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“Yes,” Jo said, shifting her weight. “He invited me yesterday. Said I should bring you, actually. But no pressure or anything.”Quiet for a beat, Evelyn’s expression was unreadable. Jo nodded slowly. “You don’t have to decide now. I know it’s last minute. And you’ve probably got work stuff or whatever. It’s totally fine if you’d rather not.”

Evelyn gave her a small smile, but it didn’t hide the hint of anxiety in her eyes. “Maybe,” she said gently. “Let me think about it?”

Frustrated that she had made things suddenly awkward, Jo forced a smile in return. “Sure,” she said. “Of course.” She pushed off the doorframe, trying not to let the disappointment show. “I’m gonna go start a batch of cookies for it. Rosa always expects me to bring something sweet.” As she turned and walked toward the kitchen, Jo tried to shake it off. Evelyn didn’t say no.She only needs time, she thought.That’s all. Still, something about the hesitation made Jo’s chest tighten.

Back in the kitchen, she moved on autopilot, pulling out flour, sugar, and chocolate chips. The familiar rhythm of baking grounded her again. Measuring, mixing, folding. She didn’t let herself think about the insurance claim or the missing tools or the lingering violation of someone forcing their way into her space. She didn’t think about Evelyn’s maybe. She simply focused on the cookies. When she was ready to scoop the dough onto the tray, she heard footsteps behind her. Then soft arms slid around her waist from behind, and Jo stilled.

Evelyn pressed a kiss to the space between Jo’s shoulder blades. “I’d be happy to go,” she whispered. Jo turned slowly, her heart thudding. Evelyn stood there in one of Jo’s T-shirts, her eyes warm.

Jo searched her face. “You’re sure?” she asked, and Evelyn nodded.

“I want to meet the people who helped shape you.” She smiled. “And if there’s homemade potato salad, how could I say no?”

Smiling, Jo’s chest loosened with relief. “Well, damn,” she said, reaching to pull Evelyn closer. “You just made my whole day.”

Evelyn smoothed her hands down the front of her dress as Jo pulled the GTO into the Diaz driveway. The house was modest but charming with white siding, flower beds overflowing with bright blooms of early-season perennials, and she got a peek of a long wooden table with a red and white checked tablecloth set up in the backyard. She heard the distant sound of voices and someone laughing as Jo put the car in park and glanced at her. “You okay?”

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn forced a smile. “I’m fine.” Jo raised an eyebrow, and Evelyn sighed. “Okay, I’m mostly fine.”

Jo leaned in, her voice low and warm. “They are going to think you’re great,” she said, and Evelyn gave her a look.

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do,” Jo replied. “Because I do.”

Evelyn’s heart fluttered, but she nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

They got out of the car, Jo balancing a tray of neatly wrapped cookies in one hand while reaching for Evelyn’s with the other. Their fingers laced together easily, and Evelyn held on a little tighter as they walked around the side of the house. The backyard was already buzzing with guests. A few people were gathered around the grill, where a man who looked suspiciously like a younger Mr. Diaz flipped burgers and laughed with someone holding a beer. Children darted between the adults, chasing each other through the grass. A woman with hair streaked with white and a floral apron stood at a long picnic table, arranging trays of empanadas, potato salad, and corn onthe cob.That must be Rosa,Evelyn thought.If I have to make anyone like me, I know it will be her.

As if feeling their eyes on her, Rosa turned when Jo and Evelyn stepped into the yard. Her face lit up. “Jo!” she called, wiping her hands on a towel as she hurried over. “You’re here. And you brought someone.”

“Hi, Rosa,” Jo said with a smile. “This is Evelyn.”

Rosa didn’t hesitate. She pulled Evelyn into a warm hug. “You’re even prettier than my husband described,” Rosa said, pulling back to look at her. “And I can tell you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Jo needs that.”

Surprised, Evelyn let out a laugh. “Thank you,” she said. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Diaz.”

Rosa waved a hand. “None of that formal stuff,” she said. “It’s Rosa. Come, come, there’s food, drinks, and a shady spot under the oak tree with your name on it.”

Handing off the tray of cookies, Jo chuckled. “We brought dessert.”

Peeking under the foil, Rosa made an approving sound. “Ah, your famous cookies,” she said. “Good. I was worried I’d have to pretend to like my cousin’s store-bought hojarascas again.”

Jo leaned toward Evelyn as Rosa bustled off toward the food table. “Told you she’d think you were great.”

Evelyn smiled, but her stomach still fluttered with nerves as they walked farther into the yard. People waved at Jo, calling out greetings. Evelyn stayed close, trying not to feel out of place. She was settling into a folding chair next to Jo when Rosa reappeared with two cold bottles of beer.

She handed one to Jo, then turned to Evelyn. “I had no idea what you liked,” she said. “But if it’s not beer, we have other choices. Do you want something else?”

Taking the beer, Evelyn smiled, even though she didn’t care for the taste. “This will be fine,” she said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Rosa said, her eyes twinkling. “Now, do you want to hear a story about our Jo?”

Evelyn blinked before warming up to the idea. “I would.”

Jo groaned. “Rosa—”

“Oh hush, it’s a good one,” Rosa said, settling into the lawn chair across from them. “Now, picture this. Jo, nineteen years old, barely started working at the garage part-time while studying business or marketing or something she didn’t even like.”