“You nailed it,” he said dryly, then almost smiled.
We left and headed for the truck.
“Did you find Mason?” I asked.
“No, Wentworth needed help with a feed bag.” I laughed.
From the feed store, we headed to the county building—a squat brick structure with old personality. The air inside smelled like toner, coffee, and the ghost of a thousand signatures.
I handed my folder across the counter to the clerk, who stamped it with the enthusiasm of a sloth. “Processing time’s two business days,” she said, sliding a pink copy back toward me.
“Perfect, thank you!” I said brightly, pretending her lack of spirit didn’t dim mine.
As we turned to leave, the front door swung open, and Levi strolled in, a grin already in place. His firefighter tee was streaked with sawdust, and he carried that easy confidence that made the whole room feel smaller.
“Milly! Austin!” he called. “Didn’t expect to see you two inside this paper maze.”
“Permit drop-off,” I said. “Vet clinic round two.”
Levi’s grin widened. “Ah, the legend continues. You’re doing Founders’ Day too, right? You’d better—half the town’s pets have already penciled you in.”
Austin crossed his arms, expression unreadable. “We’ll see.”
Levi shot him a look that somehow managed to be both teasing and knowing. “You two planning to make an appearance at Mason’s cookout Friday? Burgers, bad jokes, and the possibility of him falling asleep in a lawn chair.”
“Depends, who’s grilling?” I said.
Austin looked at me, then back at Levi, and nodded.
Levi snorted. “Always the soldier.”
“Always,” Austin agreed, but there was humor behind it now—shared history in that single word.
Outside, the heat hit us full force, the air shimmering over the blacktop. I tucked the pink permit copy into my planner, satisfied. “See? That was easy. No chaos.”
“Yet,” Austin said.
I looked over, and sure enough, the corner of his mouth tugged upward just a little.
Ethel’s Diner shimmered with noon heat, the door chime tingling as I pushed it open. The air inside smelled of coffee, fried onions, the low hum of conversation, and the jukebox in the corner stuck halfway through a 90s country song.
“Be right with you, hon,” Ethel called from behind the counter, towel slung over one shoulder. Her silver hair caught the light like spun sugar.
Austin had gone back to the feed store to find Mason, promising to swing back in a few minutes and order him a BLT with fries and a Coke.
I slid onto a counter stool and ordered “two specials, extra bacon,” then turned to wave at Levi and Cassie, tucked in the corner booth. Levi looked happy with his arm around Cassie’s shoulder, Cassie picking fries off his plate one at a time.
“Milly,” Levi said with a grin. “Are you ready for Founders’ Day?”
“Not until I recover from paperwork shock,” I said, smiling. “The county forms nearly broke my will to live.”
Cassie laughed. “Sue already signed you up for vet services.”
“I heard.” Remembering the text from Sue yesterday before she tried to bribe me with lemons and a recipe for lemonade this morning. “I just need the paperwork squared away first. And Dr. Wilson’s blessing.”
“Doc will more than bless you for doing it. He’s been trying to retire for years. Trouble is, town’s only got one vet, until now.” Ethel winked. “Hint, hint.” She added, setting a mug of sweet tea in front of me. “Ever thought of opening your own clinic?”
Her words faded into the background as the bell over the door jingled. A small, unremarkable sound—except the air in the diner shifted when it did. A man stepped in, shoulders slumped, a grease-stained cap shadowing his eyes. His gaze scanned the room once, then fixed on me.
