Chapter 3
Chapter Three
E stelle was so tired she could have fallen asleep on her feet, but instead of giving into the need for rest, she locked her knees and smiled at the next person in line. “Hello! Welcome to Three Sisters Cafe. What can I get for you?”
The woman balanced a baby on her hip. “Um…I was hoping you’d still have some of those cinnamon sugar cookies?”
Estelle pinched her lips between her teeth and glanced at the glass display case. “Looks like we’re out up here. Let me check in the back, okay?”
“That would be great, thank you so much,” the woman gushed.
Estelle’s smile came a little easier this time as she stepped back toward the kitchen door. “Hey, Aspen?” Making a face when Aspen continued dancing with her earbuds in, Estelle faced the front and put a finger up.
The woman nodded and moved the baby to her other side.
Going inside the kitchen, Estelle tapped her sister on the shoulder. “Aspen!”
“Ahh!” Aspen gave a small scream before yanking her earbuds out. “Geez, Stelle. Are you trying to send me into labor? ”
Estelle raised a dark brow. “I think you were doing that on your own with your dancing.” She pointed to Aspen’s stomach. “I’m not sure babies are supposed to move like that.”
Aspen grinned. “She’ll be limber when she gets here. I’ll put her in gymnastics or maybe ballet.”
Estelle rolled her eyes. “Anyway…I have someone asking for cinnamon sugar cookies. We’re out up front. Any chance you’re hoarding them back here?”
Aspen scrunched her nose. “No, sorry. But If they’re willing to wait a couple minutes, I just pulled out a batch of cinnamon roll cookies. They’re not quite the same and I need to frost them, but they’ll be done soon.”
Estelle nodded. “I’ll offer those. Thanks.” She walked back out front and gave the customer a sympathetic face. “Aspen said she’s actually out of the cinnamon sugar, but if you have five minutes, she just pulled out a batch of cinnamon roll cookies. They just need to be frosted.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness, those sound delicious.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got five minutes.”
Estelle indicated a spot to sit. “Great! Why don’t you put your feet up, and I’ll bring them out as soon as they’re done. How many would you like?”
“Uh…” The woman made a face. “Six maybe? Are they the big ones?”
Estelle nodded. “Yep.”
“Then maybe just four.” The woman smiled sheepishly. “If I buy too many, I’ll just end up eating the extras myself, and that’s not going to help anyone.”
Estelle laughed lightly. “I don’t know. Lots of good days happen when there’s a cookie in your hand.”
The customer laughed and hiked her baby higher. “I think I need that on a t-shirt.” She walked toward the chairs. “Thanks!”
Estelle watched her go, smiling softly. Interactions like that made work so much easier. She didn’t normally work the front counter, but their helper was out with a cold and their part-time clerk wouldn’t get there for another half-hour, so Estelle was making up the difference. It would normally be fine, if her brain wasn’t in constant ‘what’s going on at home’ mode. It was difficult to be friendly with customers while worried about her family.
Forcing herself to help the next people in line, Estelle turned with a smile. “Hi, welcome to…” She trailed off, her smile growing. “Layla Turley! How in the world have you gotten so big?” Estelle tried to sign as she went, but she knew her fingers weren’t very smooth. Still…everyone in their friend group had done their best to at least know the basics. “Come give Auntie Stelle a hug!”
Layla scrambled down from Harper’s arms and rushed around the counter, throwing her arms around Estelle’s legs. Stepping back, Estelle squatted down so she could give the little girl a proper greeting.
Layla smiled and squeaked when Estelle stood up, still holding Layla against her chest. “Oh my goodness,” Estelle crooned. “You’re getting so big! When did that happen?” Glancing over, Estelle winked. “Hey, Harper. How’s it going?”
Harper smiled as she watched the interaction. “Just fine, thanks. We just keep plugging away, you know?”
“Aunt Stelle, Aunt Stelle,” Layla said speedily.
“What, baby?”
“I’ve got a loose tooth!” Layla wiggled her tooth which barely moved, but Estelle made sure she acted amazed.
“Oh my goodness! The tooth fairy is coming so soon! You’re so grown up!” A deep chuckle caught Estelle’s attention, and she turned, her entire body freezing when she finally recognized the man behind Harper. “Crew,” Estelle breathed without conscious thought.
Crew’s boyish grin widened. “Estelle Harrison,” he replied with a small dip of his head. “I didn’t think you’d remember me.”
Remember him? Crew Turley was the one man that Estelle had never managed to get out of her head. It had been several years since they had danced at Mason and Harper’s wedding, but the memory of it would forever be emblazoned upon Estelle’s brain.
Crew was tall and strong, though not as intimidatingly large as Mason, with a bright twinkle in his eyes that said he was much more fun-loving than his serious brother. He’d charmed her onto the reception dance floor, teasing, flirting, and basically making Estelle swoon like a giddy school girl, only to disappear back to California and never be heard from again.
If there had ever been a man in her past that Estelle regretted, it was Crew, even though she knew her infatuation with him was ridiculous. Spending one evening together didn’t make them anything but acquaintances, and it was ridiculous for her to dream otherwise.
“Hard to forget the man who stepped on my toe three times,” Estelle said with a smile.
Crew put a hand to his chest. “A man has to do something to stand out in a woman’s mind.”
“How about next time, we do something that doesn’t lame someone?” Harper said with a laugh. She elbowed her brother-in-law. “Geez, Crew. I thought you were more suave than that.”
He grinned unrepentantly, his eyes still on Estelle. “It was worth it.”
Estelle felt her neck and cheeks heat and was extremely grateful for her Italian heritage which had given her olive toned skin that didn’t blush. Small mercies were wonderful.
Harper rolled her eyes. “Anyway…we came to get a treat to celebrate Crew getting into town for the next month.”
Estelle almost dropped Layla. “A month?”
Harper nodded. “Yep. He’s gonna help us out while Mason does some of his festivals.”
Layla cupped Estelle’s face and brought it around so she was looking at the small girl. “Uncle Crew is coming to my birthday party! ”
Estelle’s muscles relaxed a little, and she kissed the tip of Layla’s nose. “It sounds like the perfect family gathering.”
Crew felt his eyebrows pull together, but he forced them to stay neutral. Something about Estelle’s answer had been…sad, though he couldn’t figure out why. But despite the little mystery, his eyes refused to move from her.
She was just as stunning as he remembered. Long, thick, luxuriously dark hair with eyes to match and a figure that was every teenage boy’s dream, Crew had never stopped thinking about the exotic beauty he’d met one night several years ago.
He’d always enjoyed social situations, but his brother’s wedding had stuck in Crew’s mind and it had nothing to do with it being a family affair.
“So…” Estelle bounced Layla a little, and the girl giggled. “Do you know what you want? I have cinnamon roll cookies about to come out and oh-! Layla, your favorite chocolate chip cookie cake is here!” Estelle walked backward toward the display case and showed Layla a massive three tiered cake with cookies standing up between puffs of frosting all across the top.
Basically, it looked like a massive sugar bomb, and Crew made a mental note to help Layla brush her teeth that night.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Layla squealed.
“Okay, hold on there,” Harper said, stepping closer to the counter. She shook her head but smiled indulgently. “We’ll take a small slice for her,” Harper told Estelle. “But I’d like to try one of those cookies you mentioned.” Looking over her shoulder, Harper raised her eyebrows at Crew. “What about you, Crew? What looks good?”
The woman behind the counter.
Clearing his throat to keep from saying his thoughts out loud, Crew stepped closer as well and made a point of studying the display case before looking at Estelle again. “What do you recommend? What’s your favorite?”
Estelle blinked a couple times before looking away shyly. “My favorite, uh…”
“Hey, Stelle!” a voice rang out before the door to the back slammed open. A woman who looked similar to Estelle, one that Crew was almost positive was a sister, sauntered in with a large tray in her hands held above a slightly swollen stomach. “Cookies are here!” She stuttered to a stop as she spotted Crew’s group. “Harper! Layla!” The woman frowned and tilted her head. “And…Mason’s brother? I think?”
Crew chuckled and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Crew,” he supplied.
The woman nodded with a smile. “Right! Crew. I knew that.” She looked around. “Looks like I’m holding up the line. Sorry!” After nuzzling Layla’s cheek, Estelle’s sister stepped around the two and set the cookies onto the counter, then opened the case and put them inside. “Here ya go! Eat happy!” With a quick wave, and hug for Harper, the baker disappeared into the back.
Estelle smiled apologetically. “Aspen’s a bit of a whirlwind, sorry.”
Crew shrugged. He wasn’t interested in Aspen. “It’s fine. She seems nice.”
Estelle and Harper exchanged amused glances. “That’s one way of putting it,” Estelle murmured before turning her attention back to Layla. “How about you hang out with your uncle while I slice your cake?”
Layla nodded eagerly and began to kick to be let down, which Estelle quickly did. Crew bent over and readied himself as Layla came racing around the corner and barrelled into his arms. Picking her up against his chest, he looked back at the case. “So you never answered my question.”
Estelle paused, a knife in the air. “Question?”
“About your favorite? ”
Harper snorted delicately and turned around, holding out her hands. Her eyes were laughing as she said, “Why don’t I take Layla, and we’ll grab a seat.” One eyebrow rose. “You can chat with Estelle while she fills our order.”
Crew had never been one to turn down a golden opportunity, and he didn’t care one whit if Harper knew what he was thinking. Handing over his niece, he took Harper’s spot at the counter. “Are you going to make me guess?”
Estelle’s perfectly formed lips quirked as she filled a box with several cookies. “I might like to hear that.”
Crew nodded. “Okay,” he said, accepting the challenge. “Let’s see.” He eased back just enough to look at the display case. “Hold on…is your favorite in the case? Or am I guessing your favorite that’s available today?”
Estelle gave him a narrowed look. “Nicely done, Mr. Turley. My favorite is, in fact, not available today.” She closed the box and held up a finger. “One moment.” Walking away from him, Crew tried desperately not to pay too close attention to the sway of her hips, but it was a temptation he barely resisted.
The woman was a goddess and although he’d already been excited about his time in Seagull Cove…something very odd had clicked into place in his chest when he’d spotted Estelle from the front of the store. It felt good—really good—and he wanted to explore it.
Estelle paused at a woman with a baby on her lap and handed the box to her. When the woman’s face lit up, Crew couldn’t help but try and strain to hear their quiet conversation.
“I added an extra for your wait,” Estelle began, rushing on when the woman went to argue. “It’ll make your next naptime break extra sweet.”
“You’re so kind, thank you so much,” the woman gushed, taking the box and standing. “I’m sure everyone will be excited tonight after dinner. ”
“Make extra veggies,” Estelle joked. “Trust me…one whiff of these, and the kids will eat anything you ask them to.”
More laughter followed before Estelle came back to the counter, Crew’s gut swooping as she drew near. “They love you,” Crew said softly.
Estelle’s steps stuttered. “They love cookies,” she said with a shy smile. “We tend to have pretty happy customers around here, and it has nothing to do with the server.”
Crew nodded but silently disagreed. It wouldn’t matter how good the product was if the service was horrible. Estelle’s kind and beautiful presence very obviously made a difference in the shop, and he kinda loved that she didn’t fully realize it.
“Okay, so…your available favorite.” He studied the counter, looked at an amused Estelle and studied the goods again. “Hmm…you have some interesting flavors here.”
Estelle laughed softly. “You could say that. Aspen tends to get creative, but we taste test them all before they make it onto the shelves.”
Nodding again, Crew forced himself to actually focus on the flavors. “The question is, are you a classic person or a daring person?” His eyes swept up and down Estelle, and her lips twitched at his perusal. “I’m going with the raspberry, vanilla bean, and lemon-curd cake.”
Her eyebrows shot up dramatically. “Wow, you nailed it.”
Crew laughed. “You hate that one, don’t you?”
Estelle shook her head. “Hate is a strong word, but lemon is a little too tart for me and raspberries aren’t far behind.”
“A sweet tooth then, huh?” Leaning over the counter to get as close as he could, he rested his arms on top of the glass display. “It’s the chocolate mint, isn’t it? You can’t get enough.”
Estelle tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and laughed as she struggled to meet his eyes. “This time you really did get it. Good job.”
“Whew!” Crew made a show of wiping his forehead. “Good thing. I think the people behind me were about to stage a revolt. ”
Estelle’s eyes shot behind him, and her smile fell as if she’d forgotten they were there. “Oh my word, sorry everyone! I’ll hurry.”
“Don’t,” a high-pitched elderly tone said from behind Crew.
He spun just enough to see an older woman with short, tightly curled hair peering up at him from about his elbow through thick glasses. “Not in a hurry?” he asked.
She grinned. “Watching that play out has been the highlight of my day,” she declared with a firm nod. “In fact, I’d pay good money to keep watching.”
Laughing from genuine amusement, Crew turned back to Estelle, who was obviously embarrassed, if her ducked head and shoulders were anything to go by, and jerked his head back toward the woman. “I’ll pay for her as well.”