Page 12 of Belonging: KT & Lolo (Good Hope: The Next Generation #2)

CHAPTER EIGHT

KT strode across the town square of Good Hope with his grandparents and briefly imagined what Sonya would think if she saw him now. Attending an ice cream social in a town with fewer people than her firm had attorneys? She’d have rolled her eyes so hard they might’ve gotten stuck.

She’d always thought he was too close to his family. The group text with his parents and siblings? Codependent was the word she’d tossed around.

But KT liked being here. He liked walking beside Len and Anita. That hadn’t always been true—Anita, in her younger years, had been a master of the backhanded compliment—but since she’d married the Silver Fox of Good Hope, she’d softened considerably.

“I’m glad you could take time out for this,” Len said, reaching over to squeeze KT’s shoulder.

“For us,” Anita corrected pointedly, flashing a look at her husband.

Len chuckled. “Your grandmother means for her.”

KT grinned. “I got the message.”

“Just look at this day.” Anita swept a hand toward the square, alive with laughter and color.

The sun was warm but not hot. A light breeze sent the bunting strung between lampposts fluttering overhead. Children shrieked with joy from the bounce house. The scent of fresh-cut grass, sugar cones and chocolate fudge filled the air.

He hadn’t invited Lolo.

He’d thought about it, briefly, but Anita could be…territorial. And he wasn’t quite sure what this was with Lolo. Not yet.

The three of them passed a long table crowded with tubs of ice cream. The classic flavors were present and accounted for—vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. No Cherry Garcia.

Then his gaze landed on the whiteboard listing prices.

His smile faded.

KT remembered coming to the social with Braxton and Axl, pockets nearly empty, grateful that it was donation-based. Back when even a few bucks stretched thin, this had been one of the few treats they’d gotten all summer.

Now, it was five bucks a scoop.

He frowned. His gaze dropped to the number of families milling around. Could all of them afford this?

“KT, I’d like you to meet Emily Rink.”

Anita’s voice pulled him back. A tall brunette stood beside her. Serious eyes. Crisp blouse. She looked at him like she was mentally assessing brushstroke technique.

“She’s taking over Crumb and Cake,” Anita added. “This is my grandson Kaiden Slattery. An artist, in case you haven’t heard.”

Had Anita mentioned she was selling her business? KT was almost certain she hadn’t. That wasn’t something he’d forget.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he said politely.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Emily replied. “Good things.”

KT nodded, but his attention had already started to drift.

“Is the social still run by First Christian?” he asked, turning to Anita.

“It is,” she replied. “They started charging a few years ago. Donations weren’t keeping up. ”

“Pastor Dan still running things?”

“He is.”

“I’ll be right back.” KT offered Emily a brief, apologetic smile. “Good luck with the bakery.”

Before either woman could respond, he strode across the square in search of Dan—and paused.

Lolo was set up near the fountain, a small easel before her and a growing line of people waiting for caricatures. A young woman sat in the chair, her smile wide as Lolo sketched. And, as KT looked closer at Lolo’s work, he saw a cat perched on the woman’s shoulder.

“You like cats?” KT asked the woman.

“I have two,” she said, already reaching for her phone.

He smiled politely and redirected to Lolo. “Looks good.”

“Thanks.” She glanced up, bright-eyed. “No ice cream?”

“Not yet. Have you seen Pastor Dan?”

“He passed by earlier—headed to the bounce house.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a nod, but lingered for one more second.

Then he was off.

Dan Marshall stood near a group of excited kids, his sleeves rolled up, brown hair streaked with gray. When he saw KT, his face lit up.

“KT Slattery! I was hoping I’d see you.”

“I have a favor to ask,” KT said.

He told him about his memories—the joy of coming to the social with nothing but still leaving with full hearts and sticky fingers. He knew costs had gone up, and he wanted to help.

“I’ll cover it,” KT said. “This year and going forward. Bring back the free-will donations. Let everyone come, no pressure.”

Dan looked stunned. “That’s…generous.”

KT smiled. “Call it gratitude.”

The hug surprised him, but KT didn’t pull away.

As Dan hurried off to make the change, KT felt it—that quiet, satisfying hum in his chest. The good kind of full.

He thought about heading back to Lolo, but her line had grown even longer.

Instead, he found his grandparents again, the scent of waffle cones drifting his way along with a sense that maybe—just maybe—he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Later that afternoon, after the last caricature had been sketched, signed and handed off with a smile, Lolo packed up her supplies and headed toward the refreshment table for a much-needed bottle of water.

“Lolo?”

She turned to see her niece, Ava, dark hair stylishly pinned back from her face, a badge that declared her the Junior Cherries President pinned to her blouse.

Like her mother, Ava had fully embraced the art of volunteering. She’d been the one who asked Lolo to help out today.

“Ava.” Lolo gave her a quick hug. “Good to see you.”

“I just wanted to say thank you for donating your time. The kids loved the caricatures.”

Lolo smiled. “It was my pleasure.”

“I suppose you heard about your friend?” Ava’s eyes sparkled, practically dancing with the thrill of news, another trait she’d clearly inherited from Eliza.

“My friend?”

“KT,” Ava whispered, leaning in like they were sharing a state secret. “He’s the reason the prices disappeared from the ice cream signs. He donated enough to cover everything—this year and from now on.”

Lolo blinked. “He did?”

“Oh yeah. Just walked up to Pastor Dan like it was no big deal. Didn’t even want a fuss.” Ava might’ve said more, but a squeal of greeting from across the square caught her attention. With a quick goodbye, she hurried off to join her friends near the gazebo.

Lolo turned away, the water bottle unopened in her hand.

She wandered toward the edge of the square and found a quiet spot beneath a flowering dogwood, its petals fluttering gently in the breeze. For a moment, she simply watched the scene before her. Kids with sticky hands. Couples sharing cones. Laughter drifting like music on the wind.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, KT Slattery, who had claimed he didn’t do crowds, didn’t make a fuss, had quietly revived a tradition with one generous, unannounced gesture.

She thought of the fairgrounds last night. The honesty in his voice. The way he’d looked at her. The way he’d listened—not just with his ears, but with his whole heart.

A smile touched her lips, soft and sure.

Maybe he’d been right all along.

Sometimes it wasn’t about luck at all.

Sometimes it was about finding the right person at exactly the right time.

After the ice cream social, Lolo stopped at her brother’s house for a short visit, then headed home.

She’d just picked up her phone to text KT when a knock sounded at the door. When she opened it, he had his hand raised, midknock.

“Welcome, neighbor.” Pleasure rushed through her as she stepped aside. “This is a nice surprise. Please come in.”

“You look like you’ve settled in for the night.”

She frowned slightly, then followed his gaze downward.

Ah. Her bunny slippers.

Ava’s gag gift last Christmas was baby blue, with floppy ears and plush shearling insides. What had started as a joke had become her favorite way to unwind.

Lifting her gaze, she smiled. “Not at all. I usually put these on as soon as I get home. They’re ridiculous. Also, ridiculously comfortable.”

KT chuckled, then wandered over to her artist’s nook. His gaze turned sharp and assessing, his attention moving over the setup like he was reading a canvas.

“The window faces north.” He glanced back at her. “That’s ideal for soft, diffused light. And with the floor lamp and track lighting, you’re covered for night work.”

His fingers skimmed down the side of the wooden easel before drifting toward the small table stacked with sketchpads and a wide array of graphite and colored pencils.

“You went shopping,” he said.

“Not me.” She lifted both hands. “Ava. She gave me all of this after the social as a thank-you for stepping in when the scheduled artist canceled.”

He arched a brow. “Looks like there’s a bit of everything here.”

“There’s officially no excuse now.”

KT turned toward her, one eyebrow still raised. “Were you hoping for an excuse?”

“No.” Her eyes lit. “After last night, I’m filled with ideas.”

“Good.” His expression warmed.

They stood there for a second, the quiet between them stretching in that comfortable way she was quickly getting used to.

Then she cleared her throat and gestured toward the armchair near the window. “Sit.”

As he lowered himself into the chair, she settled onto the sofa across from him, tucking one foot up beneath her.

“I wanted to ask if you’d like to go to a party with me tonight,” she said. “I only just found out about it.”

His gaze stayed steady. “What kind of party?”

“A birthday. Daisy’s, actually.” Lolo chuckled. “She decided at the last minute to invite people over to celebrate. Pizza and maybe some cake. Very low-key.”

She watched him carefully for a beat, trying to read his expression.

He didn’t strike her as a spontaneous partygoer. He could very well decide he’d rather be alone, painting. And she wouldn’t blame him.

But still, she wanted him there with her.

“Are you sure she’d be okay with me tagging along?” he asked finally.

Relief bubbled up in her chest, but she kept her tone light. “Brynn’s helping throw it. She told me to make sure I brought you.”

“Brynn and Daisy are close?”

“As close as it gets. Brynn lives right next door to Daisy.”

KT leaned back slightly in the chair, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Well, then…sounds like I’d better be on my best behavior.”