away with his hand like he was flapping away an annoying little gnat. “You and I and the femme fatale—” she laughed at that and so did he “—know what happened. Everybody else isn’t important in this equation.”
“Still, it’s not fair to you. Or her. Want me to take out a full-page ad in the paper?”
Reuben chuckled. He could just imagine that. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary. Vivian’s not letting a little thing like town gossip get her down.” She’d already figured out a way to get Marietta inside her shop. He expected she’d conquer the world next. “Now, tell me, how was the trip?”
“Oh my God…Reuben.” She placed her gloved hand on his forearm. “It was so good. Just…amazing! Why did I wait so long?”
“Not because of me, I hope.” She’d never expressed the urge to travel with him.
“No.” She shook her head. “That was all on me becoming too complacent. Thinking I was satisfied with the status quo because it was perfectly fine so why not? But not anymore.”
He nodded. “Good for you.” He reached out and pulled the woolen strings on her ear-flap hat. “That’s a fashion statement.”
“I know.” Turning side to side she showed it off, the cat ears all cute and perky. “I got it in Budapest.”
“Traditional Hungarian headwear?”
She laughed. “More like cheap tourist tack and I love it. Come on, it’s freezing out here and I want to see Sage and Mom asked me to pick up a box of mixed hard centers.”
Before he could recommend she shop at Viv’s instead, Clementine had looped her hand through his arm and pulled him into the shop. They were just in time, it seemed, for Carol Bingley doing what she did best—gossiping loudly with three other women close to the front of the line.
“I mean can you believe she has the nerve to break poor Clementine’s heart like that and then flaunt her love affair all over town, dragging poor Reuben around like some puppy all while thinking she’s better than Sage? Well I’m not having it. I make sure she’s looking when I take her hot chocolate outside and pour it down the gutter.”
Rage—white and hot—flashed through Reuben’s veins. How could one person be so damn spiteful? And wrong. About to open his mouth, Clem beat him to it. “I beg your pardon, Carol?” she said and the line in front of them parted to reveal Carol and her merry band of mischief makers.
“Clementine,” Carol said faintly. “Reuben.” That was even fainter.
Reuben was tempted to bark a reply but he refused to sink to Carol’s level.
“Okay…listen up, everyone, I’m only going to say this once,” Clem said as she looked around at the suddenly quiet shop. About a dozen faces with different expressions of embarrassment and shock blinked back at her. “Reuben did not cheat on me. I broke it off with him on the Friday. It was amicable but long overdue. He met Vivian on the Sunday, which made him perfectly free to do whatever the hell he wanted with whomever the hell he wanted. I am not remotely heartbroken. And I cannot believe you are indulging in such destructive gossip and doing something as petty as pouring out hot chocolate into a gutter when there are people in this country starving.”
Carol’s mouth fell open and flapped a couple of times. She was clearly torn between embarrassment and affront. “My dear, I was only trying to—”
“I don’t care what you were trying to do. Eight weeks ago when I left Marietta this town was the kind of place that welcomed newcomers, that baked them pies and invited them to cookouts and church. I am appalled at how Vivian has been treated.” She looked around at every person in the shop. “When did we become that kind of place? I am ashamed to admit Marietta is my hometown.”
Reuben pressed his mouth together to stop from smiling as stunned silence echoed around the shop. He watched as Clem’s gaze shifted to Sage who was also clearly trying to stop herself from smiling. “Hey, Sage, apologies for causing a scene.”
“Hey, Clem…you’re fine. Can I get you something?”
“Nothing, thank you.” She shook her head. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to Delish to get my hot chocolate and vote for it.”
Sage did smile this time. “I don’t mind at all.”
And with that, Clem nodded at Carol Bingley and turned on her heel.
Chapter Six
Viv and Robbie were busy serving customers when Clementine entered the store. Viv didn’t see