“Is that whatyoudid?” she asked, a hopeful gleam in her eye.
Justine hedged before answering. It’s what she’d told Gramps she’d done. “I know that’s how a lot people meet. But for me?” Her heart raced as she considered doing what she was about to do. She leaned in a few inches more, far over the pay pad, and took her voice down to a whisper.
“Your dad pesters you about dating. My granddad did the same thing. It got so bad that I snapped and…and told a lie.”
Becky’s eyes widened.
“I said I was engaged. Butjustto get him off my back for a while. I figured I could say we broke up down the line and all would be well. I swore him to secrecy but…”
“But this is a small town, and thereareno secrets,” Becky finished for her.
“Exactly. So you and I—we’re in the same boat. ExceptI’vegot a sticky situation to get myself out of, and you don’t.” She gave her a wink.
Becky giggled. “Well, despite what I said about living in a small town, your secret reallyissafe with me.”
“Thank you.” Justine had known that much or she’d have never told her.
Becky straightened up and put a smile on her face. It was then she realized a recent change she’d made.
“Hey,” she said, “your hair used to be naturally curly like mine. What did you do to get it so smooth and tame?”
Becky straightened and grinned. “I got a straight perm,” she said. “But if my natural curl looked like yours, I never would have done it. Yours has always been so pretty.”
Justine reached up and grabbed a handful of blonde locks. “I guess ifwildequals pretty…” she said with a laugh.
“In your case it does,” Becky assured. “How’s the autumn festival coming?”
Justine straightened as a blend of excitement and anxiety rushed in. “It’s coming along really well,” she said. “We’ve got the lodge all set up and ready for the vendors. In fact, I can give you an advance schedule of the weekend’s events if you’d like.”
“I’d love that,” Becky said.
Justine reached into her bag—a twill piece she’d picked up at last year’s art auction—and retrieved a copy of the schedule.
Becky grinned as she took it from her. “Your total’s seventeen fifty, by the way,” she added.
Justine inserted her bankcard and eyed the program from across the way.
“Oh, good,” Becky said while scanning over the schedule. “You’re letting the ladies do the ax throwing event this year. That’s cool.”
She nodded. “After several requests, yes.”
Becky’s face got dreamy as she scanned over it some more. “I wonder if Brittany and Trevor are going to win Pie Princess and Pie Prince.”
Probably.But Justine didn’t like to think about it. “Maybeyou’llbe the princess this year. Have you considered entering?”
Becky only shook her head. “I’m too shy. I hate that kind of attention.”
“I know what you mean,” Justine admitted. “But maybe that’s the reason girls like Brittany always win. No one else bothers entering.”
Becky’s smile widened. “I guess you’re right.” She snatched up the receipt once it was printed and handed it over. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, Becky. See you this weekend.” With that, she snatched the bags of groceries in her fists and headed toward the exit. Justine got four steps away from the checkout when something caught her eye. Something bright orange, sneaky, and huddled up to the magazine stand near Becky’s checkout station.
Brittany!
A knot of nausea rolled through Justine’s gut as the woman flipped the page of a tabloid. Her eyes drifted from the magazine and shot straight to Justine, proving the woman was very aware of her. A small, cruel-looking smile pulled at one side of her lips before she flapped the magazine closed with a yawn and placed it back in the stand.
Looking satisfied then, the woman curled the glitter-covered tips of her fingers around her cart and strode away.
