Mom was the first to stick out her hand and shake his. “Nice to meet you, Edward. I’m Carol. Have you lived in Datefield long?”
He shook his head. “Almost two years. I’m from L.A. but the longer I’m here the more this feels like home.”
“I hope it will be the same for us. I inherited my aunt’s house here in town, and it’s quite the fixer-upper, but we’re going to make the best of it.”
Elinor stuck out her hand and shook his, interrupting her mom’s train of thought. “Nice to meet you, Edward.” Like Marianne, her mother was overly friendly with no filter, and this guy didn’t need to know their whole tragic life story in the breath of an introduction.
Greta tugged on Mom’s sleeve. Introductions were low priority to a ten-year-old who was about to win her first bowling match.
“Whose turn is it?” Edward asked, leaning around Mom to see Greta better.
Greta ducked her head. “My mom’s and then Marianne’s.”
Marianne smiled big. “Perfect. You two talk amongst yourselves while we bowl.” She took Mom’s arm and steered her away. Nothing obvious about that or anything.
“Will your friends miss you?” Elinor asked him. She hoped Marianne hadn’t been rude to the couple he’d been bowling with by stealing him away.
Edward glanced back. “Oh, no. They were happy to be rid of me. I was helping them write their will, and there’s only so much death talk people can handle before they just want to enjoy their night.”
Aha, the mystery was solved.
“But um, if I’m not welcome here either, I can let you get back to bowling.”
“No. Stay.” Elinor sat in the booth, leaving room for him to sit next to her. Marianne would kill her if she ran him off so soon. She already thought Elinor was incapable of flirting as it was.
The red leather seat made a loud, flatulent squeak when Edward sat down, and he froze, looking adorably embarrassed. “I’m not making the best impression on you, am I?”
Elinor didn’t want to admit she’d formed her impression several minutes ago with all their spying and speculating, so she just shrugged. “The jury’s still out.”
“Phew.” He wiped his forehead. “What do you think of Datefield so far?”
“Are we still making polite conversation, or do you want me to be honest?”
He grinned. “You hate the place that much, huh?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. We got here this morning and spent all day cleaning and making repairs to the house. But the people at the hardware store were nice. And this is the home of Date Night Soda. Five hundred signs on the way into town say the factory tour is a can’t-miss attraction.”
Edward’s jaw tightened a little bit, though he did give a slight chuckle. Shoot, had she hit a nerve?
“We are definitely known for our signature drink. Have you tried it?”
“I’m a little afraid to. Aren’t there lawsuits over what’s in it?”
“Those were settled out of court.” His eyes twinkled. “And it’s the only energy drink flavored with dates grown right here, in Datefield. Which makes it…”
“All natural?”
“Exactly. And healthy. Except for the gallons of sugar.”
“And the questionable stimulants.”
“Old formula.” He laughed. “It’s totally safe now. According to the lawyers.”
She must have imagined his discomfort from before. For a second there, she’d wondered if he was part-owner in the company or something. “But you like Datefield.”
“I do. Most people only see it as a stop for gas on the way to Vegas, but we have some pretty spots. And I like the quiet.”
“I do, too. I’m afraid Marianne won’t like it though.”
