17. Nora
Chapter Seventeen
NORA
“We’re going to be late,” Cat announced from where she sat beside me in the truck.
“I’m going as fast as this little truck will go,” I countered, glancing sideways with a quick shrug.
“I don’t want to interrupt Gemma’s class after it started. It’s not respectful.”
I smiled. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. We’ve got five minutes. We should make it in the nick of time.”
We did, by a hair. Both Cat and I were nearly breathless as we unrolled our yoga mats and took our positions at the back of the classroom.
Gemma cast us a quick smile as she made her way around the room, leading the class and gracefully adjusting postures.
By the time we were lying down on the floor at the end of the class, I felt good.
This was one of Gemma’s faster-paced classes, and Cat and I loved coming to this one.
Aside from the bonus of yoga, it was a nice way to spend time with my little sister.
We had our own push and pull relationship.
Over the past year, we had settled into a closer, less argumentative dynamic.
With Daphne here and such an integral part of Cat’s life as her soon-to-be stepmother, because Flynn was basically her de facto father, it had eased the tensions between Cat and Flynn, as well as Cat and me.
Somehow, Grant and Cat had floated along a little more comfortably over the years.
Things had been hard after our mom died.
Grant was just old enough not to argue as much with Cat but also not thrust into the role of functioning as her father the way Flynn had been.
I took several deep breaths, feeling the lingering twinges of tension ease in my body. A few moments later, people started getting up and putting their things away. Cat and I both changed out of our yoga leggings and tank tops into “town clothes,” as Cat liked to call them.
We were headed over to Red Truck Coffee to talk with Cammi about planning her wedding. Her friends were helping her, but she wanted our feedback on how to make it special for Elias.
Gemma was waiting by the door as we approached. “Thanks for coming,” she said with a warm smile.
“We love it. Sorry we were late,” Cat said.
Gemma’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t think you were late.”
“Cat thought we’d be late and didn’t want to be disrespectful by coming in after you started,” I explained.
Gemma grinned. “It would’ve been fine if you had actually been late. Life happens.” She shrugged lightly. “I’ll see you ladies at class at the resort next week. Diego and I are going to stay for dinner.”
“You better,” Cat said, shifting from her apologetic attitude about being late to apparently affronted at the thought that Gemma and Diego might even consider not staying for dinner.
Gemma curled her arm around Cat’s shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze.” I love having dinner with you.”
“I hope so. Diego’s my unofficial uncle, so now that you’re with him, you’re sort of becoming like my aunt,” Cat said so earnestly that Gemma placed her hand over her heart.
“That’s so sweet. I know he means a lot to you, and he considers all of you family. I feel lucky to be a part of it. Where are you ladies headed next?”
“Wedding planning with Cammi. Did you hear she’s pregnant?”
“I did. Elias is going to be a family man. Diego is waiting for him to freak out. Not because he thinks Elias doesn’t want kids, but because Diego thinks Elias is a worrier,” Gemma replied with a wry smile.
My heart pinched a little. Elias was a reserved guy and hid it well, but he was a worrier, and he always liked to make sure everything was taken care of. Kids were messy and would definitely challenge that part of him.
I chuckled softly. “It should be fun to watch.” A few students for the next class started entering the studio. “We’ll see you at the resort. Thanks again,” I called as we moved along.
A few minutes later, I aimed the truck toward Cammi’s coffee truck.
“I can’t believe Elias is going to have a baby,” I said as I drove.
“Twins! He’s having twins,” Cat said, her eyes shining when she looked toward me.
I grinned. “I know.”
“Do you think he’ll let me babysit?”
“I’m sure he will.”
A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of Red Truck Coffee.
Cammi owned this place as well as Misty Mountain Café, which she’d taken over about six months ago.
Red Truck Coffee was a Diamond Creek institution.
It was an aptly named coffee shop housed in an old red baker’s truck and had been around for years.
Cammi kept it open from spring until the snow flew.
Situated at the corner of the road that led to Otter Cove Harbor, it was the heartbeat of the small town in the summer when it was crowded with fishermen and tourists.
“Do you think we’ll get some coffee?” Cat asked as we climbed out of the truck.
A chilly gust of wind blew off the harbor, the air crisp with a salty hint. “I would imagine so. Cammi is always generous with her coffee. At least we can insist on paying here.”
We jogged across the gravel parking lot and knocked on the back door to the truck. Cammi had said she wanted us to meet her here because Misty Mountain Café was still open, but she’d closed the coffee truck earlier.
The door swung open, and Cammi smiled at us. It was no wonder Elias had fallen for her. She had an undeniable sweetness to her, so it made sense she would be the one to soften his guard. Her blue eyes twinkled as she gestured through the narrow doorway. “Come in.”
I looked around the inside of the small space, commenting, “Even though I’ve been here hundreds of times, I’ve never been inside. It’s tiny, but it doesn’t feel crowded.”
Cammi lifted her hands, tightening a ponytail holding up her honey-brown hair. “I did my best to make it spacious. When it’s busy, there are two of us in here, and we need to be able to move.”
The counter where she served customers was closed with the serving window folded down. She had shelving on the sides and above. She pointed toward a cluster of stools.
“Coffee?” she asked, gesturing for us to take a seat.
“Of course, but we’re paying,” I insisted.
Cammi pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “No, you’re not.”
“Yes, we are,” Cat chimed in.
Cammi laughed. “I’ve already shut down my laptop where I can ring you up. If you insist on giving me money, put it in the tip jar.” She pointed at a Mason jar painted brightly with sunflowers. “The staff tomorrow morning will be thrilled.”
While I stuffed a ten-dollar tip in the jar, she got to work making coffees for us. She made some tea for herself before she sat down, hooking her feet over the rungs on the stool. With a smile, she asked, “Okay, how do I make the wedding fun for Elias?”
Cat cast me a worried look before her eyes bounced to Cammi. “I don’t know. Elias isn’t really a party guy.”
“I’m so excited for you two,” I said, the backs of my eyes stinging with tears.
Elias was like another brother to me and Cat, one of Flynn’s closest friends.
He’d been a steady presence at the resort for over five years.
While we were all thrilled for him and Cammi, we missed seeing him every day at the resort.
We still saw him plenty because he worked at the resort flying planes, but it wasn’t the same.
Cammi’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes shifted down. Following her gaze, I finally noticed a ring.
“Oh, my God! He got you a ring?” I slapped my palm over my chest. “I already knew he loved you, but this is huge. Shopping for anything totally isn’t his thing.”
Cammi’s smile was bashful when she looked up again.
Cat demanded, “Let us see.”
Cammi uncurled her hand from the mug and held it out for us to see. It was a simple band with a sapphire.
“It’s beautiful,” Cat breathed.
“It really is,” I said, my heart filled with joy for her and for them.
Cammi blinked when she looked up at us, and I thought she might be trying not to cry. “He picked it out himself and surprised me last week.” Her voice was filled with wonderment as if she couldn’t believe what had happened.
“Elias has had a thing for you for years. I knew one day he would get over himself. I didn’t realize you two would reach the wedding and family stage this fast, though,” I teased.
Cammi’s cheeks went pink again. “I didn’t either. I know he loves me. It’s just when we first got together he didn’t strike me as the kind of guy to settle down.”
“He is that kind of guy. He just had to find you. He’s one of the most loyal people I know,” Cat offered, looking back and forth between Cammi and me.
“Oh, I know he is,” Cammi said with a soft smile.
She cleared her throat and took a swallow of her tea before continuing.
“It means a lot to me that you two are willing to help me plan a little. I don’t want anything elaborate.
I thought maybe we could make the food whatever he wants.
If you have any other ideas, I’d love that.
I didn’t want this to be something that was just planned by my friends. I consider you all my friends as well.”
“It’s only been since you and Elias started up that we’ve been more in your circle. You and I knew each other for years. It’s just you were a few years ahead of me in high school. That’s when everything is so defined,” I commented.
“I know, it’s so funny how it’s like that,” Cammi returned.
“Do you mean my world will be different when I’m done with high school?” Cat asked hopefully.
“Absolutely,” Cammi said firmly. “It’s such a weird time in your life, but you don’t realize it until years later.”
We settled in to look at what she had planned so far for their wedding and even did a conference call with Daphne for some menu ideas.
My mind kept slipping back to Cat’s astute observation. That Elias was always the kind of guy to settle down, he just needed to find Cammy. I wondered if perhaps that was the case for Gabriel. I had a hard time envisioning myself as the kind of woman any man would fall for.
I kicked those thoughts to the curb and tried to stay focused. We had a wedding to help plan. I couldn’t wait for it. Things were moving quickly for them now that Cammi was pregnant, and I loved that they had found each other.