Page 34 of November

“Balanced?”

“Yes, like all alcoholic drinks, including that beer you ordered, should be.”

“Don’t get her started,” Finley said.

“What? It’s true,” India replied. “If it’s balanced, it tastes good. Too much gin or not enough throws off the flavors. Too much juice or otherwise fruity flavors creates an imbalance. The same is true with wine. It’s about how the grapes balance with everything else. The sugar content and the fermentation time; it all matters.”

“Are you one of those wine people or something?” Lainey asked.

“A sommelier? No, I’m not. But I did take a class in it a few years ago. Not to get certified or anything; just to learn.”

“That’s cool. Right, Maise?” Lainey asked, nodding toward her in a pretty obvious manner to get her to say something.

“Sure,” she said.

“So, I’m thinking about getting a burger,” Molly said.

“A burger? Here?” India asked.

“They’re really good,” Finley noted, glaring at India.

“They have a kitchen back there?” India asked, turning her head toward the doors that led to the back.

“They do. And their food is good,” Molly replied. “Fin, want to share my fries?”

“No, I’ll get my own,” Finley said. “Without the ketchup soup all over them.”

“Ketchup soup?” India asked.

“Molly loves condiments more than the food she eats them with,” Finley explained.

“Oh,” India replied and reached for that napkin again, using it to wipe at the table that had nothing on it.

“So, Lainey, what do you do?” Finley asked.

“I’m a high school girls’ soccer coach, and I work part-time atChapter & Verse.”

“Oh, yeah? Why?” Molly asked.

“BecauseI’m a high school girls’ soccer coach,” Lainey said and laughed a little.

“How was the rest of your day?” India asked softly.

Maisie turned to see her looking her way and tucking the napkin back.

“Good. You?”

“Meetings,” India said.

“Fun,” Maisie replied sarcastically.

“Okay. Beers all around, except for this,” Logan said, setting Lainey’s drink in front of her before she served beers for Maisie, Molly, and Finley. “Yours will be out in a minute. Candace is working on it,” she added to India.

“Great. Thank you,” India said.

“So, food?”

“Yeah. Can I get a cheeseburger with fries?” Molly said.