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Laughing is like a reflex here. “Yeah, uh, I’m a cat lady in the making.”

“Oh, Kenzie, I thought that once, too. But sometimes, we just go on dates with all the wrong people. If this matchmaking thing doesn’t work out, I’ll take care of you.”

It’s hard to keep a straight face with Trey in the background making faces and mouthing the word, “No.”

Mama Hatch purses her lips and turns around. “This is why you wanted me to back off on setting you up?” There is a touch of bitterness to her words.

“Mom, I’m grateful that you care about me the way you do. It’s just hard when you think I’ll magically have a long-term relationship with Betty-down-the-street’s cousin twice removed when you haven’t even met her.”

Now I feel like I’m intruding on a private moment. Mama Hatch nods, pinching her lips between her teeth. She rummages through a box and pulls out a few pink gel caps. “Benadryl. This should help the swelling to go down. Let’s go get you a drink of water to wash those down.”

She takes a step around Trey, and I glance up at him. There’s sadness there. On impulse, I lean in and give him a quick hug. In a surprising twist, he pulls me in and the comfort is next level.

I don’t want to tug away, but finally do enough to look up at him again. “I should probably go get those pills. Otherwise, I’ll be sailing the skies from the size of my lips.”

He lets out a low laugh, nodding. I step around him and walk toward the noise from the kitchen.

“Does he really think all that?” Mama Hatch asks me once she hands me the glass of water.

“We’ve never talked much about past dates,” I say, truthfully. I take in a big swallow of water and take the pills. Once they’re down, I hand her back the glass.

“Here’s a tube of some lip ointment. Hopefully it will help ease the pain of the blisters. You poor girl.” She takes my hand in hers and pats it a few times, a slow smile appears. “And what’s your relationship to my Trey?”

“Um, we are, um, he’s kind of my boss. I’m organizing his house.”

She blinks a few times and says, “That’s right. I’m excited to see what you do with the place. It’s got such great character, but the boxes everywhere take away from it.”

“The boxes that are in the wrong place altogether.”

Mama Hatch grins and says, “You just might be perfect for him. I’ll keep my fingers crossed you somehow manage to get matched.”

Shaking my head, I say, “I doubt that will happen.”

“You don’t want it to?” she asks, her eyes boring into me.

What a complex question.

I glance behind me, making sure Trey isn’t within earshot. Leaning in, I whisper, “I’d be okay with dating him.” I press my pointer finger to my lips to signal she needs to stay quiet, but wince at the pain there.

“Put that ointment on and I hope to see you again soon, Kenzie.” She winks and then opens the dishwasher and starts to unload them.

I smile and nod, wincing again at the soft burn still coursing through my lips. Opening the tube she gave me, I smell it first, wondering if it will be worse than the lip gloss. What if the swelling spreads to the rest of my face?

I might as well risk it for the comfort. I spread a thin layer of the ointment on my lips. Several seconds pass and the pain doesn’t rise. Maybe I’m safe.

“Thanks, Mom,” Trey says, leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“I’ve got a few things to send with you. Do you like zucchini, Kenzie?” she asks me.

I’ve only had it a few times plain, but I’ve always enjoyed the zucchini bread my grandma used to make. “Sure.”

“Oh good. My garden is overproducing this year and I’m just looking for people who need vegetables.”

“That makes it nice, so you don’t have to go to the store as often,” I say, not sure how to respond.How does one have a conversation about zucchini? Is it some adult level merit badge I haven’t unlocked yet?

She turns and walks into what looks like a pantry and comes out with two large bags of zucchini, peppers, and lettuce from what I can see.

“I’ll give these to Kenzie, since I know Trey will let them rot in his fridge,” she says with a wink. “Trey, I’ve got a few boxes of leftovers you can have for meals when you need.”