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Janie nodded and followed the girl into the house. Rather than being assaulted by obnoxious colors and ugly carpet, she stepped into a comfortable, welcoming home. Newly finished pinewood floors gleamed. The walls had been painted a subdued gray, and the upper portion above the chair-rail panels had been papered with a subtle willow-leaf pattern. It felt calm and inviting.
“You all have done good work,” Janie said.
Gemma smiled. This time the expression seemed genuine. “It feels better in here, doesn’t it?”
“Bennett has a talent for this, it seems.”
“He says it’s only because he’s worked with designers so much over the years, and he has access to what’s trending now.” Gemma shrugged. “Don’t go into Nathan’s room though.” She shook herself, as if horrified. “It’s still the same as it was when we first came to look at the house.”
Janie chuckled. “Got it. I was wondering if Bennett’s mom was here? My mom said she thought she’d come to help make supper?”
“Oh! Yep. She’s in the kitchen.” Janie pointed to the wide arched opening that led into the dining room. The kitchen was separated from the rest of the house by a doorway off the left side of the dining room. Janie nodded. “It’s good to see you, Gemma. Thanks for your help with Hunter’s party—I think it went really well.”
Her stomach burned as she referenced that event. She’d have preferred to leave it out of her thoughts—but that would negate the whole reason she’d come to talk to Ms. Crofton. And it would be rude not to thank Gemma—the girl had been a tremendous help.
Gemma grinned wide. “It was fun. I hope I can help you again sometime.”
“I’ll count on you for that.” With that, Janie made her way toward the back of the house. Once at the kitchen door, she knocked and poked her head in.
Ms. Crofton stood at the gas stove, stirring a pot. With a slight startle, she turned and then welcomed Janie with a grin. “Hi there, Janie. I was lost in my head and didn’t hear you come in.”
“That happens.” Janie hugged her notebook as she stepped toward the counter. The kitchen was laid out galley-style, and there wasn’t much of a walkway down the stretch of workspace. She found a spot in the far corner and tucked herself out of the way.
“What brings you to us tonight?”
Janie cleared her throat and reached for her prescribed speech. “I’ve come to beg help from you.”
“Me?” Ms. Crofton’s surprise was understandable. They weren’t close, having only met the day Bennett moved into the Elliot house. Even so, Ms. Crofton had been staying with Janie’s mom this last week and a half while she looked for something suitable for herself. There was a connection there, even if it was new.
“Yes. Well, you see I’m going on a trip, and I’ll be gone for several weeks.” Her heart raced as she plowed into her speech. “I don’t want to close the café for that long, and though I know you’d like to establish a clinic of sorts here, I thought perhaps, while you’re still finding your feet in Luna, that maybe you would help me out.”
Ms. Crofton blinked. “With the café?”
“Right.”
“You want me to run your café while you’re backpacking?”
Oh. So even Ms. Crofton knew about that. Janie should have guessed that she would, as Bennett had been a witness to that whole humiliating scene, and Ms. Crofton had been somewhere at the party as well.
So much for hoping this would be a quiet wager. At this rate, the whole town was likely betting on it. Likely, against her.
A billow of indignation puffed up, causing Janie to stiffen her shoulders. “Only in the mornings, and I will make all of the rolls and casseroles ahead of time and freeze them. I have detailed notes . . .” She held out her notebook “And it might be a good way for you to get to know people in Luna. Everyone comes to the café. When it’s time to open your clinic, you’ll have already made connections.”
The back door thwapped shut, and Nathan crutched his way into the kitchen before Bennett ducked into the room behind him. “Oh. Hi, Janie. What brings you here?”
“She wants me to run her café while she’s gone.”
Nathan smirked. “This move is way more entertaining than I’d thought it would be.”
Bennett’s brows folded. “Homework, Nathan.”
The boy on crutches shrugged. “I’m betting on you, Janie.” He winked and then hobbled his way out of the kitchen.
You and no one else, kid.“Thanks, Nathan.”
After a short groan, Bennett held a long look on his mom, then turned to Janie. “You’re really going to do it?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
