Chapter 19

"Oh no! I did enough of that when I was growing up," Caden objected. He looked up and his mother had already seen him. "Why'd you come here?"

Jocelyn shrugged. "I just thought I'd volunteer. It's my day off and I like to feel useful." Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "Besides, it looks as if your parents could use the help."

Caden sighed, giving her a smile. "Come on. I'll get you some gloves."

"Now, that's the spirit!" she approved, climbing out of the car.

As they walked over to the tree lot, Caden's father walked toward them. "Hello, son. It's good to see you here. Who's your friend?"

Caden smiled. "This is Jocelyn, Mallory's sister."

His father's smile faded, but he quickly recovered himself. For some reason, his parents had never liked Mallory. Although Caden knew they hated for his heart to be broken, he suspected they were secretly relieved when they broke up.

"What brings you two by on such a wonderful day?" Noah asked, motioning around him.

"Well, we'd thought we'