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Lucy followed her into the kitchen area. She pointed to a barstool next to a worktop with a large blob of dough in the center.
"Sit there while I fix you up a box of goodies and you tell me all about it."
Lucy sat but picked at her nails. "What's to tell? Just man trouble. No big deal."
Maryanne snorted. "If it has you in tears, it must be a big deal."
Lucy sighed and put her hand on her chin. "Not really. I'm in love with a guy, but his girlfriend died last summer. It's too soon for him to let her go. He's still grieving. So I either have to wait or move on."
Maryanne set a to go box down on the counter beside her, then circled the worktop to dig her hands into the dough.
She kneaded it and said, "That sucks. I was in love with my husband for years before he finally came around and saw the light." She laughed, and Lucy smiled.
They chatted for a few more minutes, then Lucy tried to pay.
"Oh, no need for that. These were just going to be tossed or go to the police station tomorrow."
Lucy frowned. "The police station?"
Maryanne nodded. "Yeah, my husband is the sheriff."
Lucy nodded, "Oh, ok. That makes sense. My grandma Helen married Ray, the old sheriff."
They chatted a few minutes more, then Lucy took the box back to work. She didn't realize it until she said it, but she did need to decide whether she was going to wait or move on.
She grabbed the broom and opened the door to the salon. Katie and her aunt Kat were alone now. They both owned the salon and worked there.
The older Kat crossed her arms and sat in a clean chair. "So, who was on the phone, dear?"
Lucy smiled too brightly and held up the pastry box. "I ran into Maryanne. She sends her regards."
Kat grinned and held out her hand for the box, so Lucy handed it over. Katie leaned against the counter and tilted her head. "Oh no you don't. You won't get away that easily. Spill the tea."
Lucy laughed and started to sweep again. "It was just an ex."
Could she even call Mason that? She wasn't sure that they'd ever decided what they were.
Katie frowned. "Do we need to go beat him up?"
Lucy chuckled, "No, it was a mutual break-up. He got a job promotion and was excited, so he called to tell me about it."
"Aw, that's kind of sweet that y'all are still friends," Kat said between bites of donut.
Lucy swept and thought about it. They were friends, but she wasn't sure that she could ever just hang out with him. She already dreaded the Fourth of July.
Chapter 41
From spring break through the end of the school year, Lucy kept busy at work and in town. She made new friends at yoga on Thursdays, joined Helen and Ray's church, and went to Sunday dinners at their house. At nights, she worked on her book, diving in with a determination that helped take her mind off missing Mason.
At the end of May, she, Helen, and Ray loaded up and headed to Denton for Taylor's graduation. Taylor squealed as she found them in the crowd after the ceremony.
"Oh my God, I'm so glad you're here," she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Lucy hugged her tight. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. You're my sister from another mister, remember?"
They'd gotten together more often since she'd come back from Hawaii in February, but not as often as they both wanted.
Helen hugged Taylor next. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you."
