12. Chapter 12 – Zach
F itting in a long run with Lee at lunch was the only thing that kept me functioning in the aftermath of my discussion with Rae.
He seemed to sense that I needed to burn off some excess energy.
We ran hard and wordlessly, each lost in our own heads.
Of course, he was probably plotting a murder in his. I was just obsessing over Rae.
I’d left myself vulnerable after my late-night confession, so her text message after lunch gave me a lifeline.
Rae: How about we take the kids to Music in the Park tonight? I’ll pack a picnic, and you can walk over after work? Kind of a family date night?
My fingers flew fast across my keyboard.
Zach: YSE! It sad ate!
Zach: I mean, YES! It’s a date!
Where was autocorrect when you needed it? And what did it say about me that the predictive text suggested I bring condoms instead of cookies to dinner? Probably that my phone’s algorithm was intelligent enough to know what I wished I could say but couldn’t.
Zach: I’ll bring cookies.
I finished pulling napkins from the Harbor Brews’ storage closet, restocking the condiment bar before turning to Isa. “ Hey, I’m going to the concert tonight with Rae and the kids. I know you have the night off, so let’s plan to close at five.”
Isa’s mouth dropped. “What?”
Used to her theatrics, I shook my head. “You heard me.”
She smirked. “Whatever you say, Boss. Please tell Rae thank you for me. I never thought I’d see the day you willingly closed early.”
“I’m not that much of a workaholic.”
“There’s burning the candle at both ends, then there’s burning the house down. I’m pretty sure all of you Fenwicks got the arson gene.”
I chuckled. “Just don’t call the fire department. We use the fires of our ambition to keep us warm.”
She giggled. “That’s why I’m thrilled that Rae has volunteered for the job.”
A fresh stream of customers set the doorbell ringing, ending our impromptu staff meeting and keeping me from denying her assumptions. I prepared drinks while Isa worked the register, operating in tandem with the familiar ease of people who worked together for years.
There was something soothing about pulling shots and steaming milk. Getting the froth just right. Making something silly or sweet in foam for each customer. I added the last dollop to the heart for Shirley Reynolds, who winked at me.
“Thanks, doll. Tell your grandmother I say hello.”
“Sure thing, Mrs. Reynolds.”
We hit another lull. I glanced at the clock and stripped off my apron. “I’m going to duck over to Vi’s and get cookies to take to the concert tonight. Do you want one?”
Isa’s lips twitched. “You don’t have to soften me up, Boss Man, but if you’re offering, I love your sister’s almond scones. ”
I whistled on the short walk to the Salty Pantry, pleased to see the small boutique packed with patrons. I waited my turn in line, eavesdropping on the customers in front of me as they raved over the handmade caramels and other treats.
Vi looked up with a smile as I reached her counter. My sister shared my height and dark hair. She and I both took more after our mother, while Drew favored our dad. Temperamentally, I thought she resembled Gran, but I knew better than to say that part aloud.
“Hey. What brings you by today?”
“Rae and I are taking the kids to the concert in the park. I’m on a mission to pick up dessert. Four chocolate chip cookies, please. Oh, and a scone for Isa.”
“Well, aren’t you the sweetheart,” my sister teased, adding a good-natured smile. Her mouth pursed, her gaze settling over me with a new weight. “But if you hurt her, I’ll gut you.”
I stilled. Her serene tone was at odds with her words.
She seemed to mean them. I didn’t pretend to misunderstand who she was referring to.
A mix of pride and outrage whirled in my chest, struggling for dominance.
My sister was a good friend. And Rae deserved a champion like her.
But did Vi really think I would ever harm Rae?
I cleared my throat, frowning. “If I hurt her, I’ll let you.”
My sister sniffed, a wicked glint in her eyes that made me think of Gran again. “Good answer. For that, I’ll throw a tin of locally-made breath mints in too.” She winked. “For later.”
By the time I made it back to Harbor Brews with the goodies, it was nearly five.
Isa and I served the last few customers, and I flipped our sign to closed.
We worked through our closing procedures, sanitizing our equipment and storing our perishables as the final customers finished their drinks and called their goodnights .
I kept an eye on the front window, nearly lunging for the front door in my eagerness to welcome Rae and the kids.
“Hey, gang.” I shared my smile with Hana and Tae, but it was really for Rae. She’d showered and changed after work, slipping into figure-hugging jeans and a tank top so tiny that it struggled to contain her generous breasts. My gaze dropped, visually tracing the soft swells, the beautiful skin.
“Hey, Rae.” Isa nudged me sharply with her elbow. “Her eyes are up there,” she added in a faux-whisper.
I cleared my throat. “Sorry.”
Rae’s eyes danced. Her mouth curved into a wide smile. “I’ll allow it.”
“I’ll lock up, Zach, and see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Isa,” I called absently, unable to draw my gaze from Rae. “Shall we?” I snapped my fingers. “Almost forgot dessert.” I retrieved the bag of goodies from beneath the counter, and we walked toward the park on the harbor.
A sizable crowd had already gathered in the grass and on the picnic tables overlooking the waterfront.
The city had erected a tent to provide shelter for the performers.
Tonight’s band was a tribute group called Maroon High-Five.
They pitched themselves as an upbeat and family-friendly take on the original band’s classics, but I’d put money on them also gardening à la Gran’s secret stash.
A distinctive odor wafted off the main singer’s clothes when we passed by the makeshift stage.
We found a spot in the grass for our blanket, spreading it out and anchoring it with the cooler and backpack Rae brought.
Hana danced from foot to foot, pigtails bobbing with each jump, clearly excited by the buzz of people and activity. “I see Libby from school. Can I go say hi? ”
Rae nodded. “Sure, honey. Just stay where I can see you, okay?”
“Sure,” the little girl chirped, scampering off.
“There’s Matt. Is it okay if I go hang out with him and his family?” Tae asked.
“Yes, just come back when the band starts. We’ll wait until then to break out dinner.”
“Thanks, Aunt Rae.”
And like that, we were alone. Granted, we floated in a sea of townspeople, but the way Rae looked at me made all of them fall away. Just white noise in the distance.
“Did you have a good day at work?” I asked, clearing the rust from my voice and trying to inject some normalcy into the pool of silence that threatened to grow into a moat between us.
Rae’s face softened. “Yeah. Mostly just routine preventive maintenance for a couple of regulars today. Nothing too complicated.”
“Sometimes, simple is good.”
Her lips twisted. “It wasn’t all boring. My brother accused me of stealing his keys, so that was fun.” She rolled her eyes.
“I know you would never.” I grinned sheepishly. “But I totally would.” I coughed, trying to suppress my smile. “Stealing keys is in the Fenwick Family Prank Book. Page five.”
Her soft giggle dissolved the lingering annoyance that had wrinkled the spot between her brows. “Your family and mine are quite different.”
“You can say mine is better,” I said with faux modesty, wishing, for her sake, that it weren’t one hundred percent true.
“Modest as always, Fenwick.”
“Captain, modesty doesn’t get the girls.”
She arched one brow. “According to you , you’re a reformed man. Doesn’t that mean modesty should be your middle name? ”
I leaned back on my elbows, taunting her silently with my grin. Making her wait for the punchline she had to know was coming.
“Honey, I misspoke. Modesty might get the girls… but I’m done chasing girls.” I paused. “I’ve only got one woman on my mind.”