Sadie gave me a quick hug. “So glad you called. I needed a break. Nick came home from Stanford over the weekend and we ran around the entire time getting him restocked for the dorm. I swear that boy goes through more socks and granola bars than anyone else I know.”
“How’s he doing? Does he like his classes?” Nick Michaels was one of South Cove’s wonder kids. He’d gotten straight As in high school, been the team quarterback for the last two years, and sang in the church choir. I wondered how college was treating him.
Sadie smiled. “He’s liking his clubs. He joined debate and has been swamped with the work. Classes have surprised him. He’s not the only smart kid in the room.”
“I can see that.” I held open the door and aimed us toward my normal booth, but I stopped short. It was already taken. On a Tuesday. I peered closer and saw Amy and Kacey waving at us. Sadie started backing up.
“I can’t eat with her,” Sadie choked out.
I figured Sadie had already seen Kacey around town. There wasn’t much that went on in South Cove that everyone didn’t know. In fact, the entire dining room seemed to be waiting for our next step. I touched Sadie’s shirtsleeve and stopped her from running out of the diner. “Stand tall. We won’t eat with them.” I pointed her toward a booth where we wouldn’t see Amy or Kacey. “Go grab that booth, I’ll stop and say hi and then be right over.”
Sadie nodded and almost ran toward the booth, weaving through the tables. I stepped over to greet Amy. “Hey, Amy, Kacey.” I nodded to Amy. “We had the same idea. I called you earlier about lunch, but you must have already been here.”
Kacey nodded. “Amy and I started talking last night after the police left and realized how much we have in common. I used to surf competitively in high school.”
Of course you did. What I said was, “I didn’t know that. Amy loves talking surfing.” I glanced toward the booth where Sadie sat. “I’d better get going. I’m starving.”
“I’ll call you tonight,” Amy said, focusing on her burger.
“See you soon,” Kacey called out as I stepped away.
When I sat down at the booth, Sadie’s face was bright. “I can’t believe that woman.”
I opened the menu and handed it to her. “It’s not her fault. If you want to be mad at someone, you should be mad at Austin. He’s the one who led you on.”
Sadie glared at me, then took the menu, slumping into her seat. “I know. It’s just I thought things were going so well, especially once we settled that thing.”
I nodded, already knowing what the thing was. Austin had wanted a more physical relationship too quickly. Nick had been still at home, and Sadie wasn’t into being a bad example for her kid. Once he’d gone off to school, Sadie had been more open to taking their relationship to the next level. Then Austin had dumped her.
Carrie came by and took our order, and instead of her normal banter, she gave Sadie a quick hug. “I’m so glad to see you today. You need to come in more.”
As the waitress walked away, Sadie wiped her eyes with a napkin. “I guess I have been holed up too long over that jerk.”
“Exactly.” I smiled. “You have friends here, you shouldn’t ever question that.”
“Or Carrie’s just in love with my desserts.” Sadie took a sip of her tea. “Did you see that food truck? Seriously, that woman thinks she can sell gluten-free desserts and make a living? People don’t want that crap when they’re splurging.”
I sipped on my iced tea. “I totally agree with you, at least for my own indulgences. However, I might carry one or more of her treats at the store. I’m always being asked for sugar-and gluten-free stuff. I can’t think I’ll sell much, though.”
Sadie gave me a death stare.
“Sorry, it’s a business decision.” I played with my silverware. “Kacey’s not that bad of a person. You might actually like her if you talked to her.”
“I will never be friends with either her or that husband of hers.” Sadie put her napkin in her lap and leaned back as Carrie brought our food. “Can we change the subject?”
I nodded my thanks to Carrie and attacked the mushroom Swiss burger. “No problem.” I took a bite and thought about what had been going on the last few days that didn’t have anything to do with Kacey or Austin. Finally, Toby’s face came into view. “Toby and Elisa are having issues.”
We gossiped through the rest of the meal, and I waited to leave until I saw Amy and Kacey walk out. We didn’t need a scene today. I walked Sadie to her car in the parking lot and gave her a quick hug good-bye. “Let’s do this again next week.”
Sadie didn’t answer; her attention was on the food truck across the street. The yellow police crime scene tape had come loose and was flapping in the wind. “I hope they stole everything,” she muttered.
“You heard about the break-in?”
She smiled. “I’m on the church’s women’s group phone tree. We don’t just use it for planning purposes. It’s a great source of local gossip.” She opened her door and slipped into the car. “I know, I’m not acting very Christian-like.”
“You’ll get there.” I waved as she pulled out of the lot and wondered if my prediction was actually true.