When We Kiss

Jimmy shrugs as if it’s an easy math quiz. “Time for a new fridge?”

Emberly rubs her stomach, and I know full well she can’t afford an expense like that. Daisy helped her find this old commercial-grade heap through one of her antiques dealers.

“That it, kiddo?” I’m ready for this bad flashback to be on his way.

“Almost… Go out with me again. I’ve got Uncle Milt’s Lincoln all weekend long.”

“No, thank you.” I do a full-body shudder. “I’ve got a car.”

I finally found my driver’s license in the clothes dryer at Uncle Bob’s house. It’s probably been there a month. He doesn’t check these things very well. He raised me without a strong female role model, and I’ve been improvising ever since.

“Come on, Tabby. Things were just getting good when—”

“Thanks for the delivery. You and I are never happening.”

His shoulders droop, and he starts for the door.

“I’ve heard everything changes once you start college.” My best friend is too kind-hearted for her own good.

Jimmy only shrugs. “I’m not going to college.”

“Well, either way, there are lots of fish in the sea!”

I’ve heard enough. “See you Monday.”

A quick air kiss, I stack the fruit tart on top of the cake box. Walking past my car parked out front, I mentally note Deputy Tucker hasn’t even pulled me over to be sure I

’m not breaking the law since I started driving again on Tuesday. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortably predictable, but I don’t have time for that. I’ve got to get these pastries delivered.

André grins at me like he knows something when I push through the door of Betty Pepper’s pack-n-save.

My eyes narrow. “What?”

He shrugs. “Nothing.”

André is in the middle of bagging up poboys for a customer, and I decide to let it go. He and Chad are always joking around, and I’m sure it has something to do with tonight. Those mysterious texts are on my mind as I approach the door at the back of the store. It leads to a storage room that doubles as the office where Donna does her bookkeeping for Betty.

“Hey, Tabby!” Donna White is a mousey girl, timid but sweet. “I was planning to walk down and pick this up. You didn’t have to bring it all the way over here.”

“It’s not that far.” I put the large box on the end of her desk. “We should probably put it in the cooler so it doesn’t melt.”

“Is it ice cream?” Her brows furrow as she lifts the lid.

“No, the frosting will melt in the heat.”

Donna’s frown instantly transforms into delight. “It’s beautiful! Oh my goodness. Emberly is so talented.”

I lean over to check out the deep chocolate cake topped with beautiful purple roses and little white dots of baby’s breath. The happy birthday message is inscribed in perfect calligraphy.

“She’s got the talent. It’s the customers she needs. There aren’t enough birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and… well, reasons to have cake in this little town.”

Donna nods as if she knows exactly what I’m talking about. She’s probably never thought about it in her life.

“I hope I can help bring in a little extra business.”

“You’re great. Thanks, Donna.” She closes the lid, and that’s when I see it sparkling like a drop of water on the third finger of her left hand. “What’s this?”

I snatch it up and turn her hand side to side as the light hits a small emerald-cut diamond. The girl starts to giggle, covering her nose with her right hand.