Second Chance Match. Arlene James

hug. “Jessa, I’m so sorry about what’s happened. I had no idea Grandpa had spoken to Garrett about the house.”

       “We’ll sort it out, sweetheart,” Asher told Ellie, sliding his arm around her to cup his hand over her shoulder. She wrapped her arm around his waist, smiling up at him as if he’d hung the moon.

       Jessa felt a stab of envy. She’d seen that look before. In her wedding photos. Unfortunately it hadn’t lasted a month.

       At Hypatia’s urging, they all gathered around the table, the Chatam triplets, Kent and Ellie Monroe, Asher, the cook Hilda, Garrett and Jessa. After pulling out a chair for Jessa, Garrett managed to find himself a seat opposite her next to Magnolia. Asher took the spot at the head of the table, Ellie on his right, while Kent remained at the foot with Odelia next to him.

       Hypatia began passing out tea, starting with Jessa.

       “Thank you,” she began, “but—”

       Garrett cleared his throat loudly then declared, “This is nice. One benefit of meeting early. A cup of tea is always nice. Especially around here.”

       Jessa blinked. Had he just sent her a message? She caught the expectant expression on Hypatia Chatam’s face, took the hint and reached for the teacup. Eyeing the three sugar cubes on the accompanying saucer, Jessa carefully amended her comment.

       “I—I really don’t need sugar.”

       Smiling, Hypatia quickly switched saucers, confiding, “I take my own tea black, but nearly everyone else sweetens theirs.”

       “Some of us more than others,” Kent acknowledged, plunking four of the cubes into his own cup and then reaching for a small plate of finger sandwiches.

       Jessa carefully tasted the tea and found it surprisingly pleasant. Hypatia’s demeanor told her that she’d just passed a kind of test. Jessa glanced at Garrett with gratitude in her eyes. He acknowledged it with a slight dip of his head, and she quickly looked away again.

       Oh, it would not do to like him. Gratitude was one thing, but liking was something else altogether, the first step on a dangerous path that could only lead to heartbreak. He was her adversary, not her friend. If only he weren’t so breathtakingly handsome....