“We can never be annoyed with you,” Max promised. “Definitely not if you keep bribing us with baked goods. What was the reason, though? No one said. Just a scheduling conflict, or some secret project you can’t talk about, or what?”
“Really only that.” Colby’s expression did not crack. Pure approachable friendliness. “The former, I mean. Something came up, and I couldn’t—it was only terrible timing, I’m afraid. But I’m here now. Ask me all your questions. Though no questions about my shortbread recipe, top secret, sorry.”
More laughter. Jason’s chest ached with pride, with concern.
“We were going to ask you,” Moira said, “about the Children’s Literacy Foundation play you were doing then, the charity night, because you’d just come back from London, being in that…”