The Magnolia Cafe(47)

“I’ll get them.” Katherine wheeled away toward the office.

“Tell you what. We’ll get copies made and drop them by the insurance office. Wouldn’t want to give you our only copy. Wouldn’t want it getting lost.” It might not be the smartest thing to anger the insurance guy, but he really was an insufferable fool. Keely stood with her hands on her hips, facing the arrogant insurance man.

“I guess that would be okay.”

“Good then. Here, I’ll walk you out.” Keely headed to the door with the we-don’t-really-want-to-pay -your-claim man in her wake.

She closed the door behind him and looked around the cafe. There were black, sooty marks on the back wall and the ceiling above. The whole cafe smelled like a leftover campfire, a campfire where the campers had burned something terribly.

The weight of the work ahead of them came crashing down on her. The clean up. Getting the patio ready. All this by Summerfest. She looked over at Kat talking to Natalie and Hunt. Thank goodness her sister hadn’t been badly hurt, and all the customers had gotten out safely.

Just then the door opened and in walked Camille with Delbert.

“Keely, hon. I heard the horrible news about the diner. A fire. Was it a grease fire? That’s just so terrible. I guess you’ll be closed for a while now, won’t you? Looks like Delbert and I won’t have a chance to eat here on this trip to town.”

What a shame.

Camille turned her back on Keely and traipsed over to Kat. “Katherine, you poor dear. Are you okay? Word around town is that you got burned. Oh, my. Look at your arm. It must have been frightening to be trapped in here in that wheelchair.”

Last nerve. The woman was sitting on her last nerve. Keely strode over to her sister, her shoes clicking determinedly on the vinyl flooring.

“Camille. Why it is so good to see you. Thank you so much for your concern.” Katherine practically simpered.

But Keely recognized the look in her sister’s eyes.

“And this must be Delbert. I’ve heard so much about him. Hamilton. Of the Hamilton hotel chain.” Sarcasm ran through her sister’s voice, but Camille was so self-involved she missed it.

Camille then turned to Hunt and flashed on her belle-of-the-ball charm. “Hunt. How nice to see you. You’re looking good. What brings you back here? I would think the town would bore you to tears now.”

“Ah, Camille. You haven’t changed a bit.” Hunt leaned back on the counter, putting distance between himself and Camille.

“Oh, that’s sweet.” Camille preened a bit.

Katherine looked over at Keely and rolled her eyes. Natalie smothered a grin.

“Hunt, you really should join Delbert and me for a nice dinner at Sylvia’s Place. Have a good meal. We’d love to hear all about your travels. We’re planning a trip to Europe and could use tips on places to see. I know you’ve been just about everywhere in the world, haven’t you?”

Delbert didn’t look like he was very thrilled about the idea. He walked closer to Camille and put his hand on her arm with an air of possession. He probably spent half his time trying to keep Camille happy. If not more. Camille was the biggest flirt Keely had ever met.

“I’m pretty busy this trip.” Hunt lounged against the counter, one long leg stretched out in front of him.

“Well, if you change your mind, you know where to reach me. I’m staying at Mama’s house. I’m sure you still have the number, right?”

“Can’t say that I ever did.”

“Oh, don’t be silly. You don’t have to hide anything from Delbert. I already told him how we dated in high school.”

“Wh—What?” Hunt looked like he was choking.

“Ta-ta. We better run along. Good luck cleaning the diner, Keely.”

With the swirl of her skirt, she flounced out of the cafe, Delbert scurrying to keep up with her.

“I did what? She thinks we dated in high school? I never. I mean, seriously. Never.” Hunt’s face turned apoplectic, full of indignation.

Natalie laughed. “She always was good at revising history. Twisting things to suit her mood.”

“But I never dated her. Ever.”

“If you say so, brother dear.”

“Well, Poor-Katherine-Dear is going to go call the food vendors and hold off on the deliveries for a few days.” Katherine grinned at herself.

Mrs. Granger turned to Keely. “I’m going to go home now. It’s been such a frightful few days. I assume you’ll handle things now and send Katherine home where she belongs?”

“Kat, mother is right. I’ll handle things here. You go home and get some rest.”

“Come along, Katherine.” Her mother turned towards the door. “And you’ll deal with all this mess, right?”