Chapter 49
Lila
Three weeks later, the world finally felt like it had slowed down enough for me to catch my breath.
Wildwood Meadows had settled into that stretch of early spring where everything smelled faintly of wet earth and thawing pine.
The snow had mostly retreated to the mountain ridge, leaving misty meadows reflected in soft gray skies and patches of green.
For me, it was one of my favorite seasons because I could begin to stretch into those breaks of cloudy skies toward summer.
It was a time to think about my garden and start my plants in my little greenhouse. It was for new beginnings.
I stood in front of the shop window, chalk marker in hand, updating the sign:
Next Book Club Pick Reveal — next Saturday!
It felt good to write it. Now, I was planning the next event instead of looking over my shoulder or checking the security feed every hour.
We’d finished The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R.
King, which I’d loved. It was a clever twist on a Sherlock Holmes story.
No doubt I had a weakness for any kind of mystery …
or bees. I wondered idly if I could persuade East to get me some hives this spring. Maybe he’d build me a few.
Inside, Chapter & Crumb felt warm and alive with the sounds I loved most: the clink of coffee mugs, Mia humming softly as she restocked muffins, and the chatter of customers. I had been back to my normal routine for weeks, and its rhythm had steadied me in ways nothing else could.
I wouldn’t deny that the whole situation with Derek and my dad threw me for a loop this winter, but things had settled down. I was proud of myself for getting through it, and I got a lot of unexpected help from the Holt family. Just thinking about East made me smile.
Sage was perched up on a stool on the nearest high-top, sipping her chai latte, scrolling through her phone.
She looked every bit the part of the crazy plant lady.
She was wearing overalls with clearly dirty knees and bright pink rubber boots, which I was pretty sure Kipp had given her last year as a joke.
Sage always wore practical over fashionable.
Her long-sleeve t-shirt was pushed up at the elbows and looked about two sizes too big for her small frame.
“Okay, hear me out. The next book club theme should be shifters,” she said. “Or spies.”
I rolled my eyes and passed her a plate with one of today’s Beekeeper Shortbread Bars. It was the last day of treats from this month’s book, and they had been my favorites. Shortbread cookies drizzled with honey and topped with crushed honeycomb. I’d been dreaming of them.
“The last two books have been codes and spies. So no. We’re switching it up. And no hints.” Sage loved mysteries and anything paranormal, so she was always pushing for one or the other. “Did you eat lunch?”
“Fine, no shifters for book club. I’ll read those on my own.
” She rolled her eyes dramatically before taking a bite of her shortbread.
“Yum.” She munched happily, humming for a few seconds.
“These are so good. You should always have them. And yes, mom … I ate lunch. I think.” She looked like she was pondering for a minute, and if I knew her, she probably had forgotten. “Hey, I know. You could …”
“Nope. I already decided on a title.” I laughed at her.
It was a smart move right from the beginning to leave Sage out of all the book club decisions.
“And the shortbread is definitely one of my favorites. Now that Phiny is helping in the mornings, maybe we can start including some of the specialty items more often.”
Delphina coming home had been a real blessing for me.
With her culinary skills, hiring her was a no-brainer.
She arrived just at the right time. I had been exhausted from the pace I’d been keeping, and now, with her coming in early mornings, I’d get a little break to enjoy the shop.
Phiny was already a trained chef, so it had been easy to teach her the ropes, and I trusted her.
I knew she had her sights set on other things, but I would take her help while I could.
“We’re really glad she’s home for sure. It’s nice that she’s moved back into the farmhouse with Mags.” Sage’s nose crinkled a little. “I wish she would talk to one of us about what happened. I know she’s upset that things didn’t work out.”
Delphina had moved back home for now, which thrilled Maggie. Chloe had been talking about moving back in with her mom if she needed to, but it was far from the clinic, and she was on call some nights.
“She’ll talk about it when she’s ready,” I added. Delphina hadn’t said anything to me about why she’d left her job in San Francisco, and I was careful not to ask. “I know she really wanted her job there to work out. Being a chef in a big city would be a huge deal.”
Phiny was only a year older than Sage and me, so we had been in the same circles growing up.
Wildwood Meadows was small, and schools here were tiny, to say the least. We all attended the same dances, rodeos, and football games.
However, Phiny walked to the beat of her own drum.
While Sage and I had found common ground, Phiny had been more comfortable alone when she was growing up.
She’d had a chip on her shoulder, and no matter how much Sage tried to draw her in, Delphina hadn’t wanted to join us on our stupid adventures. In the end, we stopped asking.
Sage pushed some crumbs around the plate. “She would have been an asset for any restaurant. They’re dumb not to have realized it. Putting yourself through CIA is a big deal. My sister is awesome.”
The Culinary Institute of America was a huge deal. Everyone was proud of her for making it through. Phiny had skills to spare that I could attest to. She was amazing at pastry, and I was sure that extended to the savory side of things.
“She’s awesome. I’m lucky she’s here. Honestly, I’m not sure what I would have done if she hadn’t shown up. I was exhausted. The whole business ownership is rough.”
“Preach.” Sage blew out a breath.
I knew she got it. We both loved it. Being small business owners was amazing, but there was so much involved that people didn’t really get. The responsibility was often overwhelming, to be honest. Not that I was ungrateful or would want to change any of it.
I moved back to the counter for a moment, helping some customers while letting Sage continue scrolling through her phone in peace.
Once the mini-rush was settled and I wiped down the counters again and restocked the case, I went back to Sage’s table.
“So, if the book club reveal is next Saturday,” Sage easily picked up our conversation.
“Then I need something to go on so I can make sure I have the right decorations.” She smiled at me as if I didn’t know she was trying to get me to make some kind of mistake and slip up.
“That’s true.” I’d prepared in advance (like always) so I knew exactly what to tell her.
“I think I’m good on any flowers this time, but if you have any extra twinkle lights, I could use those.
” I winked. “I don’t want to have to hit up the Dollar Store for them.
Not even sure they have them after Christmas, but I bet my bestie does. I only have a few strings.”
She huffed a sigh. “No flowers?” The disappointment was clear. “Of course, I have faerie lights. What kind of monster doesn’t? What color?”
Laughing, I went over the exact kind and how many I might need. Thankfully, it sounded like she had more than enough, which was great because I could use them around the bookstore on some of the shelves if there were extras.
“You and East are really leaning into domestic bliss, huh?” Sage waggled her eyebrows.
I pretended to roll my eyes. “We’re just… happy.” It was true. Life with East had settled into something quietly beautiful.
He still drove me crazy with how often he found new projects: fixing door hinges or trimming the porch rail, but it wasn’t about staying busy anymore. It was his way of showing love. Of taking care of me, and I couldn’t blame him for that.
I still caught myself watching him sometimes, and it would hit me again that he had become my whole heart
The door chimed, pulling me out of my daydream, and the man himself walked in.
“Hey, sugar,” East said, brushing a bit of sawdust off his sleeve as he leaned against the counter. His hair was damp from the drizzle outside, and he smelled like sawdust. “You got a sec?”
“For you? Always.”
He reached across the counter, catching my chin for a quick kiss. Mia made a dramatic gagging noise from the back.
“Get a room!” she called.
East chuckled, ignoring her as he took a seat on one of the stools. “You hear from Wade yet?”
“Yeah.” I slid a cup of coffee toward him. “He said the official paperwork came through this morning. The property out past the service road is mine. Completely finalized.”
“That’s good news.” He took a sip, his eyes warm. “We’ll have to go up this weekend. We can get the quad from Kipp and go ride it if the weather is nice.”
“That’d be fun.” I smiled. I’d gone back and forth about keeping it, and I still wasn’t sure. I already had a lot on my plate, but we could go check it out.
“How’s Phiny doing?” he asked softly enough that Sage couldn’t hear.
“Good. Quiet.” I didn’t bother giving him more than that. We’d been talking a lot about her in the last few weeks, but it was the same answer. I gave him a rueful shrug. All the siblings had been trying to nudge her, but she’d been a vault.
He set the mug down. “She stopped by the site with lunch, and she’s been helping Kipp up at his cabins. I think she’s just trying to stay busy.” He rubbed the back of his neck and frowned.
I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
He nodded. “She’s thinking about what’s next. I suggested she might want to talk to you.”
I blinked, unsure of where he was going with it. “She’s been amazing with the morning bakes. I’d love for her to keep doing that.”
“I’m glad she’s been working out. Especially because I get more time with you in the mornings.” That was true. We’d been making our mornings count. East was creative in bed, but my favorite time was the morning when he slid inside me and we found that connection right before we started our day.
“She was catering in the city.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure how you’d feel about maybe talking to her about doing that here. Paying you a cut for using the kitchen after hours.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure if she wants to … I just.”
“You want to help your sister. I get it.” I squeezed his hand. Oh, my man had the softest heart for his siblings. “That’s… actually a really good idea. You trying to turn Chapter & Crumb into a Holt family business?” Not that I’d charge Phiny if she wanted to use the kitchen.
He grinned. “Maybe I just like knowing my people are close.”
Warmth spread through me, soft and certain. “I’ll talk to her. She’s welcome to use the kitchen after hours if she wants to do catering.”
The bell chimed again as Janice, Marge, and Maggie came bustling in, their laughter filling the shop. “Lila! We saw the sign!” Janice exclaimed. “New book reveal soon?”
“Saturday,” I said, smiling. “You’ll have to come and see what we’ve cooked up.”
“Oh, we wouldn’t miss it. We’ve been trying to guess the next book all week,” Marge said conspiratorially. “Is it another romance? Or mystery?”
“You know I don’t give hints,” I winked. “But maybe you’ll find a clue or two hidden in the shop this week.”
“Mags.” East leaned in to give her a kiss on her cheek before they made their way over to the pastry case, where Mia could help them. “Love to see you out and about.”
Maggie had gotten orders from her doctor that she could remove her walking boot, so she was free as a bird. “What a treat to see the three of you at once.” She squeezed my hand.
After they bustled off to their usual table, and I moved back to the high top, Sage leaned over and whispered, “This is the best, isn’t it?”
I looked around — at the cozy light, the smell of sugar and coffee, East sitting at the counter watching me with that quiet smile that always made my knees turn to butter, and nodded. “Yeah,” I said softly. “It really is.”
When closing time came, East locked up the front door while I wiped down the counters. Outside, rain had started to fall, pattering softly against the glass.
He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, chin dipping to my shoulder. “You ready to go home?”
I leaned back into him, feeling the slow, steady beat of his heart. “Yeah,” I whispered. “Home sounds perfect.”