Lost and Found E-Book

Race Lucinda

• Herausgeber: MC Two Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Love never ends... A widow who talks to her late husband and her handsome single neighbor who has secretly loved her for years. 

In the years after Cari McKenna lost her husband, she threw her energy into raising her family and starting a thriving coffee shop. Now, her grown children have moved out and her daughters are pushing her to brave the perils of internet dating. Even Cari is forced to admit that her life might be a little too placid. Until a tree falls across her roof and exposes her loneliness.

Ray Davis always stops by What's Perkin' for his morning muffin, it’s not just the blueberry muffins that pull him in but the beautiful widow, Cari McKenna. The handsome master carpenter is starting to wonder if she’ll ever see him as more than a neighbor and friend.

Working with her to rebuild her damaged house gives him a good excuse to spend more time with her, but she still only seems interested in him as a buddy. Then Ray's ex-wife rolls into town intent of forcing him to reconnect but really to give her an alibi and that’s when Ray realizes his dreams- or even his life- could be lost.

Leseprobe

LOST AND FOUND

SMALL TOWN LATER IN LIFE ROMANCE

MCKENNA FAMILY ROMANCE

BOOK TWO

LUCINDA RACE

MC TWO PRESS

CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

The Journey Home - Chapter 1

A FREE Story for You

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About the Author

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2020 by Lucinda Race

Published by MC Two Press

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Author Lucinda Race.

Cover Design by Meet Cute Creative

Manufactured in the United States of America

January 2020

E-book IBNS978-0-9862343-3-0

Paperback ISBN 978-0-9862343-0-9

Thank you for purchasing Lost and Found. I hope you enjoy reading Cari and Ray’s story. I love writing characters who are a bit older and deserve a second chance at happiness. So, turn the page and fall in love in with the McKenna Family.

If you’d like to stay in touch, consider joining my Newsletter. I release it twice per month with tidbits, recipes and an occasional a special gift just for my readers.

https://lucindarace.com/newsletter/ and there is a free book when you join! Happy reading…

DEDICATION

To my dear husband, Rick

Life with you was a dream

To the LR posse

Shirley, for encouraging me to start with page one

Cheryl, for reading each revision

Megan and Emily, for listening to all the early stories

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep

because reality is better than your dreams.

—Dr. Seuss

1

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy Lost and Found be sure to check out my offer for a FREE Price Family novella at the end. With that, happy reading!

***

Cari peered through the rain-covered windshield. The wipers thudded as they slapped from side to side. Her headlights barely illuminated the road ahead. The humidity hung heavy with the threat of bad weather. A nasty storm had barreled through and deluged the area just as she had closed the shop. She should have taken the weatherman seriously earlier when he’d predicted severe weather that day.

Her stomach tightened with each rumble of thunder. Suddenly, a bright bolt of lightning lit up the sky and seemed to strike something just beyond the tree line. She had never been a fan of storms, and it seemed they’d grown more severe lately. Maybe there was something to climate change.

Her street was ahead, and relief coursed through her. The road was inundated with water. Lightly tapping the brakes, she turned left onto Maple Street. The sky was as black as night; the lampposts went dead, and the street was plunged into darkness. Anxious to get home, she drove slowly, avoiding the debris and dodging the tree limbs that bent low, kissing the ground. The bright headlights swept over the driveway as she pulled up to the garage door. She waited impatiently for it to open wide enough to get the car stowed inside. “Oh, shoot. No electricity.”

Cari parked the car in the downpour and dashed to the back door, firmly slamming it behind her. Leaning against it, she took deep breaths to steady her hammering pulse as the hair on her arms stood on end. A thunderous crack rang out, immediately followed by a large bolt of lightning illuminating the kitchen. Oh no, she thought, realizing what had been struck was very close to where she stood. She felt the house shudder and then—deafening silence.

She pulled herself together and crossed the room. As she peered out the kitchen window, she was shocked to discover that the large pine tree, which had dominated the backyard for the last twenty-five years, was now resting on the roof of her house. It had split down the middle and hefty chunks of the trunk and branches covered the ground. She made her way to the sunroom at the back of the house. It was in shambles. Shards of glass and wood splinters littered the floor. Stunned, she stared at the carnage as the sun broke through the dark, heavy cloud cover.

“For crying out loud, Ben. Look at what your stupid tree did! I told you not to plant it so close to the house. Your tiny tree grew into a monster.” The ghost of her late husband didn’t answer her.

Cari stalked to the back door and flung it open. She stepped into the heavily pine-scented air. For a brief second, she inhaled deeply, savoring the cool, fresh air the storm had left after washing away the oppressive heat.

“What are we going to do?” She gingerly picked her way through the branches that peppered the lawn. “The back side of the house is devastated.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll call Shane. This mess needs heavy equipment. I’m sure he’ll bring the guys over to clean it up.”

She was surveying the damage and muttering to herself when her neighbor, Ray Davis, came over. Hopefully he hadn’t witnessed her yelling at the tree from his window.

He cleared his throat. “Ah, Cari, are you okay?”

She was relieved to see him standing less than three feet away from her. Hopefully, he hadn’t heard her talking to herself. At six foot three, he towered over her. She jammed her hands into her front jeans pockets.

“Hi, Ray. Did you hear me talking to myself?”

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Actually, I could hear you yelling at the tree. I thought I’d come over to see how I could help.”

Gesturing to the pieces of the tree that lay before them, she said, “Well, I guess my day ended with a bang. This little seedling Ben planted decided it didn’t want to be in the rain, so it came inside the house. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t come in as firewood,” she said ruefully. “A couple of years ago, Shane wanted to cut it down. But, no, I had to be stubborn. I told him there was no reason to take it down because it was healthy. In hindsight, I guess I should have listened to reason. I just didn’t want anything changed in the yard.”

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. No one knows when or where lightning will strike—it just happens. Have you called your son yet? I can stick around and give him a hand. But we should drape a tarp over the hole in the roof before it gets dark.”

“That’s so nice of you to offer, but I don’t think I have one large enough. This is so frustrating! I can’t believe it happened.”

“I’ve got a tarp in my shop you can use until you figure something out. I’ll run over, get it, and be right back.” He jogged across the adjoining yards to get it.

Pulling her cell phone out of her back pocket, she pushed a number on speed dial. Trying her best to sound casual, she said, “Hi, Shane, it’s Mom. Wasn’t that a doozy of a storm?”

“Hey, Mom. Everything is fine here at the lake, but it was pretty bad!”

“That’s an understatement. Any chance you can swing by?” Cari paused. “Before you say, ‘I told you so,’ I need to tell you something.”

“Okay, what’s going on?”

She could hear the concern in his voice and was sure he knew why she called. It was just a matter of time before a storm brought down the pine tree.

“Remember that large pine in the backyard, the one you told me needed to be cut down? Well, it got struck by lightning, split down the center, and crashed onto the house.”

“The tree got hit?” He let out a low whistle. “How bad is it? Should I call Don too?”

“No, don’t bother your brother-in-law tonight. Ray was here and just left to get a tarp to cover up the gaping hole. But you’re going to need a ladder,” Cari stated flatly while staring at the roofline.

“All right. Hang tight, and I’ll see you soon.” Shane abruptly disconnected without saying goodbye.

Cari went into the kitchen to grab cold drinks. She and Ray might as well be social while waiting for Shane. She was fortunate to have a good neighbor. He was always willing to lend a hand when needed. She dealt with her loneliness most days, but at this second, she missed her husband more than ever.

Her eyes followed Ray as he made his way back to the deck. He was all male, and the proverbial tall, dark, and handsome variety. His features were strong and sharp without being harsh. They were enhanced by dark hair, peppered with a touch of gray that swept down over cool-blue eyes that a girl could easily drown in. Why he didn’t have a girlfriend was beyond her. There must be at least one woman in town looking for a nice, divorced man. Trotting next to Ray was Gifford, a fifty-pound ball of fur whose tail was always wagging. Gifford turned up on Ray’s back step one day, and he adopted the pup on the spot. Now, the two were inseparable.

Ray carried a huge blue plastic bundle in his arms. “Here’s the tarp.” Gifford dropped to the ground and promptly started a gentle dog snore, exhausted from the long walk across the yard.

“That’s overkill, isn’t it?” Cari joked as she handed him a cold beer.

“You’re kidding, right? Did you see the huge hole in your roof? I’m worried it won’t be big enough!”

“I’m trying to be a little more optimistic.” Cari was saddened to see the devastation of her beloved home.

She watched Ray take a slug of his beer. She sipped her own and wished Shane would hurry up. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before his truck appeared around the side of the garage, coming to an abrupt stop on the lawn. Climbing out, Shane took in the full extent of what had happened. He crossed the lawn, eating up the distance between them. He was the spitting image of his father—long, lean, and muscular—but had inherited his mother’s dark hair along with his father’s blue eyes and a quick, easy smile. By twenty-five, he’d established a reputation in the community for his honesty and hard work with his landscaping business. He worked side by side with his crew at every site, getting the job done safely and on time. Cari was proud of her only son.

Shane extended his hand. “Good to see you, Ray. Did you see the tree crash or just hear Mom yelling at it?”

The men chuckled.

“This isn’t funny, and I don’t appreciate that you two are laughing at my expense.” Immediately, Cari became contrite. “I’m sorry. I’m mad at myself for not listening to you, son.”

“Mom, I’ll take the blame on this. I should have insisted you take the tree down before now. I knew we were on borrowed time. I understand you and Dad planted it to commemorate buying the house, but now it’s going to take some serious work to get everything cleaned up and the house fixed.”

Shane softened his approach. “I know this hurts. Let’s go see how bad it is and then get the tarp slung over the hole as best we can. Tomorrow, we can get things moving.”

Cari watched as Shane and Ray checked out the mess from all angles and discussed the best way to get the tree off the house without additional damage to what was left of the structure. She trailed along behind the guys, wishing she had listened to her son years ago.

She couldn’t help but stare at the tree branches jutting out from the glassless windows.

Under her breath, she murmured, “What a mess this is. I can’t imagine how much money it will take to fix it.”

Cari stomped into the house and slammed the back door harder than she had intended. She grabbed a beer for Shane and went back outside. It gave her a couple of minutes to pull herself together. The guys walked toward Cari with Gifford at their heels.

Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for the bad news. “Any possibility we can get the tree off the house tonight? I hate the idea of being exposed to whatever little critters and wiggly things that might find their way inside.”

“Mom, I’m sorry. The best we can do is drape the tarp over the roof. I can have my crew here bright and early tomorrow. You should get pictures before the sun sets for the insurance company. Tomorrow morning, the guys will get the tree off the house and clean up the debris. Don and I will come back to get the logs cut up for firewood. It’s not safe to do anything more tonight.”

Frustrated, Cari shrugged her shoulders. Shane retrieved the extension ladder from his truck, setting it against a solid wall of the house. Ray handed up a side of the tarp and together they pulled it over the gaping hole. She watched as Shane stole a glance at her. She could guess what he was thinking. Patience wasn’t one of her virtues.

Ray couldn’t take his eyes off Cari. Despite the current situation, her beauty struck him. Shining emerald-green eyes were fringed with long dark lashes. Auburn streaks highlighted her ebony hair, which framed her delicate features. She could stop a man in his tracks, he thought.

Ray wanted to help and as a contractor he didn’t want her to be taken advantage of either. “Cari, I can give you the names of a few good contractors. The insurance company will request several estimates. If you’d like, I can give you a quote for repairs; it will give you something to compare with the other estimates. I’m happy to explain any terms you’re not familiar with. Just give me a shout.”

Ray’s gentle tone seemed to soothe her raw emotions, as he noticed her expression start to relax.

“I guess I don’t have a lot of choices at the moment. I’ll have to be patient until everything is cleaned up. Thank you for being so understanding. You’ve been so nice about all this. I really do appreciate your help.”

“I’m going to head home, Mom. Try not to worry about everything tonight. Tomorrow is another day.” Shane hugged his mom tight. “Get some rest.”

“Cari, if you’re all set, I’m going to take off, too. Unless you need something, and then I’m happy to hang around for a while longer.” Ray wasn’t in a rush to leave, but he didn’t have a good excuse to stay.

“No, I’m all set. Thanks again, Ray, for everything. You were a big help tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow at the shop? Breakfast is on me. After all, it’s the least I can do.” Cari gave him a lopsided smile.

“You don’t need to buy me breakfast, but thanks. I’d never miss out on your cooking,” he teased. “Good night, Cari.” With a jaunty wave, he went home. As he walked through the door, he could see Cari. Her shoulders were slumped as she walked into her house.

She found herself inexplicably drawn to what was left of the sunroom. Standing on the threshold, she peered into the gloomy darkness from the long shadows cast by the tree. Scanning, she could see her piano on the other side of the room. Unsure of its condition, she picked a path over the debris and, to her delight, discovered the old baby grand and her treasured family photos sitting atop it were in pristine condition. The cushions on her overstuffed chair and ottoman were littered with pine needles, but otherwise untouched. Ben had given her the set when Ellie, her youngest daughter, was born. She was amazed at the total destruction on one side while the other remained untouched.

The ivory keys called to her, willing her fingers to lovingly caress them from rich low bass tones to sweet high notes. She studied the photos on display. Frozen moments of a full and happy life: a wedding photo with Ben and one with their newborn twins, Kate and Shane. They were the spitting image of each other: graceful, slender, and tall with thick ebony hair, flecked with auburn and golden highlights. Kate had her green eyes while Shane had his father’s blue ones. She reached out to study a picture of the twins tucked into a chair, proudly cradling Ellie the day she came home from the hospital. She could still hear Kate tell her that baby Eleanor looked like a pixie, with wispy blond hair and crystal-blue eyes, long eyelashes, and deep dimples. She had begged Cari to rename her Pixie Dust. She and Ben had laughed it off, but the nickname stuck.

Cari set the picture down. She continued her journey down memory lane until her eyes came to rest on a framed photo. She, Ben, and the kids were grinning, despite the cold. They were gathered around a freshly cut Christmas tree. It turned out to be their last trip to the tree farm as a family. The smiling faces in the photo weren’t prepared for the heartache to come the following spring when five became four.

Cari dropped to the bench in front of the keys. Unaware of what she would play, her fingers found a melody. Raw emotions bubbled up from the depths of her soul. Slow and thick with emotion, music began to drift to the heavens.

Cari played music late into the night as a feeling of peace enveloped her. She glanced up through what used to be the roof. Pinpoints of light dotted the heavens. Hugging her arms tight around her against the chilly night air, she made a wish on the stars. Turning on the polished wooden bench, she took one last look around the room. Countless moments—wonderful, bittersweet, and heartbreaking—had all taken place within these walls. Cari knew it was time for changes that went beyond paint on the walls and new curtains. Rebuilding would be the first step in making a fresh start, but there would need to be significant change. Cari decided to speak with Ray tomorrow. She wondered what could be possible without changing the footprint of the house. Exhaustion invaded her weary bones. New ideas would have to wait until tomorrow. Without a backward glance, she left the room and crawled up the stairs. Sliding between the cool sheets, drained, she fell into a dreamless sleep.

* * *

Soft notes wafted over to Ray, sitting in the dark on his patio. The melody tugged at his heart. In his mind’s eye, he could see tears sliding unnoticed down Cari’s cheeks. There had been countless nights when she played for an unseen audience.

As Ray listened, tonight wasn’t any different. Cari poured her heart and soul into each note, her heartbreak floating on the summer night’s breeze. As the night wore on, she migrated to soft romantic jazz. From his own experience, she was working through pain that had nothing to do with wood and plaster. Every person had their own way of coping. Cari was releasing a part of her past that had been taken from her forever.

2

Cari awoke to the sound of chainsaws buzzing in the backyard. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a lavender T-shirt before wandering barefoot into the kitchen. She glanced out the back window but didn’t see Shane in the hubbub. With a cup of her secret blend of coffee in hand, she sat down to enjoy a few minutes of relative calm before heading down to her shop, What’s Perkin’. Kate would have muffins and scones baking, filling the shop with tantalizing aromas that made them irresistible to customers.

Cari smiled to herself, thinking about how life had changed over the last few years. Kate had become an unexpected asset to the business. Initially, she moved back to Loudon after college. She planned to save some money and move to Boston, but Donovan Price, now her husband, followed Kate to Loudon.

Kate had graduated top of her class from Johnson and Wales University with a degree in culinary arts, which allowed Cari to relinquish full control of the kitchen to her creative daughter. She was happy at What’s Perkin’ and currently developing an expansion plan. Kate had always been the quiet child, and at times after Ben died, it seemed she had been shortchanged. Shane grew up overnight and assumed his father’s role as man of the family. Ellie was so young that she needed extra attention from Cari. Kate had quietly gone about her young life, helping her mother when needed and retreating into books every other spare moment.

Cari drifted back to the last morning when she kissed Ben goodbye. It was like any other day except he never came home. The doctor assured Cari that he hadn’t suffered when the aneurysm struck him down. It was quick, and in all likelihood, he never knew what happened. But she and the kids felt the pain.

Cari had stumbled through the first few weeks in a haze. Thank heavens for the kids. They were her anchor and reason for getting out of bed in the morning. Throughout their marriage, Ben had been her rock and best friend. With Ben by her side, Cari felt she could conquer anything. After several months had passed, she started to feel that Ben was still with her. She began talking to him. Her parents, Dave and Susan, knew about the conversations and weren’t concerned. It helped Cari deal with her grief.

When the kids were small, Cari dreamed of opening a bakery. For years, Ben encouraged her to take the leap, and together they developed a solid business plan. Ben believed Loudon needed a place where locals and weekenders could get a good cup of coffee or tea and enjoy homemade baked goods. It would be the perfect business for Cari. But she had one excuse after another and didn’t make the time to open a shop until the bottom dropped out of her world. After the overwhelming grief began to subside, Cari had to show the kids that life would go on and together, they’d get through the tragedy.

Almost a year had passed before What’s Perkin’ opened. It had been a difficult decision, but Cari needed to have something to occupy her time while the children were at school. In the early days, people stopped in to lend their support, but after a while, the food became the focus, and most of the townies became regulars. Cari catered to the local community, running specials for the workweek and holidays. As the years flew by, the business thrived. The McKenna family held events to support the local soup kitchen and food pantry. It was important to Cari that she continued to repay the kindness her family was given during their darkest days.

Silence jarred Cari back to the present. Shane’s guys had finished. Glancing at the kitchen clock, she realized Kate had been single-handedly taking care of the shop for more than an hour and would need help. Cari grabbed her shoulder bag and hustled to the garage for the short two-mile drive to her home away from home.

* * *

The bell on the door rang, causing Kate to pause and look up, hoping this time it was her mother. Usually, her mom was the first one to arrive in the morning. Kate received a call from Shane the night before to update her and Don about the lightning strike. It was understandable that her mom was running late. Kate was worried about her mom’s state of mind. Nothing had changed at the house since her dad passed away years ago.

She was waiting behind the long wooden counter when the door opened. A smile slid over her face when she saw her mom. Relief flooded over her. She tossed her long dark braid over her shoulder.

“Hi, I was beginning to think I would be flying solo today. Thank goodness it’s been slow,” Kate teased.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Cari hastily pulled the door shut behind her to keep the cool air inside. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got distracted. Shane’s guys made short work of the cleanup. I’m sure the neighbors weren’t happy they started so early. But it’s done. Later today, Ray’s going to stop at the house and give me an estimate.”

Kate couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Mom, are you going to take a breath this morning or talk nonstop? How about I fix you something to eat? I am assuming you had coffee but skipped breakfast.”

“Hmm, an egg sandwich would be tasty with cheese and ketchup.” Suddenly ravenous, Cari’s mouth watered. Dinner never crossed her mind in the craziness of the previous evening.

Kate stepped into the well-designed spacious kitchen. The oversized center work area had easy access to essential equipment stored below, a commercial range, and baking ovens lining one end, with cooling racks standing next to them. A large walk-in refrigerator flanked the opposite wall beyond the center island, and sinks and the dishwashing area were to the left. A partial wall was open, down to counter height, separating the kitchen from the shop.

Baked items were cooling on the counter, ready for the display case. Her mom had taken the construction of the kitchen seriously and hired Ray to customize the workspace. The kitchen had taken months to complete, and it was worth the effort—the workflow was flawless.

While she waited, Cari tidied up the front counter. She was restocking the display cases with fresh muffins and biscuits and started a fresh pot of coffee as the door opened. She greeted Ray with a sunny smile.

“Hello there, neighbor! I hope the chainsaws didn’t bother you this morning. Shane’s guys got to my house pretty early.”

“Nope, I didn’t hear anything, and even if I had, I’m always up early.” He laughed. “I have to make hay while the sun shines. Before we know it, the days will grow short, and we’ll be indoors, trying to stay warm and dreaming of spring.”

Conversation between the old friends flowed effortlessly. Kate enjoyed watching the subtle flirtation between the two of them each morning.

She suspected for Ray, the high point of every day was stopping in to visit with her mom before he started his day. This morning, in her jeans and ponytail, she looked more like a teenager than the mother of three grown children.

“You look nice today.”

A flush rose in her cheeks. “Thank you. What would you like? Coffee and a freshly baked muffin? They’re straight from the oven.” Cari gestured to the plate in the front case.

“A blueberry muffin, please. No, make that two, they smell amazing. Can you throw a couple of extra pats of butter into the bag? And a large coffee with cream and sugar. That should hold me temporarily.”

Cari chuckled as she filled a bag. “Mr. Davis, you’re going to turn blue with as many as you’ve eaten this summer. You order the same thing every day. Maybe tomorrow you can try something else, like an apple turnover or a coffee cake muffin?” she teased.

Ray broke out in a belly laugh. “Well, it’s your fault. You have them every day, so how can I resist? They’re my favorite. But maybe I’ll change my order if Kate takes requests from humble carpenters. How about blueberry scones? I’m sure she’s made them before, but I’m happy to be the official taste tester.”

Kate softly laughed. Ray’s weakness wasn’t blueberry muffins.

“I’ll check with the chef and see what we can do about adding some variety to your routine. We’re always happy to take care of our loyal customers.”

“I’ll give you a call after I swing by your house and assess the damage. Then I should be able to give you a realistic estimate and a list of contractors for you to call for comparisons.”

Mom nodded. “Alright, I should be home about five. Why don’t you stop by? You can help me figure out what I need to do next.”

He started to agree, but before he could get a word in, she kept on talking.

“You’re a great carpenter and in high demand. I won’t pull you away from the new kitchen remodel you got over in Litchfield or any other jobs you have lined up, just to help me out.”

“Cari, we’re friends, and if I have time to help, then I will. I’ll be over later.” Ray was out the door before she could protest. He could be heard whistling as the door closed behind him.

Jamming her hands into the pockets of her apron, Cari wondered what had just happened. The hole in her house wasn’t his problem, but he was determined to help. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to anyone, especially Ray.

Cari’s thoughts drifted back to when she met Ben. One winter day, he was crossing the college campus and saw Cari from a distance. Her laughter reached him, and he had to meet her. It didn’t take long for the couple to fall in love. When their relationship evolved to marriage, it didn’t take much to convince Ben that Loudon was the best place to raise a family. He said he would follow her anywhere. Small-town life had been good to them. They had been deliriously happy for thirteen short years.

Leaning on the counter while absently staring out the door, Cari caught a glimpse of her best friend, Grace Bell. She was making a beeline for the bakery. Grace was tall and thin with bouncy blond curls and huge, soft-brown eyes. The two girls had met while working in a diner and instantly became best friends. Cari wondered how she would have gotten through the tough days without Grace and her husband, Charlie.

“Hey, Cari. Did I just see Ray leaving? He was looking pretty hot this morning. I think he’s here more than I am!” Grace snickered.

“He lives alone, and I don’t think he can cook to save his soul. You always said I made the best coffee, so it makes sense. Besides, just because you’re my oldest friend, that doesn’t give you the right to irritate me this morning!”

Grace grinned and chuckled. “GF, for a girl who is so tuned into the universe, sometimes you can be clueless.”

Before Cari got the chance to ask what Grace meant, several high school students came into the shop.

While Cari was occupied, Grace filled her travel mug at the self-service area, dropped a couple of bucks on the counter, and waved goodbye. Cari gave a quick wave, knowing Grace would be back later.

Kate had kept busy in the kitchen but could hear the conversations between her mother and the customers. She was pretty sure she knew what was going on with her mother and Ray. It was time she and Grace compared notes.

Kate thought about the recent conversation she had with Shane and Ellie. They all worried their mom spent too much time alone. Every night and weekend, she puttered around the house and garden. They wanted her to have a full life, just as she had encouraged them to have.

Shane and Kate lived within a few miles of their mom, but with enough distance to have independence. Ellie was on an accelerated pace with college. She was planning on early graduation and had been taking extra classes each semester. Technically, she lived at home but rarely spent much time there, using it as a pit stop for clean clothes and a quick meal. She crashed with friends at school to maximize her study time. When she had free time, Ellie helped out at the shop. She loved the bakery, but her passion was for art and photography. Kate was confident Ellie would figure out how to combine what she loved into a career. Maybe the tree falling on the house was the best thing that could have happened for all of them, she mused. It had certainly shaken things up with her mother and Ray. If things went the way Kate hoped, Ray and her mom would be spending a lot more time together.

Kate walked through the swinging doors. “Mom, ready to eat?” She grabbed two mugs of coffee and sat down at a small wooden bistro table. “It’s quiet for the moment, so you don’t need to inhale your breakfast. If we get any customers, I’ll take care of them. You relax and enjoy.”

Protesting, Cari said, “You have too much to do in the kitchen to take care of the front, too.”

“I have plenty of time before I need to start baking the next batch of…”

Cari interrupted her. “That reminds me, Kate. This morning, I was teasing Ray about his choice of breakfast foods. He put in a request for blueberry scones.”

“Sure, I’ll make scones and whip up something else with blueberries that will be tasty.” She casually asked, “Did I hear him say he’s going to the house later?”

“Yes, he’s going to check the structure. He’s also offered to help me find a good contractor. I had wanted some new shelves, so I’m thinking I can add them to the plans. I don’t think they will be much of an issue.” With a nonchalant shrug, she said, “There are certainly a few other issues at my house.”

Cari munched on her breakfast sandwich, noticing half of the plate was sliced fruit. “You think you’re pretty clever, slipping fruits and vegetables onto my plate whenever you can.” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You’re very thoughtful.” She took a big bite and chewed. “This is delicious.”

Kate loved What’s Perkin’ as much as her mom did. She was proud of the menu and how the business had flourished over the past fifteen years. During the last year, Kate added a small selection of specialty items, including a tiered cupcake display that tasted as good as it looked and had been used as a wedding cake. Cupcakes were becoming the most requested item, and Kate provided an abundance of unique combinations of cake flavors and fillings to match demand.

She found herself watching the buzz of activity on Main Street; one would stop short of calling it traffic. There were several tree companies and power trucks lumbering past, including McKenna trucks. Her brother and husband pulled up in front of the shop in Shane’s pickup. She figured they were stopping for a quick lunch before heading to the next job.