“Like a concert?”
“Exactly, although we can’t afford a band or a singer. Production costs for that type of entertainment would wipe out any benefit. A speaker would work if we can get someone big enough. If they were local, we could save on transportation costs as well.”
Zoe mulled this over. “A few famous actors have summer homes in this area, and some famous race car drivers, too. I’ll put together a list. My only worry is that it’s really late to be doing this sort of thing. We’re only two weeks out from our event.”
“We’ll do the best we can. We’ll brainstorm with the committee at our next meeting. Maybe someone has a connection we can use. I’ll have Sarah put it on the agenda.”
Ella’s phone buzzed. Tiff texted, Will be online in five. Zoom call invite in your box. “I’m sorry, but I have to take this Zoom meeting, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure,” Zoe said. “We need to go over these numbers, anyway.”
“Thanks. It’ll only take a few minutes.” She started collecting her things. “I’ll just go outside and—”
“Nonsense,” Grace said. “Go ahead and take it here. We won’t bother you.”
Ella paused. It would be a pain to try to do the call somewhere else. “Would you mind? I promise it won’t take lo—”
“There you are!” Aunt Jo stood beside the table with the preacher at her side. Now that he was closer, Ella realized he had the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen, a mesmerizing golden brown. She wondered if the attendance at the Baptist church had gone up since he’d arrived and instantly realized that was a silly thing to wonder. Of course it had.
“Mind if we join you?” Without waiting for an answer, Aunt Jo shrugged out of her coat and dropped heavily onto the bench beside Ella while the preacher pulled a chair from a nearby table and placed it at the end of their booth.
He helped Aunt Jo hang her cane over the hook at the end. “Aunt Jo, would you like a beverage?”
“Why yes, please. A Diet Coke. While you’re at it, I’ll take a piece of pie, too.” She leaned toward Ella and said in a low voice, “I’m doing some research on the opposition. Jules sometimes lets other bakers put their wares on display. I think she does it just to keep me sharp.”
“Glad you’re keeping an eye on it,” Ella said.
“Does anyone else want anything?” the preacher asked. When everyone murmured, “No, thank you,” he left to place Aunt Jo’s order at the counter. Then he returned, sliding into his chair with a gracious smile.
Ella’s laptop buzzed. “Sorry, guys. I have a meeting. I should probably take this somewhere else and—”
“Go ahead,” the preacher said. “We’ll be quiet as church mice. Won’t we, Aunt Jo?”
“Is that a Zoom meeting?” Aunt Jo leaned closer. “I’d like to see how those work. How many people will be there? Are they in other countries?”
Ella fought the urge to demand to be let out of her corner of the booth, but she was trapped now. “I’ll explain in a minute,” she told Aunt Jo as she pulled her purse closer and started digging for her earphones. After a moment, she dropped her purse back beside her. “I can’t find my earphones. I must have left them at home.”
Grace shrugged, while Zoe didn’t even look up from her spreadsheet. The preacher and Aunt Jo both mimed locking their lips with a key, which was about as reassuring as it was cute.
Left with no choice, Ella angled her computer away from the others and toward her own corner of the booth. I’ll just check in, say hi. I won’t stay long. She clicked on the meeting link and Tiff popped up, as did three other trendy-looking marketing representatives.
Oh no. Tiff invited the new sponsors. I should have read that email all the way through. Ella managed a weak smile as she waved. “Hi, everyone.”
A chorus of hellos followed. Ella waited for them to die down before she said, “Tiff, I’m sorry, but I’m only going to be able to stay for a few minutes.”
Tiff’s smile slipped, but with her usual positive energy she found it again and dove right in. “You’re busy. Sure. The real purpose of this meeting is just to introduce everyone, which won’t take long.” She quickly made introductions. As Tiff mentioned the names of the brands, Ella caught Zoe and Grace exchanging glances. Uh-oh. What’s going on there?
Aunt Jo leaned over to whisper loudly to the preacher, “Did you hear that Nike might be her sponsor? I wear those myself.” She stuck one foot out from under the table.
“Mighty fine shoes,” he agreed.
Tiff blinked.
Ella hurried to say, “Sorry. I’m sitting in the Moonlight Café with some friends.”
“The Moonlight?” one of the marketing people, a young lady with stylish short hair and a large, round pair of glasses, said with enthusiasm. “Is that where you had that amazing meatloaf? We’ve been watching your social media posts these past few weeks.”
Ella nodded, and Grace leaned across the table and said to the back of Ella’s computer, “For a small town, Dove Pond possesses a unique level of culinary richness.”
“That was the mayor,” Ella said.
Aunt Jo leaned over so she could see the screen, the top of her head partially covering Ella’s face. “I made the blueberry cheesecake Ella had on her Gram last week. And the pink elephant cupcakes.”
A chorus of “Who is that?” and “I loved those cupcakes!” broke out.
Tiff piped up, “Ella? Would you like to introduce us to your friend?”
As if she could say no. Giving a weak nod, Ella turned her computer toward Aunt Jo. “This is Mrs. Jolean Hamilton, known to everyone in town as Aunt Jo. She’s an amazing baker.”
“That’s something, coming from you, Ella,” Tiff said.
Everyone said hello to Aunt Jo.
Aunt Jo beamed and slipped an arm around Ella. “You all are smart to want to sponsor this one. She’s gold, both in the kitchen and out.”
Tiff laughed. “Yes, she is. Her followers love her. Aunt Jo—do you mind if I call you that?—Ella’s talked about you so much, I feel like I know you.”
“Lord, no. I don’t answer to much else.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Your cupcakes generated a lot of comments. People were asking where they could get some.”
“I’d be happy to make them for whoever wants them,” Aunt Jo said proudly. She settled back in her seat and told the preacher, “Everyone loves a cupcake.”
Ella turned the computer back her way.
“See?” Tiff was saying to the marketers. “This is just a sample of the exclusive, engaging content Ella posts on her accounts. Her fans are loving her ‘Paris Metro to Country Cute’ vibe, and I know you’ll be as excited as we are that she’ll be continuing the series for another week and perhaps more!”
That brought out a chorus of “We love it!” that would have been gratifying if Ella hadn’t been frozen in place at Tiff’s saying “and perhaps more.” Ella had no wish to make plans beyond that. She wanted to say that to Tiff but knew now was not the time. It would be a grave error for their team to appear out of sync.