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“This is not funny, Ryan. This town relies on tourism, and this could be beneficial for all community members!” HRH snapped.
“S-Sorry.” He managed to control himself.
“Question,” Ethan said from the kitchen. “She’s a lawyer and surely understands that she has been outvoted. I’m not sure why you’re taking this when she’s in the wrong.”
The silence was deafening, and then they all spoke at once.
“It’s Millicent.”
“She’s cunning.”
“It’s Millicent. She can fight dirty but play fair.”
“She’d outmaneuver us.”
Ryan sighed. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but I’ll talk to her.”
They left then, fast. Almost as if they didn’t want to give him too long to think in case he’d change his mind.
“Well, hell,” he muttered, looking around the room at the empty plates and cups.
“That went well.”
“How do you figure that?”
Tex shrugged. “It felt like the right thing to say. Anyway, I should probably head off, or Annabelle will send out a search party. Thanks for the concert, coffee, and extra entertainment.”
“Not the cupcake?”
“The interior of the cupcake. You need to practice more on the frosting.”
“Of course. It’s my mission in life to please you, so I’ll get right on that.”
“I’d be grateful.”
Ryan watched him lope off down the steps and disappear into the bush. He then shook his head and decided that tomorrow was soon enough to think about what he’d say to his mother. Right now, he wanted to eat more lemon meringue pie.
Chapter 8
The Howler was filling up as the early dinner crowd arrived. A birthday party had booked a table and arrived early to start their celebrations. Faith was behind the bar with her brother.
“I’m getting too old for this,” Noah said. “That group in for the birthday are noisy and opinionated. I had to bite my tongue so many times, it’s raw.”
“I know. A few of them came up to the bar and started telling me how to make the cocktails.”
“Assholes.” He put an arm around her shoulders. “How’d it go with Mom today?”
“Every time I visit, she seems weaker and struggles to recognize me,” Faith said, pain twisting her insides.
“I know. She’s deteriorating before our eyes.” His voice was solemn.
“Here’s someone to make you smile,” Faith said as Lucy approached.
“Hey there, handsome.”
“Seriously? That shit has to be getting tired,” she teased them.
“Never.” Noah leaned across the bar and kissed his girl.
