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Even so, the manager gave me such a nice tip that I’llbe able to take Suzy to the Wicket tonight for green beer and pub food.”
    “See? Working here has its perks,” Jenny said. She gave her brother’s shirt a tug. “You’re changing before your date with Suzy, aren’t you?”
    While Jenny teased Aiden about his limited wardrobe, Ella Mae was on the verge of telling Aiden that Suzy might not be free this evening when she stopped herself. Why should she ruin her best friend’s date? She could start researching on her own and include Suzy tomorrow. One glance at Aiden’s dreamy expression told her how much he was looking forward to celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day with his girlfriend. Suzy and Aiden hadn’t been dating long, but all of Havenwood knew that Aiden Upton was completely smitten with the lovely and clever bookshop owner.
    “You two are going to have a great time,” she said, feeling a mild stab of envy. She’d love to spend the evening at Havenwood’s only pub listening to Irish ballads and exchanging bawdy limericks with the locals, but she had work to do. Grabbing a ball of dough and her rolling pin, she started rolling out the crust for the chocolate pecan pie.
    “I have one more delivery on the schedule,” Aiden said. “It’s not far from Partridge Hill, so should I just head home afterward?”
    When Jenny and Aiden had been forced to leave Oak Knoll, a small town in Tennessee, Ella Mae had offered them temporary lodging in her mother’s large house. At the time, her mother had been trapped in the grove. After her release, she invited the siblings to stay with her at Partridge Hill as long as they wished. She told them multiple times that she enjoyed their company and would be sad to see them go, especially since Ella Mae lived on her own in the renovated guest cottage at the back of the property.
    “Yes, go on home.” Ella Mae said and then glanced at Jenny. “What are your plans for tonight?”
    Jenny shrugged. “They’re not as cool as Aiden’s. I’m taking Miss Lulu out for a run, and then I’m heading to a friend’s house—someone I knew from Oak Knoll—to gorge on mint chocolate chip ice cream while watching Waking Ned Devine . I love that movie. You should join us. It’ll be a whole bunch of single gals wallowing—oh!” She stopped abruptly. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were . . .” She trailed off.
    “Open your mouth, sis. I’ll help you stick your foot in it.” Aiden chucked Jenny in the arm.
    “I’m not offended.” Ella Mae slid the pie dish into the oven and then smiled at Jenny. “I know what you meant. Normally, I’d jump at the chance to eat a pint of ice cream, but I’m going to stay here and make a treat for a woman named Mrs. Drever. She lives in the hills above the lake, and I haven’t seen her around lately. It’ll do me good to pay her a visit.” Catching sight of the keys to her pink mail truck, she added, “Jenny, you should head out with Aiden. Reba can handle the rest of the tea service, and you’ll be needing your car later anyway.”
    Jenny hesitated. “Are you sure? Aiden can always swing back here and pick me up.” She held up her index finger. “Then again, if he has a date, he could be primping for two hours. The man takes longer to get ready than a girl going to her senior prom.”
    Aiden reddened but didn’t refute the accusation.
    Ella Mae laughed and shooed them both out the door.
    Alone in her kitchen, she added pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract to a bowl. Gently stirring the filling, Ella Mae closed her eyes and called forth memories from her early childhood. She remembered being helped out of the bathtub. Shivering with cold, someone—it must have beenReba—had wrapped Ella Mae in a big, fluffy towel and held her until she was warm. She flashed on another image. She was in her bed and had just had a terrible nightmare. Her mother appeared by her side, drying her tears with the corner of