She cuts herself short and says, “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t be gossiping. Trevor’s convinced we can turn the tide and stop that habit from carrying into future generations.”
I just nod. But Laura says, “What’s a small town without a little juicy gossip now and then?”
“I just think we should get our news from the source,” Trevor says.
“Spoken like the journalist you are,” Laura says. “And as the owner of the town hair salon, I beg to differ.”
Trevor bends to put the bag of kettle corn in the basket under Poppy’s stroller.
Lexi gives me a shy wave when what I really want are more details about whatever EJ said about my boys.
I wave back. “Enjoy the popcorn.”
“We always do,” Trevor says. “I wait a whole year for this stuff.”
He turns Poppy’s stroller and waits for Lexi to catch up with him. I watch as they stroll away together. Not only do they look like the perfect little family, they are one. And I love that for them.
Laura looks over at me. “The things we consider high points around here.” She shakes her head. “Waiting all year for kettle corn.”
“It is good popcorn,” I say.
“True,” Laura says, grabbing a handful out of the bowl we keep on a side table just for the two of us to munch on throughout our shift.
Shannon shows up. “Hey! How’s it going?”
“Getting busier,” Laura says. “Put on that apron and some of those plastic gloves and get ready to serve the people of Bordeaux.”
“I’m ready!” Shannon says, grabbing the apron and tying it on.
The crowd continues to grow. Lines extend out from all the food booths, including the frozen lemonade stand next to us and the one serving funnel cakes two booths over.
EJ stops by. He literally jogs up to the booth, leans over the table and places a kiss on my cheek. Then, as quickly as he appeared, he’s telling me, “Can’t stay. I’ve got to prep the grill for the corn.”
“Have fun,” I say.
My cheek hums where his lips touched me.
“I’ll call you later,” he says, walking backwards away from the booth and then pivoting and jogging toward the roasted corn booth.
Alicia Stonebrook approaches us with her mom. “Hey girls! We’ll each take a large bag.”
“She’ll end up coming over to my house to eat half of mine anyway,” Mrs. Stonebrook says.
“Mama!” Alicia says in mock offense. “I’ll only eat a quarter at the most.”
They burst into a peal of shared laughter while Shannon grabs two large plastic bags of popcorn off the side table and Laura rings them up.
“I just saw EJ,” Alicia says as she’s putting her wallet back into her purse.
I guess people now feel obliged to report EJ sightings to me.
“I did too,” I tell her. “He just stopped by a minute ago.”
“He seems pretty smitten with you,” Alicia says with a light wag of her brows.
My smile comes without any effort. “What makes you say that?”
“It’s so obvious. I mentioned you and his face lit up.”
