“Easy for you to say. You’re not working with them.” Lila sighed again. “I know, I sound mean. But I can’t control them.”
“Of course you can’t. Not at their age. They’re going to do what they want.” He grinned. “Besides, they’re not imbeciles. They’re smart and wise. I had a good conversation with Grandma and Irene yesterday at Dunnigan’s,” he added.
“You were in Old Town yesterday?” Her eyes lit up. She loved Old Town and often spent her breaks sitting in one of the rocking chairs outside Dunnigan’s Mercantile, trying to imagine what Clear Creek was like in the late 1800s and getting around by horse and wagon every day.
“Yeah. Mr. Jensen talked with us too. It was a lot of fun. I’m surprised how much they know about the town.”
She made a face. “That reminds me, I never asked how long ago it was they said they’d lived here. That explains why none of us have ever seen them.”
“Yes, I know. As I recall, Irene said the sixties?”
“That makes sense,” Lila said. She looked at the cats and the customers enjoying them. Her shoulders slumped. “Well, I might as well give up. It is what it is.”
TJ chuckled. “You make it sound like a terrible thing. It’s not, Lila. Everything will work out. Tilly and Jack are going to be ecstatic when they get back and see the shop turning a profit.”
“I hope so.” She watched as customers passed them holding plates of pie. “I wonder if the pie’s any good,” she murmured.
“I don’t know, but I plan to find out.” He winked and headed for the counter. “Two slices of apple pie, please, Grandma.”
“Two?” Irene asked. “Are you being greedy?”
“Not at all. One for me, one for Lila. She needs to try it.”
“Oh, well then,” Grandma said with a wink. She plated two slices, added forks, and set them on the counter. TJ paid, grabbed coffees for each of them, and motioned toward a nearby table.
“Sit. Enjoy,” he said, taking the chair across from her.
“Well, fine.” Lila sat and stared at the pie. She took a bite… and her eyes went wide. “Oh, wow…”
“See?” TJ said. “I don’t think you have to worry about customers not liking the pie.”
She shook her head. “No, not at all.” She took another bite. “Goodness, this isgood.”
He gave her a lazy smile, then sampled his own. “It sure is. I’m going to have to get the recipe from Grandma.”
“You bake?” she asked in surprise.
“I do.”
Lila smiled and realized she’d very much like to get to know TJ Jones better.
Chapter Seven
Lila’s phone rang, pulling her attention from TJ. “Hello?”
“Lila! It’s Tilly! How’s it going?”
She glanced toward Grandma, still dazzling in rhinestone glasses, and Irene with her purple hair. “Um, the cats are here.”
“Oh, that’s great. My aunt said someone came to get them. Just take them to my aunt’s after you close, and they’ll be fine.”
“So, you don’t mind?” Lila asked.
“Not at all, so long as they’re not any trouble. I was calling because the head of the festival committee sent me a text. He needs to confirm where we want our booth this year and have you sign some things.”
Lila’s eyes widened, catching TJ’s attention. He frowned, but she waved him off. “Booth?”
“Yes, oh gosh, did I forget to tell you?”
