When We Are Complete : A Small Town Romance (Valiant Hearts Book 3) by Stephanie Corin

Author:Stephanie Corin [Corin, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Kelly

Everyone is eating when Jake’s mom and sister arrive a short time later. Lucy has her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, and says hi before sitting down next to Blake. The Tidal Tavern must be opening a bit late today.

Jake’s mom is still the same woman I remember from all those years ago, but with a few more lines around her eyes and a silver streak in her dark brown hair. She’s had a hard life, but her eyes are soft, the same deep brown as Jake’s, and when they land on me, her face lights up.

“Kelly!” She weaves around the tables on the deck to get closer to me.

I stand to say hello, but before I can speak, she’s wrapping me in a hug.

“It’s been too long. You look amazing, sweetheart. Absolutely amazing.”

“Hi, Mrs. Tanner,” I say, laughing as she squeezes me. “It’s good to see you.”

“Please, call me Donna. None of this Mrs. Tanner nonsense. Not now you’re all grown up.” She pulls back, holding me by the shoulders and giving me a once-over. She’s genuinely happy to see me. “Jake mentioned you’d be here, and I just had to bring you something special.” She reaches into the bag slung over her shoulder and pulls out a container. “I made gluten-free cupcakes for you. Jake told me you were gluten-free, now.”

My stomach twists, my expression freezing in place. Of course Jake would say something like that, not knowing the truth. I glance at the container, heart pounding a little. “Oh, wow. That’s so sweet of you, Donna.”

“Well, I wasn’t sure what flavor you preferred, so I made a few options. Chocolate, vanilla, and lemon. I hope one of those hits the mark.”

I plaster on my best neutral expression. “They all sound delicious.”

As Donna puts the container back in her bag, Jake walks over. He looks at his mom before asking, “Is Dad on his way?”

Donna’s smile falters just a little, the corners of her mouth tightening. “He couldn’t make it, honey. Something came up with work, you know how it is.”

I catch the brief flicker of disappointment in Jake’s eyes. “Yeah. I get it.”

But I can tell he doesn’t. He’s hurt, even if he won’t admit it. I’d offer to talk about it if his mom wasn’t standing right there, but I stay quiet, pretending I don’t notice the shift in his mood. This is family stuff—old wounds that have been there for as long as I’ve known Jake. He’s never been close to his dad.

Donna doesn’t miss a beat, though. She bustles around the party, chatting with everyone, setting up Adele’s cake. Soon we’re all singing Happy Birthday and Adele is blowing out the candles.

Jake starts serving out the cake, while my eyes keep darting to the cupcakes Donna’s arranged on a plate beside the main birthday cake. They’re sitting there, waiting for me, and the pressure to eat one is starting to build. I have to—there’s no way around it without looking rude, not after the kindness Donna showed by making them.

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