1225 Christmas Tree Lane - Debbie Macomber [71]
Over the course of the next two hours, more people than Bailey could keep track of came and went. Bruce and Rachel Peyton arrived with their newborn daughter, Corinna. Jolene had gotten one of the puppies for Christmas, too, and bragged equally about Corinna and Poppy, her dog.
Troy and Faith Davis came by for cake and to chat with their parents. So did the McAfees, who were full of compliments about their puppy, Asta—as smart and charming as the dog in those movies, Roy bragged. Everyone was so friendly. Bailey was in charge of serving cake and Sophie busied herself with coffee and tea.
Soon after, Teri and Bobby Polgar, plus Christie and James Wilbur—proud owners of Chessie—dropped over with a bottle of champagne. Then Will Jefferson and Miranda Sullivan, sporting an engagement ring, brought another bottle.
By the end of the afternoon it seemed as if everyone their mother knew in town had made the effort to welcome Kent to Cedar Cove.
Everyone, that is, except Ted Reynolds, the veterinarian.
Briefly, Bailey had wondered if her mother’s friend would stop by. No one said anything, but Sophie noticed and so did Bailey. That saddened her a little because she knew that Ted and her mother were fond of each other.
“Well, that looks like everyone,” Beth said, carrying the leftover cake into the kitchen.
“You girls did a great job.”
“Wait!” Sophie cried out. “I see a car coming down the driveway.”
“It’s Ted,” Bailey said excitedly.
“Ted?” Beth pushed open the kitchen door and stuck her head out. “Oh, I was hoping he’d have a chance to come.” She brought out a piece of cake and set it on the table, as if it’d been there all along just waiting for Ted’s arrival.
Kent opened the front door and extended his hand. “Good to see you, Ted.”
“You, too. I’d like you to meet my friend Lana.”
Ted had a female friend? Bailey met her sister’s eyes.
“Ted,” Beth said, holding out her hand to him. “I’m so glad you brought Lana. I’ve been wanting to meet her.”
Mom knew about this? Bailey thought that was a good sign. Lana was a petite attractive blonde who seemed as effervescent as Ted was low-key.
Ted stood with his hand protectively around Lana’s waist. “Everyone, this is Lana Carr.”
Bailey and Sophie introduced themselves after their parents did.
“Sit down, please,” Beth said and gestured Ted and Lana toward the chairs. While they took their seats, Bailey and Sophie handed them plates with cake and took drink orders.
“You know, your mother and I haven’t had any cake yet,” their father said. “I don’t suppose we could get a slice, too?”
“Sure thing, Dad.”
Bailey cut two additional slices and brought them in while Sophie prepared coffee for their guests.
Bailey went back to the kitchen to start cleaning up, and Sophie joined her there a couple of minutes later. When she opened the kitchen door, the sound of their parents’ laughter drifted toward her.
“Everyone seems to be getting along,” Bailey commented.
“They are. I think Mom and Dad and Ted and Lana are going to be good friends. Did you hear how they met?”
“Mom and Dad?”
“No, Ted and Lana, silly.”
“Tell me.”
“She brought in a dog who’d been hit by a car. She used to work for a vet in Tacoma, a friend of Ted’s, until she moved to Cedar Cove. His friend had mentioned Lana was single and wanted to introduce them, but Ted said the timing was bad.”
“Yeah, he had his eye on our mother,” Bailey murmured.
“Lana saw his picture and thought he looked like a nice guy, but let it go. She figured he’d contact her if he was interested.”
“But he didn’t.”
“No. And then Lana found the injured dog and brought him to the nearest vet, not even knowing it was Ted until she got there. She helped him operate on the dog and did such a good job that he offered her a job at the animal hospital.”
“And she accepted.”
“That’s such a romantic story,” Sophie said.
Bailey nodded. “This is a romantic town.”
Her sister gave a contented sigh.
“You know, I like Cedar Cove,” Bailey said. “I like it a lot.”
“I do, too.”
It was the kind of town