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Janice Shoaf smiles up at Alex. "Hello, dear. I'm Janice." She holds her hand out and Alex puts hers in it.
"I'm Alex," she says.
"You must be new in town," Janice continues, not letting go of Alex's hand. "Sit down and tell us all about yourself. We've all known Caleb since he was a baby."
"He was the cutest baby," Mrs. Murphy says. "Always happy and smiling."
"Yeah, not like Boone," Carol Burns adds with a shudder. "She had a stubborn streak even back then."
"Hard to believe she's running a wedding business, but just goes to show you that people can change," Janice says.
I'm tempted to argue about whether Boone's changed any but Alex is looking a bit anxious and her hand is still firmly in Janice’s grip.
There's a buzzing and Alex says, "Oh, excuse me, I seem to have a message." She extracts herself from Janice’s hold then pulls out her phone and flips it open.
"Oh, I've got that same phone," Mrs. Murphy says, pulling an ancient flip phone from her pocket. "I just love it. My daughter got it for me. Look how big the buttons are."
The others at the table examine her phone and compare theirs. "Mine's a Ladybug. Unlimited text messages," says Carol and the others seem impressed.
Alex clears her throat and says, "Boone and Nicco will be here in five minutes."
"Nicco?" All three women perk up suddenly over that and the phone discussion ends.
"Sounds exotic," Janice says.
A waitress appears with their check but Carol Burns waves her away. "I think we're going to stay a bit longer," she says. "Since we're staying, I'd like a slice of lemon meringue pie and some more coffee."
The other two join in and order pie. I take the opportunity to slip away with Alex to the table where Julie has placed our menus.
We exchange a glance as we sit down. "Friendly place," she says.
"It really is," I reply. "They're nosy but protective. Everyone in town is."
"Yeah, Lissy told me about how the whole town rallied around for her camp last summer." Alex shakes her head. "I didn't think places like this actually existed."
"I didn't think anyone like you actually existed." I squeeze her hand and she blushes prettily.
* * *
ALEX
Boone and Nicco finally arrive and we place our orders.
I can't help but notice the interest the ladies next to us have in the four of us. I'm used to having fans interrupt my meals and so I rarely eat in a restaurant, but other than a few curious glances, no one seems to give us much thought other than that Boone and Caleb are here with members of the opposite sex.
"I don't know why everyone is staring at us like that. You'd think we never went anywhere with anyone but family." Boone takes a particular stab at the country fried steak on her plate, swishing it through gravy and mashed potatoes before popping it into her mouth.
"I guess you don't date much, huh?" Nicco says and I grab his leg under the table and give it a squeeze. He seems to love baiting Boone.
"This isn't a date." She looks at Caleb and me. "Well, maybe it is for them, but I'm only here to make sure you don't act like a jerk and make a scene."
"Funny, that's why I thought I was coming. To keep you from making a scene." Nicco spears up some broccoli and eats it. "I don't think I've seen you eat anything green since I've met you," he says to Boone.
"What I eat, who I date—or don't—none of it is any of your business." Boone wipes the remnants of her lunch with a homemade dinner roll and pops it into her mouth. "You're not saying I'm fat are you?"
Nicco's gaze rolls over Boone's body so suggestively that I feel a little uncomfortable. "Oh, no. I'd never say that."
Caleb just shakes his head.
