Love Starts with Elle(39)

Elle snatched it from her. “Rio has three already, Jules, and you have one. Are you seriously going to eat five jellied biscuits?”

Julianne wiped her hands on her napkin. “Scoot around, Rio. Mama needs to go to the little girl’s room.”

“Something’s bugging her,” Jess said as Jules disappeared around the stone fireplace toward the restrooms.

“A lot’s been bugging her. She’s more secretive than ever.”

“Won’t say what’s up?” Jess searched the biscuit basket. Empty. She angled over the table for one of Rio’s biscuits. “Can Aunt Jess have one?”

Rio nodded. Her lips were ringed with purple jelly.

Mercy Bea came around to refill their teas. “Gracious, y’all need more biscuits?” She snatched up the basket, then stopped by Danny’s table. “What’ll you have, Danny?”

He was mid-I’ll-have-the-Frogmore-Stew when his cell went off. When he answered, he faced the wall and talked in a low tone.

“Did you find a new gallery location?” Jess scooped most of the jelly from the biscuit, then took a bite.

Elle broke from observing Danny. “Yes, second floor of the Bay Street Trading Company.”

Jess’s eyes grew round. “Elle, really? How perfect. Look, sweetie, I know Jeremiah broke your heart, but I’m so glad you didn’t move away.” She winced. “Beaufort is not Beaufort without you. When you were gone for a year, studying in Florence, then in New York, Caroline and I sat around Saturday nights asking, ‘What would Elle do?’”

“I hardly feel like that girl any more.” Elle gave Jess a weak smile. “But I’ll find her again. Remember when Forrest Gump was filming here, and we tried out as extras?

Jess choked on her biscuit. “Caroline kept sneaking into the scenes with Tom Hanks?”

In many ways, Caroline was the most courageous of them, though she’d never ventured farther than Florida until she moved to Barcelona. Now she flew to places like Thailand and Belgium. She handled life with grace instead of fighting it.

Behind them, Danny was in motion, rising, clapping his phone closed. “Elle, please tell Mercy Bea I can’t stay. Need to take care of something.” He dropped a twenty on the table. “Have her box up my dinner. One of y’all can take it home.”

“Is everything all right?”

His smile lacked light. “Could be better. Night, ladies. Good night, Rio.”

“Night, Mr. Danny.”

Thirty seconds later, Julianne reappeared. “The ladies’ room had no toilet paper or towels. I had to hunt down Russell in the kitchen before I could pee.”

“What’s up with Danny Simmons?” Elle asked.

“How should I know? Ask him if you want to know what’s going on in his life.” Julianne checked out his table. “Oh, he left.” Her shoulder’s visibly relaxed.

“Here you ladies go.” Mercy Bea set down their supper, and Elle’s window of opportunity with Julianne was closed and locked.

Rio pointed, jumping up on the booth seat. “Hey, Tracey-Love.” She waved her tiny hand in the air. “Tracey-Love!”

“Shh, Rio, sit down. Stop hollering across the café.” Julianne jerked her bottom to the seat.

Elle gazed around Jess to see a dapper-looking Heath holding Tracey-Love’s hand.

“Who is that?” Jess asked with too much pitch in her voice.

“Elle’s new renaissance man,” Julianne said, clearly glad to move the focus off of her.

Jess turned to Elle. “And you used to accuse Caroline of getting all the good-looking men. First Jeremiah, now him. Go for it.”

“First of all, there’s nothing to go for. Second of all, he’s a widow and in the healing process himself.” Elle picked out a biscuit. “Besides, he’s too old for me, like thirty-eight. So, leave it be, y’all.”

“Too old?” Jess echoed. “If Jules here can date a married forty-somethin’—”

“Jessica Cimowsky. Bite your tongue. I am most certainly not.” Every ear in the café heard Julianne’s rebuke. “Take it back.”

Jess’s eyes darkened. “Then what was with the shifting in your seat, suddenly running to the ladies’ room when Danny appeared?”

“It’s nothing, Jess. Drop it.”

Jess’s shoulders surrendered. “Jules, you’re right. I’m sorry. Guess I read into things.”

No, she read the situation right, as far as Elle could see. The trouble was getting her sister to admit it.

Julianne shoved her plate forward, her casserole untouched. “It’s okay, Jess. I’m tired and edgy.”

Jess ducked her head. “No, my bad, Jules.”

“Forget it, I’m fine.”

But something was eating her. Elle talked when things bugged her. Julianne closed up shop and hid.

Mercy Bea was leading Heath toward them. “Y’all got room here? Seems Rio knows this little gal.”

Heath glanced around the table. “Evening, Elle, Julianne.”

“Tracey-Love, sit by me.” Rio pounded the seat with her palm.

Heath checked with Jules. “Is it okay?”

“Yes, Heath, please sit.” Julianne shoved against Jess, who slid over.