The request drew Alice’s attention, and she half listened to Wynn and Dorothy’s conversation.
Wynn cocked her head. “Like, on a date?”
“Yes, a date, silly.” Dorothy shoved Wynn’s shoulder. “Oh my gosh, if we got married—you and I could be sisters-in-law. Well …” Her face fell. “Sort of. I mean, I guess you’re not really a part of the family anymore now that Thatcher is gone.”
Alice bristled. “She’s as much a Westbrook as I am.” She narrowed her eyes and dared Dorothy to claim otherwise.
“Well, what if she remarries?” Dorothy twisted her fingers.
“There’s more to family than bloodlines or last names.” Alice bit her lip. Thatcher was older than her, but he’d always treated her like she was something. He’d said hello to her at school and around town. He even stood up for her and Dean one Halloween when a bully tried to steal their candy.
Wynn’s shoulders relaxed, and she mouthed the wordsthank you.
Alice attempted a smile, feeling like she’d overstepped by butting into their conversation. She nodded and gathered her things looking around for the clipboard. If she didn’t bring it back full of signatures, Lillian would have her head.
“Hey!” Stacy bounded up the aisle. “I heard there was going to be a movie star here.”
“What? I totally missed that part of the meeting.”
“It was more of a rumor than anything.” Stacy tapped the book in Alice’s arm. “Where’d you get the tome?”
“Russ,” answered Alice.
“Oh.” She fluffed her hair and spun in a small circle. “So when do you think is Mr. Handsome will show up?” Stacy craned her neck to see around the older woman in front of them.
“Russ isn’t coming,” replied Alice as she brushed her hand over the rough-cut pages ofThe Three Musketeers.
Stacy cackled. “I was talking about the movie star guy.” She shoved Alice’s shoulder. “But since you’re blushing so bad, I’m going to ask you about Russ.”
“Shhhh!” Alice put her hand over Stacy’s mouth. She checked the people around them, but no one seemed to be listening in. “People here know him.”
Stacy rolled her eyes as Alice removed her hand. Leaning in, she asked, “I take it things went well yesterday?”
“Umm.” Alice stalled. “We had a moment.”
She grabbed Alice’s free hand, crushing her fingers with excitement. “Like a kissing moment?”
“More like a supercharged, hardly able to breathe,almostkissing moment.”
Stacy nodded her head in slow motion. “It’s a start. Why don’t you—”
Whatever advice Stacy was about to dish out was cut off by Grandma Westbrook. “Alice—sweetie! You look beautiful.” Grandma’s brown slacks and pastel-blue sweater were accompanied by a simple strand of pearls and a delicate gold watch. She held herself with poise that defied the slight osteoporotic stoop in her shoulders.
“Thanks, Grandma. You do too.” Alice fell into her grandmother’s embrace. She smelled like chocolate, which was totally normal for her. She’d started a chocolate shop on Main Street eons ago. Her daughter, Michelle, had taken over running it—added coffee and espressos and changed the name to Choco-Latte. They still hand-dipped the chocolates in the kitchen off Michelle’s house several times a week.
“I saw your announcement. Did you get the job at the library?”
Inside, Alice wilted. Grandma Westbrook was the only person who’d taken an interest in her education. She’d given her the money for her first semester—said it was a worthy investment. When Alice had had to drop out of full-time classes and work to support herself, Grandma had insisted she enroll in a night class. “I don’t graduate until next May, Grandma.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Grandma touched her forehead as if she had a headache.
“Are you okay?”
She blinked and dropped her hand. “I’m fine, sweetie. I saw your announcement.”
Alice exchanged a look with Stacy. “You already said that, Grandma.”
Grandma’s eyebrows came together. “I did?”
