parking lot, she still glanced around to see if Timber and Jon were still around. Ian’s words echoed in her head, and she repeated them aloud. “You meet such interesting people at the park.”
Dom sat at the back door, waiting for Angie to open it so he could climb inside. He stared at her, apparently curious about who they’d met as they hadn’t stopped to talk to anyone the entire trip.
“Don’t mind me, boy. I’m just thinking out loud.” She opened the back door to the SUV.
Back home, she checked Dom’s food and water, then got ready. Next week she’d be back to her normal routine, and boy, was she looking forward to it.
The phone rang when she was in the car. She pressed the hands-free button to answer it. “Hey, Felicia, I’m on my way.”
“Hey, winner, congrats. And I’m glad you lived through the night. Did you get sick at all?”
“No, but I don’t know about the others. Estebe was fine when he dropped me at my car last night. And if something had happened to Bleak or Hope, I think we would have heard about it.” Now Angie felt bad that she hadn’t reached out to the others this morning.
“They’re fine. I talked to Estebe earlier. And I just called Hope and told her to meet us at the grocery store next to the fairgrounds. I want them to be part of the shopping for today’s event too.”
“I’ll be there in about forty minutes. Or do you want me to go right to the trailer and start setting up?” Maybe she hadn’t had time to walk Dom this morning. She was always trying to fit in one more thing and misjudging her time.
“Come shopping with us. I want to run this dessert idea by you in case you have some last-minute changes.” She paused, then continued. “How are you really? Estebe said you were a little bummed out after talking to Sydney and Brandon last night?”
“I just freaked out a little thinking that someone would be so cruel.” Angie thought about the pang in her chest when she saw the two of them together, their lives ahead of them. “Sometimes I just don’t understand people.”
“You understand people fine. There are just some that are totally screwed up. Whoever killed Chef Nubbins and poisoned Brandon isn’t a normal person. That’s why you don’t understand them. You’re way too nice sometimes.”
“I’m way too focused on my little world sometimes,” Angie corrected. “Anyway, I’m glad we’re working together today. Ian and I are going to play at the fair after this is done today. Want to hang out with us?”
“Sounds like a plan. Although Ian might not like me horning in on your date.”
Angie smiled, thinking about all the times she, Felicia, and Todd, their ex-partner and Angie’s ex-boyfriend, had hung out after events. “You’re part of my life. My tribe. Ian gets that.”
“You make our friendship sound like a cult.” Felicia laughed, the sound tinkling over the speakers in the car. “Of course, with our work family added in there, maybe we are a little like a cult. One that worships food.”
“Excellent food,” Angie corrected. She had another call coming in. It was Ian and she’d forgotten to text him. “Hey, I’ve got to take this. See you in a few.”
She connected with Ian. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“I figured. I had some time while he was talking to his wife about the program, so I stepped out to the car to get a flyer and call you. I take it you’re in the car?”
“Yep. Felicia and I were chatting about today’s event. I’m meeting her at the store. Okay if she hangs with us tonight?”
“I’ll have two beautiful women on my arm. What could be wrong with that?” He covered the phone. “Looks like we have an answer. I’ll see you later. Good luck today.”
“Good luck to you too.” Angie turned up the music and pushed everything else out of her head. Today was about the cooking. No stress, no worry. Just cooking and feeding people. Those were the best times.
When she pulled up at