Tangle of Lies by C. J. Carmichael

Author:C. J. Carmichael
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781962707749
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2024-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The plumbers were in for lunch again on Wednesday. Hadley had learned their names. The guy with the beard was Bob. And the short guy with the stubble was Doug. Bob liked his cola without ice. Doug always appreciated a few extra fries and a generous slice of pie.

“What are you guys working on today?”

“New house out by the ski hill,” Bob said. “Big project. Probably take us a few weeks.”

“Who’s building that?”

“Some rich dude from Vancouver. Haven’t met him. We’re working for the contractor.”

“What’s the pie today?” Doug asked.

“Classic apple.”

“Bring it on.”

She swung on her heel and headed back to the counter. It was peak lunch hour and almost every seat in the place was taken. This was excellent. Time passed faster when she was busy, plus she’d been pleasantly surprised by how well Stella’s customers tipped.

“Two apple pies, Stella,” she said on her way to the coffeepot.

“Coming up.” Stella removed the glass cover from the pie. “Say how did your dinner go on Sunday?”

“Not the greatest. Turns out Carly is full-on vegetarian. And Amber is allergic to strawberries.”

“And I gave you the strawberry-rhubarb pie…oh no!”

“It turned out okay. All she got was a rash and it went away when they gave her some allergy medication. But I am going to have to learn to cook something vegetarian.”

“Ugh. Sorry, not my specialty.” Stella placed the plated apple pies on a tray with the coffees. “Give my best to the boys.” She winked. “Tell Doug I cut his a sliver bigger than normal.”

On her way back to the plumbers’ table, the front door opened, and Hadley had to pause as the newcomer entered. It was Jesse. They both froze for a moment, their eyes locked. Then good sense snapped Hadley out of the spell.

“Hey Jesse.” She breezed past him to the two plumbers and handed out the pies and coffees. “Stella says she hopes you enjoy the pie,” she said to Doug, giving him a smile.

“Hang on,” Bob said. “His slice is bigger.”

Doug looked delighted. “Stella always liked me better.”

“Want me to get you a bigger slice, Bob?”

“Nah, that’s okay. Gotta watch my figure. Unlike my partner here.”

She laughed and left them to their bickering, moving to another group who had finished eating and were waiting for their bill. As she chatted with the foursome, she took note of Jesse grabbing a stool at the counter and of Stella taking his order.

Had he come here to see her again?

Part of her wished it was true. She was busy with her new job and taking care of Madison, but she was also lonely. She needed friends, people her own age. When she’d moved here, she’d had hopes of a reconciliation with Fallon and Jesse. But she didn’t see Fallon thawing toward her soon.

And a renewed friendship would become impossible if she and Jesse got too cozy.

For the next twenty minutes Hadley was kept so busy she had no time to think about her problems. A few times she caught Jesse’s gaze on her.

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