“Unless she’s deaf, it’s highly likely she did.” The man didn’t seem particularly worried that he was surely only a few seconds away from being injured or sliced apart with a scathing reply. In fact, he was smiling, a gentle one directed at the fuming woman.
Love, Lani had realized long ago, made fools of sane people. Not that she knew if they were sane, but still.
“Are you Lani?”
She didn’t ask how the woman knew her identity, just nodded and hoped that whoever ran this place made an appearance soon so she could get her coffee and a muffin, then leave.
“I thought so. Bran said you have dark blue eyes and really smooth skin. She does, don’t you think, Ethan?”
The man leaned in and looked at Lani. She dug her toes into her boots to keep from backing up a step.
“She does. Hello, we’re the Geldermans.” The man held out his hand, and Lani shook it. “This firebrand is the love of my life, Annabelle, and I’m Ethan.”
“I want a chocolate muffin and he’s trying to stop me.”
“Not sure I’d want to get in the way of woman in her condition wanting anything.” Lani went for honesty.
“The problem here, Lani, is that she’s always telling me not to let her eat bad stuff. Personally, I don’t have an issue with it. I say go for it if you want a quart of ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, but in her saner moments she’s all about being healthy,” the Texan said.
“He’s right.” Annabelle sighed, opening the cabinet and taking out the muffin. “Today is not one of those days where I’m experiencing sanity, however.”
“What are you two doing here again? Should I maybe just put in a bed so you can sleep over?” A man walked out wearing a black apron. His hair was cut short, and he had wide shoulders and a scowl.
“This is the owner of this fine establishment. Buster Griffin, say hello to Lani,” the Texan said.
“Hi. I suppose you want coffee too? You have the look of a person who needs it.”
“I would like some, please.” What did she look like? Glancing down the legs of her worn baggy jeans, she thought maybe she looked scruffy, but then she didn’t really take much notice of her appearance anymore. Once, she’d spent hours in front of the mirror and used her daddy’s credit card to go shopping.
“Coffee to go, thank you, and one of those muffins.” Lani pointed to the one Annabelle Gelderman appeared to be inhaling with a ferocity Lani reserved for peanut butter.
“I’ll make the coffee, you get the muffin.” Buster Griffin walked away.
“He’s really a good guy, it’s just the facade that’s about as friendly as a grizzly,” Annabelle said, licking the caramel out of the center of the muffin now.
“What is that about?” Lanie pointed to a sign that said mystery muffin.
“You get the ingredients right, you get a free muffin and coffee,” Annabelle said.
“I’ve never seen that before.”
“And likely never will again,” Ethan Gelderman said. “Buster likes to be different.”
Lani took out the muffin with tongs because it was clear no one else was getting it for her, and put it in a bag. She then moved away from the counter and wandered around the cafe while the Texan and his pregnant wife debated her eating a second muffin. Annabelle suggested she go for a cookie instead, as it was smaller.
Stopping before a black-and-white sketch on the wall, she saw a group of people who were all standing around laughing. She recognized the Geldermans, and the couple from last night. Jake and Branna McBride. Buster was there, as were Noah and another girl. Looking closer, Lani thought there may be a similarity there and remembered him mentioning that he had a twin sister.
“My wife draws those.” A coffee appeared before her.
“They’re amazing. She’s incredibly talented.”
“She is,” the man she now knew as Buster said. The words weren’t overly demonstrative, but there was something in his tone that spoke of his pride.
“Thank you for my coffee. I’ll come up and pay for it and the muffin.” Taking the cup, she took a sip and sighed.
“Good?”
“Really good, thank you.”
