Page 50 of Love You
Foster moved closer and whispered, “Who’s your source?”
“Just stuff I overheard at the office. But Deb would know more, or even Hannah.”
The person behind the counter called Foster’s number. Before putting in his order, he said, “See you at book club tomorrow night?”
She didn’t know what he was talking about because as far as she knew she hadn’t been invited to anyone’s book club. But to save them both from embarrassment she nodded.
By midday, she was jonesing for chocolate and ran over to Oh Fudge! The candy shop, an old Victorian storefront, was near the boardwalk on Main Street. In summer, the ornate screen door swung open and closed all day long by customers. Black and white stripes painted the walls and a harlequin pattern in the same color scheme covered the floor. Little lace curtains on the windows fluttered in the breeze. The jewel box of a place reminded Darcy of a dollhouse.
The homemade chocolates, truffles, and fudge were just as pretty. And they were more addictive than heroin. Darcy tried to avoid the place the same way she did all other things that were bad for her but sometimes she needed a fix.
The two customers ahead of her were deep in conversation about the brawl at Old Glory.
“I hear it was over a love triangle,” said a woman who was a dead ringer for Magda in the movieThere’s Something About Mary. Tan and leathery.
“The EMTs took one of them away in an ambulance,” her sidekick added, sounding a little too delighted.
Darcy kept a low profile behind the nuts and chews, not wanting to be pulled into the discussion. That was the thing about living in a small town, it was very inclusive.
When her turn came, she got a half pound of fudge and bumped into Hannah on her way back to the office.
“You coming to book club at my house tomorrow?”
“Uh, I didn’t know I was invited.”
“You didn’t get the e-mail? Huh, that’s odd. I sent it to your GA address.”
Hannah had always been friendly to Darcy but this was the first time she’d ever invited her to anything. It made her feel like she belonged. She’d grown up in Reno and even though she’d been in Glory Junction for a year, she still felt like an outsider.
“It might’ve gone to spam.” Or Darcy might’ve missed it; she’d look again.
“Well, anyway, it’s at my house at seven.”
“Uh, okay. But I doubt I’ve read the book.” Her current reading material wasHow to Get Ahead at Your Job.
Hannah laughed. “No worries, we never get around to talking about it anyway. But in case you’re interested it’s Trevor Noah’sBorn a Crime.”
“Should I bring something?” Darcy didn’t even know where Hannah lived but she’d get the address from Josh.
“Just yourself and your appetite. Foster’s making enchiladas.”
“Thanks for the invite,” Darcy said. Nana was always telling her to be more outgoing, so here was her chance.
She brought the chocolate back to GA and left it in the kitchenette to share. While the Garners were fond of their doughnuts, it turned out chocolate not so much. So she nibbled on it herself, making the afternoon pass much more quickly thanks to her sugar rush. When the big hand landed on six she began to gather up her stuff. A million times during the day, she went back and forth on whether she should stop by Win’s. Half the time she told herself it was the neighborly thing to do—check to make sure he had everything he needed. The rest of the time she reminded herself that Win wasn’t the type to lack for sympathetic company. Besides, she didn’t trust their newfound friendship, or whatever it was. A little voice in her head told her there was something fishy about it. And the last time she ignored her gut, she’d wound up married to Lewis.
She did enjoy Win a hell of a lot more than Lewis, though. She enjoyed their sparring. And she had definitely enjoyed their makeup session. And as perfect as Win was he didn’t seem to judge her for being . . . a lot less than perfect. Which except for Nana was a first.
She’d made up her mind to make a pit stop at his apartment. Just five minutes, she told herself, and wrapped the leftover fudge in plastic to bring as a get-well offering. Normally, she wouldn’t bring someone used chocolate but Win didn’t strike her as too picky.
Darcy was just preparing to leave when she got a call from Nana, which completely blew up her plans.
* * *
Darcy’s father was waiting when she got to her grandmother’s cottage. He looked funny on Nana’s chintz couch, his masculine Gary Cooper looks at odds with the tiny cabbage rose fabric and his long legs jammed against the antique coffee table. Both her parents were tall. It was a mystery how she’d topped out at only five-two.
“Hi, Dad.”
Deep in thought, he hadn’t heard her come in and jumped at the sound of her voice. He took her in without saying a word, then patted the spot next to him. “Come sit next to your old man.”
