“I have a question, Mrs. Fontenot.” Elisa nestled a leftover cupcake inside the bakery box, her tone overly casual—meaning the question would not be.
Uh-oh.
Zoey leaned against the countertop, craning her neck to look out the diner window—but no sign of rescue in sight. Linc and Amelia had gotten a ride back to the courthouse to get Linc’s truck, and then they were supposed to come pick her up. She’d volunteered to stay and help clean, hoping to smooth over any lingering tension between her and Elisa over the elopement.
Had she known Elisa was getting suspicious of the truth, however…“Shoot.”
Frosting smeared the side of Elisa’s thumb, and she licked it off. “Why don’t you marry Linc?”
Huh? Zoey waved her hand in front of her best friend’s face. The flash of the gold band still looked foreign on her finger, and she lowered her hand, tucking her fingers into a fist. “Earth to Elisa. Didn’t you just help host ourweddingreception?”
Elisa tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear, her eyes narrowed. “I hosted a party, but I’m not convinced it was for a wedding.”
Uh-oh. What did that mean?
Zoey cleared her throat. “Do I need to pull out the marriage license for you?” It was in a folder in Linc’s truck, in the nice little envelope the courthouse had provided. All neat and tidy, like their makeshift family was supposed to be now.
Though between her undeniable feelings for Linc, Madam Paulette’s gift, and Amelia’s second abrupt departure from Magnolia Blossom, it was starting to feel more like someone had started a second fire in her life.
“You need to pull out thetruth.” Elisa crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes were kind, despite her firm tone. “Though I’m pretty sure God and I both already know what that is.”
She should have known her best friend would see through the charade. “How did you figure it out?”
Elisa went back to packing cupcakes. Oh, and a small, only partially cut cheesecake. Where had that been all afternoon? “The comment you made earlier about my being a ‘real bride’ was a giveaway.”
Oops. Zoey covered her face with her hands. “Do you think anyone else could tell?”
“Probably not. But why are you lying about marrying Linc? Is it for Amelia’s sake?” Elisa frowned. “Because I don’t think the girl needs any more lies in her life.”
Zoey peeked through her fingers. “Wearemarried.”
“I know that. But only on a technicality.” Elisa reached out, covered Zoey’s hands with hers atop the counter. “Were things really that bad for you financially? Were you that desperate? Or was it because of Amelia?”
All of that, and none of it. Zoey released a sigh, grateful the truth was out there to someone. Her shoulders lightened, despite the knot forming in her stomach. One symptom for another. “Linc needed help. I needed help. Amelia needs help.” Zoey offered a one-shouldered shrug. “I know it sounds crazy.”
“It would.” Elisa nodded. “Except I think you’re both using this as an excuse.”
“An excuse?”
“Sure. Think about it.”
Zoey scoffed. “Right. Like Linc was so in love with me, he burned down my beignet shop and faked having a teen daughter to convince me to marry him.”
“Not like that.” Elisa chuckled. “Sorry, that was funny. I mean, I think deep down both of you wanted this with each other, and it just took all the sudden chaos of Amelia’s arrival and the fire to make it happen.”
Ha, again. “No way.” Zoey shook her head, playing with the edge of a cupcake liner. “Linc made it very clear this was a business arrangement. Practicality, only.”
Elisa’s brow furrowed. “So what later? You just get divorced?”
“No.” Zoey shook her head, paused. “Probably not.”
Elisa sighed. “So you haven’t thought any of this out long-term? You two just ran to the courthouse?”
Zoey lifted her chin. “We drove.”
“Zoey…”
“I don’t know, okay? We decided to handle what’s happening right now, and deal with the future later.” She was repeating Linc’s almost exact words. As if she believed them.
