up to the back of the bakery in what I now considered my parking spot, I was met by Jasper prancing out the already open back door. I opened the car door and he breathed, “Tell me every detail!”
My mind instantly went to the freaky conversation I had with Veronica, Kyson’s ex, not the fact that Jasper would want to know about this morning’s roll in the hay since I hadn’t showed up for work yet that day.
“There really isn’t much to tell. I mean, she didn’t do or say much of anything. Just freaked me out by showing up out of the blue,” I said robotically, and Jasper frowned.
Jasper’s brows pinched together. “Say what?” He cupped my cheeks and focused on my eyes. “You sick or something? I want to know about this morning with Kyson. What are you talking about?”
I shook my head and Hope exited the back, cutting off his line of inquiry.
Jasper’s gaze went to Hope. “Hey, little lady.” He took in her outfit from head to toe. “Looking snazzy in your purple dress and yellow Converse. I especially dig the yellow bow in your hair. I approve.”
She smiled wide and it melted my heart. Then she put her hand on her hip and curved a finger around her chin as though she were Tim Gunn from Project Runway. She looked at Jasper rather speculatively, taking her time to assess him from his shirt down to his glittery slip-on boat shoes.
He struck a pose and waited on her verdict.
“I like your red pants, but the shoes are silvery, and your shirt is black. It doesn’t match.”
He pointed to the silver chain belt hanging down around his hips. “Silver,” he said and lifted his chin.
She tilted her head and nodded. “I approve.” She used his exact words.
“Excellent.” He bowed, and she bowed back.
How the heck did Jasper already have a language with a child he’d met only once before and briefly at that? Never mind. He was Jasper. He connected magically with all beings young and old. It was his superpower.
“I hear you’re baking with my Izzy today?” he queried.
“My daddy says that she’s his Izzy. Nana says a person can only have one boyfriend. I’m sorry you didn’t win her.” She shrugged, came to his side and took his hand. “But you still have Uncle Linc, right?”
Jasper narrowed his eyes at me. “So you’re Kyson’s now, hmm?”
“Apparently.” I winked.
“Information is not coming at the speed in which I expect it. If this continues, we’re going to need to bunk up again, bestie,” he warned.
“Then how would you bunk up with Lincoln?” I teased.
He frowned. “Hmm, this is a good point. No bother. Soon, we’ll see each other for the entire working day, and I’ll get my information fresh, not like the day-old bread I bring to the homeless shelters. Speaking of, I found one not too far from here. They’ll give us a tax write-off for our contribution. Evie was thrilled with this.”
“That’s great, Jas. Really.” I hooked my arm with his and he led us both inside.
When Kyson’s gaze met mine from across the room, he whispered something to Lincoln and then made his way over.
Hope intercepted him. “Daddy, Daddy, we got all the stuff to make frosted cookies and lemon tarts!”
He hauled her up and onto his hip then gave her a smacking kiss on her cheek. “That’s wonderful, bug. Why don’t you go and say hi to Uncle Linc so I can have a quiet word with Isabeau, yeah?” He set her back down on her feet.
“Okay, Daddy.” She spun around in a circle and then dashed to her uncle.
Kyson came to me and cupped my cheek. “You’re unhappy. Why?”
I bit into my lip. “We need to talk privately.”
“Is this about this morning?” His tone was wary yet still trusting.
I shook my head. “No, baby, that was perfect, better than perfect. I need to tell you what happened at Hope’s school.”
He frowned and then led me into the kitchen and back to the corner. “Lay it on me.”
“Veronica is back.” I bit down on my bottom lip and waited for him to say or do something. Maybe explode into a million pieces. Cry. Yell. He did none of those things. His brows pinched together, he put his hands to his hips and simply looked at me.