Riley gaped. Where to even start with all that? “Lenore. I’m going to assume that you mean well.”
“Because I do! I really do.”
“Okay, then, I’ll just say honestly, with no hard feelings whatsoever, that you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Fine.” Lenore threw up both hands. “Whatever. Be unhappy if you want to. Sheesh. No matter what I say, it’s wrong.” And then she paused. They stared at each other for one of the most awkward moments in the history of uncomfortable encounters. Finally, Lenore sighed. “But okay. I might possibly have veered out of my own lane a tad. I do that now and then.”
Riley tried a wobbly smile. “It’s okay, honestly—and, uh, how about you? You doing all right?”
“What can I tell you? I’m working on it, thanks.”
“Good to hear. I mean that.”
“And I need to…” Lenore waved a hand in no particular direction. “You know, head on over to the produce aisle…”
“All right then.” Riley pasted on her brightest smile. “See you later.”
Lenore set off. Riley let her get out of sight before wheeling her cart around and heading in the opposite direction.
All the rest of that day and into the evening, she considered calling Josh. It seemed like the right thing, to keep him in the loop about her weird encounter with his ex.
But then she’d have to tell him the things Lenore had said. And…no.
Just no.
When she turned down his marriage proposal, he’d gone radio silent for almost two weeks. And then two weeks more had passed before things had started to feel comfortable between them again. Now they were in a pretty good place with each other.
She couldn’t bear to rock the boat with him. Not right now. And telling him that Lenore thought Riley was in love with him and ought to ask him to marry her…
Well, that would just be digging up all the stuff she’d hoped they’d put behind them.
And since she couldn’t make herself talk to Josh about it, she called Macy for advice. Unfortunately Macy was having one of those days. She hadn’t even made it to work. Justin was teething and Ana had stayed home from school with a stomach bug.
“Frackelton’s Deli for lunch on Wednesday?” Macy offered as Justin wailed in her arms.
“You’re on. Need a hand with anything?”
“Thanks, but I’m okay…” Justin wailed louder. “Gotta go. See you Wednesday at noon.”
* * *
“So what’s going on?” Macy asked two days later after they’d settled at a small table in a cozy back corner of the deli-style restaurant.
Riley sipped her excellent decaf flat white. “I had a moment with Lenore in the grocery store. It was weird. Very weird—not bad really. Just completely unexpected. And now I should tell Josh, and I know it. But I can’t bring myself to do it.”
Macy ate a sweet potato fry and then said, “I’m going to need more information than that.”
“Okay…”
“Start with what Lenore actually said to you.”
With a groan, Riley told all.
When she was finished, Macy said, “You’re right. Weird but not bad.” She leaned closer and spoke very softly. “I might have to revise my negative opinion of Lenore.”
“Yeah. I think she’s working stuff out for herself, and that’s great. Why she had to share her opinion that Josh and I should get married, well, I have no idea about that. But my question is, should I tell Josh what happened?”
“Yeah. You should.” And then Macy frowned. “Okay, so. That look on your face…?”
