Page 22 of Hometown Girl

“Dina’s got her facts wrong,” Beth said. “And I can’t help it if I was a late bloomer. Besides, who are you to talk? Summer before ninth grade is hardly any better.”

“So you didn’t buy Fairwind?” Callie frowned. “And I was holding out for your brother.”

Beth shook her head. “Molly did. She’s trying to get me to invest or take on this project with her or something. Terrible idea, but you know Molly. And I know. Ben’s an idiot for not realizing how awesome you are.”

Callie slapped a hand over her gasping mouth. “Molly bought Fairwind Farm?” She did nothing to hide her excitement.

“This is not a good thing, Cal.”

“Are you kidding? Finally Willow Grove can have its farm back.” Her shoulders slumped. “And yes, your brother is an idiot. Too bad he’s still so hot.”

Beth shook her head. Leave it to Callie to get wrapped up in the nostalgia—and the romance—of a thing. “Callie, please. I’m trying to find Molly a way out of this mess.”

“What mess? Even Dina thought it was a great idea.”

Beth scoffed. “What does that woman know?”

But she could tell by the look on her friend’s face that whether Beth wanted to believe it or not, Dinadidknow business. They’d competed all through high school and, thanks to their relatives, through college too. But then Beth had done the unthinkable and stayed in Willow Grove while Dina carved out a life for herself in the city, complete with a rich husband, booming business and, apparently, teeth whiter than freshly fallen snow.

“Maybe you should think about it?”

“Are you kidding? You know how my sister is with these crazy ideas.” Beth shook her head. “If I’m going to do something crazy, I’m not doing it here.”

Callie’s eyes fell. “But it’s not a bad place to live.”

“Of course it’s not. But it’s too ... simple ... for me.”

“A lot of people like simple.” She stood. “I’ll get your latte.”

“Cal, I didn’t mean—” There she went again, not understanding the emotions of those around her.

Callie stood behind the counter, going through the motions of making Beth’s favorite drink. Beth watched as a couple purchased two of Callie’s famous pies—something her friend had fought her father to sell. The place was called Butler’s Bake Shop, for heaven’s sake, but they’d been more of a café than a bakery, and JimBob Butler wasn’t open to change.

Beth had been the one to help Callie with a presentation—loaded with facts and figures and projections and visual aids—to convince her parents to expand their menu with the baked goods Callie loved to make. Waiting for JimBob to respond had been agonizing, but finally, he’d given one stern nod, while Verna simply shook her head.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she’d said.

“No risk, no reward, Mama.” Callie had beamed.

She’d been so excited that day. So excited to have a little piece of something that was all her own. And look at her now. Her baked goods were the talk of the town.

In fact, people said the pies were just like the ones you could buy at Fairwind Farm all those years ago.

No risk, no reward.

No. It was not a good idea. None of it.

And yet, what if ...?

When Callie returned to the booth and set her latte down without a word, Beth couldn’t help herself.

“You really think this is a good idea? This Fairwind Farm thing?”

Callie had been intent on pouting, and it showed on her face, but they never could stay mad at each other for long. “Yes. For once, I think your sister got it right.” She slid back into the booth. “And you think so too, don’t you? But you don’t want to admit it.”

Beth pressed her lips together. “No, of course not. It’s really, really stupid. And really ...”

Callie leaned in closer. “What?”

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