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It was Mark. Suddenly the bitterness and resentment of my stressful day melted away. I just needed to hear his voice.
“I love you,” I said suddenly. “So much.”
“Are you getting in?” Brian asked from the other side of the truck.
“I love you too, baby. Are you okay?” Mark asked in a worried tone.
“Yeah,” I said with a sigh, motioning to Brian that I was on the phone. “Let me tell you all about it.”
Then I climbed into the truck, and we headed back to the house.
10
Sutton
During our next girls’ lunch out, I was sharing stories about Earl swiping the sacramental wine from Father Montgomery.
“How is Father Montgomery these days?” Natalie asked, scooping up some ketchup with her fry.
Candice shrugged. “Still not convicted. I swear he is as slippery as an eel. Knox said that he might have more information or another lead to go off.”
I sighed. “I know that I certainly would appreciate it if all of this business was finally at an end.”
“Me too,” Natalie added, and Candice nodded along.
“How are the twins?” Candice asked.
I grinned. “Fat and sassy.
“Speaking of sassy,” Natalie leaned in as if to share a juicy piece of gossip. “Did either of you happen to meet the new deputy, Katie?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. What’s she like?”
“She seems spunky and young,” Natalie answered. “Pretty little thing. But it was Brian’s reaction to the woman that really had me doing a double-take.”
“Brian?” I nearly choked. “My brother-in-law, Brian?”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “One and the same. I think that Cupid may strike again in Otterville Falls.”
Seeing as how Natalie had worked for Brian for years, she knew him better than Candice or I did. I felt a small bubble of hope. If Brian did fall in love with Katie, he would be sure to stick around Otterville Falls. It would just be one more reason for us to stay here and not live in the city.
“I like her,” Candice said with a smile. “She might be young, but she has a real positive attitude. She’s also driving Knox crazy with her ideas for the station. Apparently, she’s worried that it gives off unfriendly vibes. Knox said that the whole point of jail was to make people not want to hang out there. Katie just laughed, thinking he was joking. But I know Knox, and he doesn’t have a clue what to do with her.”
Natalie laughed. “When I met her, Katie was telling anyone who would listen about her plans for the garden. She’s renting the place from Alice and Reena. How fortunate is that?”
“Isn’t that the place next to Brian?” I chuckled. “He’s not going to have any idea what to do with her. I almost want to warn him, but I think it will be good for him. Speaking of what’s good for us, how are the wedding plans coming along?”
Candice flushed. “Knox has been distracted with the case, but it’s coming. Just a bit slowly. When does Mark have to travel back to New York again?”
My heart sank at the thought of him leaving. “Next week. He wanted all of us to go, and I still might. It just depends if Avery still has the sniffles. I don’t think she’s slept more than twenty minutes in a row for a good week.”
“Or maybe it’s difficult on all of you because if it isn’t one baby up in the night, it’s the other one. Is it any wonder you are tired?” Candice teased gently.
“Yeah, there’s that too,” I replied with a chuckle. “Although they are doing somewhat better in that department.”
“Are you ladies disturbing the peace?”
We turned to see Knox had entered Abberly’s. As soon as she saw him, Candice was out of her seat and flying into his arms.