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“Reading nook?” Muriel asks. “What’s that mean?”
“Mobile?” Wilson says. “Did you get a van or something?”
“How did he know?” Nora mutters under all the questions that are suddenly popping up.
“It’s up on your big white board in the office,” Andi says.
“But that’s the only place.”
“He was there the other day to pick Sutton up to take her to see the barn.”
Nora looks at Sutton.
Sutton shrugs. “He’s very observant. Especially about things that are a big deal to people he cares about.”
She smiles up at me, and damn, I suddenly get where the phrase ‘hearts in her eyes’ comes from.
Sutton Moore is in love with me.
That’s amazing.
“Wow,” Nora says, clearly impressed. And maybe a little touched that she’s on my list of people I care about.
Sutton nods. “Yeah. I say that a lot around him.”
“So?” Harley says, everyone focused on Nora. “Tell us.”
So she does. She explains the cute little camper that was donated to the Parks and Rec department and their plans to renovate it into a cozy reading spot that will travel around town. It will be stocked with library books and include a built-in coffee cart with a variety of drinks. It will provide a fun traveling spot to read.
“Honey, that sounds so cute,” Patty tells her.
“Can you park it by the pecan grove?” Muriel asks. “That would be a great place to read.”
“Oh, or up on the hilltop at sunset,” Harley suggests.
“People shouldn’t be drinking coffee and tea at sunset. That’s way too late for caffeine,” Muriel says.
“I feel like adults can police that themselves,” Wilson tells her.
“Bruce agrees with me. He doesn’t serve coffee past four.”
“Leave me out of this,” Bruce tells them.
“But you don’t. The coffee shop closes at four.”
“That’s not why,” Bruce says. “Grown-ups can decide when and if they drink coffee, Muriel.”
“Well, what if I’m at Perks and Rec and I want coffee at six o’clock? I’m a grown-up. I should get to decide that.”
“Except that I own the business and decide not to serve coffee at six o’clock.”
Muriel sits forward in her chair. “But you could at least offer it.”
“I don’t want to. It’s one more thing to keep going all night long. We have the bar open. That gives people plenty of options.”
“You should have nonalcoholic options.”
“We do. Tea, lemonade, water, soda.” Bruce sits back in his chair with a sigh. “I can’t believe that you actually got me to have this conversation.”
