Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Tamara left the café early the next morning, leaving her new assistants in charge.
She explained about the surprise party later that day and that she was expecting a delivery of organic paper cups and lids.
She gave them a last-minute pep talk, made herself an Americano, and then got in her car and drove down to the docks.
Having free time like this during the week was a novelty.
She stopped by her coffee supplier first and quickly hit the jackpot.
After sampling a new blend, she was positive it would be perfect for Married in Malibu’s discerning client.
They discussed quantities and delivery dates, and in half an hour, the coffee order was complete.
Then she found the floral warehouse Kate always talked about. The place was amazing, and she was spoiled for choice. In the end, she settled on a vibrant combination of flowers and colors, including anemones, snapdragons, roses, lilies, and a bunch of others whose names she couldn’t remember.
Once she got back to the café, she saw that the place was running like clockwork.
Since she was planning to close a little early to get ready for the party, she gave her trainees the rest of the afternoon off.
They were thrilled at the unexpected surprise, as it was a great afternoon to go surfing.
They waved good-bye, and suddenly Tamara was alone.
It felt a little strange having the place to herself for the afternoon.
Normally, the presence of so many customers meant that there was little time for her to think, or stop, or try to work out what was happening in her life.
She began to suspect that being busy was one of the things she liked most about having the café.
When it was quiet, there was far too much time to think.
She wondered how Nate’s day was going, and then, unbidden, her thoughts returned to what had happened with her ex.
She doubted the whole affair still affected him, and for all she knew, he and her former best friend might not even be together anymore.
She didn’t know what to think about them, but having this café, full of happy customers, helped remind her that things had worked out okay—better than okay—for her.
Tamara heard barking and smiled, instantly heading to the door to feed Furface.
Then she caught herself—she had to stop thinking of him like that.
Just because that was what Nate called him didn’t mean the poor thing had to be stuck with a silly name forever.
Tamara reached down to scratch his ears.
“You’re coming around pretty regularly now, aren’t you?” she murmured.
The dog yipped, ate his treat, and then she let him follow her as she walked over to her car and began to bring in the flowers.
The café was soon filled with them, and the pollen floating around the place was enough to set the small dog to sneezing.
Tamara couldn’t help laughing. She opened the back door, and he made a run for it.
“That’s the story of my life,” she said as he hurried away. “Just when I think people like me, they run out on me.”
That brought her thoughts not back to her ex, but to Nate.
Nate hadn’t run away, but then, they were both being very careful not to let things get to that point.
At least they could keep their friendship intact if they didn’t get silly.
And things did get a little silly last night, what with the beautiful sunset and the beer and having the giggles.
It really had felt as though the universe was conspiring to bring them together.
She’d gotten dangerously close to kissing him again but had stopped herself just in time.
Glancing at the clock, Tamara realized people would be coming over soon.
She finished arranging the decorations and made sure she had everyone’s favorite coffees in stock, and then she pulled out a bottle of elderflower wine she knew Kate would love.
Nate said they would bring wine and beer.
Jenn had delivered the birthday cake that morning, as well as a pull-apart collection of cupcakes with the frosting arranged to form flowers.
Tamara set those confections on a table in the center of the café, where it would be instantly obvious to Kate what was going on when she showed up.
Tamara found herself grateful that Jenn and Daniel arrived first. Daniel brought one of his cameras with him so that he could take a few pictures, and he immediately began to snap shots of the flowers and the cake, a broad smile on his face.
“Your place looks fantastic, Tamara,” Jenn said, admiring the decorations. “Just remember to have some fun yourself.”
Jenn helped Tamara set out plates and forks, getting ready for the moment when the others would arrive.
Meg arrived next, and she brought some decorations with her that included offcuts of cloth and ribbons that didn’t look like much until she started to wind them around the flowers, creating a giant net.
Trust Meg to think of these small design details that would make all the difference.
Lucas couldn’t attend the party because he was playing a gig that night, but Tamara could certainly see the effect he’d had on Meg.
There was a softness, a joyousness, to Meg that hadn’t been there before. Meg was obviously deeply in love.
Travis and Amy showed up together, arm in arm.
Amy had hand-illustrated a birthday card for Kate with some of the most stunningly lifelike flowers Tamara had ever seen.
They looked as though they might leap off the card.
Amy had the Married in Malibu team sign the card, and she asked Tamara to add her birthday wishes, as well.
Jason came by for a quick break from writing so that he could pass along his birthday wishes to Kate.
Tamara was simultaneously grateful and a little disappointed that Nate was one of the last to arrive.
If he’d been the first, they might have had a chance to talk.
It still felt a bit awkward with him at the moment, as though the world were holding its breath when it came to the two of them.
Tamara would have felt better if he’d just walked over to get coffee, the way he usually did so many times each day.
“Liz will be bringing Kate across any minute,” Nate said. He glanced out the window. “I think I can see them,” he said, sounding excited. “We should probably get ready.”
They all found a hiding spot. Daniel and Jenn pressed in on either side of the door.
Meg ducked behind a table. Tamara practically dove behind the counter, and in the absence of anywhere else to hide, Nate did too.
There was not a lot of room back there. They were close enough that Tamara could feel Nate’s muscles pressed against her side and hear his soft breathing as they waited.
The door opened, and then there was a faint gasp from Kate.
“Liz, what is this? It’s—”
“Surprise!”
Everyone leaped up in unison, laughing and smiling.
Kate was swept up in the middle of a storm of congratulations, and her look of delight made both Tamara and Nate smile at each other, knowing they had helped make this beautiful party happen.
The way he gazed into her eyes made Tamara’s heart melt.
A few beats passed, and then Nate jumped into gear, acting as bartender, and Tamara opened the elderflower wine for Kate, and just like that, their moment of closeness was broken.
“Happy birthday!” Tamara said, coming forward with a glass of the elderflower wine. Kate took it gratefully.
“Thanks,” she said, looking around at the rest of the room. “This is… This is just amazing, Tamara. Look at all these flowers! Thank you so much.”
She gave Tamara a big hug, which she wasn’t expecting. Kate didn’t normally hug people, but somewhere along the line, that had changed. Kate was opening up.
“I’m glad you like it,” Tamara said, “but everyone helped.”
Liz shook her head. “Some of us did a little bit, but Tamara did most of the work.”
Tamara was a little surprised at how generous Liz was being by sharing the credit. Given that her business was organizing special events, it must have been hard to admit how little she’d done in organizing this smaller one.
“Everything is wonderful,” Kate said as she admired the flowers that filled the room. “How did you even know it was my birthday?”
“We do pay attention occasionally,” Meg said.
Even so, Kate seemed a little stunned by all the attention.
Amy put on some music, and suddenly it seemed more like a party. Everyone was laughing and drinking, eating cake, and having fun. Kate admired her personally illustrated birthday card and said she would have it framed.
“Kate, do you remember the flowers you did for me and Jason?” Liz asked. “We were out there on the beach, and you brought flowers with you to scatter around so it wouldn’t just be plain old sand.”
Kate nodded. “I wanted to make it all beautiful. I’m trying to do the same for this new wedding. It’s such a special brief, I want to make it truly beautiful.”
“Have you got some ideas?” Amy asked.
“I’m finding a way to incorporate water lilies, among other things,” Kate said. “I think they’ll really work as a nod to Japanese culture, which is what they want.”
“We’re talking about work,” Meg said with a faint note of admonishment. “We shouldn’t be doing that.”
“What should we be talking about?” Jenn asked from the side. “Do you want to tell us how things are going with that hot rock star of yours?”
“Oh, he’s hot, is he?” Daniel joked.
As they talked, Daniel continued to take pictures until the music took over, and he and Jenn started twirling together in the open space that had become an impromptu dance floor.
Soon, Liz, Jason, Travis, and Amy joined them.
The dancing was still going on when a small, furry form shot between the dancers, jumping up at Tamara.
“Furface!” Nate exclaimed. “There you are.”