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“Shamelessly.” They’d made progress today, but she suspected he was still a long way from welcoming her into the family with open arms. “So, can you do it?”
“Absolutely. When do you need it by?”
“Saturday, please.” Faith scooted over and hugged her. “Thanks so much. I love you.” The customers came over and Faith stood to address the woman. “What can I get you, sugar?”
“Feijoa and ginger, please,” she said. “Two scoops.”
“No problem. Coming right up.” She rolled the ice cream into a cone and propped it in one of the holders before turning to the guy. “And how about you?”
“I’ll just have hokey pokey.”
“A classic.” Faith prepared it and took their payment. By this time, Mikayla’s phone call had ended, and the Talbot sisters left The Shack. Faith grabbed her phone and Googled children’s birthday parties, interested to find out what she could expect come the following weekend. She was scrolling down the second page of search results when the door swung open and Betty and Mavis—two of her regulars—entered.
“Hi, hot stuff,” Faith called, fanning herself. “Did it get warm in here, or is it just you?”
Betty preened, stroking her fluffy white hair, while Mavis just rolled her eyes. The old grump. Faith adored them.
“Faith-girl,” Mavis said, as she tended to. Faith was pretty sure Mavis actually believed that to be her name. “Don’t you worry—that child-abandoning charlatan, Diana Monroe, has nothing on you, and everyone worth anything sees through her.” Trust Mavis to get straight to the point and to say exactly what Faith needed to hear.
“Thank you. That’s very sweet of you.”
“It’s not sweet,” she grumbled. “It’s true.”
“I know.” Faith hopped off her stool and kissed Mavis’s cheek, then Betty’s.
“The Bridge Club have been discussing a campaign to run her out of town,” Betty said. “We’ve come up with several ideas, and all you need to do is say the word. We’ll send her running back to L.A. like the coward she is.”
Chewing on her lower lip, Faith considered their offer. It was tempting. Especially when she knew how effective the Bridge Club could be when they rallied for a cause. But while Diana leaving might be good for Faith, it may not be the best thing for Shane’s family.
“Thanks for the offer.” She sighed, scarcely able to believe what she was about to say. “You’d better not, though. It’s good for the boys if she’s nearby.”
Mavis scoffed. “She’d gladly accept our help if the situations were reversed.”
A fact that only made Faith more certain of her decision. She didn’t want to stoop to Diana’s level. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I have it under control.”
Betty’s eyes narrowed. “If you’re sure....”
“I am.”
The older woman’s face fell. “And here I was, looking forward to giving that awful woman a piece of my mind.” She looked so dejected that Faith had to laugh.
“By all means, do so. But don’t do it on my account, and don’t go starting any crusades.”
Betty nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Mavis said, never one to beat around the bush. “That woman is a snake.”
“Yes, but she’s a snake who’s the mother of my boyfriend’s children. Now, can I get you ladies any ice cream?”
Betty requested a red velvet, and Mavis asked for mint chocolate. Faith served them, and then returned to studying her cell phone. Except this time, she turned her mind to Christmas. It wasn’t far off now. What would she get for Shane as a gift?
Oooh, she had lots of ideas about that. She grinned to herself. Most of them involved tiny silk outfits and alone time.
