Bruce hasn’t ended up in jail yet, so I’m going to assume it’s fine that people just round their bills up or down to the nearest dollar and leave the money lying around if Bruce is too busy in the kitchen to collect it. Which he always is.
Could he hire help? Sure. Does he sometimes during the summer when the high school kids are out of school? Sure. But he also lets them off work for everything from a shopping trip with friends to “it’s a great fishin’ day!”. So it’s just easier for everyone to assume there is no extra help, get their own soda, tea, and water refills, gather up their dishes and take them into the kitchen when they’re finished with their meals, and pay on the honor system.
“No event,” I say, feeling my cheeks get pink.
“Oh, good,” Jesse says. “We’re supposed to play cards with Greg and Donna. Though obviously, we’d all come to whatever you had going on.”
“I know. I appreciate that,” I tell her sincerely.
Jesse, her husband Brad, and Greg and Donna are regulars at all of my Parks and Rec events. Movie nights, sand volleyball tournaments, craft fairs, and a multitude of clubs. They even come to the Turtle Derby—yes, it includes turtle races, but also a costume contest, and a lettuce eating contest—the Pumpkin Parade where everyone who has grown pumpkins or other gourds gets to show them off to the town, and the FutureChart Toppers music concert, where the kids in town ages five and under play “instruments” including homemade maracas, xylophones that are glasses filled with water, and yes, of course, drums.
That last one is a true test of people’s support and dedication, but we always have great attendance.
“You just don’t wear dresses unless it’s a Parks and Rec event,” Jesse goes on. Then her eyes widen. “Do you have a date?”
Suddenly, the entire café quiets and turns toward us.
Thea actually chokes on a laugh and a drink of soda, and Andi smirks.
Everly leans in with mock interest. “Yes, Nora, whyareyou wearing a dress?”
“I just threw it on,” I say with a shrug. “Didn’t really look at what I was grabbing. It’s so hot today, and I spent the day all dirty. Just wanted something besides overalls.”
Andi’s grin is wide, and Everly looks positively delighted.
“So your day washotanddirty,” Ev says. “Tell us more.”
“Muriel and Patty,” I say. I give the room a smile. “Need I say more?”
There’s laughter and nodding, and people start to turn away as they realize there’s no gossip about my love life forthcoming.
Jesse is smiling. “Muriel and Patty got into it?”
“At gardening club,” I say. “There was mud.”
She chuckles. “Say no more.” She gives me a fond smile. “You look lovely, though. My nephew in Shreveport is still single. If you want to?—”
“Thanks,” I cut in. “But I’m good. You know I want someone who will livehere.”
She does know that. Everyone knows that. And they support me in that. Everyone wants me to stay here, too. It’s not my ego talking when I say that I help this town run.
So when you’re ‘dating’ Alex they’re all going to assume he’s staying and then when he leaves they’ll hate him all over again.
That bugs me. Not just misleading everyone about Alex’s commitment to the town, but the idea of them being upset for me—again—and hating a guy who is truly only here to help us out.
“Of course. He’s in real estate. I think we could convince him,” Jesse says.
But it’s a risk. He’s not from here. He doesn’t love this town like I do.
I shut my thoughts down as they start to spin. Good lord, it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to date Jesse’s nephew.
“Thanks, Jesse. I’ll…let you know?”
She looks thrilled with even that much. “Of course.”
She heads out the door, and I blow out a breath.
“You’ve got to quit giving people false hope that you’re going to marry into their families,” Everly says, clearly amused as she lifts her glass of lemonade.
