Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Nervous energy propelled Kate to finish decorating the front window of Rural Chic Boutique.
She hoped Chloe wouldn’t mind. Only a handful of customers stopped in, nothing she couldn’t handle.
She’d worked at a department store in college and enjoyed helping customers.
She sold two sweaters and a pair of jeans.
Since then, it had been quiet. Her phone vibrated on the counter as she hung the last glittery snowflake from the ceiling.
Chloe had sent a text. Kate braced herself for the news. Dad’s going to be okay. Thanks, Kate, for staying. Go ahead and lock up. I have a spare key to the shop. Dad’s resting comfortably. Talk later.
She sent a reply: Good news. I’ll lock up now. Thanks for letting me know.
The moment Kate had heard her dad would pull through after being shot was the moment she had finally broken down.
She’d been grateful that her best friend, Regina, had been with her and Mom the entire time he’d been in surgery.
She’d check in on Chloe later to see if there was anything she could do.
Maybe make a pan of brownies. Kate always found food a good source of comfort.
She flipped the door sign to CLOSED and released a sigh of relief. Chloe still had her dad. She wiped a tear away. She picked up the Santa Days flyer, turned it over, and scribbled a note to Chloe:
Chloe,
Let me take over the baking for Santa Days. I’m happiest when I’m baking. Please let me do this for your mom. She has too much to worry about right now. I can be at the lodge bright and early tomorrow.
Kate
She hoped she wasn’t getting in over her head by helping the Reids, but her mission statement for Sacred Grounds was to commit to helping and being part of the community.
Her contractor, Alexis Welby, and Pete Larson, the foreman on her reno, had assured her that construction continued to go well, with no major setbacks.
Kate headed home to feed her cats and make a pan of brownies.
Pulling on her favorite sweatshirt and sweatpants, she flipped the switch to the fireplace and covered herself with a fuzzy white blanket.
Nyla sauntered over, and she pulled her in for a hug.
Kate’s mind ran through the events of the day, resting on Nick, his strong jaw set in worry and determination as he rushed his mom and Chloe from the store. Her heart ached for him and his family.
Being the daughter of a police officer wasn’t easy.
Kate’s dad missed most of her dance recitals and school concerts.
It wasn’t until later in life that she understood the importance of his job, but she had vowed never to date, much less marry, a police officer.
No way would she want to raise a child on her own while he took care of everyone else.
Why did the only man she felt an instant attraction to have to be a cop?
* * *
When Nick arrived home, he changed into jeans and a sweatshirt and sat down to flip through the channels. Garrett had a key to his house and was already in the shower.
Nick’s phone rang. “Hey, Chloe, is it Dad?”
“No. He’s doing fine. Mom is with him. Can you guys come over? Cole is here and I’m making dinner. We need to plan. Discuss what we can do to help Mom and Dad.”
“Sure. We’ll be there within the hour.”
A short time later, Nick climbed into Garrett’s Lexus, and Garrett turned on the seat warmers.
“I guess the brewery is doing well,” Nick said, playing with his seat controls to accommodate his large frame.
“Yeah.”
Garrett had been quiet since he arrived. Nick didn’t blame him; he’d been deep in thought, too, since he left the hospital. Garrett hadn’t pulled out of the drive yet and stared at the snow-covered pines. “Scary day,” he said.
He gripped the steering wheel, the dashboard lights illuminating his haunted expression. “It took me three hours to get here, and I broke the speed limit every chance I could.”
Nick remained quiet and waited for his brother to say more.
“Seeing Dad in the hospital, it hit me that our parents are getting older. I’ve decided to move closer. I’ve been talking about opening another location for a while, so I’m thinking about buying the old armory building.”
“It’ll be nice to have you closer to home.”
“You’re just happy you’ll get free beer.”
“Nah, you already supply the beer.” Nick shifted in his seat. “Hey, Garrett?”
“Yeah?”
“My ass is on fire.”
Garrett pushed a button, chuckled, and pulled out of the driveway.
* * *
At least two inches of snow had fallen since Nick arrived home, and it wasn’t going to stop anytime soon, with another four inches forecasted by morning.
With Garrett staying at his place and his mom staying at the hospital, those were two people he didn’t have to worry about.
He and Garrett drove to Chloe’s and greeted Cole as he finished shoveling Chloe’s back steps leading to her apartment above the boutique.
They walked up the steep wooden stairs. After knocking twice, they stepped in. The savory smell of chili caused Nick’s mouth to water. He wrapped Chloe in a bear hug. “Smells great, sis.”
Cole brushed off his coat, removed his boots, and made a beeline for the fridge. He pulled out beers for everyone. They were all deep in thought when a knock on the door broke the silence.
“Are we expecting someone else?” Cole asked Chloe, setting his beer down.
Chloe made her way to the door. “Yes. I asked Kate to join us,” she said before opening it.
Nick couldn’t figure out why his sister would invite Kate Davis to their sibling meeting. When she walked in, her eyes widened with surprise and her cheeks flushed. Knowing Chloe, she probably hadn’t prepared Kate for an apartment full of Reids.
Nick nodded and held up his beer bottle in greeting. She looked cute in her Chicago Bears sweats, with her hair pulled into a ponytail. He liked that she wasn’t concerned about what she wore, unlike some women he knew.
With a small wave, Kate handed Chloe a cake pan. Garrett was the first to approach her and held out his hand. “Hi, Kate, I’m Garrett. It’s nice to meet you.”
Kate reached forward and shook his proffered hand. “You as well.”
The sight of Kate with his family relaxed Nick more than he was willing to admit. It was as if the stress had left his body the moment she walked in. A dangerous thought.
* * *
Kate removed her boots and placed them on the plastic mat by the door.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.” She pulled the keys from her pocket and handed them to Chloe. Why wouldn’t Chloe tell her she was crashing a family gathering?
Chloe wrapped her in a hug. “Thank you for closing the shop and working your magic on the window display, Kate.”
“You’re welcome. I was happy to help. I’m glad you didn’t mind. I sold a few items and wrote them down on the back of a flyer. The cash is in the register.”
“I saw your note and appreciate you stepping in for me. Thank you. What would you like to drink? I have white wine, beer, or water.”
“I walked over, so I’ll have a glass of wine.”
She’d need it to calm her nerves, not knowing what she’d stepped into. Good thing she’d brought something to share.
Chloe gestured to the bottle at the end of the large granite island. “Nick, open that bottle and pour Kate a glass.”
Since she’d arrived, Nick’s eyes had been studying Kate’s every move. She couldn’t read him. Cole bumped him with his elbow, and Nick set his beer bottle down. “Sure.”
He twisted off the cap, filled the glass, and placed it in front of her.
“Thanks,” she said, hoping the smile she gave him wasn’t pity-filled.
Kate glanced around the room. The effects of the day’s events had set in; they all looked exhausted. Instead of fixating on the solemn faces, she asked Chloe, “What can I do?”
Chloe uncovered the cake pan she’d brought. “Yum, brownies. Is that a coconut layer?”
“It is. They’re Almond Joy.”
Chloe pulled a serving plate from the cabinet and a small spatula from a drawer in the island. “Would you plate these?”
“Of course.” Kate made quick work of arranging her low-carb Almond Joy brownies on the bright blue platter as Chloe’s brothers wandered into the living room. She’d made the rich and delicious sugar- and grain-free treat a few times, and nobody could tell they weren’t “the real thing.”
“I hope no one has a nut allergy,” Kate said.
“Nope, none of us,” Chloe said, reaching for a brownie and taking a bite. “Dessert first is my motto. Go ahead and dish out, then I’ll call the guys over.”
Kate didn’t need to be told twice; the chili smelled heavenly. She scooped a large ladleful into a bowl and asked, “What do you think of the bar?”
“Five stars. The creamy coconut filling—scrumptious. Tell me you’ll make these for Sacred Grounds.”
“Definitely. I enjoy experimenting with different brownies—they’re really a blank slate. I have many more for you to try.”
“Have you considered publishing a cookbook? You could sell them at your shop.”
“No. Not really. I don’t know if there is much of a market for them anymore.”
“I don’t know either, but Paige would. You should talk to her.”
“Maybe I will, thanks.” Kate appreciated that the baked-goods fan club seemed to be growing and though she didn’t think a cookbook was in her future, she figured any desire for her treats would help when she opened in May.
They walked into the living room. “Dish up, guys, and we’ll get down to business,” Chloe said.
Kate chose the oversized leather chair. After Garrett finished setting TV trays around the room, she set her bowl of chili, glass of wine, and brownie on one.
The men joined them with their bowls filled to the brim.
Nick spoke first. “Chloe called this meeting because we need to figure out a few things. Mom’s focus will be on Dad, and we have to make sure their work is covered.
I know they have staff”—he glanced around at his brothers—“but Cole has his hands full filling in at the desk, doing the paperwork, and managing the rentals.”
Chloe spoke up and nodded toward Kate. “Kate volunteered to bake the cookies for Santa Days.”
“And anything else you may need,” Kate said.
Cole set his spoon down. “Thanks, Kate. That’s a really nice offer. We’ll pay you until I find someone else.”
“You don’t need to pay me.”
“We can’t ask you to work for free,” Nick said.
“You didn’t ask. I volunteered.”
“But don’t you have a business to start?” Garrett asked.
“It’s fine. I have time to do both. I don’t have much to do until the new year.” Kate turned to Cole. “I’ll start tomorrow. Just show me the kitchen and I’ll take care of it.”
“Great. I’ll be at the front desk, but I have help, so I’ll be able to show you around.”
Kate smiled. “I can’t wait.”
“Maybe you should fill Kate in on what’s happening next weekend and how many cookies she’s expected to bake,” Nick said, eyeing Cole.
“I love baking cookies and even if it’s a hundred dozen, I’m in. I’m happiest in the kitchen.” She tucked her hands into the front pocket of her sweatshirt.
“Nick’s right,” Cole said. “It’s not just Santa Days. We have several Christmas parties being held this month and several desserts to bake.”
“I’m up for the challenge. I worked for my friend’s catering company in Chicago, and I can make anything your clients need.”
“If you’re sure. We’d love to have the help,” Cole said.
“Absolutely. Count me in.”
One of Kate’s downfalls was to take on too much and to volunteer time she didn’t have. Would her sacrifice cost her? Maybe. But what could she do? The family had suffered a huge shock, and they all had full-time jobs. The least she could do was help.