Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Faith clicked her favorite pink pen open and jotted down a few notes, biting her lip in concentration as she worked. Around her, Seaside Sweets Bakery was filled with the cheerful sounds of people laughing and talking, and the clinking of dishes and gurgles of coffee machines.
Faith loved working in coffee shops on the weekends.
There was something about being surrounded by energy that helped her concentrate and made her feel more motivated.
Besides, getting to sip on a delicious vanilla hazelnut latte while she nibbled on an apple crumb pastry were definitely perks she enjoyed seeking out.
She was working on some of the tasks that she’d agreed to take on for the McCormick Brewery.
After years of mentally strenuous legal work, these tasks seemed pleasantly easy to her.
She had to concentrate, certainly, but she enjoyed being able to check items off her list at a steady speed.
She loved feeling efficient, and she always felt a pleasure in accomplishing tasks.
I agreed to do this for Ryan, she thought, picking up her latte and taking a sip of the creamy, nutty liquid, but I’m really enjoying it more than I thought I would. I’m feeling so enthusiastic about my role and I’m determined to help Ryan succeed in any way possible.
She set down her latte and took a nibble out of the apple crumb pastry.
She sighed over how delicious it was, and she felt eager for the end of summer to morph fully into fall.
She found herself becoming momentarily distracted by thinking about all of the things that she wanted to do with Ryan and her cousins, such as go for long hikes in the colorful woods, go on hayrides, explore corn mazes, and bake a myriad of delicious apple and pumpkin-themed treats.
She was gazing into space, daydreaming pleasantly of autumn, when she noticed a new customer walk through the front door of the bakery. Her face broke into a smile when she saw that it was Vivian, looking chic in a light blue jacket and colorful bracelets that Alexis had made.
“Hi, Vivian!” Faith waved excitedly to her, and when Vivian caught sight of her she waved back like an excited teenager.
“Hi, Faith.” Vivian hurried over to give her a hug and then sat down in the chair on the other side of Faith’s little table. “Mind if I join you for a little while?”
“Please do. You want to try this apple crumb pastry? It’s incredible.”
“Better yet, I’ll just go order my own quick. In theory, I’m here for coffee, but you know I usually end up getting a pastry, too, ninety percent of the time.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s true for all of us.” Faith laughed. “It’s a great business model.”
Vivian left for a few moments and soon returned with her own apple crumb pastry and cup of steaming hot coffee.
“Mm, two of the best scents in the world,” Vivian said eagerly, setting her plate and coffee mug down with a flourish. She glanced curiously at Faith’s notebook and open laptop. “What are you up to? Working on Saturday?”
Faith smiled when she sensed Vivian’s concern.
Before moving to Rosewood Beach, Faith had overworked herself as a lawyer to the point of having a panic attack so bad she thought it was a heart attack.
When her doctor had advised rest in order to restore her health, Faith had realized that she needed to turn her whole life around and she’d moved to Rosewood Beach.
Ever since then, she’d been balancing work and rest in a way that made her days feel fulfilled and purposeful but also comfortable and peaceful.
“Don’t worry, I’m not working too hard,” Faith assured her. “I’m just doing a little extra busywork for Ryan. I offered to help him out now that he’s taking over the McCormick brewery.”
“He is?” Vivian’s eyes widened, her surprise clear to see on her face.
“Oh! I thought—no, I guess we never did tell you. It’s all been such a blur. I’m sorry, Vivian. I know you have complicated feelings about Judd and his brewery, and for good reason.”
Vivian shook her head. “No, don’t worry about that. I did hear about Judd’s heart attack. I baked him a loaf of whole wheat bread and sent along a couple of meals right after it happened.”
Faith’s heart warmed to hear of Vivian’s generosity. She was proud of how kind-hearted her family members were, even to people who had treated them badly in the past. “That’s so good of you.”
“It’s what neighbors do.” Vivian smiled. “So, Ryan is taking over the brewery for his father? I’m shocked—I would have thought that Judd would have entrusted the brewery to one of his other sons. I know that he and Ryan often don’t see eye to eye.”
“I was shocked too—and honestly, Ryan still seems to be wrapping his head around the decision as well. But I know he can do it. He’s taken the lead at so many construction sites, I know he’ll be a good leader in his new role as well, once he gets used to all the ins and outs of running a brewery.
It’s a lot for him to handle, which is why I’m acting as his secretary of sorts.
” She smiled, feeling proud of what she was doing to help out the man she loved.
“Well, I think that’s wonderful.” Vivian beamed at her. “Ryan is lucky to have a supportive partner like you. Things seem to be moving along very nicely between the two of you.” Her eyes twinkled knowingly, as if she was secretly hinting about their relationship progressing to the next level.
“Things between us are amazing,” Faith said, unable to keep her tone from getting a little dreamy.
“I love him more with every passing day, it feels like. I feel like I could trust him with anything, you know? And obviously he trusts me, letting me help him like this. It feels good to be able to depend on someone like that.”
Vivian’s smile faded slightly, and a sad look came into her eyes. “That’s the way it should be,” she said. “Trust is vital between two people in a relationship.”
Faith’s heart gave a pang as she thought about what Vivian was going through, finding out that Frank had tried to pay off his gambling debts but never told her about his secret stash of money in the attic.
She reached out and touched Vivian’s hand.
“How are you doing in light of—of the discovery regarding Frank?”
Vivian cleared her throat and managed a bigger smile.
“I’m doing all right. It’s a lot to process, but I’m taking it one day at a time.
” She changed the subject, gesturing to Faith’s laptop and notebook.
“Let me know if there’s anything I can help with in regard to your new tasks for the brewery.
I’d be happy to offer you assistance—I know that businesses changing hands can be tricky and overwhelming for everyone involved.
And I know some tips and tricks about dealing with all the little details that come with running a restaurant.
I’d be more than happy to give you my help whenever you need it. ”
“Thanks, Vivian.” Faith smiled at her gratefully.
“That’s so kind of you. So far, I’ve just been getting the easiest sort of tasks from Ryan, but I’ll let him know you offered to help out.
I bet he’d be able to pass along some of the tougher work my way if he knew that I had you to guide me in case there’s something I don’t know how to tackle. ”
“Sounds great.” Vivian smiled. “I never thought I’d be offering to help with the running of the McCormick Brewery, but I guess life is funny like that sometimes. Ryan feels like a part of the family now, and of course you know I’m always here to help you, Faith.”
“Right back at you.” Faith squeezed Vivian’s hand, wishing that she could take away some of the sadness Vivian had been feeling about Frank’s untrustworthiness.
“Speaking of helping people, how’s Dean?
Hazel told me he has plenty of food for now, but I’m going to make him a whole bunch of spaghetti and meatballs next week. ”
“Perfect. Dean loves spaghetti and meatballs. And he’s doing pretty well, I think.
It’s tough having surgery, even when it goes well.
I know my Dean doesn’t like to sit around and wait for anything, but he’s hanging in there.
I’m just praying that it all turns out the way we’re hoping, and that he feels better than ever by the time he and Noelle get married. ”
“Oh, me too. And I think he will.” Faith smiled.
Vivian nodded, and the two women exchanged a look of hopefulness.
Faith thought about how she’d known so many pessimistic people back in Boston—people who had acted as though if you weren’t being cynical, you were simply na?ve.
She felt grateful to have moved to a place where people knew that staying positive took both a great deal of strength and a great deal of courage, and that there was nothing na?ve about it.