Page 33 of Crazy in Love

“I could eat.”

The diner was a couple of doors down, and within minutes, they were seated.

“Howdy, y’all,” Edna greeted. “Long time no see, Nick Walker. Good to have you back.”

“Just home for a bit, ma’am,” Nick said. “But it’s nice to see you too.”

Edna took their orders and left three glasses of water.

“I can’t believe Edna still works here,” Nick whispered. “She’s gotta be sixty-something by now.”

“Mr. Norris keeps trying to get her to retire, but she says she doesn’t have anywhere else to be,” Faith said.

Nick periodically massaged his thigh.

“Is your leg bugging you?” Tess asked. “Does it hurt?”

“It’s fine. Just gets tight and throbs sometimes.”

“Yo-ga,” Faith sang.

“Who’s that?” Mr. Huckabee yelled from four tables over. “Why’s he limpin’?”

Nick groaned. “I see Ralph Huckabee still hasn’t gotten hearing aids. He needed them when I left ten years ago. He must be full-on deaf by now.”

“That’s Nicky Walker,” Edna said. “He got shot and his leg’s sore.”

“He’s got a whore?”

Faith and Tess giggled behind their hands. Nick slunk into his chair.

Edna threw up her hands. “I don’t know why I bother talkin’ to you.” She raised her voice and annunciated. “I saidsore. His leg’s sore from bein’ shot.”

“Shot?” Bushy white eyebrows reached for the ceiling.

“He’s an FBI agent.” Edna sighed. “You knew that.”

“Oh, right,” Mr. Huckabee said. “Is he comin’ to the Fall Festival?”

“I’d rather get shot again than listen to this another second,” Nick mumbled.

“Well, I have no idea,” Edna said. “Why wouldn’t he? Everyone will be there.”

The Fall Festival was how the town celebrated the end of the summer tourist season. They would flock back in autumn when the leaves turned, and for winter sports and holiday breaks. But there were a few brief weeks in September and October when the locals had GVF to themselves.

“Areyou coming?” Tess asked Nick.

He shrugged. “If I’m still around, I guess.”

Edna brought their food, and Faith immediately went for the bacon.

“Sorry if this is stereotypical,” Nick said. “But why’d I think you’d be a vegetarian?”

“Oh. She tried that once,” Tess said. “It was a nightmare for me. No protein makes Faith pret-ty grump-y.”

“Hey. It was no picnic for me either,” Faith said, licking grease from her fingertips. “Longest two days of my life. Turns out I love meat more than principles.”

He shook his head and chuckled. “Oh, Tess. I got a ride to physical therapy this afternoon, so you don’t have to take me.”

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