Ezra headed toward the rear of the store. “Maybe you should order
twenty
-pound line, so you won’t have to keep buying so many lures and hooks every year.”
Olivia fell into step behind him, walking along the front of the counter as he shuffled behind it, aware of Mark following her—probably ogling her backside. “Why in hell doesn’t someone make indestructible bobbers? I swear the parents break more of them than the kids do.”
“It would probably be cheaper to buy cork ones,” Ezra said, his eyebrows lifting at her tone as his gaze darted from her to Mark. He looked down and tapped a few keys on his ancient computer. “Cork bobbers might cost more up front, but at least they still float after being bounced off the rocks all day.”
“I tried some a couple of years ago, remember, but the toddlers kept eating them. Mark, why don’t you go see about loading that water heater.”
“By myself?”
“It’s on a hand truck, young fella,” Ezra said, glancing over his glasses.
“Just make sure you tie it down tightly,” Olivia added, remembering that the twit drove as recklessly as he asked for sex. “I don’t want it landing in the ditch the first time we hit a yes ma’am.”
Mark had started to turn away, but turned back. “When we hit a what?”
Ezra looked up from his computer again. “Where you from, young fella?”
“Georgia.”
“You don’t have large dips in the roads down there in Georgia that bangs you up against the roof when you hit them too fast, making you say ‘yes ma’am’ every time your backside lifts off the seat?”
“We have potholes. And the name’s Mark, not
young
fella
. I’m twenty-three,” he said, puffing out his chest as he shot Olivia a lecherous grin.
Which meant he was still ten years too young. She gave him a motherly smile. “Ezra calls anyone under seventy
young fella
. Go load the water tank so we can get back in time to meet Sophie at the turnoff. I just had my road graded, and I don’t want the school bus driving all the way in to Inglenook if I can help it.”
But when Ezra silently nodded toward the small white box hidden behind a display of key chains, Olivia glanced at her watch and decided she had plenty of time. “Oh, Mark,” she called out as the boy headed through the back door. “After you’ve loaded the tank, could you please go to the post office and pick up the mail?” She shot him a brilliant smile. “If you gave Inglenook’s address like I suggested, maybe there’s a letter for you from your
girlfriend
.”
That seemed to brighten his mood as he disappeared out back, her not-so-subtle reminder that he was already spoken for apparently going right over his head.
Ezra slid the box onto the counter between them. “I ran next door to the Drunken Moose right after you called. Vanetta was just pulling this batch out of the oven, so they should still be warm.”
Olivia immediately opened the box. “Ohmigod, I love it when you spoil me. And your timing’s perfect; I really, really need this right now,” she said, grabbing one of the huge, warm, and gooey cinnamon buns. She took a bite and closed her eyes as she pressed the thick icing against the roof of her mouth, then chewed slowly before finally swallowing so she could take another bite. But she stopped with the bun halfway to her mouth when she saw Ezra gaping at her. “Don’t you look at me like that, you old poop. These buns are better than taking up drinking.”
“What’s the matter? Did Eileen make you sit through another reading of her dissertation last night?”
“I don’t know why that woman asks my opinion if she doesn’t want my input on anything.” Olivia licked icing off her finger, then shot him a grin. “At least she’s given up
discussing her latest theory on the role of grandparents with me, since I suggested she interview an expert living right here in Spellbound Falls, seeing how Bunkie Watts has sixteen and a half grandbabies.” She sighed, nodding toward the back room. “No, Mark’s the one making me want to take up drinking. That boy sleeps more hours than he’s awake, and he eats like there’s no tomorrow.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “And I swear the inside of his truck smells like pot. I’m going to have to replace him before Inglenook starts up again, as I can’t risk having a pothead around my campers.” She straightened with a glare. “I think they should make it legal for an employer to ask right on the application if someone is a recreational drug user.”
Ezra choked on his bite of bun and took a quick sip of coffee. “Doreen gave me hell when I told her she had to fill out a W-2 form in order to work here two days a week. She said her social security number wasn’t any of my business, even after I spent half an hour explaining that’s precisely
why
she was given the number. Speaking of Sophie,” Ezra said, wiping his fingers on his pants, “you do know that ducking down aisles and running out the back door of the Drunken Moose ain’t gonna serve you in the long run, don’t you? One of these days Simon Maher’s gonna wise up and be sitting in your van the next time you jump in it. Need I remind you that postponing the inevitable won’t make it any easier?”
Olivia swallowed with a frown, wondering how they’d gone from employees to Sophie to Simon. “And you know the minute I tell her precious brother to get lost, Missy Maher will turn my life into a living hell again. She wasn’t all that keen when Simon became interested in me in the first place, but once she got hold of the notion that Inglenook and I might be a package deal, she all but started throwing him at me. If I flat-out tell Simon to go jump in the lake, she’ll start up her campaign to shut us down again.”
Ezra waved that away. “You already fixed every infraction the inspectors found. The state can’t close down a complying business just because some neighbor doesn’t like the sounds of a camp full of families having fun.”
“They can close down a business that causes the game wardens to initiate a massive search when I lose one of those families.”
“That was several years ago, Olivia, and every damn last family member said it was the best three days they’d ever spent together. Hell, the Minks have been coming to one of your weeklong sessions every year since.” Ezra leaned on the counter toward her again, his cloudy blue eyes filled with concern. “You got to set Simon straight the moment he gets back from Chicago; if not for yourself, then for Sophie. What are you teaching that girl about grown-up relations when her mama drags her out the back door of the Drunken Moose right in the middle of breakfast to avoid talking to a man? Hell, last Saturday when I tried to get her to come see the new kites I got in, Sophie told me she couldn’t because she was keeping a lookout for Simon.”
Olivia blew out a sigh. “I am such a phony. How do I have the nerve to run a camp that teaches parents how to connect with their kids when I stoop to bribing my own kid into spying for me?”
Ezra reached out and patted her hand. “Now Olivia, everyone knows it ain’t easy being a single parent. Since way before Keith died you’ve been raising Sophie all by yourself and looking out for Eileen and John like a daughter. Hell, you’ve been single-handedly running Inglenook for them for years.” He shook his head. “Why Keith couldn’t be content to stay here and run it himself is beyond anyone’s guess. Ain’t no one in town gonna talk bad about our only war hero, but the man had no business getting himself killed in some desert half a world away.”
“Keith loved being a soldier,” Olivia defended, though only halfheartedly.
Ezra answered with a snort. “So, you asked Eileen about buying Inglenook yet? She should have her doctorate in what… another couple of months?”
“I can’t just flat-out ask her; she’ll fall over laughing. And besides, you know I’m hoping to get another six months of savings before I broach the subject.” She touched
his hand when he tried to interrupt. “I’m not taking any money from you. I feel guilty enough as it is that Doris left me her savings. That money should have gone to family.”
“You’re the closest thing to family Doris and I got,” he said thickly, turning his hand to grasp hers. “And more than anything in this world, she wanted to help you realize your dream. Let me give you the rest of what you need for the down payment so you can buy Inglenook
now
, before Eileen gets it in her head she can sell to developers for more than you can afford.”
“No one’s going to pay big bucks for land way up here in the mountains; everyone’s too busy developing the coast. As it is, our campers keep complaining about how far we are from the nearest large airport.” She shook her head. “I need to wait until Eileen finds a position at a college, so she’ll be desperate to sell Inglenook. That’s the only way I’ll get it for a reasonable price.”
“I know. I know,” he said, patting her hand again. “Everyone thinks Eileen’s been taking advantage of you all these years, and I agree it’s better to let them keep thinking you’re in awe of your mother-in-law until you make your move. But I don’t like that people believe you’re a wimp for ducking down aisles to avoid them.”
Olivia broke into a smile. “And just when have I cared what people think of me?”
“But they complain you’re aloof.”
“Good. That way they don’t ask me to be on every committee in town. You know it took me all of Sophie’s kindergarten year to get them to stop asking me to bake cookies every other week for some school function.” She snorted. “When burning everything didn’t deter them, I had to resort to adding too much salt.”
“But that’s just it, Olivia. You haven’t let anyone see the real you since you were eight, when you finally decided your daddy wasn’t coming back,” he said gruffly, squeezing her hand. “You only let Doris and me and Sophie inside your world. Don’t you think it’s past time you showed everyone the real you?”
“I promise the real Olivia will make her appearance the day she hangs a new sign at the end of the road and opens up her own camp for families. Because I intend to climb Whisper Mountain and shout to the world that Olivia Naglemeyer Baldwin is
home
,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “I promised myself when Sophie was born that she would have
one
home growing up, and that she’d always know right where to find me.” Olivia tapped the counter. “So it looks as if Spellbound Falls is where I’m making my stand. And come hell or high water, and God save anyone who gets in my way, by this time next year Inglenook will be mine.”
“Now that sounds more like the girl I know and love,” Ezra growled, stuffing the last of his bun in his mouth.
Olivia checked her watch, stepped behind the counter, and gave him a hug. “I have to get going if I want to catch Sophie’s bus. Thanks for the treat. You just saved me from raiding the pantry for a bottle of wine,” she said, stepping back into the aisle—only to nearly run into Peg Thompson. “Oh, hi, Peg.” She looked down and ruffled the hair of the boy clinging to his mother. “Hello, Pete. Or are you Repeat?”
“I’m Jacob,” the boy said as he pointed at his twin running toward them. “He’s Peter.” He then turned his pointing finger up at her. “You got white stuff on your chin.”
“That wouldn’t happen to be icing off one of Vanetta’s buns, would it?” Peg drawled as she pushed Jacob’s finger down. “Because I swear I smell cinnamon.”
Olivia rubbed her chin with her sleeve. “Guilty,” she laughed.
“Well, looky here,” Ezra said, making Olivia turn to see him pull another box from under the counter. “I must have ESP, and knew you young fellas were coming in this afternoon. Why else would I have these gooey cinnamon buns smelling up my store?”
Peter and Jacob were at the counter before he’d finished speaking, their young eyes going wide when Ezra opened the box and held it down to them.
“Oh, for pete’s sake, Ezra,” Peg moaned. “You’re spoiling them.”
“That’s right,” he chuckled. “For Pete and Jacob’s sakes. Go on, boys, take your pick.” He held the box toward Peg. “You too, young lady.”
“I’ll be back for mine in a minute,” Peg said, leading Olivia down the aisle. “Pete, Repeat, you stand right there and eat them. And don’t touch anything.”
“What’s up?” Olivia asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
Peg let her go, her eyes turning troubled as she glanced at the counter, then back at Olivia. “I’m worried about Ezra,” she whispered. “He’s starting to… I’m afraid he’s…” She shifted so she was facing away from the counter. “Dammit, I think he’s getting senile. At first I blamed his ancient computer for messing up my bill every month, but now I’m worried it’s
him
. He’s made a few mistakes in the past, but lately it’s been getting pretty bad. I called this morning just like I do every month when I get my social security checks for the children, figuring I owed Ezra about two hundred dollars, but he claims I only owe him ninety-five. I told him that couldn’t possibly be—what in hell are you smiling at?” she growled.
“He’s not getting senile, but he does seem to be getting more blatant,” Olivia said with a sigh. “Ezra sort of… fudges the accounts of several people in town who buy on credit from him.”