baby sister feel better. “How about we stop for ice cream on the way home?” She asked instead. What a cop out.
“Yay! We love ice cream, don’t we?” Cassidy nudged Jessica, and she just nodded her agreement. One bite of triple chocolate fudge would put a smile back on her face, if only for a little while.
***
They walked into Cherry on Top ice cream parlor and walked straight to the counter. Mandy Owens, one of Diana’s former schoolmates and Liz’s friend, was the owner. Diana knew this, but decided dealing with Mandy was worth it if Jessica smiled. To her surprise Mandy came around the counter and pulled her into a big bear hug. “I am so sorry about your parents. I was at the funeral, but there were so many people I couldn’t get to you to give my condolences.”
Diana awkwardly returned the hug. “Thank you,” she said, trying to hide the bewilderment from her voice.
Apparently she didn’t do a very good job because Mandy pulled back. “I wasn’t sure you would want my condolences, and I’m sorry about that, too. I have only myself to blame. I was such a brat when we were in school together,” she said.
Diana was shocked. First Liz, now Mandy? Did all mean girls regret their actions once they grew up? She had never believed so. She thought once mean always mean. “Thank you. I appreciate it, and I’m glad you were at their services.”
Mandy patted her arm and gave her a warm smile before turning to the girls. “I made some new flavors today, and I need some taste testers to see if they are any good. Do you girls know anyone who is really good at eating ice cream?” She asked.
“We can be your taste testers. We love ice cream, don’t we, Jessica?” Cassidy asked. Again, Jessica nodded. Though this time a slight smile touched her lips.
“Great, sit down, and I will bring you the flavors.”
Mandy disappeared behind the counter and set out several small testing cones on a tray, filling each with different flavors and then brought the tray to their table. There must have been twenty miniature ice cream cones on the tray. Diana groaned. This would definitely make the girls sick.
“Relax. It takes ten of those to be the equivalent of one scoop.” Mandy laughed as she walked back behind the counter.
It was a bit disconcerting Mandy seemed to know what Diana was thinking.
Mandy returned with a cup and set it in front of Diana. “For you. Is peach still your favorite?”
“Yes, it is, thanks.” How did she know that?
There weren’t any other customers in the store so Mandy sat with them. “I heard your class had a man from the zoo bring some baby animals for you to see. Did you girls have fun?”
“I got to hold a baby tiger. His momma died, so he is an orphan, just like Jessica. But I told Jessica I can share my momma with her if she wants. I don’t have a daddy either so I’m half an orphan, right?”
Mandy and Diana looked at each other, both at a loss as to what to say. Thankfully Mandy recovered faster. “Cassidy, sweetheart, you still have a daddy. You don’t see him as often as before, but I’m sure he still loves you very much and will see you whenever he can. Jessica, honey.” She put her finger under Jessica’s chin and raised her face. “You will never be an orphan in Magnolia Falls. Just ask Diana, when her mom went away the whole town stepped in to be her mommas, and that’s exactly what we will do for you now. Not only do you have two great sisters who will always be there for you and will take care of you, but you have me, and Jillian, and everyone else. Anything you need, come to us, and we will be here for you. Isn’t that right, Diana?”
“It is,” she agreed, tears choking her voice. “When my mom left, and daddy was traveling so much I never felt like an orphan. The people in this town were my family.”
“Does that mean I have lots and lots of mommas and daddy’s now?” Jessica asked.
“It sure does, including me,” Mandy said.
“Do I
“Yay! We love ice cream, don’t we?” Cassidy nudged Jessica, and she just nodded her agreement. One bite of triple chocolate fudge would put a smile back on her face, if only for a little while.
***
They walked into Cherry on Top ice cream parlor and walked straight to the counter. Mandy Owens, one of Diana’s former schoolmates and Liz’s friend, was the owner. Diana knew this, but decided dealing with Mandy was worth it if Jessica smiled. To her surprise Mandy came around the counter and pulled her into a big bear hug. “I am so sorry about your parents. I was at the funeral, but there were so many people I couldn’t get to you to give my condolences.”
Diana awkwardly returned the hug. “Thank you,” she said, trying to hide the bewilderment from her voice.
Apparently she didn’t do a very good job because Mandy pulled back. “I wasn’t sure you would want my condolences, and I’m sorry about that, too. I have only myself to blame. I was such a brat when we were in school together,” she said.
Diana was shocked. First Liz, now Mandy? Did all mean girls regret their actions once they grew up? She had never believed so. She thought once mean always mean. “Thank you. I appreciate it, and I’m glad you were at their services.”
Mandy patted her arm and gave her a warm smile before turning to the girls. “I made some new flavors today, and I need some taste testers to see if they are any good. Do you girls know anyone who is really good at eating ice cream?” She asked.
“We can be your taste testers. We love ice cream, don’t we, Jessica?” Cassidy asked. Again, Jessica nodded. Though this time a slight smile touched her lips.
“Great, sit down, and I will bring you the flavors.”
Mandy disappeared behind the counter and set out several small testing cones on a tray, filling each with different flavors and then brought the tray to their table. There must have been twenty miniature ice cream cones on the tray. Diana groaned. This would definitely make the girls sick.
“Relax. It takes ten of those to be the equivalent of one scoop.” Mandy laughed as she walked back behind the counter.
It was a bit disconcerting Mandy seemed to know what Diana was thinking.
Mandy returned with a cup and set it in front of Diana. “For you. Is peach still your favorite?”
“Yes, it is, thanks.” How did she know that?
There weren’t any other customers in the store so Mandy sat with them. “I heard your class had a man from the zoo bring some baby animals for you to see. Did you girls have fun?”
“I got to hold a baby tiger. His momma died, so he is an orphan, just like Jessica. But I told Jessica I can share my momma with her if she wants. I don’t have a daddy either so I’m half an orphan, right?”
Mandy and Diana looked at each other, both at a loss as to what to say. Thankfully Mandy recovered faster. “Cassidy, sweetheart, you still have a daddy. You don’t see him as often as before, but I’m sure he still loves you very much and will see you whenever he can. Jessica, honey.” She put her finger under Jessica’s chin and raised her face. “You will never be an orphan in Magnolia Falls. Just ask Diana, when her mom went away the whole town stepped in to be her mommas, and that’s exactly what we will do for you now. Not only do you have two great sisters who will always be there for you and will take care of you, but you have me, and Jillian, and everyone else. Anything you need, come to us, and we will be here for you. Isn’t that right, Diana?”
“It is,” she agreed, tears choking her voice. “When my mom left, and daddy was traveling so much I never felt like an orphan. The people in this town were my family.”
“Does that mean I have lots and lots of mommas and daddy’s now?” Jessica asked.
“It sure does, including me,” Mandy said.
“Do I
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