Page 61 of All Mine

That we were, but I didn’t trust it. There was always more to do. I began to clean up the snack table I’d put out.

“Oh, honey, keep your optimism,” Sloane said to my silence, rubbing my shoulder. “I know it’s been difficult after what Camden did.”

“It’s fine. It was only twice, so no big deal.” I gathered the few empty paper cups from the tables, stuffing them in a trash bag.

“Have you seen him since the town hall?”

“I do not want to talk about Camden.”

“Who’s Camden?” the voice behind me instantly recognizable.

I dropped the bag and whirled around to find my little sisters, Lacy and Lucy, beaming.

“You guys are home,” I squeal and scoop them together in a group hug where I was the valley between mountains. “I’ve missed you both.”

“What’s going on?” Lacy asked, her dark brown hair chopped off in a pixie cut. Lucy’s hair remained long and pulled back in a ponytail. All of our hair colors were the exact same shade.

The twins stepped back, glancing around the room at the others. They’d attracted attention and had to spend a few minutes on small talk about their college experience and how they’re happy to be back in town for the summer.

“It’s such a shame that your sister might lose this place,” Susan Delinsky lamented. “But, don’t worry, we’re all trying our best to get the votes.”

I didn’t miss their shocked expressions that said we’d discuss it further later. People slowly migrated out, and Sloane ushered the last of them out the door and locked up an hour later.

“So, you’re in danger of losing the bakery?” Lucy asked.

I gave them the abridged version of the situation while we finished tidying up. “And now we’re campaigning for the votes to keep Lewis from selling,” I said, as we hauled the trash and remaining baked goods down the steps to the kitchen.

“But, who’s Camden?” Lacy asked, following.

I’d hoped they’d forgotten about that part.

“Her lover,” Sloane sang.

“What?” the twins said in unison, eyebrow’s halfway up their foreheads.

“No,” I snapped. “He’s the commercial developer architect hired for the project.”

“And you’re involved with him?” Lacy asked, dividing up the leftovers from the meeting with Lucy.

“I am not involved with him. He only wanted to keep me from interfering with the sale, and when romancing me didn’t work, he left.”

“He left?” Lucy asked, stuffing a cookie in her mouth.

“We don’t know if he’s still in town or not,” Sloane said.

“I haven’t seen him since the town hall meeting two weeks ago. And more importantly, we have two weeks until the vote. I’ll need you two to join the cause now that you’re home.”

“Of course,” Lacy said. “And you’re sure that you wouldn’t be able to afford rent in the new building?”

I set the bread doughs out to rise overnight. “I don’t trust him. He lied to me from the beginning. If he said the sky was blue, I’d have to verify that.”

“The lady doth protest—” Lucy said, opening the fridge. “Where’s the booze?”

“I do not,” I snapped, ignoring the looks exchanged between the three of them. “The only thing I have is Jack Daniels from when I used it in a cupcake recipe.”

Lucy moved to the cupboard and found the bottle. She mixed the Jack with Coke from the soda fountain and passed out cups.

“Is he hot?” Lacy asked.

---