Page 52 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Really, really good,” Zoe said with way more enthusiasm than was needed. “Now shut up.”

“All right and I won’t tell, but if you want my opinion?—”

“Which I don’t.”

“Go have some fun with that man, girl.”

“I just told you why I can’t, even if I hadn’t accused him of sleeping with Betsy Regal, which he denied.”

“And now you believe him?”

“I don’t know,” Zoe wailed. “I seem to jump to conclusions around him.

“Betsy was the blond with the really nice rack who walked into Petticoat before we left?” Lil pointed to her chest.

“That’s the one. Look, Lil, can we shelve this for now? This town has ears everywhere, and I don’t want anyone connecting me and JD.”

“Gotcha,” her friend said. “Do you think the grapevine twist will happen today, Zoe?”

“I’m sure it will.”

They walked with some of the locals to the school. It was busy. Stalls and people were everywhere. The scent of cotton candy, hot dogs, and other food wafted to them.

“I love this,” Lil said, and Zoe could hear the excitement in her voice.

Pushing aside the train wreck that was this business with JD, Zoe looked around her. She saw the smiles on faces and kids weaving in and out of adults, and it brought back the memories of her years here.

“I won the cupcake baking competition one year,” Zoe said. “Rum and coconut flavored muffins. I thought the rum bottle held caramel, and seeing as it was in the kitchen, I measured some into the mix. The judges loved it, although Principal Hilton had a word with Mom about locking away the liquor in our house.”

“How old were you?” Lil asked.

“Nine.”

Her friend laughed at that.

“Is the entire town here?”

“Probably,” Zoe said, looking for her family. “Come on.”

They found Sawyer, Dan, Ally and Brody at the petting zoo with the goats, who seemed happy with all the attention.

She looked at the animals and wondered why JD had them.

“Aren’t they cute?” Ally said. She wore an orange jumpsuit with pink sandals today. Her hair was in a high ponytail and braided with colorful beads.

“Who did your hair, Ally?” Lil asked.

“Dad, he’s real good at that kind of thing.”

“Go, Dad,” Lil said, punching Brody in the arm.

“Don’t be sexist, Lil. Of course men can do hair,” he said with a wink.

“Hi, Dan.” Two girls waggled their fingers at him as they walked by.

“Hi, Dan,” Lil and Zoe mimicked.

“I forgot how annoying you are,” Dan said. “Both of you.” He glared at Lil, making her giggle.

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