27. Sylvia
SYLVIA
I am officially the happiest woman in the world.
I wake up to find Mike gone, but his heat still on the sheets. I roll to my back and stretch, feeling roughly like ten million bucks. Can I have what I want after all? This morning, I could believe it.
This morning, I could believe anything.
Then Una taps on the door. “Mildred just called. She’s not feeling well and doesn’t want to pass anything along to me.”
“Okay.” I’m knotting the belt on my robe as I open the door. “I’ll drive you into Havelock for your appointment.”
“But you have to work this afternoon.”
“I’ll find an answer. Don’t worry, Una.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and she squeezes my hand.
“I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”
“You’re not.” She looks unconvinced so I smile at her. “The way I figure it, you’ve never given anyone any trouble, so you’ve been saving up.”
She smiles reluctantly .
“You’ve barely begun to work on that inventory. I’ll take the time from work if I have to. It’ll be fine.”
And I’m sure it will be.
Because I know who I’m going to ask for help.
Today is greenhouse installation day, which means I know exactly where to find Mike. I send him a text and he replies that he’s at the café already. He’s waiting on crews but will be able to talk for a few minutes first, if I hurry.
I move.
Merrie has had a sign up all week that we’ll be closed at lunch today. Mike told her that the building had to be empty when the greenhouse was installed to satisfy some construction code. He’s sure it’ll be done just after lunch, so dinner service will be fine.
Sierra wanted to come home a day early to watch the construction, but I was firm. She’ll be taking the bus to Havelock this afternoon and not missing any school.
This qualifies me as the most evil mother who ever lived but I will survive.
I get another call just as I get out of the shower, this time from Merrie. Daphne Bradshaw called her the night before and asked her to cater a brunch today.
“Long story and I don’t understand the details,” Merrie says briskly.
“Evidently, she and a group of other women meet up on Wednesday nights, and they decided this week that they should watch the greenhouse installation. They’re setting up canopies on the roof of a place across the street from the café, and we’re bringing hors d’oeuvres. Canapés under canopies.”
“I have to take Una to Havelock this morning, but I’m going to stop downtown to talk to Mike first.”
“Can you carry some stuff across the street while you’re here? Colin is doing a great job, but I’m just finishing up these smoked salmon bites and Mike wants me out of here ASAP. If you can set the tables there and pour the first round of mimosas, we’ll be fine after that.”
“Be right there.”
Una rides downtown with me to save time.
When we get to Queen Street, there’s a massive crane parked outside the café.
I see Mike’s truck and another white truck with the greenhouse company’s logo on it parked a little further down the street.
There’s also one from the permit department in Havelock.
Guessing that the crane will need space, I park on the other side of the street.
There are a lot of people downtown, more than I’ve seen in Empire recently, many with lawn chairs and binoculars. There are more than a few coolers, too.
Willow waves to me from the doorway of the building in question.
It’s right beside the Odeon theatre, an empty two-storey building.
The windows are papered over on the ground floor retail space.
I can hear women laughing somewhere above me.
I have to think that Patrick Cavendish owns the building, since he owns pretty much everything in town, but Willow has the keys and no one is asking questions.
Una stays in the car, chatting with an older couple who have come to watch the proceedings.
I hurry to the café where Merrie loads me up with closed containers of artful appetizers.
I head across the street with Colin right behind me.
We move quickly through the dark and quiet interior, up the stairs, then onto the bright sunshine on the roof.
Two of those portable white awnings are set up there, and there’s a great view of the roof of the café.
There are lawn chairs set up and little tables, as well as a group of women.
I recognize Daphne and Willow, but there’s another woman with short dark hair with them.
There are a few others, too, younger women I don’t know.
They’re all wearing sundresses, sunglasses and straw hats like they’re at a summer party.
I realize that there are people on some of the other rooftops too, and my heart skips a beat when I spot Mike on the roof across the way.
He must be walking the site one last time because he’s with a slimmer guy who is pointing at the roof.
“Welcome to day-drinking with man candy,” the dark-haired woman says to me with a brilliant smile. “I’m Cameron Sinclair.” She offers her hand and I put down my load to shake it. “I hope you’re the one with the mimosas.”
“I am.” There is sparkling wine from Rhodes Vineyards in the cooler Colin carried across the street as well as fresh orange juice.
While we’re setting up, I see that Cameron has a pair of binoculars, even though the distance across the street isn’t that great. She focuses them on the guys, quite possibly on Mike, and smacks her lips. “I like my candy up close and personal,” she says, prompting Daphne and Willow to laugh.
“Who is he?” Cameron whispers. “That one.” She points at Mike.
“Mike Cavendish,” Willow supplies. “Nice guy.”
I blush but no one notices.
Cameron is too busy peering through the lenses. “I haven’t seen him around. I would definitely have noticed.”
“That’s because he’s busy running the Cavendish greenhouses,” Daphne says. “Not visiting the ER in Havelock.”
“Can we arrange a minor accident?” Cameron asks. “I’d volunteer to stitch him up.”
“You’d volunteer more than that,” Willow murmurs wickedly and they all laugh together.
I pour drinks, as invisible as any server.
“Better yet, he could have to recuperate under my attentive care,” Cameron says. “Maybe I’ll need a tomato delivery in the middle of the night.”
“So few genuine tomato emergencies,” Merrie muses, opening a container filled with one-bite bruschetta portions and setting them on the table.
The women circle around with interest as Colin lines up champagne glasses and I open the first bottle.
The bubbles froth over the lip and I can smell the tang of the wine.
“Are these Cavendish tomatoes?” Daphne asks and Merrie nods.
“I’ll have to provide some consumer feedback,” Cameron says, lifting the binoculars again. “Because the view from here is very, very fine.”
Merrie and I exchange a glance.
“Mackenzie sent the wine,” Willow says quickly, as if she wants to change the subject. “She’s in Toronto at some industry event so can’t be here.”
Cameron takes the last glass. “I think we might be neighbours,” she says to me.
I glance at my watch. “Really?” I’m thinking everyone in Empire is pretty much neighbours, given the size of the town. I need to talk to Mike then get Una to Havelock. I exchange a glance with Merrie and she nods approval.
“ Go ,” she mouths indicating that all is well. “ Thanks .”
“You live with Una Kincaid, right, in the house in the woods?” Cameron says.
“That’s right.”
“Well, Una’s driveway goes right past Daphne’s place. It’s just to the right.”
I nod, picturing the house. “I didn’t realize Daphne lived there.”
“She just bought it last year. And I live beside her. I moved here three years ago.” She sips her drink and gives a sigh of satisfaction. “That is good.” Her smile is infectious. “You’re supposed to ask me why I moved to Empire at all. Everybody does.”
“Maybe you like it here. ”
“Maybe I do. Not nearly enough eligible men, but you can’t have everything. I’m a nurse at Havelock General.”
“That’s where I’m headed this morning.”
“Why?”
“My grandmother, Una, has a chemo treatment today.” A bit late, I realize that all the women are listening to me.
There are expressions of sympathy from several who evidently didn’t know, which isn’t a surprise as Una didn’t tell anybody.
Merrie offers her smoked salmon appetizers to general approval.
“Merrie has been awesome in ensuring that Una has things to eat that agree with her.”
Cameron is serious, though. She even removes her sunglasses to look me in the eye. “If you need anyone to stop by or check in on her, let me know. I mean, I’m right there, when I’m not at work and chemo sucks.”
I’m touched by her offer. “That’s really kind, Cameron. Thank you.”
“How far along is she in her treatment?”
“Today is the final day of the second cycle.”
“Will she be home by dinner or so?”
“Yes.” Unless I stand here and talk all day.
“I could stop in and check on her tonight, if you like. You’ll be at the café, right? I could make sure she has everything she needs.”
“My daughter will be there, but that would be great. Actually, Una’s in the car now, parked right downstairs.”
“Then I’ll come down and introduce myself.” Cameron takes another drink of the mimosa then hands it to an astonished Colin before following me down the stairs.
Mike is talking to Una. I guess he saw the car.
Maybe he was watching for me. Either way, my heart is happy that he’s there.
I’m checking my watch again, fearing we’re going to be late, and making fast introductions.
Mike cups my elbow in his hand and guides me a few steps away, leaving Cameron talking to Una.
“Tell me,” he says, bending down so he can drop his voice low. I love that he can tell at a glance that I’m anxious. I also love that I have someone to ask for help.
“Muriel isn’t feeling well. She was supposed to take Una to Havelock and back, then pick up Sierra at the bus depot. I’m taking Una to the hospital, but then the café will be open for dinner and I can’t abandon Merrie.”
“Or be in two places at once. What time will Una be done?”
“Four-ish. The bus gets in at five.”
He nods, tapping on his phone. “We’ll be done here by two at the latest, according to the rep.”
“Could you…”
“Done, Sylvia.” Mike smiles at me and my heart melts. “I’ll be there.”
“Thank you!”
His gaze flicks as the crane settles into position. “Kiss for luck?” he asks, his tone teasing but his gaze serious.
I know what he’s really asking. “Everyone in town will know inside an hour that we’re together.”
Mike looks up and down the street at the gathered spectators, as if assessing the possibilities. “I’d put it closer to fifteen minutes.” Then he meets my gaze steadily, his eyes glowing.
Do I want everyone to know that I’m with Mike?
Of course, I do.
“It’s not exactly a secret,” I tell him.
“Good. I wasn’t sure.”
“Be sure,” I whisper with heat and he smiles as I stretch up to touch my lips to his. His arm closes around my waist and he lifts me to my toes, deepening his kiss so that I forget everything but Mike .
Someone whistles.
Someone else clears their throat.
They can all do whatever they want. I’m busy.
“Cavendish!” a guy shouts. “Are we doing this thing?”
Mike lifts his head and smiles down at me, his gaze hot. “Yeah,” he says with quiet conviction, his gaze unswerving. “We are doing this thing.” One more time, I know he’s talking about something different than the guy with the crane.
I laugh at him and he brushes his mouth across mine once more before he steps away. Then he’s striding across Queen Street, pulling on his work gloves and accepting a hard hat. The guy from the greenhouse company is taking pictures like mad and I wish I could stay to watch.
I do enjoy Cameron’s look of astonishment. “Right under my nose,” she murmurs as I walk past her to get in the car and I can’t help but smile. She emits a huge sigh, but her eyes are dancing. “Why are all the good ones taken?”
I have no answer for that.
“Thank you, Cameron,” Una says. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
Cameron waves and we’re off to Havelock.