Page 9 of Only Fate

“Ineed waffles smothered in maple syrup and coffee with too much sugar,” I say, plopping down across from Amelia in the red leather booth at Shirley’s Diner.

She laughs. “Already ordered for you, babe.”

I blow her a kiss. “That’s why you’re my bestie.”

Amelia’s wearing a black polo with the Down Home Brewery logo stitched on the left side of the chest. Her hair is down in long dark brown curls—her daily hairstyle—and her lips are a vibrant red.

Shirley’s has been a Blue Beech staple for decades. Her parents started the diner, naming it after her, and the diner has been passed down through generations. Now, Shirley’s daughter, Ruth, and granddaughter, Margo, run it.

I grew up eating pies, drinking milkshakes, and hanging out with my friends here. Some places just feel like home. Shirley’s is one of them.

Margo delivers our drinks. “Two iced coffees with extra caramel and whipped cream. Waffles will be up shortly, ladies.”

We thank her, and she rushes over to the booth behind us.

Amelia pushes her hair away from her face and takes a sip of her coffee. “Soo, Tipsy Essie talked about opening her own firmlast night. How does Hungover Essie feel about that this morning?”

I dip my finger in the whipped cream and lick it off. “That’s too big of a question to ask this early in the morning.”

“You used to wake up at four o’clock when you worked at your old firm.”

“And I hated it.”

“Don’t be mad at me for interfering?—”

“What did you do?” I interrupt.

“I emailed Terrance last night, asking him to give me a call about a contract he was looking over for the brewery. When he called me back this morning, I asked if he still planned to retire.” Her voice turns into a squeal. “He said yes!”

I can’t stop myself from smiling.

“When I asked what he planned to do with the firm, he said he’d either sell it or pass it down to someone.” She takes a slurp of coffee. “Did you know that he’s getting married? I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend, and that’s hard to keep secret in a town this small. He did say she isn’t from here though.”

“Calling him today was on my to-do list. I just wanted to make sure I was organized first.”

“You’ve got this, Essie.” She gives me a thumbs-up. “You’re the most determined person I know. You’ll take Blue Beech legal by storm.”

“Yes, because the crime here is booming.”

“You do family law. Crime isn’t even something you deal with.”

“Technically, I doalllaw. Family is just what my old firm specialized in.”

My original dream was to become a prosecutor, but that’s not an easily earned job. For years, I’ve looked up to prosecutors. They’re the reason I don’t live every day in fear.

“Family law. Criminal law. Animal law.Business law—because you can guarantee we’ll hand you everything brewery-related,” Amelia says with absolute certainty. “Not to mention, everyone loves you and your family here.”

Eh, debatable.

“Somepeople love my family,” I correct.

The Lane family has had its ups and downs in Blue Beech.

People once referred to the Lane family as Blue Beech’s Kennedy family. It was meant to be a compliment, but as our family scandals spilled, we started to fall on the gloomier side of that comparison.

My grandfather caused our name downfall. It was before I was born, but gossip never dies in a small town. He went from the highly respected mayor to a disgraced one after people found out he had a secret baby, paid the mother hush money for years, and was involved in countless other scandals.

“Oh my God,” Amelia gasps, nearly spilling her coffee. “Speaking of Terrance, he just walked in. If that’s not a sign it’s meant to be, I don’t know what is.”

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