“Well, finally, one of you is going to come clean about this switcheroo you think you’ve been fooling everyone with.”

Cass looked around, worried that someone could overhear—but the café was mostly empty, and the Christmas carols were turned up loud.

“You mean . . . We haven’t been fooling everyone?”

“Well, perhaps you’ve been fooling most people. But not me. I’ve been around far too long. And I’d like to think I know you too well at this point, Cassie. Know, for example, that you are great friends with my Jake—but there is nothing, absolutely nothing, romantic between you. Don’t think I haven’t wished for it, since Jake came back to town. I think you’re an absolutely wonderful girl and would make a perfect granddaughter-in-law. But alas, I always knew it was not to be, that Jake wasn’t your type and you weren’t his, that you were only ever destined to be friends.” Faye took a sip from her mug. “When that all changed—and it changed fast—and the sparks started to fly between you two, I knew something was up.”

“You’ve known this whole time? Have you . . . told anyone?”

“Of course not. I’m not an old gossip. This is not my story to tell. And I certainly haven’t told Jake. These things need to run their course, don’t they?”

Cass swallowed hard. “I’m afraid you’re more caught up on things than I am around here. I’ve been in L.A., living Charlie’s life.”

Faye’s eyes twinkled even brighter. “And what was that like, Cassie? A lot different than here, I imagine. But you needed a change. You needed to get away from here for a bit. Did you gain some new perspective? Have any adventures?”

“Did I ever.” Cass sipped her coffee and began to talk, keeping her voice low so no one would overhear. Faye turned up her hearing aid and leaned in. It felt so good to tell the truth—and it felt so good to talk about Miguel.

“He sounds like a wonderful man,” Faye said. “My James was a medic in the war, back when we first met, and I think it was his capability, his concern for others, that made me fall for him.”

Cass stared down into her almost empty coffee cup. “All Miguel ever does is worry about others,” she said. “He’s the kindest, most endearing man on the planet. And I— Well, it feels like I’m in love with him. But how can that be possible in a week, right? I just need to forget about him.”

Faye chuckled. “Oh, honey. Anything is possible in a heartbeat, let alone a week. I fell for my James at first sight. Took one look at him and knew he was the one. I could practically see it all, right there in his eyes: the house, the kids, the fifty years of marriage.” Now her sparkling eyes lost a little of their light. “Of course, the heartache and him getting sick, that I couldn’t see. I could never have imagined losing him one day. Loss is the human condition, they say, and no amount of medicine can change that.” She released a sigh, but then she was back to herself again. “The thing is, those fifty years felt like they went by in the blink of an eye. Life is short, Cassie. Too short to be wasting time worrying about how long it takes to truly fall in love, or wallowing around in your hometown when the man you love is in Los Angeles, more than likely wallowing about you.”