Page 64 of The Moment He Saw Her

Ryder waved Uncle Asher back to his seat as he rose.

“When?” Ryder asked, running a hand through his hair. “All right, I’ll see what we can do. You and Lea stay calm now, Klaus, and we’ll sort this out.”

“What’s happened?” Sawyer demanded.

“You know that weasel Finny Fletcher who’s moved into the old Smith place in town?” Everyone but Libby nodded. “Well, last week he came into the cafe and told me my milk wasn’t frothed to the exact proper temperature, and he wanted to check my kitchens to ensure everything was regulated and aboveboard.”

“What? You never told us that!” The words exploded out of Dan.

“Is he a local?” Libby asked.

“No!” everyone in the room said.

“He’s just moved to Lyntacky,” Zoe then added.

“Yeah, well, I told him to get the f—hell out of my cafe. But that was Klaus Becker on the phone. Seems Finny was an FSIS inspector in another life before he came to live here. He took it badly when Klaus told him what he got up to in his coffee hut was not Finny’s business and apparently called in some favors. Klaus received a notice they’re shutting him down because he sells food and doesn’t have the correct paperwork.”

“What the actual fudge,” Brody said.

“I’m making some calls,” Uncle Asher said, getting to his feet. “This is not happening in my town.”

“Klaus is really upset and said Lea hasn’t stopped crying,” Ryder added.

“Who will I go to for counseling if they’re not there?” JD asked.

“Exactly,” Sawyer said. “We always get coffee and a strudel muffin with a side of advice from Klaus. Not that his muffins are anywhere near as good as yours, bro,” he added.

Ryder waved a hand about. “This is BS.”

“Finny is one of those small-minded turds who thinks that throwing their weight around makes them special,” Phoebe said.

“Is turd a swear word?” Ally asked.

“No,” all the adults replied.

“Exactly. I’d like to see him try anything with me,” Ryder said.

“Amen,” his brothers added.

“Maybe we need to pay Finny a call?” Sawyer said.

“There will be none of that,” Asher said, returning. “Let me do some digging first on this Finny.”

“His wife’s no better,” Robyn said. “Fiona?—”

“No way,” Zoe said. “She’s anFtoo?”

“No, she’s aB,” Robyn Duke snapped.

“I can’t believe you said that.” Dan looked shocked.

“You know what aBmeans,” Robyn added, “and if ever there was a time for it, it’s now.”

“We know what it means, Nana, but you never used that word… or any bad words,” Ally said.

“I used a letter, but you all understood the meaning. Anyway, she, Fiona, came into the library and said the selection was the worst she’d ever seen. Then proceeded to discuss loudly all the books she could get in Christiansburg. Abilene was in there at the time and told her that maybe she should head on back there, then, seeing as we were so lacking here in Lyntacky,” Robyn said. “The insult passed right over her, and she gave us that pitying smile that makes you want to grind your teeth and said, ‘Well, bless your heart, but Mr. Fletcher and I think it our duty to stay and educate the people of Lyntacky on doing better with their lives.’”

Asher whistled.

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