Chapter 8
“Can I help you?” Standing behind the desk of the Gull Harbor library, Stuart Martin was tall and slender with the kindest eyes Sarah had ever seen. No wonder her mother brought him cookies.
“Mom, come on!” Nathan and Justin pulled at her hands. They’d been restless since she got them home Friday.
“I've come to hear my mother read to the children today.”
A smile creased Stuart's face and made his blue eyes sparkle behind the Buddy Holly glasses. “Of course. I suspect you know where she is.” He waved toward the back. In his houndstooth jacket and blue shirt he cut quite the figure.
The hum of voices echoed from the children’s nook, and she wanted the boys to get a seat. “Thank you.” Sarah led Nathan and Justin past the stacks of books and computer stations into the children's area.
Holding a large book with Frosty on the cover, Mom gave her a nod.
“We’ll wait until our newcomers get seated.
” On the floor around Mom were sprawled at least a dozen children, their snow jackets piled on one of the low desks.
The small room smelled like wet snowsuits.
Mothers sat cramped in the small chairs, looking as if Christmas was catching up to them.
When Nathan suddenly stopped, Sarah nearly stumbled over him.
Had he gotten stubborn again? When she served him a hot dog last night, he’d refused.
But when her mother gave Nathan a stern look, he sank down, unzipped this jacket and handed it to Sarah.
Justin was already settled, legs crossed and eyes on the book.
The Children’s Story Hour would be her Saturday break.
For at least thirty minutes she wasn’t responsible for her children’s well-being––a relief to any mother.
Besides, she enjoyed listening to Frosty the Snowman.
Sarah scanned the room. During the holidays parents seemed to develop dark circles under their eyes, deep yawns and, yes, sometimes colds.
Quite a few sniffles and even some coughs went around the room. Mom began to read.
As her mother showed the children the pictures, the overhead lights made her blonde hair look like a halo. She looked so pretty in her fluffy pink sweater, green ornament earrings bobbing from her ears.
Surrendering to the soothing cadence of her mother's voice, Sarah closed her eyes.
The hum of the heating system helped her doze off.
In her dreams she wasn't thinking of her little boys. Oh no. She was under the mistletoe she’d hung up at work, looking into eyes as warm as brownies just taken from the oven.
When Ryan bent for a kiss, her pulse kicked up. Almost there. She was almost there.
Applause ruptured her dream. Sarah blinked and straightened.
Her cheek felt damp and she swiped at a trail of telltale drool.
No one was looking at her, though. Joining the clapping, she felt happy for her mom, who was clutching the closed book to her chest and blushing.
No one seemed to appreciate the presentation more than Stuart Martin, standing in the doorway.
Well, well. Whatever magic the library had worked, Sarah was grateful.
Her mother worked so hard. The bakery and her boys seemed to be Mom’s whole life.
Didn’t she deserve more? While the other mothers struggled with coats and mittens, Sarah worked her way through to her mother. The boys reached Mom first.
“You did great, Grandma.” Justin hugged his grandmother’s legs.
“Thank you, dear.” She patted his head.
“Yeah,” Nathan said. “We’re going to make a snowman just like Frosty this Christmas. Right, Justin?”
“You bet!” Justin’s eyes gleamed in anticipation.
“Who is going to help you create this snowy wonder?” Sarah teased, expecting them to name her.
“Uncle Ryan!” both boys said in chorus.
Mom exchanged a look with Stuart and then smiled at Sarah.
Well. What was that about?
“Can we go home now?” Nathan nudged her.
“But I want some books.” Justin folded his arms across his chest. “When we come to the library, we always take home books.”
Yes, they did. The other mothers held books. They’d probably gotten here early, more organized than Sarah. “Fine. You can each choose three.”
Pleased, Justin scampered off and Nathan followed, still grumbling.
Sarah headed straight for her mother and Stuart, now engaged in deep conversation.
“Wasn't your mother wonderful?” he asked as Sarah approached.
“You did great.” Her mom’s face flushed when Sarah hugged her. “I’ve heard that story a million times. You made it sound new.”
Her mother threw her a wry look. “Sarah, thank you. But you fell asleep after the first page. I completely understand. It's been a long week.”
“We really appreciate the cookies you send over.” But Stuart was thinking of more than gingerbread and lemon bars as he smiled at her mother. “Our patrons love them.”
“Mom’s become a great marketer.” Sarah dove right into it. “Where do you call home, Stuart?”
“Syracuse, New York, where the winters are as cold as they are here.”
They all laughed. “How did Mildred ever find you?” Sarah continued.
“Through an ad in a magazine for librarians. Christmas at Gull Harbor seemed just like the change I needed.” A shadow fell over his eyes.
She should have stopped there. “Why is that?”
“This would be my first Christmas alone. I just thought something different...” His voice trailed off.
“I see.” What a dear man. “We’re glad you came to Gull Harbor.”
He brightened. “I am too. Imagine meeting your mother who enjoys ancient civilizations as much as I do.”
Sarah couldn’t even look at her mom.
“And she brings me cookies.” He had the cutest way of saying that word with a hard k, glancing at her mom as he said it.
“For people visiting the library,” her mother reminded him.
“Well, of course.” Stuart would probably agree with anything her mother said.
“And after Mildred gets back?” She didn't want to see her mother hurt when Stuart returned to Syracuse.
“Stuart lives in the moment,” her mother said, hugging the book she’d just read as if she wished her arms were around something––or someone––else.
“Well, Lindsay is watching the store. I should get back.” If she expected her mother to offer to tend the store, she was mistaken. Smiling up at the tall librarian, Mom was totally googly-eyed.
Stuart extended his hand. “So nice to meet you, Sarah. Your mother has said such wonderful things about you. Could I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” The boys were stacking books onto one of the tables.
“I'm just curious. Why is your store called The Full Cup when it seems like more of a bakery? All those wonderful cookies come my way but no coffee.”
“Oh, Stu, you don’t need all that caffeine.” Mom playfully squeezed his arm.
Stu? This was more serious than Sarah realized. Once again Sarah ended up telling a man the background of the coffee shop that turned into a bakery. No one in Gull Harbor seemed to find that strange, but then they knew the history. Lila had a problem with all those levers.
Obviously, Stuart had never heard that story. “Couldn't you maximize your revenues by offering the espresso drinks other stores sell?”
Okay, so Stuart knew corporate talk.
“Of course. But we’re very busy.” She wasn't going to admit that her mother, the woman who had somehow become an expert in ancient cultures, couldn't work the coffee machine. “My brother-in-law was just asking the same question this week.”
Mom tore her attention from Stuart. “Ryan asked you about the coffee?”
“Yes, he did.” Worse things could happen to her mother than Stuart Martin, Sarah decided. “Maybe you could come for dinner sometime, Stuart.”
“I’d be delighted.” He beamed at Mom as if he’d just been offered a year of free pastries.
While Justin stood quietly waiting with his books, Nathan was glowering at her. Still, Sarah had questions. “Could I ask why you are so interested in coffee?”
Stuart sucked in a breath. “I'm afraid my family is very involved in the coffee trade.” Almost embarrassed, he named a nationally know franchise. On anyone else, she may have considered this name dropping. But with Stuart, it seemed cute. His reddened cheeks helped.
“They weren’t very understanding when I decided to become a librarian,” Stuart said. “But here I am. Semi-retired. This temporary position seemed perfect for me.”
“I hope to see you soon.” While she absorbed that information, Sarah clapped her hands to get the boys’ attention. Stuart hurried back to the front desk and her mother helped Sarah zip Nathan and Justin into their jackets.
Sarah had gathered so much information that her head was whirling.
Ryan tossed the wrench on the floor. The sound of metal hitting concrete echoed in the large garage and the other guys looked over. “Hey, keep it down!” Manuel called out.
“Right.” The radio was blasting. The men were telling jokes while they worked and he was in a foul mood. Repairing this Harley cam chain had turned into a real pain. Usually, he enjoyed the challenge. Not today.
Today he was trying to forget the bluish green eyes of the woman who'd hugged him while he was making cookies.
Well, trying to make cookies. That frosting fight had been something else and he smiled.
Leaning back on his elbows, he tried to remember how soft Sarah had felt against him when they rolled out the blasted cookie dough together.
A foot nudged his boot. “You taking a nap or what?” Stanley asked.
“Just got something in my eye.” And he jammed a knuckle in his right eye. “This cam chain is giving me trouble.”
Stanley lifted a bushy eyebrow. “The guy who could take apart a Harley with his eyes closed is having trouble?”
Giving a gritty groan, Ryan sat up. “You got that right.”
“Come into the office and take a load off.” Stanley led the way. “You were working when I got here. It's past lunchtime.”
Since Ryan didn’t help out at The Full Cup on Saturdays, he was trying to put in a lot of hours at Branson’s. “I could use a cup of coffee.” Ryan could use a lot of stuff but nothing he could mention to Stanley.
Inside the glass-enclosed office, the noise level dropped. “So what’s your son doing today?” Ryan asked.
Pouring a mug of coffee that sure smelled good, Stanley smiled. “Phoebe's got him putting up their Christmas tree.”
Putting up the tree. It had been a long time since Ryan had done that.
Memories rolled over him. The smell of pine and the sticky feeling of sap on your fingers.
Working through knotted tree lights, only to find that they’d burned out.
All things that used to irritate him now taunted him with their absence.
Ryan took the full mug Stanley offered and topped it off with cream and sugar. “She didn't even notice.”
Stanley lowered himself into the worn chair that rocked back to just the right angle. “She didn't notice what?” But the older man's eyes went to Ryan's boots.
“The way I walk now.” He extended a leg. “Not a word about it.”
After blowing on his coffee, Stanley took a sip and smacked his lips. “Get over yourself. You got to understand, Ryan. All women are different.” The old chair squeaked when Stanley rocked it.
“That's real profound, Stanley.” Ryan enjoyed teasing the old man and took another sip of coffee.
“Not that I'm an expert or anything because I certainly am not.”
“You helped get Ryder and Phoebe back together. That's saying something.” Ryder had been angrier than a wet cat in winter the whole year after his divorce from Phoebe Hunicutt until his dad stepped in. “Phoebe adores you.”
“Let's just say it's mutual.” Stanley wore a pleased smile. “I’m looking forward to Christmas dinner with them. Last year was the pits.”
“What hints did you give him for marital bliss?” Ryan was only half kidding.
Stanley got grumbly. “I’m not a man who hints at anything. You young guys sometimes have rocks for brains.”
“Thanks, Stanley, I needed that.” But Ryan wasn’t offended. After all, Stanley was the one who had a place to go on holidays. Sarah hadn’t mentioned anything yet about Christmas dinner.
Twiddling his thumbs, Stanley studied the overhead light. “I told him to hang in there. To put himself right in front of that girl’s face. You know Ryder had his pride. Sure, you’re there, baking and whatever. But are you showing her how important you could be in her life?”
Ryan didn't know what to make of that. “I'm working part time there. And then I barrel up here to work, not that I’m complaining. What else can I do?”
Stanley pressed a hand to his chest. “You poor thing. My heart pumps peanut butter for you. You all tired out?”
Absolutely no sympathy in the old man’s voice. Ryan took another gulp of coffee. “In some ways, yeah. Not in others.”
The two men shared a look. Enough said. Stanley went back to twirling his thumbs and Ryan went back to wishing. Time to put all the cards on the table. “I don’t know if Sarah thinks of me as anything but her brother-in-law. Maybe she’s just being nice to me.”
“What do you mean? She must want you around or you wouldn’t be there.”
Ryan ran a hand through hair that needed a trim bad. “Sarah’s always belonged to Jamie. She’s sweet and nice and...”
“And what?” Stanley looked puzzled.
“Did you just move here?” Not one for words, Ryan was sputtering. He knew Stanley was older than water and had been here all his life.
The chair creaked when the old man leaned forward. “Where we’ve been isn’t where we’re going. Everybody makes mistakes. If my own sweet Marietta was still here, she’d tell you all about mine. Sarah isn’t pushing you away, is she?”
“Not that I noticed.” He squeezed his eyes tight, thinking of Sarah’s arms around him, helping roll the darn dough.
When he opened them, Stanley was beaming.
“Now son, it's Christmas time. There's a lot of stuff that has to be done. What is Ryder doing today? When Phoebe gets home from her hair salon, he’ll have the tree up and the lights will be on. At least that’s what he told me. You do something nice for a lady and she notices. You can’t just tell her. You have to show her.”
But Sarah wasn’t Phoebe and Ryan sure as heck wasn’t Ryder. “I see her every day, practically. After all, I work for her.”
That earned a finger wag. “And that’s the point, isn’t it? Try to get outside the bakery. Include those little boys of hers.”
“I’ve always done anything she asked. School programs. Mowing the lawn when she hurt her back.”
“But she had to ask you?” The beetle brows peaked.
“I didn’t want to bother her, okay?” The words came out as fast as the mental images zipping through his mind. “Maybe I’ve been doing this all wrong. I did clean the snow off her car once.”
“Once?”
“Yeah.” He thought back. “Maybe more than once.”
Stanley grinned. “That’s a good start, son. But you’ve got a ways to go.”