Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Lila’s phone rang, pulling her attention from TJ. “Hello?”
“Lila! It’s Tilly! How’s it going?”
She glanced toward Grandma, still dazzling in rhinestone glasses, and Irene with her purple hair. “Um, the cats are here.”
“Oh, that’s great. My aunt said someone came to get them. Just take them to my aunt’s after you close, and they’ll be fine.”
“So, you don’t mind?” Lila asked.
“Not at all, so long as they’re not any trouble. I was calling because the head of the festival committee sent me a text. He needs to confirm where we want our booth this year and have you sign some things.”
Lila’s eyes widened, catching TJ’s attention. He frowned, but she waved him off. “Booth?”
“Yes, oh gosh, did I forget to tell you?”
“Um, yeah.”
“I’m so sorry! We always have a booth. Just tell him we want the same spot near the main parking lot. That way folks will see us and grab a coffee to sip while they shop.”
“That makes sense. So, it’s open both days?”
“Yes. Friday and Saturday. Sorry again! That’s one reason I needed extra people to cover the shop while we’re gone.”
Lila fought a sigh. “It’ll be fine. We’ll handle it. Is he coming by Pleasant Beans?”
“Yes. He’s bringing a map of the booth layout so you can look it over. Hopefully, we can still get that same spot.”
“Yeah, let’s hope so. Okay, anything else?”
“Nope, that’s it! How’s everything going?”
Lila watched Irene carry another pie to the front case. “Great, couldn’t be better.”
“Fantastic! Have fun! I’ve gotta go, our snorkeling tour’s about to leave.”
“Okay, bye.” Lila hung up and nearly dropped her phone.
“Everything okay?” TJ asked.
“Yeah, just peachy.”
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?” He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “What did Tilly say?”
Lila heaved a sigh. “Apparently, we have to run a booth during the Harvest Festival this weekend.”
“Oh, is that all? That should be easy.” He waved a hand.
“Easy?” She glanced toward Grandma and Irene, chatting happily behind the counter. “I’m going to need two people to run the booth, and at least two or three here.”
TJ smiled. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help. I’m here for several weeks, and I like to keep busy.”
She gaped at him.
Grandma approached. “I think it’s a fine idea.” She slapped TJ on the back. “You two can take care of the booth at the festival, we’ll handle things here.”
Lila’s eyes widened. “Oh, but is that a good idea?”
“Come now, child,” Grandma said sweetly. “We’ve got the hang of things now. By the weekend, everything will be fine.”
Lila gave TJ the stink eye. “So, are you volunteering to get out of working your family’s ranch?”
He grinned. “I have no shame, I know.”
Grandma laughed. “Spoken like a true Jones.” She returned to the counter just as the door opened.
“Welcome to Pleasant Beans,” Lila called automatically, then froze. “Oh. Hi, Mr. Cooke.”
Grandma and Irene stilled and stared wide-eyed at the man.
“Cooke, you say?” Irene huffed.
“That’s what she said,” Grandma murmured, studying him. “And whom might you be, sir?”
He looked to be in his early seventies, with salt-and-pepper hair and bright blue eyes that crinkled when he smiled. “Titus Cooke, at your service.” He gave a slight bow, then squinted at them. “You two look familiar. Have we met?”
Grandma and Irene exchanged a panicked glance. “Not that we know of,” Irene said quickly. “But we both have that kind of face. Everybody thinks they know us, right, Sarah?”
“Right,” Grandma echoed.
“You’re the head of the Cooke family and the Triple C Ranch,” Irene said smoothly.
“Yes, that would be me.” He chuckled and shifted the clipboard in his hands.
“You’re organizing the booths?” Grandma asked.
“Sure am. Gotta do my part these days.” He held up the clipboard and pencil as Lila joined them. “Now, where would you like your booth? Last year you were near the parking lot. Mavis marked you there, but I need to finalize.”
Lila nodded. Mavis was married to Lincoln, Titus’s son. “Let me see…” She studied the diagram of the layout. “Yes, that’s fine. Keep it there.”
“Who should I mark down as working it?”
TJ raised his hand. “I am, along with Lila.”
Titus blinked. “TJ Jones?”
“Yes, sir.”
“When did you get back into town?” He offered his hand. “It’s been an age.”
“It has indeed.” TJ shook his hand. “How have you been? How’s the family?”
“Fit as fiddles!” Titus grinned. “I bet your mother’s glad to have you home. Say, you married yet?”
“No, sir. Haven’t found the right girl.”
“Not yet, you haven’t,” Grandma said and winked at Irene.
“It’s only a matter of time,” Titus said with a smile. He winked at Lila.
She took a step back and blushed. Oh, good grief. Were they trying to play matchmaker? That was all she needed. “Well,” she said briskly. “Mark us down, Mr. Cooke. We’ll figure out the rest.”
“Tilly told me she and Jack keep the booth supplies in their garage,” Mr. Cooke said. “I’m sure she won’t mind if you have her aunt open it up so you can fetch them.”
“Thanks, Mr. Cooke,” Lila said. “That’s good to know. I’ll text Tilly and confirm.”
He nodded then smiled at Grandma and Irene. “I wish I knew where I’d seen you two. You just look so familiar.”
“Oh, well, you know,” Grandma drawled. “We look familiar to a lot of folks.”
He chuckled and turned toward the door. “I best be going…” He stopped mid-stride. “Wait a minute, I want a coffee.” His gaze landed on the pies in the display case. “Wow! When did Tilly and Jack start carrying pie?”
“Since we started working here,” Irene said proudly. “We’ve got blueberry and apple. Care for a slice? Only five bucks.”
“Would I!” He licked his lips. “And some black coffee to go with it.”
Grandma chuckled as Irene pulled out a whole pie and dished up a generous slice. “Sorry we don’t have ice cream to go with that,” Grandma said. “We wanted to get some today, but this place doesn’t have a freezer. Just an ice maker and refrigerator.”
“That would be because there’s no need for one,” Lila said. “Tilly doesn’t serve pie and ice cream.”
“I’ve got a small freezer I can bring by,” TJ offered. “Well, my parents do. It’s just sitting in their garage. Want to borrow it?”
“That’s a fine idea, young man,” Titus said with a grin as he took the plate from Irene. Grandma poured his coffee and handed it over.
“Enjoy,” she said.
“I will. I do love homemade pie, there’s nothing better.” Titus carried his plate and coffee to a nearby table and dug in. “TJ, you bring that freezer down here as soon as you can, then folks can get some ice cream to go with their pie.”
“Yes, and then we can charge six dollars a slice,” Irene said.
“Now, Irene, don’t be greedy,” Grandma chided.
“Well, we have to buy the ice cream,” she shot back. “Might as well up the ante.”
Lila rubbed one temple with her fingers. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Where are we going to plug in the freezer?”
“Same place we kept the hot plates,” Irene quipped. “The storeroom, where else?”
“Yes, but is there enough space? It’s a freezer, Irene.”
TJ put a reassuring hand on Lila’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. It’s not that big.”
“Really?”
“Maybe three feet high, two and a half wide at the most.”
“Well… all right,” she relented.
“Great! I’ll go fetch it. Care to come with me?”
Her head snapped toward him as if he’d suggested she shoot herself. “I’m working.”
“Oh yes, I see that.” His eyes danced. “Sorry.”
“Go on ahead, child,” Grandma said. “We’ll take care of things here.”
“Do you realize where his folks live? They’re a good half hour out of town.”
“It’s not that far,” TJ said. He sighed. “Look, if it makes you feel better, I can go alone. No problem. But if you come with me, we can grab the festival supplies from Tilly’s garage while we’re out.”
“Oh, right.” Lila blinked. “I forgot about that.”
“Probably a good idea,” Titus said from his table, pointing his fork at them. “That way it’s all taken care of.” He turned back to Grandma and Irene. “Best pie I’ve had in a long time. But don’t tell Mavis. She’s the baker in the family. The girls are always too busy.”
“Girls?” Grandma asked.
“Yeah, my daughters and granddaughters. They’re always running around.” He squinted at them.
“Say, we heard you rent out some of the old cabins on your property. That true?” Grandma asked.
He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry if you were hoping to rent one. They’re all filled.”
“No, no,” Irene said quickly. “We’re thinking of buying a place around here.”
“You two widowed?”
“No,” Irene said. “We’re both married. But there are eight of us in our little group, and we like to stick together.”
He smiled and nodded, taking another bite of pie.
“Come on, Lila,” TJ said quietly. “They can handle things while we’re gone.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure if it was from leaving or from the idea of spending time alone with TJ. “Grandma, are you sure you can handle being by yourselves?”
Titus’s head lifted at her tone, curiosity flickering in his eyes. Lila moved behind the counter and lowered her voice. “We’ll probably be gone a couple of hours,” she murmured. Then, with a resigned breath, she turned to TJ. “Let’s go. But I want to get back as soon as we can.”
“Sure thing.” He opened the door and motioned her through.
She followed him out and eyed the car he was heading toward. “I thought you had a truck?”
“I can borrow one from my brother once we get to my folks’ place,” he said. “We’ll grab it, then load the freezer and fetch the air popper too.”
She scratched her head. “Oh yeah. Sorry.”
He opened her door, and Lila climbed in. It was probably his mother’s car. It smelled like a cross between lavender and lemon polish.
As soon as they left the parking lot, she relaxed a little, but not enough to shake the awkward flutter in her chest. She was alone with TJ. He was handsome, tall, charming… and another tingle shot up her spine just looking at him.
But he was also leaving, returning to England, and she’d better remember that. Because why would someone like him stay for someone like her? She was nobody. And everyone in town knew the Cookes, Joneses, and Turners didn’t date nobodies.