“New York, New York,” Jake sang as he walked over to join them. “Why are you loitering out here? Up to something, huh?”
“Still deciding,” Mary said. “I like to strike when it’s least expected.”
“What are you all doing today?” Tommy asked, as he wiped his hands on a cloth.
“Just heading to lunch at Brew and Chew. Want to join us?” Harper said.
“We would,” Jake said. “But we’re helping our parents with their stall at the market.”
“Hey Mom, Dad, look who we ran into,” Tommy said as Grace and Joe Taylor came around the corner. They gave The Crew hugs.
“So nice to see you girls,” Joe said.
“Oh, thanks. We talk about our fantastic night out on the farm all the time,” Dot said.
“Well, you gotta come back out. It’s real nice out now with all the fields planted.”
“Mr. Taylor—I’ve been wanting to come talk to you about the farm,” Mary said. “I’ve got a little information that might be worth sharing.”
Jake looked at her, grateful that she cared about his parents’ worries about holding on to the farm.
“I’d love to get your thoughts,” Joe said. “There’s a big hearing come up on it in a few weeks, and our lawyers aren’t optimistic. Duncan’s Doughnuts and Diner on Tuesday? It’s just off Washington Street. I have a fairground meeting at ten a.m. that day. I could meet you before.”
“I love a breakfast date,” she said. “My favorite kind.”
“Heck, if it’s a date, maybe I’ll come along,” Jake said.
“Hey now, I asked her first!” Joe playfully elbowed his son in the ribs.
“You know, I was thinking,” Grace said. “You boys should take these girls out to a traditional Wisconsin supper club. They can’t go back to New York until they’ve gone at least once.”
“That’s a great idea.” Tommy nodded, “Maybe I can get somebody to cover for me at the Sin Bin one night. We can recruit Danny to come along.”
Dot’s ears perked up on hearing that idea.
“A supper club? Sounds fancy,” Harper said.
“Oh yeah, it’s really sophisticated. Wait until you see it,” Jake said, rolling his eyes a bit in jest.
“I’ll make a reservation for next Saturday night for the six of you. How about seven o’clock at the Cedar Falls Inn?”
Mary thought Grace was hilarious as she played matchmaker for her sons. And she didn’t mind one bit. “You bet. Will be there with bells on,” she said directly to Jake.
“Great. You’ll love it. The supper club is Wisconsin at its finest,” Grace said.
THE CREW TURNEDto head to lunch, the sun warming their backs.
“Well, Mary, Hot Cop Jake isdefinitelyinto you. Wisconsin’s finest indeed,” Dot said, throwing an arm around Mary and hip checking her.
“Oh, stop!” Mary said. But she had to admit it. Dot wasn’t wrong. And the feeling might be mutual.
Chapter 35
The week was flying by.
On Tuesday, Mary met Joe Taylor for breakfast and impressed him with her order—steak and eggs and a side of silver dollar pancakes.
“A girl’s gotta eat,” he said, when the waitress asked Mary where in the world she put it all.