Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
T he next morning at Sandcastles, the café was a cozy hive of activity. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the aroma of cinnamon and sugar from the pastries cooling on wire racks. Claire and Hailey were in their element, moving seamlessly from the counter to the tables, their aprons filled with orders. A display of buttery croissants, crumbly blueberry scones, and decadent chocolate chip muffins beckoned to customers from behind the glass case.
Claire’s spirits lifted even further when she saw Rob walk in, a cheerful expression on his face. Through the café’s large window, she noticed Spot tied securely to a post. He was sitting obediently, his eyes keenly following Rob.
“Hey,” Rob greeted as he approached the counter, “just stopping by for my usual, and maybe a little something for Spot?”
While Hailey steamed the milk for Rob’s latte, Claire couldn’t help but ask, “How did Spot do on the way to the store? He was a lot of fun last night. I can tell someone trained him well.”
“Yeah, he’s a good boy.” Rob glanced out at the dog. “He didn’t mind the ride and is already acting like he owns the place even though he has to stay in the office.”
Claire handed over Rob’s latte, a small bag with the Beach Bones, and one of Rob’s favorite pastries, a cheese danish. “The cat was a bit miffed when I went home to feed him this morning. I think he sensed that I’ve been spending time with another animal.”
Rob chuckled. “Jealous, is he?”
“A bit.” Claire laughed. “But he’ll get over it.”
The door chime jingled, and in walked Marie, dressed in her usual animal-themed attire. She looked around the café, spotted Rob, and headed straight for him.
“Rob, I wanted to thank you again for fostering that dog,” Marie started, her eyes warm and appreciative.
“You mean Spot,” Rob grinned, his eyes meeting Claire’s for a brief second. “I’ve decided to name him Spot.”
“Spot, huh?” Marie chuckled. “Well, don’t get too attached just yet. We’re still trying to locate his owners.”
“But if we don’t?” Rob asked, raising an eyebrow.
Marie looked at Spot and then back to Rob and Claire, a twinkle in her eye. “If we don’t, I have a strong feeling that Spot has already found himself a good home.”
Claire couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Then, switching gears, she turned to Marie and said, “Could I have Sandee’s phone number?”
Rob looked puzzled but didn’t say anything as Marie quickly scribbled down Sandee’s number on a piece of paper and handed it over to Claire.
“Thanks, Marie,” Claire said. “Would you like anything? A raspberry almond croissant? Or perhaps an apple-cinnamon scone?”
“You know, both sound delightful,” Marie answered, pulling out her wallet. “One of each, please.”
After ringing up Marie’s order and watching her leave with a smile, Rob finally asked, “So, why’d you ask for Sandee’s number?”
Claire sighed a little, gathering her thoughts. “I think you and Tammi might be on to something. Maybe I’ve been too hard on her, misjudged her. Plus, the dogs seem to prefer her red Beach Bones biscuits, so it could be a smart business move.”
Rob looked at Claire, his eyes glowing with pride and love. “That’s my girl,” he said, pushing his fist over the counter.
Claire bumped her fist to his and laughed. “We’ll see how it works out.”
“I think you might be surprised. Thanks for the coffee and pastry.” Rob raised the bag and exited, stopping to untie Spot. As they trotted off, he looked back over his shoulder and gave her a wave.
Claire was still holding onto the piece of paper with Sandee’s number when Hailey wandered over, drying her hands on a towel.
“Is that one of the fosters from the NYC run?” Hailey nodded toward Rob and Spot, who were still crossing the street.
“Yeah,” Claire affirmed. “Did you know that Sandee went down to get them?”
Hailey’s brows shot up in surprise. “Really? I have heard that she’s gotten a lot nicer lately.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “You too?”
Hailey laughed, her eyes twinkling. “Maybe she’s turning over a new leaf or something.”
Before Claire could reply, Hailey spotted a new customer walking through the door. ‘I’ll get them,” she said, scurrying off to attend to the incoming patron.
Left with her thoughts, Claire found herself fiddling with the piece of paper. Taking a deep breath, she dialed Sandee’s number. Her pulse quickened as the phone rang. “What if this is a disaster?” she thought.
Claire felt a momentary sense of relief when the call went to voicemail. “Hi, Sandee, it’s Claire,” she began, trying to keep her voice steady. “I was wondering if we could meet tomorrow morning at Sandcastles to discuss some business. Stop by around eight if you are interested. Thanks.”
She hung up, placing her phone on the counter. Her feelings were a mixture of relief and tension. Sandee probably wouldn’t even show, she reasoned with herself. But what if she did?
Claire looked up to see Bunny, Sam, and Andie walking toward the door. She picked up the bag of chocolate chip muffins and other pastries that she’d set aside for Andie to take to Tall Pines and pushed thoughts of Sandee out of her mind. Whatever would happen, she’d deal with it tomorrow.