Closely Harbored Secrets by Bree Baker

Author:Bree Baker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2020-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

I popped into Sun, Sand, and Tea feeling exhausted but hopeful the next morning. After wrapping myself in a blanket and sitting on the deck with Lou last night, I’d gotten the perspective I’d needed. Grady and I were friends, and I treasured that. Nothing had actually changed, and everything was good. I was fine. Absolutely. Fine.

Lou had whole-heartedly agreed, so I’d straightened my ponytail and gone to bed.

After several hours of fitful sleep, I’d decided to make rum cakes and get a jump start on my day. I’d pondered Aunt Fran’s comeback commercial while I prepped food for the café, then shot off a flurry of emails in search of help. Staying busy kept my mind off things I couldn’t control, like my recent threats and the way things had been left between me and Grady. Not that I’d been replaying and overanalyzing his words in my head all morning. That would’ve been ridiculous. And I was fine. I was also running on sheer adrenaline by the time my shop opened.

Denise waved goodbye to a set of customers just before noon, then came to greet me at the counter. “You’re Miss Productive today,” she said. “Makeup on. Hair down. Cakes baked. What lit a fire under your behind?”

“Probably that bananas commercial Mary Grace put out yesterday,” I said, deflecting. “I was up late, working on a video for Aunt Fran, then had trouble sleeping.”

Denise leaned her hip against the counter. “I wondered if you saw that. Did Fran?”

“Yes, and she nearly blew a gasket.”

Denise nodded in full understanding. “What are we going to do about it? Can we petition the town council to take it down?”

“We can, but everyone’s probably already seen it,” I said. “I’m nearly finished with an ad for Aunt Fran that will remind people of who she really is. A woman with roots in this town deeper than most trees.”

Denise grinned. “I like the sound of that. Can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve.”

“I hope to have it all finished and uploaded tonight. I’ve already sent a teaser to the Town Charmer to get some early buzz going. I learned that trick from Amelia’s pre–book launch agenda.” I climbed onto my step stool behind the counter and erased the daily menu from my chalkboard. “I also came up with a fun way to promote Aunt Fran from here.” I scripted a red, white, and blue chalk outline around the words: VOTER’S DELIGHT. “We officially serve a trio of Aunt Fran’s favorite family recipes, for one patriotic price. Passionfruit and ginger tea, a small charcuterie board, and blueberry cobbler. All things I can prep in bulk and have consistently at the ready until Election Day. And every Voter’s Delight comes with a Vote for Swan button.” I motioned to the glass gallon jar I’d tied a red ribbon around and filled with Aunt Fran’s swag.

Denise clapped.

I took a bow, then climbed down.

“Have you looked at the blog recently?” she asked.

“No.” I flattened my step stool and tucked it away.

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