Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dean glanced at Noelle as they walked along the sidewalk together. Even though it wasn’t a particularly cold day, her cheeks were flushed and there was an energetic luminosity to her eyes. She was wearing a pink hat and matching mittens, and he felt an ache of happiness in his chest when he looked at her. He was certain she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
“How are you feeling?” she asked him, smiling warmly at him. She’d already asked him that question over texting earlier that morning, but he appreciated her asking it again.
“I feel great.” He grinned at her. “I think this new plan of the two of us going on dates earlier in the day is a very good one.”
“Perfect.” She tugged on his coat sleeve, slowing him down, and then pulled him into a kiss.
Grinning, he slipped his hand around hers as they began to walk again. “I haven’t been to Ocean Breeze Café for lunch in a minute. I hope they still have that grilled cheese with the blackberries in it. That stuff was insane.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Blackberries, really?”
He laughed. “If they have it, I’m getting it and you can try some. Trust me. It’s like, the most gourmet grilled cheese you’ve ever had in your life.”
“Hmm, I think that one with the fried onions and basil leaves and avocado that you made me the other day was pretty spectacular. I’m not sure a grilled cheese could get more gourmet than that.”
He laughed, thrilled by her compliment. “There were tomato slices in it too.”
She clapped a mittened hand to her forehead. “The tomatoes! Of course. Thick juicy slices of beefsteak tomatoes. How could I forget? They totally made it.” She grinned at him.
He pretended to bow. “It was a pretty gourmet sandwich, I have to admit. I’ll make it for you again with some of the pub’s secret sauce. You know, the secret family recipe one. I’d run out when I made it for you, but oh man, that stuff really makes a sandwich next level.”
She nodded eagerly. “I know! I had some on my bacon cheeseburger last time we ate at the pub. It was fantastic.”
They continued to chat and banter affectionately as they made their way to Ocean Breeze Café. Dean’s heart felt light and full of happiness. He could tell that Noelle loved him just as much as ever, and he was beyond relived that their relationship wasn’t over. She still wanted to be with him despite the way he struggled with fatigue, and her dedication and unselfishness made her seem even more incredible to him than she had before.
A few minutes later, they reached the café and stepped inside. The sweet aromas of pastry blended with the salty smells of chips and sandwiches and the earthy aroma of the coffee. Dean took a deep breath as he looked around the bustling café, and his stomach grumbled loudly a moment later.
“Hey! Look.” Noelle touched his arm. “They don’t have that blackberry grilled cheese today, but they do have salmon benedicts. That sounds incredible, doesn’t it?”
“Mm, it does.” He nodded, suddenly craving the flavor of salmon. “And how about we order a couple of mimosas with them? We are on a date, after all.”
Her eyes warmed. “Yes, please. Sounds fantastic.”
They placed their order and sat down at a charming little table by a window. Dean took Noelle’s hand and held it across the table.
“How did I get so lucky?” he asked her.
She shrugged, smiling impishly. “I don’t know. I think we’re the two luckiest people alive right now—I mean, getting to order salmon benedicts and mimosas? Honestly, come on.”
He laughed, and she kissed his hand.
“Just kidding,” she whispered. “Me too.”
For a moment, they sat there looking into each other’s eyes as a warm feeling passed between them. Dean felt his heart swell with happiness.
Someone cleared their throat beside the table, and Dean looked up, startled. The barista was standing next to them, holding a tray bearing their lunch plates as well as the two mimosas.
“Here you go!” she sang out cheerfully. “Two salmon benedicts with sides of homemade chips and fruit salads, and two mimosas.”
“Thanks, Annie.” Noelle grinned at her. “How’s your last semester of high school going?”
Dean watched his girlfriend with admiration as she chatted with the barista. He could tell that she made the young woman feel special, and that she was trying to instill confidence in her on purpose. He knew that Noelle often worked with young people as a physical therapist, and he thought to himself that they were all lucky to be able to spend some time being guided by her encouraging spirit.
But I’m the luckiest , he thought, his heart swelling with that happy ache again.
The barista went back behind the counter, and Dean and Noelle started to eat their meal.
“Oh, man,” Dean grunted, closing his eyes for a moment. “This is even better than that grilled cheese.”
Noelle laughed as she reached across the table to wipe a smear of hollandaise sauce off Dean’s chin. “I think you dreamed that grilled cheese. I think it wasn’t actually real.”
He pretended to be offended. “Do you think I’m a liar?”
“Nope.” She popped a potato chip into her mouth and grinned. “Just delusional.”
As they were both laughing, Cedric Turner and his wife Janet, who owned the local hardware store, walked up to them.
“Hey, Dean, hey, Noelle!” Cedric gave both of them powerful handshakes, and Janet smiled at them with gentle kindness. “How are the two of you doing?”
“Good.” Noelle smiled warmly at the couple. Dean knew that Janet was a patient of Noelle’s from time to time, and that Noelle and Hazel had baked cookies with Janet a couple of times. Hazel and Janet were close because the Turners were like mentors to Hazel’s boyfriend Jacob. “This food is absolutely incredible. How are the two of you doing?”
“Great.” Janet beamed at both Noelle and Dean. “We’re also here for lunch. I think we might order that salmon benedict too. What do you think, Cedric?”
Cedric shook his head. “It’ll be a good old fashioned Reuben for me. But you get whatever you want to, sweetheart.” He put an arm around her, showing they were still the best of friends even after many years of marriage. “And speaking of incredible food, we were just at the McCormick brewery trying their new menu.”
“Yes!” Janet clasped her hands together. “Just delicious. And we think it’s great that the pub is helping the brewery with the new menu for their expanded kitchen.”
Dean’s eyebrows lifted, and he shook his head in confusion. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”
Is Judd going around telling everyone that we’re helping them with their menu? he wondered. That definitely isn’t right. I wonder what that money-hungry schemer has up his sleeve this time.
“Well, when we got a bite to eat there the other day, we both ordered Monte Cristo sandwiches,” Janet said, and then paused, as if she thought that would be enough to explain to Dean what she was talking about. When he continued to blink at her in bewilderment, she continued talking. “The sauce on their Monte Cristo sandwiches tasted exactly like the special sauce you use at the pub. And I noticed it specially because usually that kind of sauce isn’t on a Monte Cristo, just mustard with jam on the side.”
“I noticed it too,” Cedric said, nodding. “It’s just like the pub’s sauce. We figured you must have offered to help them out by starting them out with some tried-and-true recipes of yours.”
Dean met Noelle’s eyes over the table. She looked confused, and he knew he was starting to look worried.
Especially because Judd McCormick was involved, he knew this couldn’t be good.
“Huh,” he said, still looking at Noelle for a moment before turning to the Turners with a forced smile. “We definitely haven’t given them any recipes. Maybe they just found a sauce that’s similar to ours and decided to use it in their Monte Cristo sandwiches. And actually, the pub doesn’t serve a Monte Cristo sandwich regularly. Only sometimes, as a special.”
“Really!” Janet tapped her chin with her fingertips. “Gosh, I could have absolutely sworn it was the exact same sauce. And I know I’ve had the same kind of Monte Cristo before at the pub.”
Dean shrugged. “Huh. I don’t have an explanation for you. All I know is we didn’t give them any recipes.”
I wish I had an explanation for myself, he thought, nervously drumming his fingers against his knees under the table.
They chatted with the Turners for another couple of minutes, and then the older couple went off to make their orders and sit down for lunch.
“What was that all about?” Noelle asked under her breath as soon as the Turners were out of earshot.
Dean shook his head. “I don’t know, and I don’t like it. It’s very suspicious. You know how much of a rivalry Judd has created for himself and his sons against my family. I need to tell my sisters about this. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I think we have a big fat problem on our hands.”
“Don’t worry,” she told him, taking his hands. “Your family’s restaurant is so well-loved, I’m sure nothing the McCormicks do can take away from that.”
He smiled into her eyes and found himself forgetting about everything other than her.
Vivian pushed open the front door of Seaside Sweets Bakery, listening to the cheerful jingling of the bell over her head. She inhaled the rich, velvety aromas of all the baked goods, and smiled when she thought about the honey lavender latte she was about to buy as a treat for herself. She usually made her coffee at home, but ever since her and Terrence’s informal coffee cupping, she’d been thinking more than ever about coffee flavors and different kinds of roasts. Even though the added ingredients of a flavored latte disguised the original taste of the beans, she knew what the plain coffee at Seaside Sweets Bakery tasted like, and after Hazel had told her about the honey lavender latte, she’d been hankering to try it.
She was already feeling wide awake and ready for a new day, but caffeine had become part of her daily ritual, and she’d decided long ago that she wanted to keep it that way. In addition to her interest in the honey lavender latte, she was there to get a sweet treat for Alexis. Her daughter had just texted her that she was craving the date nut brownies from Seaside Sweets Bakery. Vivian had assured Alexis that she would pick up some brownies for her on her way to the pub. She was just stepping up to the counter when she heard the door to the bakery open behind her.
“Terrence!” She found herself grinning as soon as she saw the health inspector.
“Vivian! How very nice to see you.” He smiled at her, bowing slightly at the waist in greeting. She had a sudden vision of him wearing a top hat and tipping it to her, a perfect gentleman as always. “Are you here for breakfast?”
“No.” She shook her head, smiling. “Just coffee. There’s a honey lavender latte I want to try.”
“A latte, hmm?” He chuckled. “Are you already tired of the coffee I brought for you?”
She chuckled too. “No, not at all. I can promise you that. It’s delicious.”
“Are you sure? I could always pick out a few more blends and we could hold another cupping.”
Vivian laughed. “I love the coffee you brought. It’s been making me more of a coffee fan than ever. And while I have to admit that I’m here getting a honey lavender latte for myself, the main reason why I’m here is to get some date nut brownies for Alexis. She texted me this morning that she’s craving them. Or, at least she thinks she’s craving them.”
Terrence and Vivian shared a grin. Alexis’s craving woes were a well-known part of the pub’s cheerful drama.
“What are you here for?” she asked him.
“Hmm, well now that you’ve mentioned date nut brownies, I might be picking up one of those. But I stopped in for a bran muffin. I already had my coffee at home.”
Vivian shuddered. “You would be the kind of person who eats bran muffins.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I will give you a bite of this bran muffin, and then you will understand. It’s delicious.”
She smiled at him, imagining him handing her a bite of the muffin. Then her imagination quickly shifted to a picture of the two of them out on a date together, and she felt her chest flood with jitters.
“I’d better order,” she said breathlessly.
“Yes, don’t let me keep you.” He nodded gallantly.
Vivian stepped up to the counter, feeling suddenly fluttery and skittish. She ordered the brownies for Alexis, and then nearly forgot to ask for her honey lavender latte. She glanced at Terrence as she walked over to the end of the counter, where the drinks were put out.
He reminds me of someone from another time, she thought. I can’t say that I dislike it. He’s such a gentleman. But—he’s so—well, I mean bran muffins! Really.
Terrence got his bran muffin and brownies and came over to Vivian.
“Once you have your latte,” he said, “could we sit together for a moment?”
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, but she nodded. His question did nothing to soothe her jittery nerves. “Um, certainly. I’ll just—oh!” At that moment, her latte was placed onto the counter. She picked it up and turned back to Terrence with a smile. “Where would you like to sit?”
“How about over there in the corner?” he suggested.
Although the whole interior of Seaside Sweets Bakery was decidedly charming, the corner was one of the less attractive places to sit, and Vivian wondered why Terrence wanted to sit there.
Does he have some kind of weird preference for darker spaces? she wondered, and then scolded herself. Don’t jump to conclusions, Vivian. Not being sure how you feel about him isn’t an excuse for imagining the worst.
They went over to the corner table together and sat down. Terrence held his bag of pastries awkwardly on the table in front of him, and Vivian took a sip of her latte. She was momentarily distracted by the sweet, velvety taste, but then Terrence cleared his throat as if preparing to make a speech.
“What did you want to speak with me about, Terrence?” she asked gently as she set down her drink. She could feel her heart beating faster.
“I have, um, something I need to say to you.” He cleared his throat again. “I hesitated before bringing this up with you, but I feel that I need to broach the subject. And us both being here together this morning made it all feel like kismet.”
She cleared her throat, wondering what on earth he was going to say. Was he about to ask her out on a date? If so, he was extremely nervous about it. He looked decidedly unhappy.
“What is it?” she prompted, when his pause had gone on too long.
“I believe that you should not trust Alan Gifford.”
Vivian froze. She blinked at Terrence, wondering if he had really said what she thought he’d said. She wanted to blurt out, “That is absolutely none of your business, Terrence,” but she held her tongue.
“Why would you say that?” she asked slowly. She wondered if Terrence simply didn’t like Alan because they were both trying to win Vivian’s affection.
Terrence picked up a napkin and dabbed at his forehead. “I know it seems like a far-fetched… concern, but I know that Alan is a good friend of Judd McCormick. Alan spends a lot of time with Judd at the golf course and at the McCormick brewery as well. And!” He leaned forward, his tone low and conspiratorial. “Don’t you think it’s a bit strange that he’s been inquiring so frequently about the pub’s secret sauces? I mean, he comes to The Lighthouse Grill so often. He never used to go there, and now all of a sudden he acts as though it’s his favorite restaurant.”
Vivian squared her shoulders, immediately feeling defensive.
Does Terrence not realize that Alan is interested in me? she thought. Or does he
just think that Alan’s interest isn’t reason enough for him to be stopping by more often?
She felt offended that Terrence didn’t seem to think that she was interesting or attractive enough to warrant a man coming by the pub more often just to spend time with her. At the back of her mind, she knew that Terrence himself had been coming to the pub more often, quite possibly just to spend time with her, but she ignored those half-formed thoughts and remained indignant.
“Alan and I are good friends,” she said, putting the emphasis on the word “good” rather than “friends.” “He comes by the pub to talk with me. Just because he’s interested in the sauce he likes so much and because he’s friends with someone who has a grudge against my family doesn’t mean that I can’t trust him. Plenty of good people are friends with people who have done hurtful things—he probably has no idea what Judd has tried to do to the pub.”
Terrence cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean to say anything offensive, Vivian, really I didn’t. I’m just trying to look out for you.”
Vivian shook her head. “Like you were looking out for me when you nearly made us cancel our Christmas event because of some stupid heating vents?”
Terrence’s jaw dropped and remained open. The small oval made by his mouth made him look a little bit like a startled fish.
“Vivian, I?—”
“I should really get going.” She stood up, grabbing her purse and her purchases. “Thank you for your concern, Terrence. I know you like to make sure everything is safe. But this is not under your jurisdiction—my personal life is none of your business. Have a good day.”
She turned and walked out of Seaside Sweets Bakery before Terrence could say anything more. She got inside her car and started the engine hurriedly. She drove straight to the pub, not touching her honey lavender latte until she was parked behind The Lighthouse Grill.
She stared into space, feeling frustrated with Terrence and offended by his implication that Alan wasn’t genuinely interested in her. As if that charming, smiling man had sinister motives behind his romantic pursuit of her.
She took a sip of the latte as she glanced at her watch. She didn’t need to go inside for another twenty minutes, but she had a feeling she would be going inside in the next couple of minutes as a way of escaping the thoughts that were trying to crowd into her mind.
Even though she felt offended, she had to admit that Terrence’s words had planted a bit of doubt in her mind.