"It has fresh thyme and scallions, Ni?oise olives and Parmesan cheese. Would you like to try a sample?"
"I think I better."
Kate bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing as she cut a piece of bread and handed it to Ada. Ada's brows lowered as she chewed. "Yep, I better have a loaf of that," she said.
"Would you like some jalapefio jelly to go with your bread?"
"No. Same as yesterday when you asked."
Kate moved from the bread aisle and walked be hind the counter. "I'm going to keep asking until you say yes."
"Well, don't get your heart too set on it. I've liked your bread and some of that fancy cheese, but I just don't see myself warming up to jelly made with jalapenos." Ada set her purse on the counter and pulled out her wallet. "How's your granddad?"
You've wasted your Emeraude, Kate thought as she rang up the bread. He's off the market. "He's at home today taking it easy."
"Is somethin' wrong with him? His joints acting up? He should get some glucosamine. That'll heal him huckety-buck."
"No. He's just taking the morning off." To recover from his wild night. "He said he'd be in around noon."
Ada handed Kate a five, and Kate handed her back her change. "Are you coming to the poetry reading tomorrow night?"
"Oh, I don't know." Kate's mind raced to think up an excuse. "I think I'll be too busy getting bread ready for the next day," was the best she could do.
"Too bad. You'll miss my new and revised poem about Snickers."
Kate smiled. "Yeah, that is too bad."
Ada put her change away and picked up her bread. "Well, I'll tell ya what. I'll bring over a copy tomorrow afternoon, special for you, so you can read and enjoy it."
"Really?" Kate forced her smile to stay in place. "That would be great."
After Ada left, Kate restocked the "ethnic food" aisle, which consisted of refried beans, salsa, and canned chilies. At noon, Stanley arrived, as he'd said he would. His smile curved up the corners of his mustache, and he hummed what sounded like the William Tell Overture all day. Not "What's New Pussy Cat" or "Delilah," but classical music like Grace listened to.
He had it bad.
At three, Rob called with a delivery for across the parking lot. Kate didn't balk at his laziness this time since she figured he probably wanted to talk over the latest news with her.
As Kate left the grocery store, dull gray clouds hung over the wilderness area, threatening rain. A strong breeze played with the ties that closed her cuffs and secured the front of her cream-colored blouse. She wore a peach flared skirt and cream pumps with ankle straps. Wind whipped her hair as she glanced in the bag and smiled. Four granola bars and a bottle of passion fruit juice. Some people were so predictable.
Inside Sutter Sports, a man and his son looked at a row of mountain bikes while a woman leaned her elbows on the checkout counter. She'd squeezed herself into a tight pair of Wranglers, and her behind was pointed at Kate. Rob stood on the other side of the counter, chatting and tapping a pen on the cash register. He wore a dark green polo with the store's fish logo on the breast pocket, and when he looked up, a smile curved his lips.
"Babe," he said, "I'm so glad you finally got here."
Babe? Either he was really, really hungry, or he was talking to someone else. Kate glanced over her shoulder as she walked toward him. There was no one behind her, and she turned back as Rob came out from behind the counter and moved to her. She was about to ask him if he'd been eating paint chips when he stunned her even more. He wrapped her in a big hug that lifted the heels of her shoes off the floor. The scent of his sandalwood soap filled her lungs and her stomach got a little light, like she'd swallowed some air.
"Pretend to be my girlfriend," he said next to her ear.
Kate glanced behind him as Dixie Howe straightened and turned around. She'd somehow managed to squeeze her breasts into a little midriff top that was more suited for the beach than an overcast day in April. More suited for someone
half her age, too.
"What's it worth?"
"I'll give you ten bucks."
"Forget it."
"I'll tell everyone I know that your jalapeno jelly is great and to scoot on over to the M &S and pick up a jar before it's all gone."