Elsie must have read something in his face, because her manic energy gentled. “Hey,” she said. “This is good news.”
“It is,” Joe said. “I just…know a little more now about what they’re up against.”
Elsie’s smile dimmed. “Yeah. I figured. My mom’s already gossip-looped it into the church prayer chain.”
Walt snorted. “Can’t put anything past Maple Falls, can you?”
“Nope,” Elsie said. “But that might be a good thing.”
She took a breath, shoulders squaring a little. “Okay. So. I actually came by because I had an idea. I was going to pitch it to Krista, but since she’s with Alice, you get to be my test audience.”
“Go on,” Joe said.
“Picture this,” Elsie said, eyes lighting up. “Maple Falls Summer Swap: The Party. We string lights between the trees, set up the patio and dock, do live music—probably a guitar, maybe even open mic. Special edition hot honey cocktails, raffles with prizes from all the local businesses. Entry by donation. All proceeds to you, Walt, and Alice. For her care, and the Hidden Hills campground. We hype it up the next two days. Go out with a bang on the final night.”
“People would come,” Walt said slowly. “They’d give what they could.”
“They will,” Elsie said. “I don’t have a lot of time, but I think we need to go for it. We make it an event. ‘One Night Only: Help Keep Hidden Hills Buzzing.’ Bees, honey, you know I live for a theme.”
Joe let out a breath. “Do it,” he said.
Elsie blinked. “That’s it? No tweaks?”
“One tweak. Let’s make it a surprise for Krista. I don’t want her stressing out, thinking she has to organize anything. She has enough going on.”
Elsie’s expression softened in a way that made him vaguely uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to people looking at him that way.
“You really like her,” she said quietly. “Krista.”
He felt the tips of his ears go hot. “This is about Walt and Alice, too,” he said.
“Mmhmm,” Elsie said. “Alright. Prints. Raffle baskets. Live music. Party. I can work with that.”
She tapped rapidly on her phone, muttering. “Okay, I’ll mock up a graphic, talk to Kit about a special menu, see if Zoe will donate a bouquet or two for prizes.”
Elsie leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. “You’re a good one, Valerio,” she said. “Gonna miss you when you leave.”
“Yeah,” Joe replied, unwilling to admit how much he was going to miss everyone in Maple Falls, too.
The Hideaway settled back into its hum. Ian called out that they were low on lemonade. A kid begged for an extra cherry on his sundae. Somewhere out on the dock, a paddleboat bumped against its rope.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it at first. Then it buzzed again.
Joe pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was Marcus.
You ready to fly out yet? Got you a flight for Friday. Call me.
The phone felt heavy in Joe’s palm. He couldn’t think about leaving, not right now. Not when he felt like he was needed here.
He wondered if that’s what Krista always felt like.
Walt studied him for a beat. “You don’t have to fix this,” he said. “Any of it.”
“I know,” Joe said. “But I want to help. And I can, for a little while.”
TWENTY-NINE
KRISTA
