Hometown Reunion. Pam Andrews

last time Lori had eaten anything her aunt had grilled, she’d had to scrape off a quarter inch of charred meat. Bess was a wonderful teacher but a disaster as a cook.

      “I’ll take care of the grill,” Lori quickly offered.

      “I was sure I could count on you,” her aunt said, with a little giggle. “And don’t worry about dessert. I have three kinds of ice cream in the freezer.”

      “You didn’t say who’s coming.”

      “Dottie. You remember her. We’ve been teaching together since forever. And I invited Scott when I saw him picking Joey up after Sunday school.”

      

      Scott had doubts—serious doubts—about going to Bess Raymond’s house for Sunday dinner. If she had any ideas about matching him with her niece, she was wasting her time. A lot had happened since high school. He felt hollow inside, and he was not ready to let anyone else get close. His life was much more complicated now than when they’d been kids.

      Even if he did want to renew his friendship with Lori, nothing could come of it. She’d be leaving after the café was up and running. He didn’t want Joey to become attached to her, only to be devastated when she left.

      He was mad at himself for not thinking of an excuse to get out of going to Sunday dinner, but Miss Raymond had a way of getting people to do what she wanted. Going to a meal at her house was the second thing he really didn’t want to do that day.