“So, get me up to speed for the season, my dear,” Aunt Emma said.
“We’re going well!” Libby reported. “Hope’s is firing on all cylinders well in advance of the start of the busy season. We’ve got the mercantile going, and the upgrades at Arrow’s Gas station and the Two Lakes Grove Hotel are pretty much done. That’s a lot of what I promised. And what will be on the update to the town council.”
Siena knew Libby had pushed developers away from Irish Hills, and she’d also secured a grant for all the renovations in the very building they sat in, and the space Siena was renting. It was impressive. She could learn a lot from Libby, from all her new “aunts.”
But for now, they were right. She was starving.
Luckily, just then, Lila popped over, said hello, and put their lunch selections in front of them. Siena dug in.
“And this summer, we’ll be prepared for your country music superstar invasion. I won’t have to hawk my wares,” Aunt Emma said.
“No, you do not have to, though I do appreciate your work with the other seniors on the flowers. I think they make a big difference.”
Siena’s confusion must have registered on her face because Libby turned to explain the shorthand they all had with one another. “Aunt Emma sold bits and bobs last year in the mercantile space to get us started. And her senior living group planted all the flower baskets and the flowers in the town square.”
“They are very pretty,” Siena said.
“Thank you, dear,” Aunt Emma replied. “Now Libby, what about the Dance Pavilion? That was another promise we made.”
“Yes, so, to get you up to speed, Siena, our Dance Pavilion is historic. Back in the day, Brenda Lee, The Dorsey Brothers, Roy Orbison, and all of the big names performed in it. It was a roller-skating date night place when the Sandbar Sisters were tearing up the town,” Libby said.
“Very cool.”
“We just haven’t gotten to it yet, but we will. It’s on the way back. I just had to focus on the downtown first and then move out in circles, okay Aunt Emma?”
“So lazy, you’re just sitting around doing nothing,” Siena joked. These women had literally saved Irish Hills from the dust bin.
“Ladies, how are you all?”
A handsome man in a gorgeous suit that looked entirely out of place in the casual setting approached their table.
“Ugh, now I lost my appetite.”
“J.J.,” Libby scolded J.J.
“Sorry, sorry I forgot, he’s not our mortal enemy anymore. It’s hard to keep up.”
“Hello,” said the man to Siena, “I’m Stone Stirling, arch-nemesis of all things good and true in Irish Hills.”
Siena was confused, but she shook the well-manicured hand that was offered.
“Stone is that developer who we bested to keep Irish Hills local and weird.” J.J. had put a smile on her face. She did not like Stone Stirling. That was clear. But in Siena’s estimation, he was handsome as heck for an older man and seemed nice.
“Yes, these days I’m just a lake homeowner, enjoying the work Libby has done. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong in my entire life. On that, I’m wondering if I could talk to you about an idea,” Stone asked.
“I’m pretty booked.”
“I’m at your service, whenever you have a free hour. Enjoy your lunches.” Stone walked over to the counter and took a seat.
“Wow, he’s handsome,” Siena said.
“Wolf in billionaire’s clothing, that’s what I say,” J.J. muttered.
“Oh, J.J., we won,” Libby said. “He’s just another summer resident these days. One who likes us—well, me—and he’s better on our side than against it.”
“She knows Bono. She gets uppity about things,” J.J. said.
“Who knows, maybe he’ll turn into a townie after all,” Aunt Emma said.
