Page 91 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

"Not sure I needed to know that."

"This is all y'all's doing, so you need to know. Everyone's asking for 'exactly what Lucy Jane got,' and when they find out we ran out, we're pretending we know the other stuff she likes."

Lou's a regular at the diner, so Tia doesn’t realize how true that statement was.

"That's great, Tia."

"It is if Bill agrees to sell to me. I saw him fuming and talking to that greasy Yankee who's been in town all week. They weren't happy. How could the man be angry about making money?"

I knew exactly why. Dumfries Holding would never agree to buy a single restaurant. If they can't take over all of Maple Street, there's no use in putting in one franchise.

Tia was only too happy to take my order, and she promised to have it ready in a picnic basket to go.

We drive toward Maple Street, and when we start getting close, we notice the number of cars parked on the street and filling the roads. People jump over huge puddles, but they excitedly point to places in Lou's reel and take pictures. We can't even turn onto Maple, it's so busy.

"There's no parking! Anywhere!" Ash exclaims.

The town is always busier on Saturdays, but this is unlike anything I've ever seen. Jorge wasn't kidding about the lines of people. They're in every store, including the hardware store and Chick's Bait and Tackle. Everywhere, people are taking selfies and walking around with shopping bags. Someone must have mobilized every food truck in the region.

Ash laughs in disbelief and I can't help putting my arm around her and pulling her as close as the console will allow me.

Note to self: trade in the truck for one with a bench seat.

I pull into the alley, where fortunately people have obeyed the "Authorized parking only" signs. Ash and I walk hand in hand down the street toward the diner, weaving around the throngs of people. We glance into Nico's thrift and vintage store, and he looks as gruff and grumpy as ever. But busy.

So busy.

"I can't believe it," Ash says. She lets go of my hand to hug my arm.

"I can."

She scrunches her nose. "You really are the best person I’ve ever known."

Her words don’t cause the pang they normally do. If I make her happy, how bad could I be?

At the diner, Tia has a picnic basket ready and waiting.

"Thanks, Tia. I owe you," I tell her at the door. People standing in line down the street glare at us, but I don't care.

"Anything for y'all," Tia says. "Now get outta here. I don't got time for chitchat!"

"Hey, do you guys know Lucy Jane?" a teen girl asks as we leave the diner.

"Yes!" Ash gushes. "She's my best friend!"

The girl's jaw hits the floor but one of her friends elbows her. "She's teasing you. As if they actually know LJ."

"Wouldn't it be amazing if we knew LJ?" Ash asks me.

"It'd be pretty cool."

"Good luck finding her!" Ash says, but the girls shoot her withering looks. "I cannot wait to tell Lou about this."

We reach the riverwalk, but it's almost as busy as Maple Street. We walk by an ice cream cart, and she stares at it.

"Uh, Rusty? When did we get ice cream carts in Sugar Maple?"

"They probably work at one of the ballfields and decided to set up shop closer."

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