Mom grabbed his arm. “They’re so good. A little freaky when you know what they are, but so tasty.”
She dragged Andrew closer to the bakery case.
Andrew said, “I don’t know. That sounds like one of those crazy cable network food challenges.”
A tingle of delight coursed through her. Exactly what I was going for.
Dad stormed into the room, muttering under his breath, “Of all the days. Kelly, I need to use one of your ovens. Ours is on the fritz. Again. And Colby is out of town. Wouldn’t you know his sister would have to go and have her baby today?”
“How dare she,” Kelly teased. “And on a Sunday.”
“Hey, Mr. McIntyre,” Andrew said. “What’s going on with the oven?”
“Andrew?” CB laid the casserole pan on the counter, then walked over and cuffed him on the shoulder. “I didn’t even notice you standing there. Good to see you. I heard you were in town. I guess you’re a big-time chef now.”
“Never would’ve happened without the start you gave me.”
CB beamed. “You always were a great cook. Dependable too. Not like that oven. It’s so temperamental these days. It’s getting tired, like me.”
“Why don’t you let me see if I can fix it?”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that. You’re a fancy chef now.”
“I’m still Andrew, and still handy. Let me see what I can do.”
“That would be great. If you don’t mind. I know you’re only in town for a short time. I’m sure you’ve got things to do.”
“Not a problem at all. I have a free afternoon, and your daughter just turned me down for lunch. Come on.” Andrew followed CB back to the diner.
Kelly stood there steaming.
Mom turned and grinned. “I think he still cares about you.”
“He’s just being nice. Old friends. Don’t push.” Andrew York was a distraction Kelly couldn’t afford right now.
“Wouldn’t hurt you to be polite. You sounded like a grump.”
“I did not.” But even her tone just then sounded grumpy to her.
Mom shrugged. “Let’s put this casserole in the oven for Dad. That old stove needed to be replaced a year ago. We’ve spent more fixing it than a new one would’ve cost.”
Kelly didn’t doubt it. Dad was frugal about stuff like that, wanting to get every last mile out of things. She preheated the oven to three hundred fifty degrees. “Forty-five minutes.”
“That should do it.”
“I’ll bring it over when it’s done,” Kelly said.
Mom grabbed a handful of the vegan-friendly chocolate-covered pea rejects and left.
When Dad’s famous corn casserole was done, she pulled it out of the oven, perfectly browned and bubbling on top. She let it cool long enough that she could carry it next door without burning herself.
The diner was a hive of activity. Plates clanked, and customers chatted over the first meal of the day. The smell of coffee permeated the air. She nodded hellos to neighbors as she walked between the tables with the covered dish.
The waitresses zipped to the order window and back out to the customers. Kenny was working the flat top in the kitchen with a row of order tickets hanging on the rack above him. She laid the casserole on the line counter.
It took her back to hear Andrew and Dad’s voices in the kitchen.
“It’s the thermocouple. I’m surprised you haven’t had to replace that before,” Andrew said. “They go out all the time.”
“If it had, I’d have known what to look for.”
Andrew stood and handed Dad the part. “If you find one locally, I’ll be happy to install it for you.”
Dad picked up the phone and made a call. “They’ve got the part.” He must’ve noticed her standing there. “Hey, princess.”
“Hi, Daddy. I put the casserole over there on the line counter. Did y’all figure out the problem?”
“Andrew did.”
“That’s great. What can I do to help until you get it fixed?” she asked.
“Could you go pick up the part for me?”
“Sure. Where is it?”
She could tell by the look on Dad’s face it wasn’t up the street.
“Is it in Raleigh?” That would be my luck.
“No. It’s just over in Jarvis. Shouldn’t take you too long. Here’s the address.” He handed her his credit card and the address on a slip of paper. “Thanks for saving me the trip.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Anything for you, Daddy.”
“Thanks, Andrew. I owe you big time for this.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll go with her,” he said, then turned to Kelly. “To make sure they give you the right thermocouple.”
She wouldn’t know a thermocouple from a thingamabob. No sense risking getting the wrong part and having to go back.
Andrew must’ve sensed her hesitation. “If it’s okay with you.”
“Of course. Let’s go.”
He washed his hands, then dug his hand into his pocket for his keys. “I’ll drive.”
“We’ll be back shortly,” she said, heading out of the diner with an extra skip to her step because he was going with her.
The bright yellow Mustang was parked right at the curb. She buckled her seatbelt and then put the address in her phone.
When he got in, she said, “This really is a nice car.”
“It handles great too,” he said, stepping on the gas to prove it. “I’m kind of impressed.”
“What do you drive back in France?”
“A Lexus LC.” He took the sunglasses from the console and put them on.
“That sounds expensive.”
“It’s my one extravagance since my great aunt insists I stay with her. I went a little wild on the lease of a fancy car.”
“That sounds fun. Do you have a picture of it?”
“Sure.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through the pictures.
“Not while we’re driving,” she said.
He handed her the phone. “Quit worrying.”
“It’s against the law to text and drive.”
“I wasn’t texting. I was looking for a picture.”
“Same thing.” The car was parked in front of a pretty white house with lots of flowers in front. “Nice. It looks fast sitting still. Is this in front of your aunt’s house?”
“Mm-hmm. In front of the carriage house.”
If she’d gone to Paris, she’d have been
