swinging doors. I was so wrapped up in the fact that Phoebe was on my turf that I almost missed Trina as she futzed around with the soda machine.
“The CO2 is out,” Trina announced to no one in particular.
“Then change it,” Brad shot back.
“You know those tanks are too heavy for me. You have to do it.”
“I’m cooking. I’m doing my job. The CO2 is your job. The problem with society is that nobody wants to work.”
Trina’s eyes fired with indignation. “It’s your job.”
“I don’t think so.”
Their yammering was more than I could take. “I’ll change the freaking CO2 tank if you go out there and take my table,” I offered Trina.
“I don’t want to take your table.” Trina shook her head. “I’ll change the tank.”
“But ... .”
“No, no, no.” She patted my arm. “You need the money.”
I scowled. Obviously my mother had been talking out of turn. Again. We were going to have to have a long discussion at some point. “Fine.”
I filled the glasses with iced tea and returned to the booth. I was determined to pretend everything was okay, whether I felt it or not. “Here we go.” I delivered the iced teas and yanked out my order pad. “What will it be?”
“I’ll have the chef’s salad with no cheese or ham, fat-free dressing on the side,” Phoebe said.
That sounded like the worst lunch ever. “Great. And you?” I focused on her friend.
“I’ll have the same.” The woman handed over her menu and I turned to leave, but Phoebe called out to stop me.
“Actually, Stormy, it’s good that you’re here,” she supplied. “I’ve been trying to set up a meeting with your grandfather and he’s always dodging me. Now that you’re back, perhaps you can serve as a facilitator of sorts.”
I was instantly suspicious. “A facilitator?”
She nodded, that fake smile she’d been practicing in the mirror since she was three plastered in place. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m head of the DDA now.”
I stilled. “The DDA?”
“The Downtown Development Authority.”
“I know what it is.” My temper was bubbling to the surface.
“Oh, good, that will save us time.” Her smile widened. “We’re in the middle of a big push to beautify all the businesses. You know, add some flowers, and wash the windows, new coat of paint.”
Two Broomsticks Gas & Grill hadn’t been painted since before I was born. I could see where this conversation was headed. “You want Grandpa to paint the restaurant. I’ll mention it to him.” I tried to make my escape again, but Phoebe was having none of it.
“I was talking to Monica Johnson the other day — she’s my best friend — and we both think the restaurant would be lovely if he painted it blue. I think the town council would really enjoy that.”
I couldn’t see my grandfather painting the restaurant any color that would make the town council happy — mostly because he made it his life’s mission to fight with it at every possible opportunity — but I managed to keep from snapping that out. “I’ll mention the color blue.”
“You should really meet Monica. She’s relatively new to the area.”
“Well ... if I have time.” I had no idea who Monica was, but if she was willingly hanging out with Phoebe something must be wrong with her. I had no inclination to find out what that something was.
“You two have a lot in common,” Phoebe blathered on.
Would this conversation never end? “How so?”
“You used to date Hunter. Now she does. In fact, they’re very happy. Like ... really, really happy.”
It was like a punch to the gut. She knew it would be. “How great for them.”
“So, do you want to meet her?”
“Sure. We’ll set something up.” This time there was no stopping me when I turned to retreat to the kitchen. Phoebe called out to get me to stop, but I pretended not to hear her. My heart was pounding by the time I made it into the kitchen and found two salads waiting for me on the counter. “What’s this?”
My cheeks were burning and I thought for sure I would have a few minutes to collect myself before having to face Phoebe again.
“Those are the salads they ordered,” Brad replied.
“But I didn’t even put in their orders.”
“They always order the same thing.”
“They always ask the same thing, too,” Trina offered. “They want Dad to paint the restaurant blue. He said the only way he would do that is if Smurfs take over the world and force him.”
I