Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jen sat in a booth at Bunny’s, watching Colby as he downed a sugar sprinkle cookie. His ability to get crumbs everywhere never ceased to amaze her. Half the time, she was convinced he got more of the cookie on the floor and table than in his mouth. She returned her gaze to Travis, who sat across from her waiting for his grandmother to finish with a client behind the counter.
Travis gave her a quick wink. “It’s going to be okay, you know that.” She’d already told him about the bakery her father had proposed—he’d texted her impatiently asking to know.
“I know, but I’ve worked here since I was sixteen. I feel like your grandmother is almost my grandmother at this point.”
More than that, she thought of all the work she’d poured into things the last week. The meetings with her dad at the bank and to see his lawyer. Staying up late into the night reading everything she could get her hands on and building a business plan. She’d also met Garrett Doyle at the hardware store to gain a proper estimate on the cost to fix the place—that number still made her break out in a cold sweat.
Her plan might still be in its infancy, but she’d worked harder on it than she’d worked on anything for a while. And a part of her didn’t want to let that go now. Jen stretched her arms out on the table in front of her, then folded them across each other while she set her head down. “What if Bunny hates me for this?”
“She won’t hate you.” Travis chuckled sardonically. “You know her. She’s going to have your back.”
“Really? When I’m thinking of setting up a shop a few doors down?” That was the part of this that worried her the most. That Bunny would never want to speak to her again. After all, whatever had sparked her feud with Peter Yardley had lasted for decades now. And they’d spent most of that time always trying to outdo each other. “What if I’m the new Peter to her?”
Travis lowered his voice, leaning closer. “Peter’s become his own thing. I think even my grandma must claim defeat on that one. He has his own show on that network that does all the celebrity food shows. A classic American show. How can my grandma compete with that? He’s moved his whole Christmas special to the lighted flotilla at the lake, so it can coincide with the festival and fireworks, and he’s going to make the announcement then.”
She gave him a curious look. “Who told you all that about the flotilla?”
A sheepish expression crossed his face. “Lindsay.”
Her draw dropped. “Have you two been talking again?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe. I don’t know. It’s so complicated with her. But we did text after that baking competition last week. But see? You’re the glue that brings the Yardleys and the Wagners together. The one thing we can agree on.”
Bunny started toward their table, still holding the cloth they used to wipe down the espresso machine. She shook her head when she saw she still carried it and set it in front of her. “I swear I’ve put more than one of those in my purse before.” She sat beside her grandson.
Jen smiled. “I think I’ve done something similar.” She gave Bunny an apologetic look. “Though it probably doesn’t help that you’ve been having to pick up so many hours that I couldn’t work for you.”
“That’s what happens when you use that preschool that Yardley girl recommended.” Bunny folded the cleaning cloth into a neat square. “But that’s beside the point. With Christmas only a few days away, things are just busy, you know how it is. I would be here anyway. Now, what did you want to talk about?”
Jen didn’t want to think of Christmas being a few days away. Her life had taken such a strange turn in the past few weeks that Christmas didn’t feel quite real right now. She’d been able to buy Colby some presents and had wrapped them, thanks to Jason paying off her bills, but her spirits didn’t match. That was also thanks to Jason.
She put the thoughts of him aside, and her gaze darted briefly to Travis. He gave her an encouraging look. Thank goodness she’d asked him to be here. She glanced at Colby, who was still chewing the cookie. “Well, Bunny...you know I’ve always appreciated everything you’ve taught me and how I give you credit for everything I’ve learned.”
Bunny gave her a puzzled look. “Are you quitting?”
She felt the need to ground herself in something safe. For as many conversations that she’d had with Bunny, telling her this made the possibility of it real. If she moved forward now, she was on the hook.
She put her hand on Colby’s back. “Millie Price has agreed to rent me the old hardware store on Main. And my father has offered to help me get a loan to fix it up and create my own bakery.”
Bunny was silent. She blinked, her face thoughtful as she seemed to weigh her response. Tilting her head, she asked, “When are you opening?”
Jen cleared her throat and her fingers curled around Colby’s thin shoulders. “I’m not sure. I wanted to talk to you before I made a final decision. There’s no way I could move forward if you were angry with me. I’m making a business plan right now. But, hopefully, if all goes well, sometime next summer.”
Bunny squinted, then she exchanged a look with Travis. “Did you know this?”
Travis nodded.
Bunny smacked his forearm lightly. “And you didn’t tell your own grandmother?” She shook her head as though disappointed. She looked back at Jen. “All right. Well. Tell me when you start taking orders.” She slid out of her booth as though she was going back to work.
“Wait—what does that mean?” Jen scrambled out of her booth. “Are you mad at me?”
Bunny scanned her face, and then a slow smile spread on her features. “Silly me.” She pulled Jen into her arms for a strong hug. “I tell you, the Christmas season has my brain upside down. Mad at you? Are you nuts?” Then she laughed. “Well, considering I’ve been in this business for so long, you are a little nuts to want to do it, too. But that’s not the point. The point is it will be a relief to outsource all our baking to someone I trust. Then maybe I can finally start cutting back on hours here.”
Outsource her baking? “You’re going to sell my products here?” Jen blinked, trying to wrap her head around what Bunny was saying.
“Of course. And don’t worry, I’ll still give you credit.” She dipped her chin and pointed out the window. “You should get Lindsay to help you talk to Peter. He’d probably be interested in throwing some of your products on his dessert menu, too. And in the Depot.”
She winked, then caressed Jen’s cheek gently. “I’m proud of you, kiddo. Never taught anyone with as much talent as you. You go get them.” Then she turned and shuffled back toward the counter.
Jen watched her go, her lips parted, mouth hanging half-open. “Told you you’d be fine,” Travis said behind her.
She turned and gave him a warm smile. “Thanks for being here anyway.” She reached for Colby. “Hey, bud, want to go for a walk? I have something I want you to see.”
Colby abandoned his crumbs, jumping onto the seat of the bench excitedly. “Is it a toy?”
She grabbed a napkin and wiped off his face, then she quickly cleared up the table as best she could. Travis shooed her away, though. “No. It’s better than a toy.” Putting him down, she took his hand. She waved goodbye to Travis, then hurried outside with Colby. Despite the frosty December air, a potent force propelled her forward, and she broke into a jog up the sidewalk. Colby laughed, trying to keep up with her.
They stopped in front of the hardware store. Digging into her purse, she found her keys and then looked for the key her father had given her. She slipped the key into the lock, picking at the peeling navy blue paint on the door frame. “What is it?” Colby asked.
“Just look.” She pushed the door open. “This used to be your great-grandfather’s store. A long, long time ago.”
Colby looked wary, hanging back by the door. “Like yesterday?”
Jen chuckled. “No, a little longer than that.” She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
The inside of the hardware store was cold and dark. Uninviting. Plastic lined some walls, and the smell of dust was strong.
This place was going to take a ton of work.
“Does he still live here?” Colby asked, looking a little worried.
“Hey, where’s my favorite nephew?” Dan’s voice came from behind them, startling Jen. She gave a slight jump, then turned, releasing a relieved breath.
“Uncle Danny!” Whatever fear Colby had felt moments before seemed to vanish as he whirled around and leaped into Dan’s arms with childish excitement.
Jen gave him a taut smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I doubt Warren would be glad to hear you have favorites. What are you doing here?”
“All my nieces and nephews are my favorite when I’m with them.” Dan winked at her. “I was just down the street. Saw you two stop here.” He shook his head at the decrepit interior. “I’ve had to chase some squatters out of here before. You probably shouldn’t go in there alone.” He set Colby down.
“I just wanted to show Colby the place. Did Dad tell you about his proposal for me?”
Dan shifted, rubbing his clean-shaven jaw. “He did. Can’t wait to see what you do with the place.” He tilted his head, a troubled look on his face. “Feel like walking to the playground? There’s something I wanted to mention to you.”
Jen nodded and locked up, pushing away the disappointment she felt at not showing Colby the space. But Dan was probably right. It might be better to wait to show him the building when it was less scary. But she’d felt so enthusiastic after her conversation with Bunny, and losing that feeling was heartbreaking.
The playground wasn’t too far away. When one of the oldest buildings in town had burned to the ground a few years earlier, the lot it had been on had been converted into a community space. With a playground for kids and gardens with plenty of seating, it was especially popular in summer. As they drew closer, Colby broke out in a run toward it.
Jen watched him climb up a ladder. “What’s up?” she asked Dan, not taking her eyes off Colby.
Dan grimaced. “You’re going to be mad at me. But you’re my sister, and I’ve messed up a lot with you. And I want us to trust each other like we used to.”
She crossed her arms and raised both brows. “Uh...what is it?”
“I looked Jason Cavanaugh up before you came to me that day at the precinct asking me if I could investigate him. And I didn’t tell you I’d already found out he was Kevin’s brother. I had already paid him a visit and asked him not to tell you about his connection to Kevin.”
“Wait, what?” Jen stiffened. She remembered Dan’s reassurances when she’d gone to the police station. That he couldn’t use his position to look into people like that. That was a lie, too?
Dan gave her a squinty-eyed look. “He said he was leaving. That he was in town to see Millie Price. And I didn’t want to bring up Kevin because, well, you know. You were doing a lot better with that whole thing, and I figured you’re old enough to make your own decisions.”
“Mommy, watch!” Colby cried, clamoring at the top of a twisting green slide.
Jen didn’t bother to look at Dan, going closer to Colby as he slid down it. “Wow, bud. That’s a tall slide.” She helped him off and he ran around to the ladder to go back up. She felt Dan come up behind her. A heavy feeling weighed down her chest.
Jason’s face flashed in her mind. She couldn’t allow herself to think of him. To think of the time they’d spent together. Jason’s wife—with all her beauty and glamour—haunted her dreams. The lies from his lips mocked every memory that snaked its way into her brain. Her mistake had been to think she knew him when really, she didn’t. Just like she’d never really known Kevin. So many things she didn’t know. “So you told Jason not to tell me anything? Or threatened him?”
Dan turned her to face him, then set two brotherly hands on her shoulders. He ducked his chin, frowning. “A bit of both. But I’m starting to realize you don’t need protection. Not really. And my interference probably made a confusing situation even worse. Jason told me he was going to tell you everything. And I told him not to. I didn’t know about the inheritance stuff, of course. No way to know about that. So I still feel like he wasn’t honest about what he was doing here in town.”
“And you didn’t tell me about this sooner?” Jen pulled herself free from his grasp as irritation bubbled inside her. “Dan, if I had known who Jason was from the start, things could have been really different.” Honestly, she didn’t want to think about how things would be now. She wasn’t over Jason—not by a smidge—and it was too easy and unrealistic to think about what might have happened if he’d told her the truth when they’d met. She could never really know that.
After catching Colby at the bottom of the slide, she set him down on the ground. He ran over to a climbing pole with a grin.
“I thought I was doing the right thing. I shouldn’t have looked him up, really. I knew how mad it might make you. But then once I knew the truth, I felt stuck.” Dan motioned toward Colby. “I love you guys. You know I’d never let anyone hurt you, but I think it’s time for me to hang up my hat as the enforcer of that. So I wanted to tell you the truth. Start with a clean slate.”
Jen crossed her arms, grinding her teeth. “It was an awful thing to do, Dan.” She checked the playground to make sure they were relatively alone. Only another mom appeared to be in the vicinity, but she was busy swinging her kid on the swing set. “And I’m having a hard time believing you’re being sincere about not interfering in my business. But I’m also really, really sick of being mad right now. It’s Christmas, and I don’t want to be fighting with my big brother. So if I let you off the hook this time, swear to me this will be the last time.”
Dan’s broad shoulders fell as he released a sigh. “I promise, Jen. You know, Warren and I really took the news of you being our baby sister seriously. Probably because we were so excited to be part of a normal family. And you’re the one who brought us all together in a way. But you’re not a baby anymore. You’re not even the girl you were when you got pregnant.”
He gave Colby a fond smile as he ran by to the other side of the playground set. “You’re really admirable, Jen. Hell, I think it’s pretty safe to say you’re a lot more mature and smarter than I am. Look how much trouble I’ve caused you.” He reached out and squeezed her shoulder once more. “So I swear it. You don’t need me trying to look after you. You’re doing just fine on your own. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Mom and Dad wouldn’t be offering to help you with that bakery if they didn’t believe in you just as much as I do.”
Jen’s eyes misted unexpectedly at his words. “I don’t know about that.”
“I’m serious. How many other people do you know who could juggle two jobs, do an amazing job raising a baby all on your own, and be a hot-shot baking contestant on a television show while charming the pants off a billionaire?”
“Multimillionaire.” Jen winced.
Dan winked. “After five figures, you’re talking about zeroes most people have and will never see in their bank accounts. It’s all relative.” He slung his arm around her shoulder, drawing her in for a bear hug. “You’re doing great, Jen. We’re all proud of you. You just have to believe it for yourself.” Dan kissed her temple and then released her. “I should get back to work. I have a whole town to look out for instead of you.”
As Dan walked away, Jen felt a surprising tug of loneliness in his absence. Almost how she pictured one of those scenes from the movies where the parents helped their college student pack up the car and waved goodbye while they left. Dan had been towering over her all of her life—and not just because of his tall stature. Despite their age gap, he was the big brother who took the time to play with her. Who watched over her when she got home from school.
His uniformed figure retreated down the sidewalk, and she fought the urge to call him back. Maybe she needed him more than she thought, after all. Hadn’t she just shown she wasn’t the best judge of character . . . again?
And here I am, considering trying to run my own business. I keep letting minor obstacles steal my security.
“Mommy, look!” Colby was groping for the monkey bars and Jen’s heart dipped with worry. She crossed the space to his side in a flash and then helped him across. As he reached the last bar, he let go and slid into her waiting arms.
“I did it!” His babyish voice was filled with excitement, his innocent joy melting her heart. He didn’t care whether she’d helped him or that he’d basically taken a trust fall in the end, which still had her palms feeling slick. He was still proud of his attempt.
Maybe that’s how things are supposed to be with the people you can count on.
Colby’s arms were tight around her neck as she set him on the ground. She kissed his forehead and decided right there. “You know that building I was showing you when Uncle Dan showed up?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s going to be Mommy’s new bakery.” She swiped a cookie crumb from his collar that she’d missed. “I still have to fix it up. But I’m going to have someone make it pretty and paint it. What color do you think it should be?”
Colby grinned. “Yellow!”
“That sounds good to me.” She searched his eyes, knowing he couldn’t possibly understand entirely what she meant. She didn’t know if she would succeed, but she knew she wasn’t alone, even if she’d never met another man again.
Or if she’d ever have another baby.
She didn’t know if this bakery would work or how to manage childcare while running a business.
But all she could do was wrap her arms tight around the little boy who had been the best decision she’d made. And just keep moving forward.