The trio hurried over to the window. Oma, who was closest to them, jumped and put a hand on her chest. “You girls scared me to death!”
“Shh.” Dorothy pointed to the open window. “Be quiet or they’ll hear us.”
“What are you doing here?” Reva asked.
Betty smirked. “Likely, the same as you three.”
“We heard from Nicola that Whit’s girlfriend is in town,” Oma explained, her voice low and conspiratorial. “We’re concerned for Lila and came to check out the situation.”
“All right, ladies, let’s join forces,” Capri said, leaning into the open window. The others followed suit, curiosity burning in their eyes.
Inside, they spotted Candy Faye. “Whit, calm down,” she said, her voice sweet but tinged with frustration. “I’m just here to get my phone. I must’ve left it when I was here.”
The women crowded closer and stood on tippy toes, peering inside.
Candy Faye batted her eyes. “But, while I’m here, I think?—”
Whit’s voice was firm, unwavering. “You shouldn’t have come here, Candy. I told you in Texas, what we had was over.”
Candy Faye pouted, stepping closer to Whit and using her assets to full effect.
Oma snorted. “What a hussy.”
“Shh,” Dorothy repeated.
“Come on, Whit,” Candy Faye whined. “Can’t we talk about this? I love you. We were good together.”
The women outside watched with bated breath as Whit took a step back, shaking his head. “No, Candy Faye. This conversation is over. Get your phone and go.”
A throat cleared behind them and they all jumped. Without warning, Oma punched the intruder in the chest.
Fleet Southcott, the town cop, looked at her over the top of his sunglasses.
Oma covered her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry, Fleet. It was an instant reflex.”
“Shh!” Dorothy held her finger to her mouth.
Fleet turned his over-the-sunglasses look to Dorothy. “Did you just shush me?”
“Sorry, Fleet. But they’re going to hear us,” Dorothy warned in a loud whisper.
“What are you ladies doing?” he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and exasperation.
Capri straightened up, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Just a little community watch, Fleet,” she whispered. “Making sure everything is in order.”
Fleet raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but not entirely unsympathetic. “Well, I suggest you stop peering into windows and move along before you have to explain yourselves to the new vet.”
As they reluctantly pulled away from the window, Capri couldn’t resist a final glance back, hoping Whit continued to stand his ground once they were gone. “I guess we’ve heard enough,” she said, linking arms with Reva and Charlie Grace. “Come on, ladies. We’ll stay close by, just in case Miss Candy Faye Hutchison doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Fleet chuckled, shaking his head as he watched the group disperse. “In this town, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
26
Lila woke to the insistent beeping of her alarm clock, the red numbers flashing 8:30 AM. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, feeling the weight of sleepless hours pressing down on her. Camille had already left for school, leaving the house eerily quiet.
Lila sighed and swung her legs over the side of the bed, wincing as her bare feet touched the cold floor. She’d been up all night, her mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions.
Whit Calloway had a girlfriend. The words echoed in her mind, a bitter reminder of how foolish she'd been. She’d only known Whit for a short time, yet she’d let herself get carried away, opening her heart to a man she barely knew. What had she been thinking? She had no business entertaining feelings for someone so soon after meeting.
