“What is it?” Belle murmured, trying to be present.

  This time it was an iced coffee. Belle stood watching as the machine whirred, grinding and chopping the ice and Bixby mixed the coffee and the swirls of creamer. She studied the back of him, one of her dearest friends. She would not have made it in Everly without his friendship. He depended on The Beanery, which meant he depended on her. If her aunt and uncle wormed their way into her life here, if somehow their threats turned into reality, Bixby might lose his job and the apartment above the coffee shop where he lived.

  He worked, back turned to her. “I’m calling it Coconut Crunch.” There was a hint of excitement in his voice, reminding Belle how much he loved his job, how much he loved wowing her with his seasonal flavors.

  She slid onto a stool at the counter. “Coconut Crunch, huh. Okay, then, wow me.”

  Bixby turned and placed the iced latte in a clear glass in front of her. It was no small, insignificant grin on his face. He was full-on beaming.

  It truly was a marvel. It was like an archeological dig with all the different layers. The bits and pieces of toffee on the whipped cream, then underneath, the sweet but not too sweet coffee with hints of coconut and caramel. The creamy milk floating into it.

  “Of course,” Bixby said, “the whipped cream and toffee bits are optional.”

  Belle stirred the mixture with her straw, watching it all mix together. “I almost don’t want to stir it up. It’s so pretty.”

  “I know, right?” He leaned on the counter, watching her as she sipped.

  The sweet coconut taste, the rich cream and the strong coffee balanced each other perfectly. Then the sweet crunch? “It’s a masterpiece,” she proclaimed, attempting a smile.

  “You know,” Bixby said as he leaned against the counter. “I always appreciate your feedback about The Beanery and what we offer, especially the coffee flavors—” He stopped talking mid-sentence and studied her in a way that made her uncomfortable. Like he could see through her to the truth of it all.

  “And…?” Belle shifted on the stool, then stopped. He’d notice any nervous mannerisms. She wasn’t quite ready to talk about her aunt and uncle. Almost as if she didn’t say their names out loud then it wouldn’t be real. They’d be a figment of her imagination, a nightmare.

  “You’re hiding something.” He leaned on the counter, even closer to her. “What’s going on? Spill it.”

  The answer came immediately, the invitation still clutched in her left hand. Bixby was smart and knew her well enough to sense when she had news, but there was no way he could comprehend the size and impact of what happened. She blasted him with a big smile.

  But the door opened and the bell jingled before she could say anything. Literally, saved by the bell. Not that she minded.

  “Belle!” It was Lexie. Seconds later, Belle was tackled from behind in a large hug. The human touch and the warmth of the embrace immediately caused tears to spring to Belle’s eyes.

  She turned and enveloped the almost-tween in a hug. “So good to see you.” She pulled back. “Don’t tell me. Even though it’s summer, you miss our tutoring sessions so much, you want to do some math problems.”

  Of course, Belle was teasing and she knew Lexie would know that right away.

  “Gross,” Lexie spit out.

  Lucas entered a few seconds later. He didn’t say anything right away and as Belle took in his expression, the slight frown most people probably wouldn’t notice, and the way he slumped over a bit, she knew he wasn’t having a terrific day either.

  “Just ignore Uncle Lucas,” Lexie said. “He’s being a grump.”

  He took a seat at the counter.

  “Want my latest?” Bixby asked.

  Lucas nodded yes. “If it looks anything like Belle’s, then definitely.”

  Belle nudged him. “Why are you being a grump? The hot weather making you wilt?”

  “Not exactly,” he mumbled.

  Lucas needed a moment before he spilled whatever was making him upset, but he always did. Belle gave him that. She usually filled that time with shallow chatter until he was ready, but this time she couldn’t muster the energy.

  “Okay, then.” Bixby placed the latte on the counter. “We have two somewhat grumpy people, then.”

  Immediately, Lucas turned to Belle. “Is everything alright? Are you okay?”

  Something inside Belle’s heart warmed. Her friends truly cared. But, right now, as she looked into Lucas’ eyes, her heart fluttered, a strange little dance in her chest. It had been that way for a few months. The slight erratic beat whenever Lucas walked into the room and smiled at her in that way of his. The way his hair sometimes flopped when he needed a haircut. It was more than looks though, it was the way he talked to her, treated her. The way he cared.

  “Belle?” He asked the question again by just saying her name.

  “Yes, Belle,” Bixby added. “What’s going on?”

  Of course, she couldn’t hide everything from her friends. “First, you,” she said to Lucas.

  He narrowed his gaze in on her. “Fine, but I’ll hold you to that.” He glanced toward Lexie, who sat at a table with a muffin Bixby had plated for her. It was a look that held such love it continued to do a number on Belle’s heart. He lowered his voice. “I booked a vacation for me and Lexie. I found one for this weekend and they cancelled on me. Something about a burst pipe. I swear, it’s a conspiracy.” He gulped down the latte. “Wow, Bixby. Amazing.”

  “Thanks,” Bixby said, smiling and bursting with obvious pride.

  Lucas nudged Belle. “Your turn.”

  “Yes.” Bixby leaned back against the work counter, a smug grin as he knew Lucas would never let her get away with a flimsy excuse. “Your turn.”

  She’d sure try though, because she needed this getaway to be fun and to be with friends. “Okay, fine.” She sighed. “You got me. You figured me out. I can’t hide anything from you two.” She slid the creased invitation on the counter. “It just so happens I was invited to a birthday weekend getaway.” She paused, keeping them guessing, then said, “I want all of you to come with me.”

  Lucas’ frown deepened. “Are they expecting a big crew?”

  Belle shrugged. “They won’t mind, I hope. Did I mention it’s at a lake house about an hour drive from here?”

  “Yes, let’s go!” Lexie bounded over, muffin crumbs falling from her mouth. “Please, Uncle Luc. Please.”

  “I think we should all go,” Bixby stated, then flashed Lucas a look like they were speaking some sort of secret language.

  “Are you sure? I’d hate to crash someone’s party uninvited,” he said.

  She tapped her finger on the invitation. “First, it’s at a lake house. Second, extra guests are usually expected. I’m positive they can squeeze us all in.” She was almost positive. She wanted them all with her.

  Lucas paused, thinking, while Lexie jumped up and down, begging. Belle knew it was hard to say no to her.

  “Okay, fine. On one condition.” They all waited, then he said, “If we’re not wanted, then we’ll leave. If there’s no room or they seem put off by all of us, we don’t stay.”

  “Deal,” Belle said.

  It would be a great weekend.

  When she returned, her aunt and uncle would have left.

  Chapter Five

  It didn’t take long for everyone to pack up and be ready to go.

  Belle insisted on driving to the big weekend getaway. She had been invited to the party, and she was bringing friends, meaning they shouldn’t have to drive. Plus, the driving would give her something to focus on.

  Once upon a time, a young woman had lived in town for less than a year. She made wonderful friends, but she hadn’t yet committed to staying in the town. She was very excited to show them she cared by giving them a weekend vacation by a lake. But before she could say happily-ever-after or the-end, she needed to conquer her fear and make a decision.

  Even though she could tell by the look on Lucas’ face he didn’t feel safe with her behind the wheel. To be fair, she might have dinged up his car the first time they met. Then there was the time she took off his sideview mirror.

  She couldn’t believe the invitation had been sitting there for her. It came right when she needed it. If her aunt and uncle hadn’t showed up, she would have dropped the invitation into the recycling and not given it another thought. But she desperately needed to get out of town and clear her head.

  But who was Molly St. James?

  Belle pictured someone in her seventies. At least somewhat close in age to Aunt Eliza. After all, they must have been friends. She hated to be the one to share the bad news about Aunt Eliza’s untimely death. Maybe Molly had a firecracker sense of humor. Maybe she swam across the lake every day and acted more like a fifty-year-old. For sure, she’d have a generous heart and a natural kindness, or Aunt Eliza and Molly wouldn’t have been close enough for Eliza to be invited to a special birthday weekend.

  Bixby, Lucas, and Lexie shoved their bags in the back of her wagon and piled inside. There was a palpable feeling of excitement. Not only was this weekend going to be a scorcher, but they were attending a big birthday bash at a lake house. At least that’s what the invitation said. That meant yummy food and swimming.

  “Now who is this Molly St. James person?” Bixby asked, having claimed shotgun since Belle picked him up first.

  Belle shrugged. “I was just wondering about that, but I honestly don’t know. To be fair, the invitation was to Eliza, but there was a personal note that insisted she come.” Belle loved meeting people who knew Aunt Eliza. Maybe she’d get a chance this weekend to ask Molly about her memories with Eliza.

  “I’m hot,” Lexie complained from the back. “Do you have AC?”

  She caught Lexie’s eyes briefly in the rearview mirror. Belle loved when the girl wore her hair in two braids, even if the job was only so-so because of Lucas’ lack of experience. “Um, not yet. It’s broken, but there’s this invention called windows…”

  “Ugh. Not funny.” Lucas must have nudged her, because she added, “That’s fine. I’ll deal with melting back here.”

  Belle still was amazed at how fast this growing girl had won a spot in her heart. As all her friends in Everly had, including Bixby and Lucas. They were friends close enough to share the biggest, most upsetting arrival of her aunt and uncle, but something, deep down inside, kept her from talking about it. She didn’t want to ruin this weekend with talk of her past.

  “I brought ingredients for the new coconut crunch latte. Hope they don’t mind,” Bixby said, waving his face with a napkin to cool off.

  “I’m sure they will be delighted.” Belle spoke like she knew what she was talking about, but she knew nothing about Molly St. James. Anyway, it was polite for guests to bring something. Ice-cold lattes would be the perfect touch on sultry afternoons. No one whipped up better recipes than Bixby.

  “Do you think they’ll have chicken fingers or grilled cheese?” Lexie asked. “What if they give us something gross, like asparagus?”

  “We’ll eat whatever they serve,” Lucas said, then pivoted. “Who’s going to swim in the lake with me?”

  “We all will,” Belle said, enthusiastically. “And yes, I’m speaking for everyone.”

  One aspect she’d appreciated about her new friends was the memory building. After living with her aunt and uncle, who basically ignored her as long as she did all the chores and cooked for them, she loved family-like moments. She cherished them, tucking them away in the corners of her heart, so in the future if anything changed, she’d remember a weekend like this: swimming, kayaking, sunsets, laughter, good friends.

  Of course, it won’t last, the voice of her uncle hissed in her mind. Then she heard her aunt’s nasty cackle. Let her figure it out the hard way. Then she’ll come running back to us.

  Belle gripped the steering wheel. Her past loved to encroach on her present and steal the joy, make her doubt everything. She set her mind. Not this weekend. She was determined.

  She wouldn’t think about them.

  “Um, what if the entire weekend is awkward and no one is very nice?” Bixby asked, wearing a frown. “We have no idea who these people are.”

  Lexie piped up, “Uncle Lucas always tells me that in order to get a friend, you have to be a friend.”

  “Hmm,” Bixby responded. “You might have to show me how it’s done.”

  “Of course,” she said.

  “If worse comes to worst,” Lucas said, “we’ll ignore everyone and play card games and swim. Or we can always check out early.”

  “That’s right,” Belle said. She and Lucas were on the same page with creating lasting memories that get ingrained in your heart. He’d become guardian of Lexie only two years earlier after his sister and husband died in a car crash and he was always creating fun-filled family times, while he worked on solving murders as a detective for his day job.

  The house was only an hour away, so they filled the rest of the drive with jokes, some I Spy, singing—even though she could not stay on key!—and games. There was also quiet time, where Belle could think about the coming couple of days and how much fun they would have. She hoped they would anyway.

  She did everything she could not to think of the two people sitting in her home, eating her food, and most likely, pilfering through her stuff to see if there was anything of value.

  They were one car among many parked in the driveway. And, her outdated wagon was surrounded by cars like Tesla, Lexus, and BMW. They stood next to the wagon, gaping at the mansion in front of them. It had a central point in the middle with a large front door and steps, but then it fanned to both sides, room after room after room. It would take all afternoon just to count the windows, though it would make a good math lesson for Lexie. The building itself wasn’t a piece of architectural genius, but the size more than made up for it. Belle couldn’t imagine the taxes on this place.

  “Holy macaroni,” Lexie whispered. “This Molly person is rich!”

  “Let’s try not to use that phrase in front of people,” Lucas said, gently.

  “Why not? It’s true.”

  “Sometimes, people don’t necessarily want their financial status pointed out by guests. It’s not polite,” he said.

  “How about we get our bags and go meet Molly?” Belle suggested, walking toward the rear of the wagon. The back swung open, and they grabbed their weekend bags. She hoped she had enough fancy clothes. The invitation wasn’t specific, but she feared there might be a formal dinner party.

  As they drew closer to the entrance, the door opened. Belle tried to peer inside to catch a glimpse. Would they really be living the life of luxury for a few days? It might be hard to return to her slanted, rundown place.

  A woman strode from the house, her reddish hair cropped very short, above her ears. Belle loved it. The woman, in her stark and simple way, was beautiful. The haircut brought out her cheekbones, and the glasses perched on her nose were just the right touch.

  “Happy birthday, Molly!” Belle exclaimed.

  “Oh, dear God, I hope not. I’m Gladys.” The woman shuddered, then seemed to remember herself and pasted on a formal smile. When she spoke, it was saccharine sweet. “Molly is here somewhere. I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.”

  “My apologies,” Belle said, feeling the heat creep into her cheeks. “I’m Belle, and this is Bixby, Lucas, and Lexie.”

  Gladys gave a worried look toward Lexie—was that disdain? Like what kind of trouble would a child cause? “No worries. I’m the event planner-slash-caterer. One of you must be Eliza, because I know everyone here. Though I expected Eliza to be older.”

  Heat came in waves. Belle felt the perspiration start. Maybe she shouldn’t have accepted the invitation. “Well, you see, Eliza Baron was my aunt. She passed away”—she would not use the word murder—“and the personal note made it sound like we should come.”

  There was another smile from Gladys, the kind Belle couldn’t tell was real or not. “It’s right that you did. Some had to…cancel at the last minute and Molly wanted a few more people here for her big thirtieth birthday.” She turned. “Follow me inside.”

  Bixby walked in behind Gladys. “I brought ingredients for a delicious coconut caramel latte and I’m more than happy to whip up a batch in the hot afternoon.” His voice sounded shaky, so Belle flashed him a reassuring smile.

  Without even looking, Gladys said, “How quaint. I’m sure everyone will love it.”

  They followed Gladys to a large bright room off to the right with a cherry wood dining table longer than Belle had ever seen. She was stunned and the rest of them had to be too at the sight of the flowing chocolate fountain with mounds of ripe strawberries, chunks of sliced bananas, plump blueberries. Fanned out from the fountain were trays of flaky croissants and a spread of homemade jams.

  Just then, a good-looking guy entered the room like he owned the place, followed by a few friends, all in bathing suits, towels over their shoulders. One of them carried a cooler.

  Gladys seemed relieved to pass off hostess duty. “This is Peter, Molly’s brother, and his friends. Peter, this is Belle.” She gave a wave of her hand; they could finish the introductions, then she made her escape.

  “Hey, there. Like she said. I’m Peter.” He opened his arms wide. “Welcome to the home of the St. James family.” He scrunched up his face. “I know most of Molly’s friends…”

  “Oh,” Belle said, realizing she might have to explain this more than once. “Molly knew my Aunt Eliza.”

  “Okay, whatevs. Nice to have you. These are my friends Joe, Little Pete, and Kara. We’re heading out to the boat.” Clearly, Peter had been schooled in good manners, the way he shifted to the invite. “You’re more than welcome to join us. We can take turns or something.”

  Lucas intervened. “Maybe later? We’d like to bring our bags to our rooms. Maybe try this delicious chocolate fountain.” He winked at Lexie, who Belle knew was itching to take a toothpick, stab some fruit, and hold it under the flow of chocolate.