Danny had a little information for him, "Julian and Rob had lots of fun going to a date."
"Aha. What else?" Rico pressed him.
"Rob said it was the bestest date," Danny said, and Julian shared a smile with Rob.
"What else did Rob say?" Rico asked and eyed Rob wickedly.
Blinking, Danny had to think hard about it. Then he came up with something. "Rob said, 'Hurry and brush your teeth.'"
Everyone laughed at that and Danny looked around, not understanding why.
"So where was this date?" Noreen asked.
"At the Stone Creek Inn," Julian said though he wasn't about to tell them much more than that.
"You reserved one of the private dining rooms, of course," Lara guessed.
"Something like that," Julian said evasively, reaching the limit of what he was willing to share.
"Something like that?" Rico repeated with a look of suspicion. "What did you get up to, you sneaky bastard?"
"Nothing you need to know about," Rob answered for him.
Seeing that the kids were milling around, Rico gave up. "I want all the dirty details later," he demanded in a low voice.
Julian promised him nothing.
Next they met up with Wyatt and Sam who were with two of Wyatt's guy friends from out of town. Yu and Stan became part of another round of introductions.
"I always show up for these festivals, and I always leave disappointed," Stan said. He was the chubby, very casually dressed one.
"He wants a procession of shirtless guys," Yu explained. He was trim and more stylish. They were a completely mismatched pair.
"Shirtless in this weather?" Rob said.
"That's the only issue you see? The weather?" Sam asked him.
"What?" Rob said with a shrug.
"See why I like him?" Wyatt said and clapped Rob on the back.
"Do you even need us any more?" Yu asked him.
"Of course I do. I love you guys," Wyatt told them.
"You're supposed to be the freshest of the fresh meat, and you two are already paired off. How does this always happen?" Stan asked as he eyed Rob and Julian disapprovingly.
"You're doomed to be disappointed," Yu told him with no sympathy whatsoever.
The whole time, Julian kept a close eye on his phone since he knew Mr. Upton was on his way. While the kids were debating what to do next, Julian got a text from Mr. Upton letting him know that he was over by the cranberry crafts booth. That wasn't very far. Leaving Danny and Rob to have fun with the others, Julian went ahead to meet him. He spotted Mr. Upton easily and that wavy, silver hair of his. He stood out in his expensive but casual outfit more appropriate for a champagne brunch, but he was smiling at what he saw around him.
Julian barely started greeting him, when he saw Mr. Upton's eyes light up and he stood a little straighter. Lara and her group had gotten his attention as they made their way over. All together like that, they were a sight, especially now that Lara's sister had joined them. She was the flashiest one of the group.
"I've heard in a small town like this, everyone knows everyone," Mr. Upton hinted.
Julian indulged him. "I'll introduce you."
"Yes, indeed, this is a lovely little town," Mr. Upton said right after he was introduced to Lara and all the girls she had gathered around her and her sister as well.
