Three Little Words (Fool's Gold #12)(37)

Ana Raquel, Dellina’s younger sister, ran the “street cart,” as it was known. She planned the menus and did all the cooking in her small trailer. Today she’d parked by Pyrite Park, opened all the windows and the door and fired up her stove. The amazing smells had drawn a crowd of hungry customers.

“You’re helping a friend,” Dellina said firmly. “My sister needs the support. If Jo asks, that’s what you tell her.”

“If you say so,” Noelle murmured, still sounding doubtful.

Isabel was less afraid of Jo than the others. Maybe because her time in Fool’s Gold was temporary and she didn’t have to worry about being cut off from one of the town’s best locales. She looked at the hand-printed lettering on the chalkboard and felt her mouth starting to water.

There were sandwiches and burgers, but with ingredients like fresh basil and goat cheese, or watermelon-and-jalapeno puree. The red wine with summer vegetables risotto had a star by it, indicating a more “special” special. Caprese Pasta Salad with Balsamic Chicken. And the dessert of the day was Picnic S’Mores Bars and Fun Apple Fritters with Caramel Dipping Sauce.

“I’m gaining five pounds just looking at the menu,” Patience said. “I can’t decide between the grilled cheese, pear-and-prosciutto sandwich and the fajita quesadilla.”

“I’m getting a burger and the S’Mores Bars,” Charlie said flatly. “Don’t try to talk me out of it and don’t expect to share.”

Felicia glanced at her. “Possessiveness about food is an unusual characteristic for you,” she observed. “Do you think it’s caused by your cycle or some other hormonal imbalance?”

Charlie turned slowly and glared at her. “You did not just ask about my period.”

Felicia held her ground. “Was that inappropriate? I wasn’t trying to pry.”

Charlie relented with a sigh. “I know. Sorry. I just have a thing for S’Mores. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I understand,” Felicia told her kindly. “Many of our unhealthy obsessions with food can be traced back to early childhood.”

Isabel grabbed Felicia and pulled her away from Charlie. “Time to change the subject,” she murmured.

Felicia gave her a quick smile. “I can’t help it. I love bugging Charlie.”

“You were doing it on purpose?”

“Maybe a little.”

Isabel chuckled. She had to say that one of the best parts of coming home was the friends she’d made. While she’d enjoyed herself in New York and had had several girlfriends, it wasn’t the same. Here getting together happened more often, because of close proximity. It was easy to grab lunch or a drink after work. She always ran into people she knew at the festivals or the grocery store or Morgan’s Books.

They both placed orders, then paid and collected their lunch. Dellina and Charlie both had blankets in their cars. Those were spread out and everyone took a seat.

Except for Charlie’s burger, the food was evenly split between quesadillas and sandwiches, and there were three servings of S’Mores Bars and two orders of the apple fritters in the center of the blanket. Isabel noticed Charlie kept eyeing the S’More Bar closest to her, as if prepared to pounce on anyone who tried to take it.

“Great idea,” Patience said when she’d chewed and swallowed her first bite. “I love the food and getting outdoors. What’s Ana Raquel’s plan for her trailer?”

“She’s going to be in different spots on different days. The menu is seasonal.”

“I’m glad she came back,” Patience said.

Isabel nodded in agreement, doing her best not to moan as she ate her sandwich. The cheese was creamy, the pears barely crisp, the flavors a perfect blend.

Ana Raquel had spent the early part of the summer in San Francisco. Her “street food” had been very successful. But she’d missed home and had returned a couple of weeks ago. Based on this experience, Isabel was ready for her to stay.

“Fayrene has her own business, too,” Charlie said. “She’s a great temp. We had her at the fire station for a couple of weeks. I tried to get her to take the job permanently, but she wasn’t interested.”

“Fayrene’s into change,” Dellina said.

Noelle leaned close to Isabel. “So Dellina and her sisters aren’t new to town?”

“No, they were all born here. Ana Raquel and Fayrene are twins and a few years younger. Their parents were killed while Dellina was still in school. Dellina has taken care of them since she turned eighteen.”

Noelle’s eyes widened. “That’s a lot of responsibility.”

“It is and they’ve done great. You can taste how talented Ana Raquel is. Fayrene has her own business, too, and so does Dellina. She plans parties and does interior design.” Isabel mentioned the clothes she’d brought into the store.

“All I did was open a Christmas store,” Noelle said with a sigh. “I feel like a slacker.”

“We love your store.”

“I do, too, but wow.”

Charlie pushed her fries toward the middle of the blankets. “You guys can have some if you want.”

Dellina grinned. “Right. Just don’t touch the S’Mores. We got it.”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed. “Really? You, too?”