“Ecstatic.” She folded her hands over her stomach and leveled him with a glare. “And lucky for you, I don’t have anywhere else I have to be. I can wait you out.”
He could already tell this was a battle he wasn’t going to win.
“Fine.” Cade leaned back in his chair, intentionally ignoring his desk drawer containing Skittles. He hadn’t been able to make it to the gym with Linc the past few weeks, and reckoning day would come. “I’m atadbehind on Magnolia Days, but I’m getting there.” He pointed to the pile of papers. “The poodles are confirmed, so there’s that.” Thanks to Rosalyn’s calls from NOLA.
His stomach knotted. They hadn’t talked since. He’d kept busy with the festival, only glimpsing her through the window on his way past Madame Paulette’s studio once or twice over the weekend. At some point, he’d have to break the ice with her.
But at the moment, there didn’t seem to be a big enough pick. It was easier to focus on preparing for the movie scout to come. To assure Mrs. Peters the Friends of the Library booth would have peak accessibility at the festival. To dodge Trish and her insistence on hosting a kissing booth. To create graphics for the newspaper to print featuring Rosalyn’s performance.
Ok, maybe that part hadn’t been easier.
The AC unit kicked on, blowing a reprieve of air into his office space. “Everything will be ready to go soon.”
“I know I’ve offered before, but I’m happy to help with anything you need.” Delia tilted her gray head. “My great-nephew in Metairie has bouncy houses. That might be fun?—”
He held up both hands. “I’ve got it covered, Mama D. I promise.” Bouncy houses required space to put them, and the festival grounds were going to be full at it was—not to mention working in parking for what he hoped would be a big crowd.
She nodded, her brow furrowed as if unconvinced. “Then why don’t you delegate something to me? I’ve got free time on my hands since selling the diner.”
“There’s nothing to delegate, but I appreciate it.” And he did. But delegating things out meant he’d have to follow up on them, and that added extra work to his to-do list. It was easier in that sense to handle it himself.
“I’ll take your word for it.” Delia braced both hands on her cane. Her gray eyebrows hiked up her forehead. “What else is going on to make that face?”
“Is this not enough?” Cade plucked the sticky note from the stack and teasingly shook it at her.
“Oh, knock it off. I’ve watched you grow up. All you boys.” Delia waved one arm as if gesturing to the entire male population of Magnolia Bay. “I can tell when all isn’t well.” She smiled. “That’s my favorite hymn, you know. ‘It Is Well with My Soul.’” Then her eyes narrowed. “And it’s not with yours. What’s troubling you?”
He hesitated. Maybe Delia would have some advice…if he kept it vague. After all, he promised Rosalyn her secret was safe.
He picked up a paperclip and rolled it between his fingers. “Have you ever had someone you were close to turn out to be someone different…not who you thought they were?”
Delia nodded knowingly. “Like a murderer?”
“What? No!” Cade made a face at her. “Who exactly are you friends with?”
She adjusted the hem of her shirt over her pants. “You were very serious just now. So I assumed it was a serious allegation.”
“Fine. Less serious than murder, but still…startling.”
“So criminal in another way? Bank robber?”
Cade shot her a look. “You need help.”
“I’m about to make a point.”
“I can’t wait.” He bit back a groan.
“If it’s not criminal…” Delia tapped her chin. “Then that would mean—for this to besoupsetting to you—that this person went through a major character change?”
“Not exactly.” Cade stared at the paper clip. Rosalyn was still who she was. “More like they kept a secret.”
“I see. And was there a good reason for this secret?”
“Well…yeah.”
Delia’s expression took on that of a wise old owl. “Did the secret hurt anyone outright?”
“Not…sort of. Yes. I mean?—”
