Chapter 27: Chapter 27

"Well! I'm so glad to see you, Caden!" Mrs. Mitchell chirped happily. Caden liked her. She had always been a pleasant woman. "I heard you were in town."

"Yes. I arrived a few days ago." He looked down at the colorful rolls of wrapping paper and tape and smiled. "We thought you might be able to use a little help."

"Volunteers!" Mrs. Mitchell exclaimed. "Hey, Alice! We have some new recruits! Could you set up a spot for them?"

"Sure!" a younger woman that Caden recognized waved to them. "Come on over here, Caden and Mallory! I didn't know you two were back together!"

"We're not," Caden corrected her flatly. He and Mallory had gone to high school with her. "Alice, it's good to see you." He pulled her in for a quick hug and looked down at her stomach. She was visibly pregnant. "So, it looks like there's been some changes since I've been away."

Alice rubbed her stomach happily. "Yes, the baby's due any day now. I married Jeff Carmen eight years ago."