“I gave him a little bit of encouragement,” she admitted. “Just a little bit.”

A little bit because she wanted to ride in the milk truck, and a little bit because she was flattered by all his attention. But then Dominic had shown up and, “That was it for me,” she explained.

Vivian listened to the story. Boy, did she love a good love story. Her face was tilted toward Maria, one hand held her chin, and the other hand held a china cup with the last few drops of coffee. As Maria described how she and Dominic fell for each other, Vivian began to think about Edward. Without any awareness, she flashed an angry look in his direction. She slammed the coffee cup down on its saucer, and a tiny chip flew back toward the wall.

“Vivian.” Maria’s voice had risen a little, and Vivian snapped her attention back to her guest and forced a wide-eyed grin as Maria said, “You’ve been at Bell so long, haven’t you? How long has it been?”

“Oh”—Vivian let out a long breath and waved her free hand as she set the saucer and cup on the side table—“it feels like forever.”

“I feel lucky to have been hired,” Maria offered. “After the Building & Loan embezzlement”—she paused and looked at the floor—“we were in a bit of trouble.”

“Oh, dear.” Vivian’s attention shifted completely away from Edward with this abrupt (and possibly intentional) change of subject. She felt a sudden and strange urge to put an arm around Maria Tomasetti’s shoulder. Instead, she looked at her hands in her lap.

The whole town’d been singing J. Ellis Reed’s praises when he’d told his bank customers he’d be reimbursing them. Everyone called him Wooster’s very own George Bailey. His grandkids even made him a sash and a fancy pole to carry. (Charlotte had called it a “scepter” and said it was made of papier-mâché.) Vivian knew by now the bank hadn’t reimbursed everyone who’d lost money, and she had little moments of guilt about it, especially about people she knew were worse off than her own family. That wasn’t fair. But, as her mother was always saying, “Life isn’t fair.” She frowned for a brief second, then looked up and directly into Maria’s eyes.

“Well”—her tone was matter-of-fact and she gave a nod of her head as she spoke—“whatever brought you to Bell, we’re sure glad you’re there.”

Vivian was surprised to realize she really meant it.

Maria’s expression went from pained to grateful and she reached forward, taking both of Vivian’s hands in her own.

“Vivian,” she said with some seriousness. “I should tell you something.”

Vivian’s breath caught in her chest and her fingers squeezed Maria’s hands out of sheer anxiety. This was going to be it. Maria had heard about the rumor. She hadn’t even thought of someone like Maria being the one to hear the gossip. She hadn’t really thought of Maria as being part of Wooster. Her heart pounded in her chest and her smile froze in place, just as it had in the grocery store with Helen Harper.