Chapter 7
A shiver ran down Via’s spine, tingling and charged. Leo had leaned forward to make his point until he was inches from her,
his eyes holding hers, his husky voice and slow smile making her forget where she was. What had they been talking about anyway?
And suddenly she didn’t want to think about talking at all.
He sat back, his smile disappearing. “Do we have an understanding?” he said, his tone impassive.
The shift wrenched her out of her daze, making her wonder if she had imagined what had just happened. “Understanding?”
“You said I had to do everything on the list with you.”
“Yes, but—”
“Camping it is.” He started tapping his foot, as if he were growing impatient. “What else do we need to discuss?”
“Just a few more things.” She quickly added the midnight corn maze, wreath making, and sunset over Lake Erie to the calendar.
She’d let him think he was going camping with her. “The Harvest Fest is at the end of the month.”
“I’ve seen the flyers everywhere.”
“We need to put one up in the Second Chapter window,” Via said. “Earl always advertised it.”
“The shop is permanently closed. There’s no need to draw attention to it.”
Via disagreed, but she wouldn’t fight that point either. She could bring it up later. She was as eager to end this meeting
as he seemed to be. “I can work in the bookstore three evenings a week after I close the café. We close at five every night
except Saturday, when we shut down at three. We’re closed all day on Sundays.”
“As long as you have the time.”
“I don’t do that much outside of the café. I’m on the Harvest Fest planning committee, and there’s the Pecan Corner Business
Association that meets the third Monday of every month. I also work with local animal shelters to coordinate adoptions. We
take in some of their harder-to-adopt cats when we have openings at the café.”
“Impressive.” He sounded like he really meant it.
“Not really—”
“Just take the compliment, Via. It’s a sincere one.”
She didn’t know what to make of Leo Brewster. One minute they were at odds, the next he did something caring, like insisting
she couldn’t camp alone. In almost the same breath he could look at her like she was the only woman in the world and then
switch it all off and be completely business focused, only to genuinely compliment her. “I think that’s it,” she said, getting
up and pinning the calendar back in place.
Leo put the chair against the opposite wall. “We can start on Monday. I need to focus on the apartment over the weekend.”
She nodded. This was his project. “I can be there by five thirty.” She paused. “Make it six. I have to settle Sir Meow in
for the evening.”
“Just bring him along.” He grabbed the allergy medicine she’d given to him off the desk. Before she could respond, he left the office.
Via slumped into her chair, questioning her decision to involve him in her bucket list. She was starting to see some things
about Leo that reminded her of Trevor. They were both handsome, although Leo was on another level in that department. They
were charismatic, smart, accomplished . . . Actually, Leo was superior in those ways too. But they were both cryptic. And
she didn’t like that at all.
But she couldn’t back out now. She owed it to herself and Earl to keep tabs on Leo. They’d only met yesterday. Everything
he was telling her could be a lie, including him saying he wouldn’t sell Second Chapter to Percival. Just because he’d been
truthful about being Earl’s nephew and heir didn’t mean she could trust him. If only Earl were here. A melancholy lump appeared
in her throat as she whispered, “I miss you so much.”
Sunday after church, Via was in her parents’ kitchen, stirring the chicken and dumpling soup in the Crock-Pot. The dish was
a fall staple in the Dalton household since she could remember. She and her siblings all lived separately—Via in downtown
Pecan Corner, Dora in nearby Chagrin Falls, and Fergus had a house farther away in Garfield Heights. But they all attended
Abundant Life Church and had Sunday lunch with their parents afterward.
When she was younger and wanted to spread her wings, she couldn’t wait to be away from her family, even though she loved them.
Ever since she returned home, she loved being so close to them again.
But her mind wasn’t on her family or food.
She’d seen very little of Leo over the past couple of days, and what she did see was due to Sir Meow.
The cat couldn’t get enough of the man. It was beyond weird at this point.
Thursday night after she left the café and Dora started her Pawtrait Night art lesson, Sir rushed up the stairs and meowed at Leo’s door.
Leo had opened it, and Sir dashed right in.
Via had to get him, and she and Leo didn’t say anything to each other.
It was like they were back to the day they’d met, but without the arguing.
After that she kept Sir right by her side, either on the leash or in his vented catpack. She didn’t like cooping him up, but
it was his own fault. She’d even brought him to her parents’ house and he was lounging under the table while Mom finished
setting it.
“The flowers are beautiful, Octavia.” Her mother placed a vase in the middle of the table filled with the stunning autumn
blooms Via had ordered from The Red Carnation. “Anna always makes such lovely arrangements.”
Dad entered the kitchen after changing from his Sunday best to a flannel shirt and jeans that were probably older than she
was, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back from his forehead. “Smells wonderful, Gayla,” he said, heading for the Crock-Pot.
He inhaled the steam from the soup.
“Oh, Kyle, you say that about all my meals.”
Via saw the warmth in her mother’s eyes. After almost four decades of marriage, they still had that spark between them despite
being almost complete opposites—she was a literature professor and he a plumber with his own business. But they were alike
in the ways that mattered. Family oriented, affectionate, and always making sure to have fun with each other.
Via had wanted a happy marriage like theirs and foolishly thought she would have that with Trevor. She couldn’t have been
more mistaken.
Dora and Fergus walked in. “Got the French bread,” Dora said as she set two plastic grocery bags on the island counter.
“Thanks. I can’t believe I forgot to buy it this week.” Mom peeked inside the bags. “What’s all this?”
“I did a little shopping too. It’s been a busy week.” Fergus pulled out a carton of milk and set it inside the refrigerator.
“Remind me to get this before I go.”
Soon they were all seated at the table and Dad said the blessing. Then they dug in. Conversation buzzed between her parents
and Fergus, with Dora joining in more than usual. Dating Charlie was really bringing her out of her shell.
But Via remained quiet, her mind still on Leo. Tomorrow was their first day to work together in Second Chapter. Were they
going to ignore each other like they were doing now? And what about the bucket list activities? She’d rather do them alone
than with someone who was icing her out.
Fergus nudged her arm. “What’s with you, sis?” he said, holding the breadbasket with his huge hand. Her brother was built
like a brick wall—tall, broad, strong. He kept his flaming-red hair on the longish side, a little past his collar, giving
him a wild lumberjack vibe.
She picked up a round slice of bread. Sir was lying on her feet, keeping her toes warm through her pink socks. “Nothing,”
she said, tearing the slice into pieces and dropping them into her soup. She glanced at Dora, waiting for her to jump in and
contradict her. Her sister had asked her a few times about Leo since their meeting, and finally Via had to tell her to shut
up and get back to work. After that, they hadn’t talked much at all.
“You do seem preoccupied, dear.” Mom sprinkled pepper on her soup.
“You know how busy October is for me and the shop.”
Dora gave her an inquisitive look but stayed silent.
“How’s the autumn bucket list going this year?” Dad asked.
“Already marked off two things.” Good, something she could talk about. “I baked pumpkin pies yesterday with Sally for the
church bake sale this morning, and the Cats with Pumpkins pictures are done and posted.”
“They’re a hit on social media.” Dora buttered one of the two slices of bread on her plate. “Fergus did a great job taking
them during Cuddles and Coffee.”
“I saw them,” Mom said. “Really cute. I hit Like, of course.”
That made Via smile. Her mother was always the first to like, heart, and subscribe to anything the cat café did. Unfortunately,
due to her teaching schedule at Lake Erie College, she couldn’t spend much time in Pawsitive Vibes. Her father was there even
less, and sometimes he had to work six days a week at his plumbing business. Fergus filled in from time to time if he was
free.
Mom turned to her brawny son. “I think it’s sweet you never miss Cuddles and Coffee.”
He rolled his eyes, his ruddy cheeks reddening. “I’m just there for the coffee and to make sure the café is in working order.”
“Sure you are,” Dora said. “That’s why you’ve always got a cat or two in your lap at all times.”
“I can’t help it if they adore me.”
Everyone chuckled, knowing the feeling was mutual. Via relaxed. This time when she looked at Dora, they exchanged a smile.
All was good between them.
“We have five people this year participating in their own bucket lists,” Via said. Being around her family always made her
feel better. It also helped that Dora hadn’t said anything about the situation with Earl and Leo. The last thing she needed
was her parents asking questions.
“So we’re not going to talk about the guy living across the hall from you?” Fergus looked at her, an idiot grin on his face.
“What?” her dad asked.
“I didn’t tell him.” Dora looked surprised and shot her brother a questioning look.
“Octavia, what’s going on?” Mom pressed.
“Word is that Earl has a rich nephew who’s inherited the bookstore.” Fergus scraped the bottom of his bowl. He usually had