Page 39 of Summer Swoon

“I can’t believe I’ll have the book early. Thank you so much!”

“You’re very welcome,” I said.

Max took a picture of Mona and me both on her phone and mine, and we continued on our way to Aunt Winnie’s booth.

“I feel like I’m with a celebrity.”

“I’m in shock,” I said. “I’ve never been recognized in public before.”

If I was surprised to be recognized, I was even more so when I saw Henry Corbin in Aunt Winnie’s booth. Nobyit, just visiting.Init, wrapping a painting in brown paper.

“Are Aunt Winnie and your grandfathertogether?”

“That’s a complicated question, but the simple answer is no.”

Before he could expand on that, we approached the booth and joined the crowd that surrounded it. Aunt Winnie may behippy-dippybut she’s also a shrewd businesswoman and when people find out she’s selling her paintings in person somewhere, they come out in droves.

She saw Max and me and excused herself from the people she was speaking with.

“I figured we’d stop by, say hi, and confirm dinner plans,” I said. “We had a couple ideas but didn’t really decide what we’re doing.”

“Henry is joining us so how about if we just meet you at The Rusty Skipper at six? Does that give you enough time at the music festival?”

She directed that question at Max. Which makes sense because I honestly have no idea.

“More than enough,” he said.

More people approached the table, a few of them pointed at Winnie.

“We’ll let you get back to your adoring fans,” I said. “See you at six.”

She gave both Max and me a kiss on the cheek and we both said goodbye to Henry before heading toward the exit. On the way out, I slowed and looked at every booth, fighting the urge to stop.

“You can stop if you want,” Max said.

“No, that’s fine. We’ve already been here longer than planned. I’ll come back before I leave to buy some things.”

He looked like he was going to say something but stopped when someone called his name.

* * *

Max

I lookedover to see Dex and Courtney approaching with the twins. Thank God. Eve has mentioned going home multiple times today and I was about to say something stupid like, “Maybe you should stay longer.”

Eventually I will say that, but like Pop always says, “There’s a time and a place for everything.” On the way out of the farmer’s market is neither of those.

I introduced Eve to Dex and Courtney.

“And those sleepy guys are Andrew and Aaron,” I said.

“They’re so adorable,” she said.

“We come here every week and plan the outing for nap time,” Courtney said.

“That’s smart.”

“Thankfully once they’re out, they’ll sleep through anything just like their father.”

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