Back in the kitchen, she fiddled with the flowers in one of her grandmother’s milk glass vases on the island, stepping back to admire the recently cut blooms from her garden. Grandma Kay’s glass collection was substantial, and while Nora appreciated their simple beauty behind the doors of the display hutch, she knew that beauty was meant to be shared. Her clients had insisted that a weekly fresh bouquet—complete with decorative vase—was going above and beyond, but Nora was just happy to give her flowers a place to shine.
A clean house and a cheery bouquet were enough to make anyone’s day brighter.
Collecting her check from the counter, she folded and slipped it into her pocket before locking the door and heading out.
With the air conditioner on full blast, she let the cool air whip around her face and dry the sweat in her hairline. Today was going to be a scorcher. She’d already polished off her bottle of water and could use something else to cool her down. With a flip of her wrist, she spoke into her watch, shooting off a voice text to April and Tillie.
Almost instantly, the two replied.
April was in, Tillie was out.
Almost in unison with the text, Nora’s phone rang. She pressed the button on her car’s dash and Tillie’s voice infiltrated the air.
“Sorry I can’t meet for milkshakes,” she started right in. “Howie’s got a big delivery of tile coming in any minute and I’m the only one on the schedule who can operate the forklift. Catch you next time?”
“Absolutely. It was last minute, anyway,” Nora offered with a shrug, even though her friend couldn’t see it. “Do I dare ask how things are going with Travis?”
“They’re not going and they never will be.”
“Got it.”
A loud beep of a truck backing up cut Tillie off. “That’s the delivery guy. Gotta run. Love you, lady!”
“Right back at you.”
To her surprise, April was already standing outside the Campfire Café when Nora pulled up only minutes later. Nora’s work overalls and bandana headband were a stark contrast to April’s sunny dress, but she didn’t feel underdressed. It was expected that April would be in full-on fashionista mode. After all, she was a dressmaker, and the best way to advertise was to use her body as a billboard and wear the very pieces she created throughout town.
Today’s frock had a repeated pattern of calico cats, all with books balanced in their paws, some even adorned with reading glasses on their little noses. Nora honestly didn’t know where her friend found some of these unique fabrics.
“You look amazing,” she praised, and she stepped up onto the curb to kiss her friend on the cheek. “As always.”
“I call this one Kitten Librarian.”
“That’spurrfect.” Nora drew out the pun. “I’m glad you could meet on such short notice.” She held the door to the Café open and let April through first. “I’ve been craving something sweet all day.”
“I’ve been craving an excuse to get out of the shop, so win-win.”
A young girl with the nameKatiepinned to her blouse showed the two women to their table and passed off menus neither of them would need.
Nora always got the same thing: cookies and cream milkshake with extra cookie crumble.
April was plain vanilla. With creativity bursting at the seams in all other areas of her life, she always kept her food preferences simple.
“Anything new with Neighbor Grumpy Pants?” April tucked a lock of her fire-engine red hair behind her ear and leaned onto her elbows. “He’s not still bothering you, is he?”
“If you call blasting country music at 6:30 in the morning not bothering me, then no, he’s not at all.”
“Are you serious?” April smiled her thanks to the server when she placed their milkshakes on the table between them moments later. She took the cherry on top and popped it into her mouth, twirling the stem mindlessly between her fingers. “He seriously has the gall to make noise that early? Some people can be so inconsiderate.”
Nora agreed, but it wasn’t like she could do anything about it. “My hands are tied. If I complain, that’ll just give him more reason to turn me in for my bees. I have a feeling I’m going to be biting my tongue so much these next six months, I might just bite it right off.” She jammed her straw into the frozen shake and picked up her spoon to fish out some of the cookie bits. “He totally has the upper hand here.”
“You’re allowed to keep bees on your property,” April asserted.
“Yeah, I know I am. But I’m more worried about getting in trouble for the things I’m not supposed to have. Like the master bathroom addition or the detached garage. I know Grandma Kay didn’t go through all the necessary channels when she had those things built.”
April shrugged. “Sure, but isn’t all of that grandfathered in? Or in your case, grandmothered?” she snickered through a smile.
“I don’t know, but I’m not willing to chance it.” Nora let the cool ice cream melt on her tongue and bring down her temperature. Talking about J.P. certainly got her heated. “I have to play nice, plain and simple.”
