His attitude brightened. Brightened a lot. He’d get his supplies, then treat himself. “So, I have this long list…”
“Let me look at it.” The woman reached for it. “I’m Donna, by the way. My family owns the store.”
He looked at her closely. “You wouldn’t be one of the sisters who used to work at the ice cream counter when I’d come here in the summers, would you? Years and years ago.”
“Guilty. We sure did.”
“I came here to Moonbeam with my family for three or four summers.”
“So you’re back here and fixing something up?” Donna nodded at the list.
“Oh, that.” He couldn’t help himself. He rolled his eyes. “My sister bought a resort here and it… Let’s just say it needs some work.”
“The old Murphy place? I heard it had been sold.”
“That very one.” He shook his head. “I barely know where to start on it. But I’ve come for a visit to help her with repairs.”
“By the looks of your list, there’s a lot to do. Let’s see what all we can find.”
He followed after her and they found almost everything he needed, and she ordered in the items she didn’t have. “Thanks for the help.”
“Sure thing.” She turned to a teenaged boy stocking shelves. “Blake, you want to load up these supplies for—” She turned back to him. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“Rob Bentley.”
“If you don’t mind giving Blake your keys, he’ll load these into your trunk. And I’ll take you next door to the cafe and you can have your ice cream. On the house.”
“That sounds great.” He tossed the keys to the boy. “Silver Ford, rental plates, right outside the door.”
He followed Donna through an opening between buildings and entered the cafe, pleased to see the very same ice cream counter across the room. A few teenagers hung out at a table near the counter.
She nodded toward the table. “The kids come in for ice cream after school.”
“Hi, Grams.” A red-headed girl waved, and Donna waved back.
“My granddaughter and her friends.” She led him over to the counter. “Evelyn, this is Rob Bentley. He’s wanting some ice cream. His sister is the one who bought the Murphy Resort, and he came to help her out.”
He sat on a stool at the counter. “Hi, Evelyn. Nice to meet you. Though, I met you and your sister years ago.”
“You did?” She looked at him expectantly.
“Came here years ago for vacation with my folks and my sister. You two worked the ice cream counter then. And to be honest, I’ve never had better ice cream anywhere.”
“Secret family recipe.” She smiled back at him.
“I’ll leave you in Evelyn’s capable hands. Oh, and Evie, I told him it was on the house.”
Evelyn nodded. “So, Rob. What will you have?”
“If I remember correctly, all your flavors were good, but your vanilla was exceptional.”
“Still is.” She grinned. “Cone or bowl?”
“Cone, two scoops?”
“Coming up.” She made his cone and handed it to him.
He tried it. Cold, creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness. Seriously, the best ice cream ever. “Just like I remembered. Maybe better.”
