Page 55 of Not Since Ewe
My hands squeezed the phone as I rubbed my chest. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
The side of her mouth kicked up, and just that faint hint of a smile made the world feel right again. “I’m wondering if your mom would be willing to adopt me.”
“Are you kidding? Nothing would make her happier. She already likes you more than me.”
“Does that mean I can come to Christmas?”
“You fucking better. Hundred bucks says my mom’s already embroidering your name on a stocking.”
Tess’s smile grew wider, and my heart went thump in response. “Two men walked into a bar…”
I barked out a laugh. “Really? You’re stealing my schtick now? I thought you hated my jokes.”
“I do. I’m showing you how it’s done. Now shut up.”
Obediently, I pressed my lips together and gestured for her to continue.
“Two men walked into a bar,” she said, totally deadpan. “The second one should have known better.”
I laughed so hard I nearly dropped the phone. “Okay, that was pretty good.”
“Better than yours.”
“Yeah, you win.”
“I know I did.”
Fuck, I loved the sight of her smiling.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
TESS
It was time to admit I needed help. My solo effort to reverse-engineer the baby blanket pattern had been a bust. The only thing it had gotten me was eye strain and a series of tension headaches.
Clutching the strap of the WBEZ tote bag I’d tucked the unfinished blanket into, I pushed my way through the door of Mad About Ewe, the yarn store on East Randolph Street. I glanced around the shop, my gaze skimming past shelves of yarn in every possible color of the rainbow. There were several customers browsing the store, but no one behind the counter and no sign of my old high school friend Dawn, who’d opened the shop last year.
An older woman sat in a comfy-looking armchair by the front window with a pile of knitting in her lap. Her needles clicked together as her fingers worked with mind-boggling speed, and I wandered closer, mesmerized by her skill.
“Did you need help?” the woman asked without looking up from her knitting.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to stare.”
“If I minded people looking at me, I’d stay home.”
“You’re really good at that.”
“I ought to be. Been doing it long enough.”
“Do you work here?”
“Nope. Just loitering.” She inclined her head toward an open doorway off to one side of the shop. “There’s someone in the back if you need something.”
“I’m looking for Dawn. I don’t suppose she’s here today?”
“Dawn!” the woman shouted, loud enough to make my ears ring. “Someone’s out here asking for you.”
A moment later, Dawn appeared in the doorway, wearing a green apron with the shop’s logo on it.
