Page 54 of The Sweet Spot
We make a quick stop at Emerson’s Grocery Store to pick up a few things I need, plus the condoms. Maggie’s working. When she spots us walking in, she stops what she’s doing and comes to greet us.
“How are you holding up?” she asks as she hugs me.
“As well as can be expected, I guess. We just left the courthouse in Estes Park. I was granted an emergency temporary order, and my hearing for a permanent one is in two weeks.”
While Maggie and I are chatting, Chris wanders away, pushing a grocery cart. On the drive here, I gave him a list of what I needed. Basics mostly—bread, butter, milk, chicken breasts, carrots, and a few other things. He seems to be making his way through the store, so I imagine he’s getting everything. I notice he stops in the personal care section.
Maggie eyes him a moment before redirecting her attention to me. “How is everything going?”
“Good,” I say.
“Any word on when the diner can reopen?”
“Not yet. I was told it would be a day or two at the very least. I’m hoping to get the report from the fire inspector today, and from the health inspector tomorrow. If everything looks good, we should be able to open on Wednesday.”
Chris parks the cart beside me. “I think I got everything.”
I glance in the cart, noting that everything’s there, including a jumbo box of extra-large condoms, ribbed for her pleasure, no less. I can feel my cheeks heating up.
Maggie notices them, too, and gives me a look that speaks volumes. “Hey, Chris. Owen’s in the back room doing inventory. Why don’t you go say hi?”
Chris rolls his eyes. “That was subtle, Maggie. You could have just told me to go wait in the car so you can grill Jennie.”
Maggie smiles sweetly at Chris. “Either go talk to Owen, or go wait in the car, Sheriff. Your choice.”
“Fine. I’ll go talk to Owen.” He squeezes my hand. “I won’t be far.”
As soon as Chris is out of earshot, Maggie rounds on me. “Okay, time to spill the beans. Why did Chris put a huge box of condoms in your shopping cart?”
I try not to grin. “Because he’s optimistic?”
“I’m serious, Jennie!” She’s trying not to laugh. “Tell me.”
I sigh. “Well, in a nutshell, we’re in love, and we slept together last night. Well, I guess, technically, we made out because neither one of us had a condom. We had to improvise.”
She’s trying so hard not to laugh. “I’m so happy for you, honey.” That earns me another hug. When she pulls back, she grins as she looks me in the face. “Everyone’s going to be thrilled when they hear the news. It’s about time, girl! We told you he was crazy about you. Is this a big secret, or can I tell people?”
“I don’t think it’s a secret. Granny knows. She walked in on us this morning.”
Maggie bursts into laughter. “I would have paid good money to see that.”
“It was fine, really. She likes Chris. She told me last night she wanted him to stay over.”
Maggie rings up my groceries, and when we’re done, she uses the intercom to call back to Owen in the storage room. “Honey, please tell Chris the coast is clear. He can come back out here.”
When Chris rejoins us, Maggie gives him a hug. “You’d better do right by her, mister, or you’ll have half the town to answer to.”
“Not a problem.” Chris smiles, and I imagine it’s because he’s relieved the cat is out of the bag. He puts his arm across my shoulders and pulls me close so he can kiss my temple.
“This is going to take some getting used to,” Maggie says.
We head back to my house, and as we’re unpacking the groceries, Chris’s phone rings. It’s his contact at the courthouse.
I can tell by the look on his face it’s not the news we wanted. He ends the call. “He got out on a personal bond.” He mutters a curse under his breath. “What a joke!”
“How could they do that?” I don’t know whether to be disappointed or downright angry. “He forced his way into my house, and then he assaulted me!”
“His attorney argued before the judge that Granny invited him in.”
