From me.
Chapter
twenty-six
Nikki stuck her head into Britt’s kitchen at Sweet Art near midday on Monday. “Maddie tells me there’s a ripple in the force field of your romance with Zander Ford.”
Perhaps if she ignored Nikki, the older woman would go away.
“And that you’re really crabby because of it,” Nikki added.
“Maddie!” Britt called. “Please escort your ambassador out of my kitchen!”
“Maddie’s not going to rescue you, honey.”
Britt continued cleaning the inside of her refrigerator. The sound of scrubbing joined the sound of conversation from the shop floor and the wheeze of the espresso machine.
“Come outside with me,” Nikki said.
“No.”
“It’s a beautiful day, and I want to talk to you about the ripple in the force field.”
“No.”
“If I have to announce to all your customers that you’re glum because you had a fight with your boyfriend and then publicly invent juicy stories about each and every one of Zander’s tattoos, I will.”
“That’s not nice.”
“Don’t mess with me, little Bradford.” Nikki gave her a challengingglare, which was, frankly, impressive. Nikki had on a long tangerine shirt and leggings. That, along with her sprayed bangs and heavy makeup, made her look like a 1980s’ roller derby champion who wouldn’t hesitate to elbow competitors to the rink floor.
“Fine.” Britt slipped off her chef’s coat and followed Nikki outdoors to one of the benches facing the large, smooth stretch of lawn at the heart of Merryweather Historical Village.
The early June weather was acting like an unloved child putting on its best behavior in a last-ditch attempt to win the love of a parent. Sunlight fell over them. Children played on the grass. Britt acknowledged these things with all the emotion of a scientist jotting down lab results.
Ordinarily, she relished fabulous weather. Ordinarily, she exercised every day. Ordinarily, she was pleasantly obsessed with chocolate. Ordinarily, she cooked at home. Ordinarily, she liked her life.
But not since Friday night and her exchange with Zander at the fire pit. Since then, she’d been despondent.
After he’d left, she’d returned to her cottage. She’d slept horribly. Spent most of Saturday on her sofa in her pajamas watching episodes ofOnce Upon a Time. Slept horribly. On Sunday she’d attended church, then spent time with her sisters. Paced her cottage. Slept horribly.
She’d believed she’d improve if left to her own devices. On the contrary, she’d continued to deteriorate mentally, physically, and emotionally. Her well-being was tumbling away from her, beyond her reach. Making matters worse—her conviction that she’d wounded Zander, which was exactly what she’d set outnotto do.
“I’m meeting Clint here for our first official date in just a minute,” Nikki announced. “Which is why I stopped by Sweet Art. He’s taking me to lunch, so I thought I’d buy some chocolate so I can treat him to dessert. Of course, as far as I’m concerned, heisthe dessert.” She guffawed. Intimidating roller derby Nikki had seemingly departed in search of the nearest happy hour.
“I’m not convinced that your romantic bliss over Clint is the medicine I need at this particular moment.”
“Thank you for bringing Clint around, by the way. I knew you could convince him to date me. My faith in you was not misplaced.”
Both women watched a toddler run by, shrieking with laughter.
“Zander is a gorgeous man,” Nikki declared. “If I could eat him up like a topping on a sundae, I would.”
“You think all men are gorgeous.”
“I think gorgeous men are gorgeous,” she corrected. “You’d be a world-class fool to let that man slip though your fingers. Now tell me what went wrong so Auntie Nikki can repair it.”
“Did Nora tell you what happened on Thursday? The painting and the abduction and all of that?”
