Page 71 of When in Rome

As we approach the hardware shop, Phil and Todd are outside just as expected. One is sweeping, and the other is writing on the chalk signhammers 50% off!

“Looks pretty harmless to me,” Amelia says with a sassy lilt to her voice. I smirk and we continue walking.

Phil looks up from his task of sweeping and his eyes shift down to Amelia’s and my intertwined hands. He practically sparkles withexcitement. “Well, good morning, you two. Fine day we’re having, isn’tit?”

“Just dandy,” I say sarcastically, picking up our pace.

“Easy,” Amelia warns me in a whisper. “I didn’t wear the right shoes to run a marathon today.” I’ll pick her up and carry her over my shoulder if I have to. She sees me contemplating it as my gaze sweeps over her head to toe and she adds, “Don’t even think aboutit.”

Phil is trying to form a barrier with his body so we can’t get by. “Ah yes. Dandy is the word for it. The sun…it’s…” The closer we get, the more frantic Phil’s conversation becomes. And then, just before we pass him, the man takes his broom and holds it out like a gate. “Whoa, hold your horses there, youngins. Let’s talk a little. Shoot the breeze! What’s new?”

Amelia fills her naive lungs full of gossip-producing air that will make my life a living hell, so I speak before she can. “Thinking of adding a new pie to the menu.”

It’s clear by the look on Phil’s face that this is not the information he was after, but he’s not disinterested. He lifts a bushy brow. “Oh? What’s it gonnabe?”

“It’ll have a honey base. I’ll call it Mind Your Own Damn Beeswax.” Amelia stifles a laugh in her throat after my stoic delivery. Phil’s face drops into something reprimanding. I lift the broomstick handle like it’s a carriage door and gesture for Amelia to walk under beforeme.

“But…but…” Behind us Phil is sputtering, trying to stall us. “Wait! Have you seen the big sale we’re having? Tell him, Todd!”

Poor Todd. His voice shakes a little. “Right! There’s a sale. A big one. On hammers!”

Amelia looks up at me, her round puppy eyes telling me she’s wavering. “I have to go and buy a hammer. Ihave to,Noah. Just listen to them.”

I tighten my hold on her hand. “Stay strong. This is the least ofit.”

She sets her chin forward and keeps walking, but she’s not happy about it. Right before we make it to the next store, I take a sharp turn and steer us across the street.

“What are we doing now?” she asks, slightly out of breath. The urge to carry her surfaces again.

“Avoiding Harriet.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s scary, that’s why, and she’ll go on and on about your pond.”

“My p—Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

“For the best,” I say as we pass under another shop awning. The door behind us opens, the cheery bell chiming. “Shit,” I mumble. “Walk faster.”

“NOAH!” Oh man. That’s Gemma.

Amelia’s head tilts in preparation for looking behind her, but I step closer to her, meshing our shoulders together so she can’t. “Don’t look back. She’ll trap you with her eyes.”

Gemma raises her voice. “NOAH WALKER I KNOW YOU HEARME!”

“Who is that?” Amelia whispers.

“Gemma.”

Amelia expels a breath. “There’s so many busybodies in this town it’s getting difficult to keep them all straight.”

“She owns the quilting shop. She’s in cahoots with Harriet, though, so you can’t trust her.”

“Noah, you can’t just ignore her. That’s rude.”

“I’ll send her a free pie later. She’ll get overit.”

Amelia tucks her arm in mine as we cross the street again to get to the shop. “Such a surly grump.” She says it sweetly with a little nuzzle of her face against my outer arm.

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