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“Are you sure? You can both look back on it with a new adult perspective.”
“Give it up, kid. It’s never going to happen.”
Chapter five
"You're going to have to be really cool to out cool us."
Sage waited for Bill Harper to drive by with his loaded six-horse trailer before jogging across the street. She hadn’t been in the bakery since her father’s wedding. She had no idea whether Mr. Annoying was still in town. Between moving into her house, getting the garden ready for planting, and dealing with a rash of spring babies born in the barnyard, she hadn’t had time to keep up on the town gossip.
When she went through the door, she got her answer. Xander was behind the counter, patiently listening to Mrs. Butler expound on her husband’s recent health issues. When he saw Sage come in, he shot her a quick smile, then returned his attention to Mrs. Butler.
He pushed the pink box of pastries toward her. “I’m sure these muffins will make him feel a lot better.”
“I hope so.” She picked up her box. “Thank you, Xander.”
“My pleasure.”
When she turned, she spotted Sage. “Oh, hello dear. How’s your father and his new bride?”
“They’re doing great.”
Her father marrying a woman seventeen years younger than him was still a topic for the local gossipers.
“You give them my love.”
“Of course. I’ll do that.”
Mrs. Butler left and Sage went to the counter.
Xander smiled. “Hello there, Miss O’Connell.”
“Xander.” She glanced over her shoulder as Mrs. Butler left the bakery. “I wish everyone would just get over it already.”
“Get over what?”
She turned back to the counter. “My father’s new bride.”
“I thought you had accepted the situation.”
“I have. It’s everyone else in town who seems to be fascinated by it.”
“I’m pretty sure your acceptance is the only one your father and his wife are interested in.”
Sage smiled at him. “You’re right. And…you’re still here.”
“It would seem so.”
“That must’ve been some family emergency.”
“The emergency is past. But Aunt Betty decided to stay in Florida. Seems the weather is better for her arthritis.”
“She’s not coming back? What’s going to happen to the bakery?” It was a town staple. Sage couldn’t imagine what it’d be like to have it gone. The building would probably sit empty. A sad reminder of the baked goods no longer available in Castle Springs.
“Don’t look so sad. It’s not closing down. I bought it from her.”
That was surprising news, but not unpleasant news. “That’s interesting. Are you sure you can be happy here in our tiny town?”
“It’s growing on me.”
