She distinctly remembered a classmate, the pigtailed Judy McDonald, asking Maggie where her dad was on her family tree drawing. Maggie had gone home to ask her mother that very question, but it was years before she revealed the truth. Years before she realized she was better off not knowing.
Cody and then Emmett joined them at the table.
“How are you feeling about the test tomorrow, Cody?” Emmett asked.
The boy winced. “Okay, I think, Mr. Wright.”
Maggie blinked. Sy’s dad was Cody’s biology teacher? Small towns were so…small.
“Cell metabolism is tough,” Emmett sympathized. “You need at least a C on this to keep graduation alive. I think you can do it. If you want, after lunch I can walk you through a quick refresher.”
Cody nodded. “Thanks. That would help a lot.”
Maggie felt like this was information she should have known. So much for being a cool, informed sort of guardian.
“Are you having trouble in science?” she asked Cody.
He gave a shrug. “More like with school in general.”
Before she could extend a vague offer of some sort of help, Blaire announced that it was time to eat, and there was a stampede to the table. Maggie didn’t miss the knowing look that passed between Blaire and Mama B when Silas took the seat on her left and slung his arm around her chair. Laying claim.
Conversation began again as food was passed and plates were filled. Dean was sandwiched between Niri and Michael. From where Maggie sat, it looked like Niri was the only one doing any of the talking.
“I read that Sebastian Spencer signed the giving pledge,” Morris mentioned to Blaire.
The casual dropping of the billionaire philanthropist’s name had Maggie swallowing hard around a bite of chicken.
Dean shot Maggie a sharp look from across the table. She picked up her wineglass and took a healthy swig. Oblivious to her tension, Silas traced tiny circles with his fingers on her back.
“What the hell’s a giving pledge?” Wallace grumbled.
“It’s when a wealthy person promises to donate the bulk of his or her fortune,” Mama B explained.
“Sounds like socialism to me,” the old man harrumphed.
Silas laughed. “What it sounds like, my crabby friend, is new resources for small businesses to help them grow and adapt. Grants, training, loans to help cover higher hourly wages.”
Did every damn person in this town read Newsweek? Maggie wondered in exasperation.
“Uh, speaking of businesses,” Maggie said, clinging to the segue. “Is there any news on what’s happening with the cabinetry plant?”
“The word around town is they’re trying to arrange for a private sale, or at least get permission to temporarily open back up to finish the outstanding orders,” Emmett said.
“It’s a real shame,” Blaire said. “Canyon Custom Cabinetry was known for workmanship and quality for decades. Somehow a few greedy people managed to ruin the financial security of half the town’s families and run an entire business into the ground.”
Maggie dropped her fork as a bolt of inspiration hit her. “I don’t suppose there’s anyone I could talk to about having the plant design a custom kitchen for the Campbell place?”
“Not in the budget,” Dean sang under his breath.
“Eat your potato salad,” Maggie warbled back.
“With 999,902 followers, that’s a lot of free publicity,” Silas drawled.
Risking whiplash, Maggie whirled to look at him. “You memorized my follower count?”
He gave her the flirty eyes and rubbed his thumb over the base of her neck. She tried not to purr out loud. “I might have peeked…after Cody showed me where to look,” he told her.
Cody snickered. “I was just impressed he had a GIF keyboard on his phone.”
“What happens when you hit one million subscribers?” Morris asked.
“It’s just a milestone,” Maggie said.
“Sounds like one hell of an impressive milestone to me,” Emmett added.
Over the ribbing around the table, Mama B clasped her ringed fingers under her chin. “I like you, Maggie,” she said with approval. “You’ve got smarts and heart.”
“Start with the deputy mayor,” Blaire suggested. “She’ll know who you need to talk to about getting you a kitchen.”
Maggie found herself grinning her way through the meal as Cody ate enough food for half a high school track team and earned affectionate praise from Blaire, claiming he was saving her from packing up leftovers.