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He looked around to make sure he could speak freely. Even so, he leaned in close. “There was this guy who came through here about a decade ago by the name of Grant Tranton and ripped off a handful of folks with all sorts of big promises. Took off with their investments and broke a lot of hearts. They finally caught up with him a few years back at a Pizza Hut in California. Turns out this Harlowe gal is his kid sister.”

“Stop it.” Suddenly, everything I knew about Harlowe played back in my brain like a movie on fast forward.

“And she was well-versed in the family business. Faber was a perfect mark for her.” He shook his head like this whole thing was a doozy of a con. “She’d been moving funds from his account to her own for years.”

This was like a Christmas present in so many ways. Harlowe was a scam artist in custody and Faber was outed as a fool. “Karma exists. It’s real,” I said out loud. “I mean, I’ve always wondered, but now I’m feeling pretty damn certain.”

“I’ve always thought so.”

I took a moment to bathe in the new knowledge of Faber off licking his wounds. It wasn’t like me to wish ill upon others, but I might make an exception and enjoy this for a few hours.

Jake brightened, remembering something. “Hey, Peggy and I like to take the boat out sometimes and thought maybe you’d like to join us. Kyle, too, if you like.”

“A boat? I’ve never had a boat in the family before.” I paused because I’d just included myself in his family, which, true or not, feltforward.

He didn’t seem to mind. “Oh, yeah. We’re outdoor kinda folks. Nothing fancy, but it could be a fun afternoon.”

“Count us in. Oh! And you need to swing by the BeLeaf booth at the Jingle Jamboree.” I marveled at actually having a booth our customers could visit. I’d been hoping for one for years now. I already had a sweater dress, boots, and Santa hat picked out. “Peter is organizing a whole complimentary spread of holiday breads, cheeses, meats, and fruit.”

“Oh my,” Jake added with a laugh. “I’ll definitely make a little plate in that case.”

“You have to. And Maya will be offering face painting, but even better, we’re entering the cider competition. Buster has been tirelessly perfecting our recipe at home.” I pointed at myself. “You might be able to tell I’m excited.”

“It’s good for a person to have things to look forward to.” He got this goofy grin on his face. “Charlie used to count down the days to things he couldn’t wait for with these numbered magnets on the fridge.”

I sobered a little at the mention of Charlie’s name. I had hoped I’d run into him again, or even better, work up the nerve to swing by the liquor store and work on setting things right between us. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s been busy. He’s helping set up a second store in Willow Haven about eighty miles from here, and that project has him on the road a hell of a lot. Jill sometimes rides with him if it’s a day when school is out.”

“That’s great.” I hesitated, not wanting to overstep. “Please tell him I said so. I mean, if you think that’d be okay. I’m not sure he’d want to hear it from me just yet.”

“I think he might be coming around. Understand, he’s more upset with me than anyone else. Just took him a minute to figure that part out ’cause he was all jumbled.” He tapped the table and offered a weary smile. “And I can take it. Don’t you worry.”

I wanted to comfort Jake, but I was also aware of the damage that secrets like this one did. I could see so in my own life. As much as I wastrying to focus on the here and now, this whole situation had upended so much of what I thought I knew. “When he’s ready, it would be nice to have a conversation. We always got along just fine…before. But now he hates me and the horse I rode in on.”

“Charlie’s a good levelheaded guy. He doesn’t hate you, Savanna. He just needs a minute to get his ducks all lined up nice. And he’ll be at the holiday hullabaloo.”

“Jingle Jamboree.”

“That, too. He goes to all the things with the strange names.”

“Well, maybe the holidays will help. They tend to soften my heart.”

“You got a good one,” he said, balling his wrapper and tossing it into the nearby trash like a pro.

“It’s going to be okay, I think,” I said, to both of us as, he walked me to my car.

“Up until recently, I wasn’t sure.” He met my gaze. “You changed that, kid. I don’t know how, but you did.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his soft and worn jeans. We shared a smile, and I understood that maybe we’d needed each other. Him, missing a piece of himself, and me, all alone in the world.

I slid into the driver’s seat. “What an unlikely pair we are.”

“Ha. You can say that again. See you soon, kid.” He closed my door for me, offered a wave, and backed up so I could reverse. It was his habit to wait until I was successfully on my way before heading to his own car, a gesture that made me feel safe, like someone was looking out for me. A parent. My parent. Surreal. I wondered what my folks would think. I imagined they’d be happy Jake and I had found each other in this crazy world. I imagined them smiling down on me and wished once again, more than anything, that they were still here. We’d probably have game nights like we did when I was younger. Only instead of Candy Land around the kitchen table, maybe it was poker or Codenames.

Imagine that.

Jake would never be a replacement for either of them, but he was family. My family.

I shook my head as I drove, avoiding Main Street at lunchtime, knowing I’d get stuck at every crosswalk in what I called pedestrian central. I didn’t mind the slightly longer drive through the residential side streets. I had a lot to think about and celebrate. A really great lunch with Jake that just seemed to build on other interactions. Whatwas more? Harlowe was heading to jail, the store had a booth at the Jamboree, and I’d see my girlfriend in just a few hours to fill her in on all of it. I relished the days her shift allowed her to make it home for dinner. Plus, she looked incredibly sexy in scrubs. Couldn’t leave that part out. I smiled at myself in the rearview, very aware of my blessings and counting them.