CHAPTER TWELVE
Gramma walked ahead of them and led them to the dining room. There were a few guests in the dining room, eating and talking quietly.
“The lunch crowd is gone,” Gramma said. “We can put our feet up and relax for a bit. When dinner time rolls around, it’s gonna get crazy again. I’ll get you a cup of coffee while Neveah gets the pie.”
“It’s really okay, Gramma, Ne-ma,” Emilia began. “Please don’t trouble yourselves...”
“No trouble at all!” the two grandmothers declared and bustled into the kitchen. “Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable.”
They appeared again in no time with three plates of apple pie and three steaming cups of coffee.
“Oh, this is the yummiest pie I’ve ever tasted!” Emilia exclaimed, licking her lips appreciatively as she dug into the pie.
Ne-ma grinned. “I’ll taking part in the Big Bake Off this year,” she confided. “I’ve been trying to perfect my apple pie for months now.”
“It is perfect,” Emilia said sincerely. “This really is the best pie I’ve ever had.”
“Thank you!” Ne-ma said and got up to do a little victory jig.
When Ne-ma sat down again, she looked at Emilia and asked, “So how are you settling in?”
“Okay,” Emilia said. “This is a really nice town.”
“Let us know if you need anything,” Gramma said, patting Emilia’s hand.
Emilia chewed her lip and gulped. “I...I actually need a job,” she said at last.
Gramma and Ne-ma glanced at each other.
“I walked around the town today, but none of the shops or restaurants seemed to be hiring,” Emilia said. She sighed and managed a small smile. “But I’m sure I’ll find something.” I just need to find it really quick or I won’t be able to make rent.
Ne-ma and Gramma exchanged a look, and a silent conversation seemed to be taking place between them.
With a nod and a wink, Ne-ma jumped up and announced loudly, “I’ll just go check on my pie!” She mouthed something to Gramma and scooted out of the dining room towards the reception area.
Emilia blinked. The kitchen was the other way. Why would Ne-ma be checking on her pie at the reception counter?
She stared at Gramma in confusion, but Gramma just smiled and started talking about the weather.
“The rainy reason is coming,” Gramma prattled on. “We have thunderstorms sometimes. The lightning is really spectacular. It lights up the whole sky! Have you seen lightning that appears to split the sky in two?”
Emilia had the feeling that Gramma was trying to distract her and keep her occupied so Ne-ma could finish her secret mission. Gramma and Ne-ma had been communicating with each other in their own secret language right in front of her. She recognized the signs. She had seen her old landlady do that with her sister. The two women could read each other’s raised eyebrows, blinks and facial twitches perfectly. Women who were really close to each other seemed to have this wonderful way of communicating without words.
Ne-ma hadn’t skipped out of the room to check on her pie. They were up to something, but Emilia hadn’t the foggiest idea what they could be planning.
After a few minutes, Ne-ma came back into the dining room looking rather pleased with herself. Emilia realized with a start that Ne-ma had smeared purple lipstick rather hastily and haphazardly all over her lips. Smirking, Ne-ma flashed Gramma a signal.
Right on cue, Gramma stood up and said excitedly, “Oh, did you know that Broomstick Inn was featured in a magazine? We framed up the article. It’s on the wall behind the reception counter. Come and take a look, Emilia!”