My One and Only(84)

With a sly smile, she said, “I guess I can find another shopping buddy in the fall.”

“I appreciate your willingness to compromise.”

Lorelei laughed. “Anyway, I’m happy for you. It’s about time Haleigh Rae came around to what a great guy you are.”

“She took some convincing, but I finally won her over.”

“I never doubted you for a minute.” Lorelei leaned his way. “If you want, I could pack some cookies up to go. My treat.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” No way would he turn down Lorelei’s cookies. “I’ll pay for a few extra for Ian or he’ll eat all of mine.”

“That reminds me. Your cousin and that Jessi girl were in here over the weekend.”

“I’m not surprised. They’re practically connected at the hip.”

“Have you noticed that she looks a lot like Becky Winkle did in high school?”

Cooper tried to picture it. “Maybe a little.”

Lorelei dropped half a dozen cookies into a Lulu’s Home Bakery bag. “I didn’t see it at the cookout, probably because Jessi doesn’t have her nose in the air like Becky does, but when she looked at me over this counter, I almost did a double take. The hair is different, obviously, but they could be long-lost cousins or something.”

It had been a full month since Jessi had come to town on that rainy Monday night, and though she continued to believe that she would someday find her father, they’d all agreed that if he’d ever lived in Ardent Springs, he hadn’t been there long. Ian had joined the hunt with the rest of them, asking extended family if they’d ever heard of a J.T. and going so far as to check county records, but with no luck.

Considering Lorelei’s observation, he asked, “Jebediah has a brother, doesn’t he?”

“He does, but as far as I know he hasn’t lived in this area for years.” Lorelei filled another bag. “I don’t know how much alike they are, but I can’t imagine having more than one disapproving Winkle driving us all nuts.”

After so much digging, Cooper’s first instinct was to dismiss Lorelei’s claim. Two women looking somewhat alike didn’t mean they were related. And the possibility of Jessi being a Winkle was not good news. He highly doubted they’d welcome her with open arms.

Even so, he asked, “Do you remember the brother’s name?”

Handing over the cookies, she said, “I’m thinking Samuel, but I’d have to ask Granny to be sure.”

So much for the lead.

“How much do I owe you?”

She waved the question away. “Consider it payment for all those football games you had to endure alone.”

“Fair enough,” Cooper said. “Let me know if you have any trouble with those vendors.”

Lorelei gave him a thumbs-up as she turned to deal with another customer. Strolling through the store, he speculated on the Winkle connection. Maybe Lorelei had been wrong about the brother’s name. Or maybe Jebediah had another relative to consider. Though for Jessi to look as much like Becky as Lorelei claimed, the connection would have to be close.

Or maybe Lorelei was seeing things and Jessi wasn’t a Winkle at all. Cooper hadn’t noticed a resemblance between the two women, and he wasn’t about to get Jessi’s hopes up on such a slim chance. The girl had been through enough already.

He’d share Lorelei’s observation with Haleigh, do a little research on the Winkle family, and see what turned up. If they found concrete proof that Jessi really was a long-lost cousin, they’d fill her in. But not before.





Chapter 26

“Why are we here?” Haleigh’s mother asked as the Mamacita’s hostess showed them to their table.

“We’re here for lunch, Mother,” she answered, preferring to keep the real reason to herself until the time was right. After rehearsing her speech all weekend long, Haleigh had opted to have this conversation in a public place in the hopes of saving them both a painful scene. Telling Meredith Mitchner that her money train would no longer be making regular deposits required tact and diplomacy.

And a potential audience to minimize the blowup.

Dusting off the booth seat, Meredith scowled. “You know I don’t like ethnic food.”

“Your favorite dish is lasagna.”

“Oh, please,” the older woman replied. “That’s as American as meatloaf and potatoes.”

Placing her napkin in her lap, Haleigh said, “Actually, it isn’t, Mom. Not even close.”

Holding the menu with the tips of her fingers, she said, “What am I supposed to eat?”

“You could be adventurous and try the fajitas. They’re really good. Or you can order a steak. They have those, too.”