Felicia smiled. “I think I can figure it out. I’m good with machines.”
“I heard the same about men’s shoulders,” Ava said, already slipping off her apron. “You don’t have to make your offer twice to me.” She grabbed Patience’s hand. “Come on. We both have handsome men waiting for us. We’d be fools to be late.”
Patience nodded at Felicia. “Thank you. I’ll be right out front and I’ll save you a spot.”
“I’ll be there.”
Patience and her mother went out onto the sidewalk in front of the store. The crowd was already three people thick in places. The area directly in front of Brew-haha had been roped off so Patience would be able to see Lillie as she went by.
“Did I tell you Lillie wouldn’t let me see her bike this morning?” Patience asked. “She wants it to be a surprise.”
“I’m sure Justice and Steve helped her do a lovely job.”
Patience saw the anticipation in her mother’s eyes as she searched the crowd.
“He said he’d be on the corner by the fire station,” Ava murmured. “Oh, there he is.”
Patience touched her arm. “Mom, I’m really happy for you.”
Ava turned back to her. “Thank you. I’m happy, too.”
“Steve’s a nice guy and you’ve waited a long time for one of those to show up.” She hesitated. “I’m glad you let him get to know you, and I’m glad he’s in Lillie’s life.”
“Thank you for saying that. Steve made a lot of mistakes. I’m not saying he didn’t, but he’s learned. I believe he wants to be different now.”
“He already is.”
They hugged, and then Ava excused herself. Isabel strolled up, a couple of cookies in her hand. She passed one over to Patience.
“Chocolate chip,” Isabel said, then took a bite.
Patience inhaled the sweet scent of chocolate and felt the warmth through the napkin. “Are these fresh out of the oven?”
Isabel nodded as she chewed. “Over there.” She pointed to the crowded park where dozens of vendors had set up booths. “It’s impossible to move by the booths, what with everyone buying food, but it’s worth it. This town.” She shook her head.
“What?” Patience asked.
“It’s horrible. It sucks you in with its niceness. All friendly and caring, like they want people to stay.”
Patience laughed. “You’d prefer a town that was hostile?”
“No, but I don’t want to like it here.”
“Because you don’t want to stay.”
“Right. But people are stopping in the bridal shop to say hi and make me feel welcome.”
“The bastards!”
Isabel laughed. “I get your point. I shouldn’t complain that I like where I’m living. But I want to be clear. I don’t care how good the cookies are—I’m not staying.”
“Which is too bad. I’d like having you stick around.”
Isabel sighed. “I’d like that part, too. It’s been fun to go to lunch and hang out. But I have a plan and it’s not going to happen here.”
Patience smiled. “Not even for Ford Hendrix?”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “He was so fifteen years ago. I’m completely over him.”
“You say that now, but you haven’t seen him. What if there’s chemistry?”
“There won’t be. Too much time has passed. We’re different people.”
Patience didn’t say anything, but she was less sure. She hadn’t seen Justice in fifteen years, and there had still been plenty of chemistry between them.
Noelle joined them, a large dish of ice cream in her hands. “I never thought I would say this out loud, but OMG! Have you tried the ice cream? It’s the most delicious thing ever.”
“No way,” Isabel said. “The cookies are spectacular.”
“As if.” Noelle held out a plastic spoon with some ice cream on it.
Isabel broke off a piece of cookie and handed it over. They each tasted the other’s offering, and then both moaned.
“That’s better,” Isabel said, pointing to the ice cream. “I didn’t think it was possible, but it is.”
“No, yours is better,” Noelle said.
They stared at each other for a second, then exchanged treats.
“So good,” Isabel said, scooping ice cream.
“You’re both weird,” Patience said. “And blonde. As a natural brunette, I’m offended by that.”
“She might be a natural blonde,” Isabel told her friend. “I pay to have my hair this color. I was thinking of going red, but then I saw Felicia and frankly she’s too beautiful. I don’t want to compete.”
Noelle smiled smugly. “I am a natural blonde. My mother and grandmother were, as well.”
“And you’re pretty,” Isabel said with a sigh. “Why do I like you?”
Patience laughed.
“Is Lillie in the parade?” Isabel asked.
“Yes, she has her bike all decorated. She’s riding with her friends. Apparently they’ve been working on a little routine together.”
Isabel finished her ice cream. “Kids were one of the perks of marriage I was really looking forward to.” She glanced at Noelle. “Did you know I’m recently divorced?”
Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)
Susan Mallery's books
- A Christmas Bride
- Just One Kiss
- Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)
- Almost Perfect (Fool's Gold #2)
- Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)
- Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)
- Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)
- Only Yours (Fool's Gold #5)
- Only His (Fool's Gold #6)
- Only Us (Fool's Gold #6.1)
- Almost Summer (Fool's Gold #6.2)