She clucked her tongue. “You’re such a poop. Well, I’m excited for them. It’s their dream!”
“I know,” I said grudgingly. “And while I can’t say I like the prospect of them buying that peeling, splintering old heap, I do like knowing it’s making Pete and Georgia happy.”
“That is because underneath your grouchy exterior beats an actual heart.” She gave me a superior look. “Admit it—you’re really a softie.”
I made a face. “A softie? I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“Don’t worry, Farmer Frownypants, your secret is safe with me.” She patted my leg. “I won’t tell anyone how sweet you really are.”
I leaned over to whisper in her ear. “And I won’t tell anyone how dirty you really are.”
She gasped and giggled. “You better not.”
“Jack?”
I looked up at the woman who’d spoken, and for a terrifying second, I thought I was seeing a ghost. Holy shit. “Suzanne.” Immediately I sat back in my chair and moved it away from Margot’s a little.
“I thought that was you. I saw the banner and expected it would be Pete and Georgia.” Steph’s younger sister looked at Margot and then back at me. “Haven’t seen you here in forever.”
“Yeah, I don’t usually do them.” Fuck, the older she got, the more Suzanne looked like Steph—same coloring, same height and build, even the same voice. They were three years apart, so Suzanne had to be thirty now, the age Steph had been when she died.
“Well, come here, you big lug.” She opened her arms, and I stood up, coming around the side of the stand to give her an awkward hug. She went up on tiptoe the way Steph used to do to get her arms around me, and my stomach turned over. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too,” I lied, letting her go and retreating behind the stand as quickly as I could. At least she didn’t smell like Steph. Suzanne was wearing flowery perfume, and Steph had never touched the stuff.
“Hi. I’m Margot Lewiston.” Margot stood and offered Suzanne her hand and a smile.
Did Suzanne hesitate before taking it? Maybe I only imagined it. My equilibrium was off, and I’d started to sweat.
“Suzanne Reischling.” She shook Margot’s hand, and though she wore sunglasses and I couldn’t see her eyes, I sensed her sizing Margot up from heel to hair.
“Nice to meet you,” Margot said.
“You too.” Suzanne took her hand back. “Are you a new employee at the farm?”
Margot laughed. “Sort of. I’m doing some marketing work for them. Helping them with branding and PR, that kind of thing.”
“Interesting.” Suzanne folded her arms. “Are you from around here?”
“No, I’m actually from Grosse Pointe, which is just north of Detroit.”
“I know where it is.”
Suzanne’s reception of Margot was so cool, it jolted me back to my senses. “Margot is visiting for a week or so and getting to know the business better,” I said, feeling an odd need to defend her.
“Yes, and I just tagged along today to see what this was like. I’ve never been to a farmers market before.” Margot’s smile remained genuine, her tone friendly. Sticking her hands in her back pockets, she rocked onto the balls of her feet. “I’m excited.”
“How nice,” Suzanne said flatly.
“What about you? Are you here with your mom?” I turned to Margot. “Mrs. Reischling sells homemade jellies and jams and baked goods at these markets sometimes.” Yet another reason I avoided coming to them. She never said as much, but how could she not blame me for everything that had happened? Wasn’t she dying to scream at me? I knew exactly what she’d say: If it weren’t for you, she’d be a doctor right now, probably married to another doctor, living in a nice big house with a baby on the way.
She’d be right about all of it.
“I am here with Mom, and I know she’d love to see you. Come over and say hi?” Suzanne cajoled.
I glanced at Margot. Did she realize who this was? If she did, her face didn’t show it. She was so good at keeping calm, at holding her tongue. I could use a lesson in that. “Maybe later. We need to finish setting up here.”
“OK. Don’t forget, though. We’re still your family, aren’t we?” It almost sounded like an accusation.
“Sure.” I stuck my hands in my pockets, hoping she wouldn’t try to hug me again.