His eyebrows shot up. “Doing what?”
“I’m a bridesmaid and the photographer,” she said. “Which means I’ll need someone to take the photos I’m actually in.”
His whole face brightened. “Seriously? I’d love to.”
She smiled. He’d been talking about photography for months. She’d tried to nudge him toward classes, toward thinking about it seriously, but he always shrugged it off and took business classes.
“I’ve been thinking of adding a minor at college,” he added.
“Please tell me it’s photography?” she asked.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Yeah. I mean, why not?”
“Good,” May said warmly. “You should.”
Energy emanated from him. “I’ll round up my buddies and make sure everybody’s free Friday.” Then he turned to Amka. “We’re not charging you.”
“Oh no,” Amka protested immediately. “You have to.”
He shook his head fast. “No. This can be our gift. The whole town’s coming, right?”
“I think so,” Amka said with a laugh. “And thank you.”
He grinned. “You bet. I’ve never picked flowers before.”
“You’ll survive,” Daisy said.
He headed back toward the counter where a couple of other young men were demolishing wings and talking boisterously.
“Nice kid,” Daisy said.
“Yeah,” May murmured. “He really is.”
For a moment she let herself just sit there and take it in. Friends planning, kids helping out, and a town that showed up when it mattered. The knot of worry about Ace still pressed at her ribs, but it felt less isolating sitting with her friends. Whatever happened in court, whatever pressure came from outside, she wasn’t standing alone.
“Did I hear there’s a town wedding?” Mick Thompson appeared at the edge of their booth so suddenly May jumped.
“Where did you come from?” she asked.
He jerked his thumb toward the back booth. “Down the way. My brothers and I are taking a break from fishing. So, a wedding?”
“Yes,” Amka said easily. “I’m getting married. The whole town’s invited.”
“Are you still going to be here Saturday?” May asked.
His eyes twinkled. “We leave Sunday. That gives me four more days to convince you to go out with me, Doc.”
“Oh, she’s taken,” Amka said, smiling.
“Maybe, but I don’t see a ring on that finger.” Mick winked and sauntered back toward his brothers.
Daisy turned to watch him go. “Tourists sure get pushy, don’t they?”
Ophelia’s gaze followed him a beat longer than necessary.
May remembered Brock and Olly’s plans. “Hey, did you follow the flannel-wearing Thompson brothers the other night?”
“Yeah,” Ophelia answered. “They didn’t do anything interesting. We ran their backgrounds too. I hate to admit it, but I’m not finding anything.”
