“How was that party you two went to the other night?” Marybelle went back to packing cookies, but he knew she was all ears by the tilt of her head.
He chewed his cookie, wondering how much to reveal. Had Layla confided in her as to why she hadn’t answered his calls and messages? It didn’t feel right asking Marybelle. That was something he should resolve on his own.
“It was fantastic. Great food. Saw a lot of people I knew from the Twin Cities. Layla did an amazing job with the decorations.”
“Uh-huh.” She shot him another glance, this time pursing her lips.
If he’d learned anything from their short time together on Thanksgiving, Marybelle wasn’t the type to hit someone over the head with a scolding or words of advice. No, she was much more cunning. Her wheels turned as she stored her cookies. He could almost hear the axles squeaking.
“Grab one of those cookie tins behind you, please.”
He took the top red container and tried handing it over.
“You can make yourself useful,” she said, pushing it back to him. She laid a roll of aluminum foil in front of him. “The stained glass cookies will go in there. A piece of foil between each layer, please.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes, each engrossed in their own tasks. Still, the air was heavy with unspoken questions. It wasn’t long before she spoke up again.
“So, you two didn’t stay for the tree festival on Saturday?” she asked.
“No. Got an early start instead.”
“For all the trouble Layla took to get that college girl trained by the weekend? It’s a shame she didn’t take advantage of her little break.”
Brant didn’t miss Marybelle’s side-eye, but he looked away in case his expression betrayed him. “She left the party early. Said she was sick.”
She focused on the bowl of cookie dough, stirring it with such gusto that she held the bowl in a headlock-type grip to keep it on the table. “Funny, she didn’t act sick when she came into the shop after lunch.”
What was he supposed to say, that he suspected Layla lied to him too? Now he was certain Marybelle knew more than she let on.
They both startled when the back door in the kitchen rattled. Marybelle’s spoon flew from the bowl and clattered to the floor. Chunks of dough dotted the linoleum. Her hand flew to her chest.
Layla burst into the kitchen, keys in hand. “Marybelle! Why didn’t you answer your phone. I thought you might have fallen again.” Her voice faded when her gaze settled on him. “Oh. Sorry to interrupt.”
The surprise at seeing her stunned Brant. She’d literally caught him with his hand in Marybelle’s cookie jar, the last bite of one of her peanut butter blossoms sitting on his tongue. Embarrassment warmed his face.
Marybelle picked up her spoon from the floor and tossed it into the sink. “I was too busy to answer.”
“I see that now,” Layla said frostily. Behind her, Mr. Range Rover pushed his way into the kitchen. He planted a kiss on Marybelle’s upturned cheek.
“How are you, Auntie?” he asked.
“Like I said, busy.” Marybelle beamed at this impromptu party in her kitchen. Brant didn’t doubt she found the dynamics of said party a little amusing too.
So Layla didn’t waste much time getting back with Marybelle’s nephew. That she refused to look at Brant was telling. He knew what guilt looked like. If he weren’t so surprised to see her, he’d have been hurt. That would come later. Right now he wanted to leave. He was the fourth wheel on a tricycle; he clearly didn’t belong here.
“I’m Kyle, by the way.” He held out a hand.
Stupidly, Brant still sat at the table, a cookie tin in his lap. He jumped up to shake Kyle’s hand and the tin clattered to the floor.
“Maybe you’d like to help too? We can have one big, happy cookie-baking party,” she said to Layla and Kyle. Marybelle smiled with all her teeth, not unlike the Cheshire cat.
Layla backed toward the door. “I—I have things to do next door. I’ll leave you three alone.”
“Stay a little bit,” Marybelle said. “I made a fresh pot of coffee.”
“I don’t think so,” she said over her shoulder.
Marybelle looked at him bug-eyed when Layla pulled open the door again to leave. The screen door banged into the frame.Get out there,she mouthed. Beside her, Kyle seemed confused.
