Rein’s friend Hank after they got home from Vegas.” Angelique crooked her brow.
“Hank is a very nice guy. I’ve known him a long time. His sister, ugh, what a nightmare.”
“And Hank?” Angelique prodded. It felt good to chat about everyday mundane things, rediscovering normal life like reading to her daughter, baking with her aunt, girl talk with Sally.
She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. He’s okay, I suppose. Not really my type.”
Angelique smiled and popped a cucumber slice in her mouth. She couldn’t fault her friend for being selective when it came to men. God knows she should’ve made better choices. But the past was in the rearview mirror, at least for the moment. She’d chosen to keep that part of her life private and for all anyone in End of the Line knew, her husband had died a hero in the Middle East conflict. As long as he was in prison and adhered to the no contact decree of the divorce, to her, he was dead.
“There’s always Tyler.” Sally smiled.
Sally was on a roll. “The plumber from Tyler Plumbing and Heating? Oh, wait, I remember him from the wedding. Turned out okay. He was that geeky kid in my seventh grade science class.” Her smile faded as the reality of her childhood invaded her memory. Her life back then had been gobbled up with caring for her alcoholic mother, hiding the truth from the rest of the town. She had few memories of friends, dances, the stuff that most kids did. Football games were her singular indulgence. She attended every home game and for one reason alone—to watch Dalton Kinnsion play.
Even then, she should have known that eventually he’d break her heart, but she was a starry-eyed freshman, smitten with the upperclassmen bad boy. Lord, how she’d admired his fearless swagger, how he crossed the line—whether coming to class late or ducking into the boy’s room for a quick smoke. He barely acknowledged her presence, but in her eyes, he was the epitome of freedom—dark, forbidden, reckless. She was head over heels in love.
“There’s plenty of time yet to get back into the dating pool. Billings is full of cute guys. It’s around here in End of the Line that the pickins’ are a tad slim.”
“Just a tad?” Angelique chuckled.
“Well, isn’t this wonderful to see you two out for a girls’ lunch.” Betty, owner and head cook of the newly renovated Betty’s café, refilled each of their water glasses. The lunch crowd had long since dissipated, which had been Angelique’s hope in avoiding those curious to know why she’d come back to End of the Line.
“It’s great to see you back in town, Angelique--or do you prefer Angie?” Betty smiled, but Angelique could see the curiosity in Betty’s eyes.
“Either is fine. I do love what you’ve done with the place, Betty.”
The older woman’s face beamed with pride as she glanced around the room. “I have Miss Liberty Belle Mackenzie to thank for that. She came in and, with that creative magic of hers, transformed this entire place. We’ve even gotten a four-star rating from the Billings Gazette , best little dining experience in southwest Montana, they said.”
“Congratulations,” Angelique said. “That’s big news around here.”
Betty laughed. “Honey, any news is big news around here. Speaking of news, are you two planning to go to the Kinnison BBQ next Saturday? Wyatt and Aimee want to thank everyone who helped get the house restored and the cabins up and running.” Betty grinned. “If you ask me, that Wyatt just wants to show off his gorgeous wife and baby girl.”
“As well he should,” Sally stated. “Both are gorgeous. Those boys have worked hard to create the legacy that Jed left behind. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. In fact, I was just about to ask Angelique to be my date.” She tossed her a smile.
Angelique opened her mouth to graciously decline, but Betty, oblivious, forged ahead, her eyes welling. “Those boys sure have come a long way, that’s
“Hank is a very nice guy. I’ve known him a long time. His sister, ugh, what a nightmare.”
“And Hank?” Angelique prodded. It felt good to chat about everyday mundane things, rediscovering normal life like reading to her daughter, baking with her aunt, girl talk with Sally.
She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. He’s okay, I suppose. Not really my type.”
Angelique smiled and popped a cucumber slice in her mouth. She couldn’t fault her friend for being selective when it came to men. God knows she should’ve made better choices. But the past was in the rearview mirror, at least for the moment. She’d chosen to keep that part of her life private and for all anyone in End of the Line knew, her husband had died a hero in the Middle East conflict. As long as he was in prison and adhered to the no contact decree of the divorce, to her, he was dead.
“There’s always Tyler.” Sally smiled.
Sally was on a roll. “The plumber from Tyler Plumbing and Heating? Oh, wait, I remember him from the wedding. Turned out okay. He was that geeky kid in my seventh grade science class.” Her smile faded as the reality of her childhood invaded her memory. Her life back then had been gobbled up with caring for her alcoholic mother, hiding the truth from the rest of the town. She had few memories of friends, dances, the stuff that most kids did. Football games were her singular indulgence. She attended every home game and for one reason alone—to watch Dalton Kinnsion play.
Even then, she should have known that eventually he’d break her heart, but she was a starry-eyed freshman, smitten with the upperclassmen bad boy. Lord, how she’d admired his fearless swagger, how he crossed the line—whether coming to class late or ducking into the boy’s room for a quick smoke. He barely acknowledged her presence, but in her eyes, he was the epitome of freedom—dark, forbidden, reckless. She was head over heels in love.
“There’s plenty of time yet to get back into the dating pool. Billings is full of cute guys. It’s around here in End of the Line that the pickins’ are a tad slim.”
“Just a tad?” Angelique chuckled.
“Well, isn’t this wonderful to see you two out for a girls’ lunch.” Betty, owner and head cook of the newly renovated Betty’s café, refilled each of their water glasses. The lunch crowd had long since dissipated, which had been Angelique’s hope in avoiding those curious to know why she’d come back to End of the Line.
“It’s great to see you back in town, Angelique--or do you prefer Angie?” Betty smiled, but Angelique could see the curiosity in Betty’s eyes.
“Either is fine. I do love what you’ve done with the place, Betty.”
The older woman’s face beamed with pride as she glanced around the room. “I have Miss Liberty Belle Mackenzie to thank for that. She came in and, with that creative magic of hers, transformed this entire place. We’ve even gotten a four-star rating from the Billings Gazette , best little dining experience in southwest Montana, they said.”
“Congratulations,” Angelique said. “That’s big news around here.”
Betty laughed. “Honey, any news is big news around here. Speaking of news, are you two planning to go to the Kinnison BBQ next Saturday? Wyatt and Aimee want to thank everyone who helped get the house restored and the cabins up and running.” Betty grinned. “If you ask me, that Wyatt just wants to show off his gorgeous wife and baby girl.”
“As well he should,” Sally stated. “Both are gorgeous. Those boys have worked hard to create the legacy that Jed left behind. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. In fact, I was just about to ask Angelique to be my date.” She tossed her a smile.
Angelique opened her mouth to graciously decline, but Betty, oblivious, forged ahead, her eyes welling. “Those boys sure have come a long way, that’s
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