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You damn well better.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket. “Looks like it’s a go.”
Dani jumped up and down. “Yes. Thank God. I’m so bored.” The tone of her voice ended with the dramatic flair that only an eight-year-old could provide.
“Go wild. Just make sure to bring something to protect surfaces if there’s painting.”
Dani’s ecstatic dancing brought Vee out. “What’s going on?”
“Guess we’re getting a craft corner tonight.”
“Oh. That sounds like fun. I’ll make paninis.”
At least I’d get fed. “Should I leave the café open while we’re working?”
“Nah.” Vee nudged my shoulder. “Let people be jealous.”
I liked money, but I was peopled out today, that was for damn sure. “Works for me.”
I went about doing my closing duties. Dealing with money, reports, and other sundry tallies always took a good chunk of my brain. It was easier then overthinking every-damn-thing going on next door.
Cleaning up soothed and evened me out. Putting my little world back together after hours full of chaos was secretly my favorite part of the day. The chattering between women faded to the background as my current riddle invaded my thoughts again.
Who was opening another Halloween-themed place in my town, dammit?
Something about the sign niggled at me. Like when I couldn’t name a character in a movie. It scratched at my brain. Unfortunately, there was no IMDB to help me with this particular quandary.
I tried an online search. I dug out a business license in process, but there was no name attached to it yet. Fucking annoying.
All the windows were blacked out with newspaper and black paper. To add insult to injury, that part of the street was too busy for me to figure out if there was a new car attached to the owner. There had been a new motorcycle spotted by a few of the customers doing their regular rounds of gossip. Unfortunately, there was always a new motorcycle in town since Tish did specialty designs for anything on wheels.
So, I was back to square one with the questions. I would figure it out.
No one would screw with my opening. No one.
I moved on to scrubbing the tables with renewed fervor.
By the time Kinleigh returned—this time, with another pregnant woman in tow—I was working on the last table in the dining area.
“Look who I found at Michael’s.”
Vee waddled across the room. “Oh, Ivy, what are you doing up and around?”
“I have weeks left still.” She rubbed circles along the side of her belly. “I’m going stir-crazy. Rory had to fly to California for one last recording session before the baby comes. I thought buying stickers for my planner would make me feel better.” She was hugging her journal to her chest like a life raft.
“Come on, let’s get you settled.”
Vee wasn’t much farther behind her to be honest, but she was in full mama bear mode.
Kinleigh dropped the huge sacks on the large work table that students sometimes used for papers and homework. Since summer was still technically in effect, this part of the café had been very empty for the last few weeks.
She also had a brown paper bag that interested me.
I wound my way around the tables to peer inside. “You brought some adult juice.”
“I did. I deserve it after today.”
“Make sure you fill my sippy cup too, Cinnamon.”
