Page 40 of Beaten

Meg glowed while she told me how much she loved it, especially working with Jack. Then she asked me what I do,so I told her about designing websites and managing social media accounts for businesses.

“That must require a lot of creativity? How do you know what to post?”

“I don’t manage content, what I do is behind the scenes. It’s a mix of number crunching and trend watching. The creative part is in designing their sites.”

“That’s so cool.”

Meg and I both looked at the door when the bell chimed and saw Jack walk in.That explains the two coffees. He nodded in our direction before sitting down with Doug. I looked at Meg with a raised eyebrow.

“Just in case.” Her answer was short and to the point.

I hate that this is my life right now.

“Jamie said you and your friend Ashley are joining us for the county fair?”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course, the more the merrier!” Her smile was contagious. “The guys have been a million times, but I’ve never been so I begged Jack to take me.”

“It’s a lot of fun, we used to go every year. Though I haven’t been in a few years.”

“Then I’m glad you can join us.” She looked over her shoulder towards Jack, before whispering behind her hand, “He thinks I’m crazy cause I can’t wait to feed the baby cows.”

It felt good to laugh.

I was about to ask Meg about her favorite books, because Jack and Jamie had mentioned we shared a love of reading,but I was interrupted by Mary’s voice cutting across the dining room.

“Jack. Doug. What a pleasant surprise.” She walked over and hugged Jack. When she pulled back, he pointed to us. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible for Mary’s smile to get any bigger, but it did.

“Emily Taylor, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” She crossed the dining room and pulled me out of the booth to give me a hug. It’d been a long time since I’d felt the love expressed in one of her mama bear hugs, and I relished it. I loved my mom, without question, and her hugs were food for my soul. But it never hurt to have more than one woman give you that kind of heartfelt hug.

“It’s good to see you too, Mrs. Sheppard.”

“Please, it’s Mary.” I looked to Meg and she nodded.

“I’m sorry, I’m interfering with your girl time.” She squeezed Meg’s hand. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

Meg and I made eye contact, and it amazed me that I could tell we both had the same idea. I nodded.

Meg suggested, “Why don’t you join us, if you’re not too busy.”

“Never too busy for family,” Mary said as she scooted in beside Meg. “How are you Emily?”

I figured she probably knew all about what was going on, since her husband and sons were hired to protect me, so I didn’t hide.

“Pretty good, but I’ll be glad when this whole mess is over.” I nodded in the general direction of Doug and Jack, who looked like two friends hanging out for a relaxing cupof afternoon coffee rather than two bodyguards poised to intercept an abusive ex-boyfriend.

“I can understand that. I don’t know what happened, but I hope for your sake it’s all resolved soon.” Mary’s reply shocked me. I assumed because Meg, and well, her whole family, knew that she would too. When I looked at Meg, she answered my unasked question with a smile. They really take their client confidentiality seriously.

“Thank you.” I picked up my coffee. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed your coffee Mrs. Shepp-Mary.” I corrected myself because her expression told I probably should.

“Three generations of Winchester women thank you.” Mary had inherited the coffee shop from her grandmother. It would’ve have passed to her mother, but she died before Grannie. Before that, this place had been a run down saloon, which explained the décor.

Just then a woman with a Grannie’s apron came around the counter and started wiping down tables. Mary called her over, “Beth, have you met Emily Taylor, Anne and Chris’s daughter?”

She transferred the wet cloth to her left hand before wiping her right hand on her apron and reaching out to shake my hand. “I don’t believe I have. But I’ve heard so much about you.” My heart jumped to my throat.Does everyone know what happened?“You’re the spitting image of your mother. She gushes about you so much, I feel as if I know you.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t realize my mom was still close with Mary, or friends with Beth. Beth stayed and talked to us fora few minutes before returning to work. Mary stayed a few minutes longer before she too returned to work.

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