Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
S ummer dropped Atticus at the vet’s. He was due a few shots and was going to be bathed and groomed.
She had not been able to have a pet in her Brooklyn apartment, and it had been nice living with Autumn and Eli and getting to enjoy Atticus’ company.
She wondered if Chance might consider getting a dog once they got married.
Since Atticus would be ready at noon, Summer decided to stay in town.
She had already gotten in a few hours of writing this morning and decided to stop for a coffee at Coffee Hour as a reward.
Her laptop was in her backpack just in case the coffeehouse didn’t have many sippers inside.
Of course, it would be hard to concentrate, knowing Jen was now in the air.
They had talked again early this morning.
Summer had volunteered to pick up her friend at the airport, but Jen was from the Midwest and enjoyed driving, something she hadn’t done in New York.
She told Summer she was eager to get behind the wheel of a car again and would rent a vehicle to drive to Hawthorne.
As she entered Coffee Hour now, she saw half a dozen others scattered about the coffeehouse.
That was in addition to the old-timers at the back, having their usual fun.
She wondered down the road if she and Chance might be a part of a group such as that, friends for decades with others.
Already, she enjoyed getting together with her siblings and cousins and their spouses.
Then she wondered if Jen did stay in Hawthorne, would she be a good match for Sawyer?
Like Chance, Sawyer hadn’t really dated since returning to Hawthorne.
Her cousin was such a kind, decent man, and she knew he would make for a wonderful husband.
She approached the counter, where another barista worked alongside Ben. He spotted Summer and smiled.
“Back again? I’m sorry so many people interrupted you the other day, Summer. You were so polite to everyone, but that had to be frustrating.”
“It was a little tough,” she admitted. “But I’ve been writing at my sister’s house. I’m staying with her and her husband. And Chance has also offered to let me come to his ranch and work.”
Ben nodded knowingly. “Chance is a fine fellow. Saw the two of you hitting it off.”
“We knew each other when we were younger. He’s my brother’s best friend.”
The coffeehouse owner smiled. “But he didn’t pay any attention to you back in the day, am I right?”
“Not a bit,” she said, laughing. “But things are certainly different now.”
“I like Chance. Don’t know him well. He keeps to himself when he comes in here, but he seems rock solid.”
“He’s one of the good ones,” she shared. “We’re seeing one another now.”
“Good for you, Summer,” Ben said, his smile wide. “Oh, by the way, Becky’s here. Maybe you’d like to go and talk to her. You said you wanted to meet her.”
“She’s not in school?” She looked over her shoulder, skimming the customers inside the coffeehouse.
“She’s over by the window,” Ben said proudly. “That’s my Becky.”
He referred to a woman who was in her mid-forties. She was dressed in navy slacks and a cream sweater. Her hair was cut in a stylish bob, and she was slightly overweight.
She was also one of the plainest women Summer had ever seen.
She recalled how Ben had mentioned how beautiful Becky was. Even now, she heard the pride in his voice when he referred to his wife.
“Let me go and introduce you two. I told Becky all about you. She loves reading romances, and she’s eager to meet you.”
Ben came from behind the counter, leading Summer across the coffeehouse. He bent and brushed a kiss on his wife’s cheek, saying, “Guess who came in? Summer Sutherland.”
Becky stood and shook hands with her. “Oh, it’s wonderful to meet you, Summer. Please, have a seat.”
She did so, and Ben asked, “What can I bring you?”
“How about a cinnamon dolce latte?”
“Coming right up.” Ben dipped his head and left them together.
“I hope I’m not interrupting you,” Summer said, seeing several folders sitting on the table, some of them open.
Becky closed her laptop and set it aside.
“Just catching up on paperwork. I know it sounds crazy, but I take off one day a month. Sometimes, it’s so hard getting everything done at work because I counsel so many students during the day.
I like to spend my time with Ben and not on school stuff when I get home.
I have well over a hundred unused sick days, so Ben suggested I take a day off each month.
I catch up on all my paperwork because I don’t have anyone interrupting me. ”
“Like me?” she teased.
Becky laughed. “I’m able to get everything done, and I still have a little time for myself.
Sometimes, I’ll read a book. Take a walk.
Do a little shopping. Not grocery shopping or anything needed.
Fun shopping, like for shoes or a new purse.
It’s a me day. A gift I give myself, thanks to my husband’s encouragement. ”
“Ben certainly loves you. When we met, you were right at the top of our conversation.”
“His first marriage would’ve been successful if he would have put the time into it.
Ben was too busy making money and saving the world back then.
I do feel sorry for his first wife. By the time I met him, especially after his heart attack, he was a different person.
He’d already learned to stop and smell the roses. ”
Ben reappeared, placing Summer’s mug on the table. “Enjoy. And don’t say too many bad things about me.”
“As if I could even think of anything bad,” Becky said, smiling indulgently.
After Ben left, Summer asked, “Why Ben? What attracted you to him?”
Becky sighed. “I liked everything about him. His zest for life. He believes he was given a second chance. A new lease on life after his heart attack. He cut out smoking. Lost weight. Took up hobbies. We do puzzles together. Paint birdhouses. Go for walks. Even take fitness and yoga classes.”
The counselor’s gaze met Summer’s. “You can tell I’m not much to look at.
I’m not ugly. Just homely. I never had a date before Ben.
Not a single one. When I was young, the guys I knew were all caught up in a woman’s looks.
That certainly left me out of the party.
As I grew older, I found myself in a profession where I didn’t meet many men.
The few I did showed no interest in me. Ben was the first person who saw me.
He thinks I’m beautiful, and he tells me that every day.
We started out as friends, and I quickly fell in love with him.
I was terrified because I was afraid of opening my heart.
Of giving myself. I was afraid our relationship was like a house of cards, and the slightest breeze would send it tumbling down.
Instead, Ben showed patience with me. He loved me and was willing to wait until I truly believed in the two of us together. ”
“That’s incredible, Becky. I’m writing a small-town romance series, and I would like to take bits and pieces of your love story and incorporate into my Panhandle town.”
Becky blushed. “Oh, that would be so nice, Summer. I’ve read romance novels from the time I was thirteen.
I would put myself in the heroine’s shoes and fall in love with each hero I read about, never knowing one day I would find a real-life hero of my own.
” She frowned. “But would readers want to read about two older people such as us?”
“I think so. There is a small but growing market for more mature romances. Not every heroine can be eighteen and making her come-out.”
They both laughed at the usual storyline for a Regency romance.
“Seriously, Becky. I would like to feature an older couple in this series. I don’t know if I would devote an entire book to it, but I plan to sprinkle a few secondary romances into the series.”
“We would be honored to be a part of your writing, Summer,” Becky assured her.
Summer realized that looks faded, but Ben had been smart enough to discover Becky’s kindness and warmth. She knew their love story would live on as long as they did, and that was what she wished to capture.
They talked about the town where she had set her series for several minutes, and Summer asked, “Would you care to do any beta reading for me? My sister has offered to do so, but Autumn will just tell me she likes whatever I write. Since you’re a true romance reader, I would be honored if you would look at my work. ”
Becky’s face lit up, and Summer could see why Ben had fallen in love with this woman.
“I would be honored to.”
“I only ask that you don’t share it with anyone since it’s not published yet. If you’d like, I can send you the first book. It’s already completed. I’m starting the second one now.”
“I’d be delighted. Let me give you my email address.”
They exchanged cell numbers and emails, and then Summer said, “I’m going to let you get back to those folders so you can wrap up things and have time to yourself.”
“I’ll be done in an hour or so,” Becky told her. “Maybe by then, you’ll have sent me your manuscript. I can’t think of anything better than to sip on some hot tea and read all afternoon.”
“I’ve got to pick up my sister’s dog at noon. I’ll head home then and send it to you,” she promised.
Summer said goodbye and went to pay for her coffee. Ben shook his head.
“Just seeing my Becky enjoying her conversation with you is payment enough.”
She thanked him and returned to her SUV, placing her backpack inside the car. Instead of trying to write for her current story, she wanted to think about Ben and Becky’s romance. That meant taking a walk.
An hour later, she returned to the car, a good bit of the plot having come to her. She definitely had enough material for an entire book, based upon her brainstorming. She had captured her ideas on her voice memo app and would type them up later. Now, she needed to pick up Atticus.