The Magnolia Cafe(31)
“Please to meet you, ma’am.” Old Delbert sounded anything but pleased, but obviously nothing would overcome his southern gentleman manners.
“Nice to meet you too, Del.” Keely hid her smile when he grimaced at the nickname.
“Delbert and I are in town to visit Mama. She’s throwing a big party this weekend to introduce Delbert to her friends.”
“How nice.” Keely worked up about as much sincerity as Delbert had shown to her.
“And how is poor Katherine doing these days?” Camille didn’t wait for an answer and turned to Delbert. “Poor thing was in a car accident. She’s in a wheelchair now.” She said the word wheelchair in a whispered voice like it was something to be ashamed of.
Keely grit her teeth and pasted on a fake smile. “She is doing fabulous. She’s heading up the Summerfest celebration that Comfort Crossing is having this summer. A parade, ice cream social, baseball game against Bayou Corner. Three days of fun. You really should come back to town for it. It’s going to be great.” The last thing she wanted was to see Camille, but then, she couldn’t help but brag a bit on Kat.
“Oh, that does sound precious, but I doubt we’ll be able to make it. We’re thinking of heading to Europe this summer.”
How nice for you. Maybe you could leave tonight.
“Come along, Delbert. We don’t want to keep Mama waiting. We’re having drinks and dessert at Sylvia’s Place. She doesn’t close early like your little diner does. We’re just hoping she has a decent bottle of wine. So hard to find that here in this little town. I keep apologizing to Delbert for the town’s shortcomings, but Mama just refuses to leave, so I do have to come back here once in a while.” Camille clutched at the I’m-made-from-money suit and flashed a vacuous smile at Keely. “So nice to see you. Must run.”
And yet some more insincere words were flung her direction. Special.
She watched the two of them head down Main Street, Camille in her high heeled shoes, wobbling just a bit when they had to cross over the cobblestone street. Keely had to keep herself from uncharitably wishing Camille would take a fall…
CHAPTER TEN
“Owen.” Bella launched herself into his welcoming arms. “You’re back.”
Owen laughed and held her close. “That’s some welcome.”
“I’ve missed you.” She hugged him tight then tilted her head up to kiss him. He obliged with a nice long, deep kiss and a bit of a rumbly noise in his chest, like he was just as glad to see her as she was to see him.
“Come inside.” She opened the door wide, and they walked into the carriage house. “I didn’t expect you until tomorrow.”
“Got things wrapped up and came back early.”
Bella looked around the house in dismay. A pair of roller skates sat in the middle of the floor. The boys’ homework was spread across the kitchen table. One lone shoe of Timmy’s, of course, was perched precariously on the edge of a chair. Dishes were scattered across the counter.
“The place is a mess.” She really didn’t want him to know how out of control things got around here when she was busy. She knew Owen came from a home where nothing had ever been out of place.
“Nope. It looks like a home.” Owen smiled at her.
“Let me at least clear you a space.” She picked up the boys’ jackets from the end of the couch, stacked the magazines that were tossed on the chair and put them in a neat pile on the coffee table.
“Mom. Jeremy won’t let me have my hat.” Timmy came racing into the room and collided with Owen. “Oh. I’m sorry. Hi, Owen.” He stepped back and looked up at Owen, an anxious look on his face.
“Not a problem. I was in the way. How’ve you been, Timmy?” Owen smiled at her son.
Jeremy came running out of Timmy’s room with no hat in sight. “I don’t have your stupid hat.”
“Jeremy.”
“I don’t have your silly hat.”
“You hid it.”
“Did not.”
Bella sighed. “Jeremy, mind your manners and say hi to Owen.”
“Hello, Mr. Campbell.”
No amount of Owen telling Jeremy that he could call him Owen seemed to work.
“Hey, Jeremy.”
Jeremy barely nodded in reply.
She turned to her sons. “Jeremy, you have two minutes to come walking out here with Timmy’s hat in your hand. Timmy, clean your homework off the table and wash up for dinner.” Her sons scattered.
“Sorry about that. It’s always a bit hectic at dinner time.”
“I should have called first.”
“No, you don’t have to call. You’re welcome anytime. You know that.” But if he was going to just start dropping by, she was going to have to up her game in the housekeeping department. She looked around at the mess and sighed. More likely, Owen was going to have to just get used to the chaos.