Evelyn was here. Not just here, but standing in his kitchen, cooking with his mom? 

How the hell...

He ran around to the front of the house and tore up the stairs, stripped, and jumped into the shower. 

What is she doing here?  

He scrubbed the dirt from a long day's work on the farm from under his nails.

Calem didn't know how to feel about Evelyn being here. He swore to Fennick he wouldn't be in contact with her. He flew home to ensure he wouldn't be tempted to see her again and here Evelyn was standing in his kitchen.

Calem showered and dressed in under 10 minutes. He had to get to the bottom of this without his mom learning who she was. He stayed close to the kitchen door and listened to their conversation.

"I'm going to get more blackberries to make syrup for the ice cream. Will you be alright here on your own for a little while?"

"Yes, absolutely," Calem heard Evelyn say, and the moment he heard his mother walk out the back door he went to open the kitchen door to confront Evelyn. Only the door swung the other way hitting him in the face.

"Son of a...mmmm."

"Oh, Calem! I'm so sorry."

Calem rubbed his nose which thankfully was still intact. "You keep saying that, but then you keep turning up and causing havoc in my life. Evelyn, what are you doing here?"

"Your mom invited me to dinner."

"No, not here in my house. I mean here in Missouri. Running into you in the park by chance is one thing but you have to admit this seems a little..."

"Stalkerish," Evelyn provided with that damn smile of hers. Calem tried not to grin back but found it impossible.

"Yeah. A little."

"I read the article that Kaylee Bardot wrote about you. I had to know I didn't just screw up your entire life. I called but you wouldn't answer."

"And you didn't take that as a hint because...?" Calem didn't mean to sound irritated but to be put into yet another situation, not of his making annoyed him greatly. However, he immediately regretted his words the moment he'd seen the hurt expression on Evelyn's face.

"I should go. You're right. It was stupid of me to come here. You're obviously trying to put this whole thing behind you and I'm just f'ing it up. I won't stay for dinner. Tell your mom I said it was fun working with her in the kitchen but something came up."

Evelyn went to walk away and Calem grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Oh no you don't. There is no way I am facing that hellion on my own to explain things to her. You will have dinner with us but you are not to say a word about knowing me."

"Um... Calem. I'm pretty sure she already knows who I am."

Calem paled. "And what would give you that impression?"

"She called me Ms. Quinn and I never gave her my last name. I met your mom at River Market today looking for something to cook for dinner. We talked, she invited me here but we've only exchanged first names. I think your mom knows exactly who I am."

Calem let out a weary sigh and fell into a nearby chair. "This is hopeless. A disaster. How am I going to explain...?" Calem rubbed his hands over his face feeling exhausted.

"She probably has seen what's going on social media. I'm sure she knows," Evelyn offered.

"Do you see a computer anywhere? My mom still uses a flip phone. She is completely anti-technology. She doesn't believe there is enough time in a day and doesn't want to be bothered by the distractions."

"So how do you suppose she knew who I am?" Evelyn appeared every bit as confused as Calem.

"I don't know but I got a feeling I'm about to find out." Calem slapped his hands on his knees and rose from his chair. He opened the door to the kitchen and waved for Evelyn to walk in. She did and he followed.

"Oh good," his mom said entering in the backdoor. "You're all cleaned up and just in time for dinner. Can you set the table, sweetie? Evelyn will be staying with us."

"Sure, Mom." Calem opened up the cabinet to grab glasses from the shelf.

"Can I help?" Evelyn asked.

"Of course." Calem's mother pointed to a drawer close to where Evelyn was standing. "The silverware is in that drawer, right there, and Calem can you show her where I keep my napkins."

"Follow me," Calem said. He pushed the door open with his back and allowed Evelyn to walk through before letting it close.

"Napkins are in the left-hand drawer of the china cabinet behind you," Calem told Evelyn as he set out the glasses on the dining room table.

Evelyn pulled out the napkins and set them with the silverware at each place setting.

Calem handed Evelyn a pair of shears and grabbed the small vase from the table.

"Come on. This way," he instructed and Evelyn followed Calem out to the garden.

"My mom always likes fresh-cut flowers for the table."

Evelyn realized the flowers Calem's mom chose for her garden were for a cutting garden. Dottie was so clever. She would always have fresh flowers whenever she wanted. Evelyn took the shears and snipped a dahlia and some peonies. Calem filled the vase with some water from a nearby spigot and Evelyn placed them in.

"I'm sorry about my reaction to you being here earlier."

"It's okay. I know it must have been a shock to see me standing in your kitchen."

"To say the least but that doesn't excuse my behavior. I am happy to see you," Calem admitted.

"So, you don't think I'm stalking you?" Evelyn asked with a wicked grin.

Calem laughed. "I know you're stalking me. What I'm trying to figure out is why?"

Evelyn didn't answer but took the vase from Calem's hand to hide her smile behind the flowers. "Your mom is waiting."

Calem shook his head at her. So, this was not something Evelyn planned to explain, evident by her walking away from him and into the house. She set the flowers down and went back into the kitchen to see if she could be of further assistance. Dottie had everything set out on the counter buffet style.

"Grab a plate and help yourself."

Evelyn turned around to see Calem holding out a plate and took it from him.

"Thank you."

Once their plates were full the three of them journeyed out into the dining room.

"Everything looks great, Mom," Calem said pulling out the chair for his mother to be seated and then Evelyn's chair, before taking his place across from Evelyn.

Calem decided to enjoy his last meal before facing his doom. His mom and Evelyn talked about ways to improve it but Calem thought that impossible, yet when he tasted the cornbread pudding, he noticed something different.

"What did you do to the pudding? This isn't how I remembered it?"

Dottie smiled and said excitedly, "Evelyn showed me how to make this great honey butter. Isn't it divine?"

"It's amazing!" Calem admitted, his mom's cornbread pudding was always a favorite of his but the addition of the honey butter on top it made it addictive. Both women laughed at him when he went back for seconds.

"So, where did you meet Evelyn, Mom?" Calem asked, once he rejoined them at the table.

"At the farmer's market. She showed up hungry so I invited her home."

"You know I don't like you picking up strangers at the market."

"But Evelyn isn't a stranger. Is she, Calem? At least, not to you."

Calem's fork paused halfway to his mouth. "And what would you know about this?"

"I may live in the Dark Ages, sweetie but people talk."

Calem closed his eyes and lowered his fork. "And what exactly are people saying?"

"That it's all over the tabloids that my son is having an affair with a famous chef who's engaged to be married to an even more famous action star."

"Is that so?" Calem said, putting his fork down calmly. He had suddenly lost his appetite.

"Mrs. Decker, there is nothing..."

Dottie raised her hand to stop Evelyn from talking. "First of all. Decker was my husband's name. It's Williams now but I prefer you call me Dottie. Second, I don't believe a word of what I heard because I know my son and there is no way he would ever do such a thing."

"So, is that what you've been saying to people who bring it up?" Calem asked.

"No, I just let them talk. You know I don't care much for what others think. I know the truth and that's all that matters."

"I've been here for over a week. Why didn't you say anything to me?"

"Why should I? If you wanted to talk about it, I figured you'd bring it up. I knew that's why you came home. It's not like you had any other reason." Dottie said, her tone hurtful.

"Mom? We've been through this, you know why I haven't been back to visit, but I kept in touch. It's not like I disappeared on you. I'm not Dad."

Dottie played with the food on her plate. "I know," was all she would say.

"So, if you knew I was the cause of so much trouble for your son, why did you invite me back to your home?"

"It was evident that's why you came to Missouri. I was pretty sure he would have tried to avoid you. So, I figured the best way for anything to be resolved was to bring you home. Plus, I was curious."

"Curious? About what?" Calem wanted to know.

"What kind of woman Evelyn was. I have to admit, I can see why you like her."

"Mom, I'm not sure why Evelyn's here but I'm sure it has nothing to do with how I feel about her."

"Well?" Evelyn paused and held Calem's gaze for a moment. All of a sudden, she appeared shy.

"That's not entirely true. It actually has everything to do with why I'm here. That and because of how I feel about you."

Evelyn now had both Calem's and his mom's undivided attention. This was not how she planned to do this but Evelyn knew what she wanted and she knew she can't keep being afraid to ask for it.

"I'm listening," Calem said, after Evelyn's long pause.

"Jackson and I are over."

Calem's eyes widened. His heart quickened. He wanted to hope but he knew he shouldn't.

"Congratulations." His words came out a bit caustic earning him a swat from his mother.

"Be nice."

"No, he's right. I've been acting like some blind, naïve twit. It was evident to everyone I know that Jackson was no good for me and I refused to see it until I kissed you." Evelyn's cautious gaze locked on Calem.

"You kissed an engaged woman!" Dottie glared at her son.

Evelyn was quick to explain, "No, I kissed him. I picked him randomly out of a crowd and planted one on him."

"That's true but did I kiss you back." Calem reminded her.

"But you didn't know who I was at the time or that I was engaged," Evelyn defended.

"I did when I kissed you at Raphael's," Calem reminded her and Evelyn colored being reminded of that kiss.

"Well yes, there was that," she admitted.

"How many times did you kiss this woman?" Dottie demanded to know.

"Two? Maybe three times?" Calem asked smiling, looking over at Evelyn who smiled back.

"Three, if you count the time, I kissed your cheek," Evelyn confirmed.

"Oh, my Lord! My son is a philanderer." Dottie got up from the table and started to mumble as she stormed into the kitchen. "This wasn't how I raised him. Has to be the big city. I knew I should have never let him leave."

Calem laughed. "We've done it, now. You thought the tabloids were tough on us. We've now called down the wrath of Dottie Williams."

"Maybe she won't be so mad once she's learned I came here because I want to make an honest man out of you."

"Is that so?"

"I'd like to try. If you'll have me."

"How do I know I'm not just your rebound guy?"

"You don't but as your mom said about picking out good produce... I'm not one to grab the first thing in front of me. I picked you for a reason, Calem Decker and if you're curious, maybe we can figure out the why, together."

Calem slid his chair back and joined Evelyn on the other side of the table by taking the seat next to her. "I'm not sure how I feel about being compared with vegetables but I think that sounds like a really good plan."

"You do?" It was hard to mistake the look of hope on Evelyn's face for anything else.

"Yeah. How long are you here in Missouri?"

"I didn't make a plan. I honestly didn't expect to get this far." Evelyn giggled.

"Maybe that's because you've gotten used to getting no's when you should be getting yeses." Calem took her hand and Evelyn laced her fingers with his.

"That might have something to do with it. That and I really feared after everything I put you through that I was the last person you'd want talk to let alone spend time with."

"Do you have time to take off from work?"

"I think I could manage it," Evelyn's heart felt ready to burst. She couldn't believe this was really happening.

"Good, you can stay here," Calem offered.

"Oh no, she can't!" Dottie burst through the kitchen door.

"Mom, have you been listening to us this entire time?" Calem shook his head at her.

"Of course, I've been listening! It's a mother's prerogative to know what is going on with her child." Dottie set the pie and ice cream on the table along with dessert plates.

"I'm not a child anymore, Mom."

"If you're trying to convince me that you've matured and are now capable of making good decisions in your life, I'm going to tell you, you need to try harder."

"You know how expensive a long hotel stay can be? Do you really wish me to subject her to that? You're the one who brought Evelyn home."

"That's before I knew just how friendly you both were. You are a good boy and I'll have no fooling around under this roof. If you want to save Evelyn from paying for her hotel then I suggest you pay for it, mister, because she's not staying here."

Dottie glanced over at Evelyn who was frowning, and obviously feeling bad about causing a problem between mother and son. "No offense, Evelyn but I'm too old-fashioned to change now."

"I understand. It's fine I can pay my own way. I sprung myself on both of you. I'd love a chance to spend more time with your son, and perhaps more time cooking with you?"

Dottie's features softened. "You don't pull your punches do you, Ms. Quinn? You went straight for the heart."

Evelyn smiled and Calem stared amazed watching his mother smile back. "Fine, she can stay in your room, and you" Dottie glared at her son, "can move your things to John's place."

John was the farm's manager. He had a small place on the farm's grounds. 

"You're kicking me out? We have a guest bedroom."

"Do you want her to stay or not?"

Calem relented. It is much safer for Evelyn to stay on the farm. They could spend time without being in public. "Fine. I guess it's settled then. Peach blackberry pie?" Calem offered Evelyn.

"With just a smidge of vanilla ice cream, please." Evelyn took the plate from Calem, eyes shining almost as brilliantly as her smile. 

"Oo, that reminds me I forgot the syrup. I'll be right back. Now no smooching the moment I leave the room you two," Dottie said wagging her finger at them.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Calem said, yet the moment his mother left the room he grabbed Evelyn and pulled her closer.

"Calem? Your Mom said..."

But Evelyn didn't get to finish her sentence because Calem grabbed her by the nape of her neck and captured her lips. It was rather a brief kiss compared to the others they've shared but Calem's eyes held the promise of so more to come.

"Welcome to Missouri, Ms. Quinn. I hope you like it here."