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“Someone has to help you old guys out,” Evan quips cheekily, raising laughter all round.

“June,” Fletcher complains dramatically, “that maple bar woman flirted with me again.”

“She clearly likes the bad boys, and you look like trouble on legs,” Wayne puts in, patting Lily’s round behind gently. She coos in his face.

Fletcher beams. “Why, Wayne, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“She has good taste,” June says.

“Thank you,” Fletcher says, kissing her quickly on the mouth while stealing one of her coffee lids.

It’s not long before another man heads over, moving with unhurried ease. His gaze settles on the sleepy Noah tucked securely against June’s chest, and he stops beside her as though it’s the most natural place in the world to be.

June reaches up and fixes the collar of his flannel without even looking. “Hey, Rex.”

Rex kisses her too.

I blink at them. What am I seeing here?

Then Lucy tugs on my arm, and when I bend down, whispers loudly, “They keep kissing Miss June.”

“I can see that,” I say, slightly mortified that they can all hear.

Wayne grins outright. “Most observant kid in town.”

Fletcher points at Lucy. “I like her. She has an eye for drama.”

June laughs softly before glancing toward me, whilst I try to absorb seeing this extraordinary relationship in action. It’s definitely different to just hearing about it. People pass the booth, waving at them casually. Nobody stares. Nobody whispers. Old women stop to admire the babies. Fletcher gets yelled at by a nearby vendor for stealing strawberries off his display.

It’s obvious that the town accepts them completely. Nobody here reacts to them as unusual. That’s the part I can’t stop noticing.

June catches me thinking too hard. “You get this little line between your eyebrows when you’re concentrating.”

I immediately smooth my forehead defensively.

Wayne snorts into his coffee.

Lucy says, “Aunt Laurel always does that when she’s confused,” and looks pleased when everyone laughs.

“Thank you, Lucy, you little traitor,” I tell her mildly.

“You’re welcome,” she replies.

More laughter.

June reaches out and squeezes my wrist gently. “You get used to people building life differently around here.”

“So I see,” I reply.

I let Lucy wander to a nearby booth selling tiny, knitted animals, keeping an eye on her while I stay talking to June a little longer.

“She seems lighter today,” June says softly, watching Lucy carefully inspect a stuffed frog wearing suspenders.

“She actually woke me up and asked to come today.”

June smiles. “That’s a big deal.”

“I know.”