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her out to get them just a few moments later . . .
    Helena had whispered an apology in passing and promised to explain later, but Molly was planning to claim a headache and go home before this night got any worse. Tate looked distinctly uncomfortable when he followed Helena in a few minutes later, but Ms. Louise had called them all to the table before anything had been said.
    Now they were all paying for that one moment with extreme awkwardness. The presence of Ms. Louise and Ryan’s arrival with his dog, Tank—however tardy they might be—precluded any conversation about what had happened, which Molly was rather thankful for. The more she thought about it, the more she knew that actually having that conversation would only make the situation worse and more humiliating and should be avoided at all costs. So they sat there at the table, making small talk while Helena kept shooting her apologetic looks across her chicken and Tate looked as if he was ready to strangle someone—probably Helena. Ryan, bless him, was pretty much clueless about the undercurrents, and while Ms. Louise was probably aware something was going on, she was much too polite to bring it up.
    It wasn’t that she wanted to go out with Tate, nor did she necessarily want him to want her, but really, therewas no way not to be a little bummed to hear it stated so baldly.
    And now that she knew, and he knew, and she knew that he knew she knew . . . Ugh . There was no way for it not to be awkward as hell.
    Oh God. What if Tate thinks I put Helena up to it?
    If Tate didn’t strangle Helena, she just might.
    The unable-to-be-addressed tension put a bit of a damper on dinner. And since Ms. Louise and Helena were the closest thing to family she had, she looked forward to these dinners. She didn’t want it to be strained and weird for everyone.
    “Helena says you’ve taken over the Children’s Fair for Mrs. Kennedy,” Ryan said with just the right level of interest for the mayor to have.
    That only served to remind her that she was now going to have to swallow a heaping serving of humiliation in order to work with Tate. I have a meeting with him tomorrow, too. Kill me now. “I have,” she managed to answer.
    “That’s a big job,” he replied, obviously not realizing how fraught that topic was.
    “It’ll be good to have some new blood in there,” Ms. Louise said. “Eula’s had control of it since God was a child, and she’s way too possessive of it.”
    “Grannie . . .” Helena scolded gently.
    “I’ve said the exact same thing to Eula’s face many times.” Ms. Louise was not in the least bit contrite over her words. “That’s how you end up killing things.” She turned to Molly and smiled warmly. “I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully at the helm.”
    “Thank you, Ms. Louise. I realize it’s a big responsibility I’ve been entrusted with, and I hope I can run it half as well as Mrs. Kennedy.”
    “That’s very diplomatic of you, dear.” Ms. Louise bitback a small smile. “Make all the changes you want. Eula will get over it.”
    Remind me not to underestimate the cattiness of little old ladies. But it was nice to hear Ms. Louise had faith in her. It both buoyed her and warmed her. Ms. Louise wasn’t one to offer empty flattery, so her words carried oomph. “Helena told me you might have some ideas you’d like to see implemented. I’d love to hear them—or any other advice you’d like to offer.”
    “Me? No. I don’t think I’ve set foot inside the park during the Children’s Fair in years. I’m happier over with the bake sales and things like that. I wouldn’t have a clue where to begin.”
    So the whole evening had been a setup. I’m going to kill Helena Wheeler.
    “Tate’s going to help Molly get everything sorted,” Helena offered.
    Grannie smiled. “That’s good. I’m glad to hear you’ll be getting more involved with things, Tate. I’m sure the two of you will make a great team.”
    “Oh, I totally