“Yeah, good luck things,” Poppy reiterates. “And she has pretty bracelets. Mom said I can spend my money however I want.”
“We do have to get veggies for dinner this week first.”
“Please not broccoli,” Poppy whines.
“Come with me and you can pick what we get.”
The light changes as we head toward the town square where the market is held.
“You know, some things haven’t changed,” Kade says. “This all looks the same as it did when I was last here.”
“Be careful.” I smile over at him. “They’ll still chat your ear off.”
Poppy skips ahead of us. It seems everyone in town is here. I smile and wave to my usual customers. Say hi to Poppy’s teacher and her husband. Poppy pets all the dogs she sees aswe head to our first stop of the day, where our daughter is elbow deep in a basket of carrots, talking with the vendor.
“Hey, Presley.”
“Hey, Vilma. How’s it going today?”
“Better now that my two favorite customers are here.” She gives me a big, toothy smile before turning her attention to the man next to me. “Kade Miller as I live and breathe. I heard you were back in town. How are you?”
“Doing well. It’s good to see you, Vilma,” Kade says, giving her a peck on the cheek. “Glad to see Vilma’s Veggies is still up and running.”
“Only place to get a good vegetable anywhere in town.”
“Don’t let Mr. Moore hear you!” Poppy chimes in, arms stuffed with carrots and zucchini.
“I’ll worry about him,” Vilma says. “Is this all for you?”
“Throw in a few tomatoes as well,” I say.
“Vilma, do you sell to local businesses?” Kade asks.
“Sure do. Why?”
“Any interest in talking to me about supplying the ranch? Our chef was complaining the other day about the quality of produce and I’m thinking I might need to make a change.”
Her eyes light up. “I’d love to help you out. Why don’t I swing by Monday morning and we can talk.”
“Sounds good.” He passes over a twenty for our vegetables before I know what he’s doing. “I’ll see you then.”
“Kade. You cannot buy our vegetables,” I scold, taking the bag from Vilma and waving goodbye.
“I can do what I want.”
I shake my head at him. “Then you have to come over for dinner so I can make something for you.”
He tips up his cowboy hat, staring down at me. A promise is written in those brown eyes of his. “Twist my arm, Pres.”
Glancing around to make sure Poppy isn’t nearby—she’s already moved on to the next stall—I hook a finger intoKade’s jacket and pull him close, giving him a quick peck. “Consider it a date, Bubs.”
He beams back at me as he pulls back and walks to where Poppy is.
“Look. I bought Kade and I bracelets,” Poppy says as I walk up to them. “They have horses. Like Lollipop.”
“This is a bracelet?” he asks, looking at the flat, plastic slap bracelet.
“Yeah. You do it like this.” Poppy hits it on her wrist and it wraps around. “They’re fun.”
