Sally Larson was behind the lunch counter, where she’d been since she and her husband bought the place thirty-nine years ago. “Hey there, Alice. Do you need a menu today? The specials are on the board.”
Alice knew the weekly specials by heart. “No thanks, Sally.”
There was a vacant booth in the back corner, and Alice headed for it, although she stopped constantly to acknowledge greetings and answer questions.
Did your folks get off okay?
I lost a library book. Can I just give you some cash?
Did you hear about Brittany?
By the time Alice plopped down in the bench seat, Carmen had walked through the door in electric blue pleather pants and a tight white T-shirt—sleeves rolled up to show off the ink. An excited murmur traveled through the café. Folks in Big Verde would never get used to being in the presence of a bona fide celebrity chef.
Carmen performed the part well with a red-carpet strut that was part runway model and part Captain Jack Sparrow. As soon as she sat down, Sally rushed over with a menu.
“I’ll just have the special, Sally,” Carmen said. “Whatever it is, I know it’ll be good.”
Carmen ate at the Corner Café every time she came to Big Verde, and Sally floated on air for an entire week after.
“Yes, ma’am,” Sally replied formally. Because Carmen’s celebrity status trumped the fact that Sally was her elder. “And would you care for iced sweet tea? It’s freshly made.”
“Sounds divine,” Carmen said.
Sally smiled and hurried off as Carmen fixed her eyes on Alice. “Have you asked Beau out yet?”
Alice rolled her eyes. “We’ve been over this.”
“Yep. And you couldn’t give me one good reason why you shouldn’t ask him.”
“I gave you plenty. What I couldn’t give you was one good reason why he’d say yes, even if I wanted to ask him. Which I don’t.”
Carmen held up a finger. “Reason number one is that you’re super cute. Reason number two is that you’re funny—”
“Ha! Since when?”
“It’s not always intentional, but believe me, you’re extremely entertaining. Reason number three—”
Sally set their tea on the table. “I’ll be right back with your soup and sandwiches.”
As soon as she walked off, Alice said, “No more reasons, please. I’m not going to ask Beau. It would be weird.”
“Why?” Carmen asked, bringing the glass of tea to her lips.
“For one thing, I used to be his babysitter.”
Carmen did a spit take, spraying tea across the table. “Oh my God! How is it that you’ve withheld this juicy nugget from me? Like, are you fucking kidding me?”
Alice looked around. A few people were glancing their way, but most were trying very hard to act normal. “I’m only about four years older than him. It wouldn’t be that scandalous. Not that I’m going to ask him.”
“It’s not the age difference. It’s the circumstances. Totally adorable. Also hot and slightly porny.”
Alice put a finger to her lips. “Shh, Carmen.”
“How was he as a kid?”
“A hellion spawned from demon seed.”
“And Bryce?”
“An angelic partner in crime.”
“Now you have to ask Beau out. I mean, do it for me, would you?”
Sally set their lunch in front of them. And then she lingered, wringing her hands and nervously waiting for Carmen to try it.
Carmen inhaled the steamy aroma of the soup. “Split pea,” she said with a dreamy smile. Because nothing made Carmen happier than food. “Do I smell tarragon?”
“Yes,” Sally said, eyes glowing with excitement.
Carmen put her napkin in her lap and dipped her spoon into the soup. She took a sip and closed her eyes, swallowing slowly. “Oh, Sally. This is scrumptious.”
Sally looked like she might collapse. “Do you really think so?”
“I do. Have you tried adding fennel? With the tarragon, it would be . . .” Carmen brought her fingers to her lips and performed a classic Italian chef’s kiss.
“I’m not sure I can find fennel at the Tex Best Grocer.”
“You could do bok choy instead.”
Sally shook her head.
“Belgian endive?”
Sally’s face went blank.
“Celery!” Carmen said, snapping her fingers. “That will do just fine.”
“Celery!” Sally screeched. “Yes! I have that. I can do celery. Yes, yes, thank you, Carmen.”
Sally backed up with what could only be described as a series of small bows, until she bumped into Bubba. “What the heck, Mom?”
“Sorry, honey.”
Bubba waved at Alice and Carmen before giving his mom a kiss and following her to the register. He was probably picking up sack lunches for his construction crew. He did that most days.
Alice looked at Carmen, who had now moved on to chowing down on the chicken salad sandwich. “You are such a kind soul.”
“Who, me?” Carmen said, wiping her mouth on her napkin. “Every word was sincere. I don’t think Sally knows what a great cook she is. And anyway, the folks of Big Verde are the ones who are kind. They’ve been nothing but welcoming to me whenever I come to town. Even if they do stare at my blue hair.”
“They secretly love your hair. Lisa’s Locks now stocks a very similar shade.”
Carmen beamed and looked around the café. “I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to belong here,” she said. “I was an army brat and never stayed in one place for too long.”
Alice took a bite of her sandwich. It was the same thing she ate nearly every Monday, but Carmen was right. It was delicious. “That’s kind of funny, because I’ve never really felt like I belong.”
“Seriously? But you know everybody. And you do all the things with all the people. You go to the weddings. You go with Claire and Maggie to Tony’s honky-tonk—”
“Actually, the honky-tonking is a pretty recent development. I’d never been until Claire invited me. It was on the day the library was demolished after the flood, and I’d desperately needed a pick-me-up.”
The flooding of the town and rebuilding of the library had definitely brought her closer to folks.
“I love Tony’s,” Carmen said. “We should go while I’m in town.”
“That sounds fun.”
“So, you really don’t feel like you belong here?
