Say Cheese by MacLeod Miranda & Markinson T.B

Author:MacLeod, Miranda & Markinson, T.B.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: I Heart SapphFic Press
Published: 2024-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“W

hy do people do this?” Candace dropped a handful of Halloween candy on Elle’s desk before taking a seat in the extra chair. Elle would have called it the visitor’s chair, except nine times out of ten, Candace was the occupant. “The first week of November is deadly to my waistline. All the parents want the candy their little monsters got from trick-or-treating out of the house, so they bring it into the office. I don’t have kids. I shouldn’t have to eat their candy.”

“There is a simple solution to this problem of yours,” Elle observed as she unwrapped a miniature Snickers.

“I hope you’re not going to recommend anything dramatic, like banning Halloween. You’re a monster.”

Elle gave a snort at how quickly Candace had jumped to the most extreme possibility. “I was simply going to suggest you could walk by the bowls of free candy and not grab any.”

Candace’s brow wrinkled as she considered this option. “You’ve met me, right? I have zero willpower. Have you tried resisting a bag of Reese’s Pieces staring you in the face?”

Elle chuckled. “Fair point. But if we keep eating this stuff, we’re going to make ourselves sick.”

“It’s almost noon,” Candace said. “Want to get lunch?”

Elle’s heart skipped a beat. Noon was usually when Angie sent her daily photo of Chester. Seventeen days in a row, in fact. She hadn’t missed a single one since Elle had left Vermont. Elle had started looking forward to the ritual like an addict craving her next fix.

Because she loved dogs, of course. Especially Saint Bernards. No other reason.

“Earth to Elle,” Candace said, snapping her fingers in front of Elle’s face. “You in or out?”

Elle blinked, shaking her head slightly. “Sorry. Yeah, let’s go grab lunch. We should go to that deli around the corner. What’s it called? Montie’s?”

“It’s not there anymore.” Candace unwrapped a Reese’s peanut butter cup, oblivious to the stab of disappointment her news had caused. “Peanuts have protein, right?”

“What do you mean it’s not there? It was run by that sweet old man. Oh no—” Elle smothered her mouth with a hand, whispering between her cracked fingers. “Did he get sick? Is there a GoFundMe?”

“Dunno.” Candace shrugged. “I heard through the grapevine that a bubble tea place is going in. I love bubble tea.”

Elle’s mind raced, still trying to process the news that Montie’s had closed. “Was there a sign on the door, any kind of explanation?”

Candace tilted her head, giving Elle a searching look. “Why do you care so much? We only went there once a month, if that.”

“But it was part of our community,” Elle argued, uncertain how Candace could be so unconcerned. “What if they were in trouble? We should take care of small businesses. When I was in Vermont⁠—”

“I should have known this had something to do with Vermont,” Candace said with a groan. “I hate to break it to you, but that place is making you soft. This is Boston, where you can get stabbed for smiling at someone on the train.

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