Stay Sweet(37)

Still, Amelia got the sense that she should say something to the girls, let them know Grady could hear them. They probably didn’t know he was there. But before she could, Grady walked to the office door, the punch clock under his arm.

“Hey. Here’s my two cents. If a guy likes you, he’ll call you. It’s really as simple as that.” He smiled, like he was being helpful. The girls stared at him blankly until he realized he’d majorly overstepped and hastily made his exit.

At least, as Cate said later, it provided her with a teachable moment about mansplaining.

Grady’s made a few other changes too, besides the time cards. Meade Creamery is now on all social media platforms, and he’s been talking about creating some kind of Instagram-friendly wall on the side of the stand, to encourage more online traffic. Last check, they had a measly sixty-four followers. Grady has asked the girls to share his posts, though none of them have, either because they don’t love the photos he’s taken (Amelia’s eyes were closed in one shot on opening day) or because he’s gone embarrassingly overboard with his hashtag game (#youknowyouwantit, which, ugh).

Grady’s also ordered two credit card readers, but he hasn’t gotten Wi-Fi installed, so they aren’t usable. For the time being, they live on the shelf near the radio. And the stand is now offering nearly double the toppings it did in summers past—a difference made up almost entirely by sugary breakfast cereals. It has made their already cramped sideboard area even tighter, but Grady thinks customization is a thing consumers expect, and it helps to give their four-flavor menu some depth.

For the most part, the girls have been accepting of, if slightly irritated with, these changes. Despite her own misgivings, Amelia has decided to pick her battles with Grady carefully.

Her first opportunity came this past Monday.

She’d just gotten to the stand when Grady texted Has there ever been another Meade Creamery storefront? Like somewhere on Main Street?

Nope. Just this one.

Before she could put her phone down, Grady texted back. This was unusual. He’d always taken her answers at face value. But not this time.

Mistake.

Amelia stared at the word. How so?

Main Street would be a way better location. We’re in the middle of nowhere.

Amelia shook her head. With her top lip curled, she typed, This is where everything started. And then added, Also, you’ve probably noticed that people don’t have any trouble finding us out here.

Amelia waited for Grady to answer back. When he didn’t, she was a little bummed. She wanted to keep arguing with him. Or at least, that was what she thought, until he suddenly came in through the back door.

“Don’t get defensive, Amelia. It’s just an observation.”

“I’m not,” she said, even though she could feel her pulse in her throat. She’d been fine with changes and helping Grady wrap his head around the business. But she wouldn’t let him imply that Molly Meade didn’t know what she was doing. “Part of what makes this place special is that it isn’t close to other things. It’s a pilgrimage.”

“All I’m trying to say is that she could have been making more money. Imagine if she had a place down near the lake!”

“There are no shops at the lake.”

“I’m just brainstorming here,” he sourly informed her, lowering himself onto the yellow love seat. “And when brainstorming, you’re not supposed to shut down ideas.”

“I’m not shutting you down. I’m telling you the facts. There’s nothing around the lake but trees. So it seems silly to think about how much better business would hypothetically be if you moved the business to a location that doesn’t actually exist.”

After getting up, he chastised, “You have to dream big if you want to succeed in business, Amelia. Look for green lights, not stop signs.”

As Grady walked out, Amelia caught the eyes of the other girls in the stand. They were beaming at her, and Cate licked her finger and pretended to touch Amelia with it, making a sizzle sound. But while Amelia felt happy to have stood up for the stand, their conversation was more proof that any friendliness between her and Grady had chilled since she’d given him the ice cream. Now, even when they did talk, they argued. Something had happened in that moment, she just wasn’t sure what.

The next day, one week since the stand opened, Grady pulled up in the pink Cadillac, beeping his horn long and hard. He was being followed by a tow truck, yellow rooftop lights flashing. Hitched up to the truck’s hook was an old white van.

“Holy crap,” Cate said. “Is that a food truck?”

Amelia, Cate, and the other girls ran out.

The shape of the thing immediately betrayed its age. It was boxy, with plenty of dents and nicks. There were hinges on the side, for a fold-up awning and a fold-down counter. An old logo had been painted over hastily.

Grady hopped out of the Cadillac and directed the tow truck driver to park the food truck behind the stand. “Ain’t it a beauty?” he said, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his khakis. “I found it on Craigslist last night. It’s been in someone’s garage for the last three years.”

Cate, to Amelia’s surprise, looked just as excited. “Yo, this is going to be so awesome! We can park down at the lake!”

Grady nodded and pointed. “Yes. Exactly. So what do you think, Amelia? Now that I’ve made the impossible possible.”