“Lila, dear, how are things going?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, her mother stood before her. “Mom… Dad was by earlier.”
“Yes, I know. He wouldn’t wait for me while I was using the restroom in the hotel. The traitor. But that’s all right.” She scanned the booth. “So, is TJ around? I thought he was helping you.”
“He went to look at some of the booths and check out the hotel. He’ll be back.”
“Wonderful.” Margaret Comfort grinned. Always a bad sign. “So, how do you like working with him?”
“He’s simply volunteering, Mother. Nothing more. He’s a big help.”
“He’s handsome.”
“Yeah,” Lila said. “And your point is…?”
“Oh, come now, dear. When was the last time you had a date?”
“A date? Mom, I’mnotdating him, and he hasn’t asked. Besides, there are a dozen reasons that would be a bad idea.”
Margaret laughed. “Lila, I’ve heard about the way he looks at you.”
“What?! From who?”
“Why, Cyrus Van Cleet, of course.”
“Cyrus?” Lila rolled her eyes and poured her mother a cup of coffee.
“He told me TJ gives you looks of admiration.”
Lila groaned. “Well, that’s a polite way of putting it. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to ask me out. And even if he did, we’d have one date, and then he’d be back in England. Where would that leave me?”
“Oh, come now. As hard as his mother’s trying to talk him into staying in the States, the least you could do is go on one date. Who knows when she’ll succeed? But mark my words, she will. Eleanor Jones excels at guilt.”
Lila squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, for heaven’s sake. Have you and Eleanor been talking?”
“Well… maybe just a little,” Margaret admitted.
“Oh, come on, Mom!”
Margaret giggled, took a sip of coffee, and deftly changed the subject. “Look at those pies! Don’t they look good? What kinds do you have?”
Lila knew she was changing the subject on purpose and that was just as well. She didn’t want to talk about TJ anymore. With her luck, he’d show up right in the middle of the conversation. Gads, how embarrassing would that be?
She rattled off what pies were left and was surprised when her mother bought two. After paying, she left to return to the hotel and put the pies in her car.
Lila poured herself a cup of coffee, added sugar and cream, and stood smiling at passersby. She thought about the day so far, and how lonely she felt. Was it because TJ wasn’t at the booth, or because she was simply lonely in general?
When TJ returned, he handed her a white paper bag. “Our lunch,” he announced. “Two turkey sandwiches on rye.”
“Thanks. You bought these at the hotel, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I ran into your mother, and she said they were your favorite.”
“I do love a good turkey on rye.” She stepped to the side to reach the bag, and their arms brushed. A tingle went up her spin at the contact.
“This is fun,” he said. After lunch, do you want to look around the other booths? I’ll handle things here. Which reminds me…” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small box. “I saw this at a booth down the way, a woman who makes jewelry. Here.” He handed it to her.
“What is it?”
