Chapter 5Allison Spencer and her sister sat at the most level of the uneven tables at Lydia's café with the proprietress and Kristina Heitschmidt. The restaurant had closed a couple of hours ago and now the four ladies had gathered in the large, empty room. Outside the rows of massive windows, a stiff wind sent the twigs on the n***d, stunted trees whipping, compounding the vision of a bleak, gray early December afternoon. Though the heat of the kitchen warmed the dining room, the chill seeped in around the door and windows. Allison cradled her cup of hot coffee with gratitude while the warm flavor of gingerbread cake heated her insides.
“I still just can't believe it,” Lydia said, taking a sip of her tea. “How long have you two been courting in secret?”
“We haven't been,” Kristina insis
