Page 159 of Love Arranged

If there’s anyone I can get to willingly come out to talk to theWisteria Weeklyreporter about Lorenzo and how much he’s helped, it’s Maria.

“Maria,” I say, and she pulls me into a hug before ushering me to sit beside her.

We both take a seat and make casual conversation for a bit. She shares a few stories about this week’s cooking school attendees, and I share a romanticized—or more so,fantasized—version of Lorenzo’s proposal before we finally get to the real reason for today’s coffee date.

I explain how I’d love for her to share her story with a reporter at theWisteria Weekly. Our newspaper might seem small-time, but it’s one area Lorenzo hasn’t targeted enough, at least in my opinion as someone who still fills out the crossword puzzle every Sunday.

“I don’t know…” She looks down at her lap, where her hands are bunched up.

“I know it’s a big ask?—”

“It’s not that I don’t want to help Lorenzo…” She exhales. “It’s hard to talk about how our business was going under before he stepped in.”

“I can only imagine.” Given how successful her cooking school is, it’s hard to believe that they were struggling to make ends meet, but then again, the restaurant industry has a high failure rate.

Maria holds her head high. “My husband is a proud man.”

“Of you? I sure hope so because you’re amazing,” I tease, hoping to lighten the mood.

Her lips curl ever so slightly, so I count it as a win. “Ah. I see why Lorenzo loves you.”

My blush is one hundred percent genuine.

“How could us being interviewed help him?” she asks.

“There’s no guarantee, but I’m hoping if people see that Lorenzo’s been helping this town succeed without any of them knowing for two years already, then perhaps it would help him stand out. As of right now, everyone credits the Ludlows for Lake Wisteria’s success, and while they have helped,they’re not the only ones responsible for the growth.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I have a few friends who Lorenzo’s helped too, and they all have good things to say.”

Now this is what I was hoping for.

“My husband and I will have to discuss the interview, but I’m sure some of my friends would be much more comfortable coming out and talking about Lorenzo’s impact on their businesses.”

“Really?” I tamp down the excitement in my voice.

She gives my hand a pat. “Oh, yes. I’ll start calling them once we’re done here.”

I’m flooded with a relief so strong I end up throwing my arms around her and crying out, “Thank you so much!”

“It’s the least I can do for a man who gives so much while asking for so little in return.”

I get choked up over her comment, and it isn’t because of hormones or a piece of dust aggravating my contacts.

It’s because someone sees Lorenzo as the incredible man heisrather than the villain he’s not, and hopefully, once theWisteria Weeklyarticle is published, the rest of the town will too.

I won’t stop until they do.

Between my job, meeting with the small-business owners Lorenzo works with for theWisteria Weeklyarticle, and all the election activities Willow has been planning, I’m run-down and struggling to keep up with the pace.

I don’t know how Lorenzo manages everything, but his ability to juggle his personal, social, and political life shouldbe studied.

When Lorenzo’s campaign isn’t monopolizing my time, then Josefina and my mom are with planning an engagement party—something they wouldn’t take no for an answer on. I tried my hardest, but once they landed on a Saturday in early October, it was game over.

I’m too tired to offer much help, so I’m not sure what I’m agreeing to exactly. All I know is by the time Josefina leaves, we nearly have the entire event planned out.

I should feel relieved to be done with the majority of the planning, but then I receive a new message from Willow, asking if I want to swing by Lorenzo’s house sometime today.

She follows up with another new text before I can ask what’s up.