Winniereallyminded.
Britt hesitated a moment longer, but then followed Whit’s lead. It reallywasjust like middle school.
“So,” Winnie said politely. She could get this back on track… which she meant over with quickly. “What brings you to Magnolia Shore?”
The two women exchanged a look full of scorn.
“Our moms wanted to do a little girls’ trip this summer,” Britt said, sounding highly critical of what sounded, to Winnie, like a really nice idea. “Which, okay,fine, except they wanted to comehere.”
The disdain in her voice was clear. She didn’t even bother lowering her voice, even though the diner was more than halffull of Magnolia Shore locals. Tourists came into the diner sometimes, but it was still a pretty reliable local haunt.
“Well, it’s a great place for a trip,” Winnie said. She refused to get drawn into their nonsense. Sherefused. “The beaches are beautiful, and there’s some great local shops, and an art gallery?—”
“Oh my gosh, I wouldneverbuy art here,” Whit interrupted with a scoff. “Like, what would I even find? Some old lady’s doodle of a seashell?” She rolled her eyes expansively. “No, honey, we live inBoston. You know, where there isculture?”
Winnie liked Boston. It was a city that was rife with history, which was an obvious draw for her. Plus, there were great restaurants.
But just then, she hated Boston, just a little, if only for the misdeed of giving these two horrible snobs a reason to dismiss Winnie’s beloved Magnolia Shore.
“Well, you could always check out some of the local eateries,” she said, forcing brightness into her tone. “There’s tons of great seafood, of course, given how close we are to the ocean.”
Perhaps detecting that Winnie didn’t plan to play along, either by being cowed or by snapping back, Britt and Whit tuned her out and began speaking only to one another.
“Can you evenimaginewhat it must be like living in a place like this?” Whit asked, shuddering with horror. “I would die of boredom in a minute.”
“It really takes a certain kind of person to be happy stuck in a limiting little place like this one,” Britt agreed, pity and false sympathy dripping from her tone. “But I guesssomepeople can get used to anything.”
“I guess so,” Whit said. She turned on Winnie, looking like a shark that scented blood in the water. “But I gather that you must be so proud of that little historical society of yours, huh, Win? That’ssoperfect for you.”
Winniewasproud of the historical society, thank you very much, but she knew better than to fall into a trap like the one that Whit was setting.
“I hope you enjoyed the tour the other day,” she said in the same voice she used on the difficult patrons who wanted to prove that they obviously knew more about history than Winnie. They never did, and yet she was never allowed to tell them so.
“Oh, our moms made us do that,” Britt said, tossing her hair.
Use your customer service smile, Winnie reminded herself.
“Well, I hope your moms liked it, then,” she said.
Whit propped her elbow on the table, then leaned forward conspiratorially.
“You weresopassionate talking about those dirty old sticks,” she said. “It totally took me back. You always were way more interested in dusty books and people who had been dead for hundreds of years rather than real people.” She laughed lightly. “I remember thinking that you would never notice that boys even existed, let along get a boyfriend of your own.” She smiled poisonously. “Speaking of, are you still single, sweetie? I notice you’re not wearing a ring.”
She fluttered her own ring finger, which sported an enormous rock.
“My husband is adoctor,” she said. “And Britt here married a lawyer.”
“But he’s totally going to be a judge and not even an old one,” Britt added. “He’s justthatimportant.”
“And we each have twobeautifulchildren,” Whit trilled, then pasted on a falsely sympathetic frown. “But not you, huh?”
Winnie gritted her teeth into an approximation of a smile.
“You know,” she said, “things are going well for me, thanks.”
Britt and Whit exchanged a look. Winnie knew how she had sounded. That was code foryeah, I’m super single, but please go away.
“Well,” Britt said, her voice dripping condescension. “At least you’ve made peace with it, sweetie. It’ssogood to be able to accept your lot in life, no matter what circumstances those might end up being.”
