Finally, a Family--A Clean Romance

by Callie Endicott

  A force of nature.

  That was what Jessica had called Penny. Apparently Penny’s granddaughter was a force to be reckoned with, as well.

  The newspaper articles had mentioned a pledge for a grant that would match all money raised in a two-year cycle, up to a maximum amount. The town was providing meeting space and any other facilities needed for the committee’s efforts. They’d considered renovating an existing building, but land had been donated recently in a great location. Perhaps Jessica’s success was partly due to Penny and Eric’s long ties with Regen Valley and her extended childhood visits, but it was still impressive.

  Logan had also learned Cyndi had asthma. In an interview, Jessica had mentioned it was one of the reasons a clinic was so important to her. Being a single mom of a daughter with health problems couldn’t be easy.

  As he came up the walkway of the community center, Jessica was coming out.

  “Hi, Logan. It’s the first door on the right. Back in a minute, I’ve got another load in the car.”

  “I’ll help.” He followed her to a small compact in the parking lot. Without making a fuss out of it, she handed him a box and took another.

  “I’ve been reading about the Flash Committee,” he said as they returned. “Your financial plan is intriguing.”

  “Thanks. We’ve got a long way to go.”

  Several members of the committee were already waiting in the meeting room.

  “Hi, all,” Jessica said. “This is Logan Kensington. He’s buying the Satterly House and wants to work with us on the clinic.”

  Warm smiles greeted him, along with handshakes and friendly cries of “Welcome to Regen Valley” and “I’ve always liked that place.”

  “My name’s Perry Eastwood,” one man introduced himself. “I’m one of the organizers of the pancake breakfast on Saturday. We’ve sold over three hundred tickets and expect more. It’s a drop in the bucket, but we won’t let that stop us.”

  “Right,” Jessica affirmed. “Enough drops and we’ll get there.”

  “I’d be happy to help with the breakfast,” Logan offered awkwardly. “Do you need any unskilled labor?”

  “I could use another volunteer in the kitchen,” Perry said. “It’s at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Vancouver Street. We start serving at 7:00 a.m. Can you be there by six?”

  “No problem.”

  Logan had planned to start packing for the move, but it would have to wait.

  Jessica called the meeting to order and went through the agenda. Status reports were given and decisions made, but she kept everyone on track. As promised, they ended within the hour, with Jessica handing out stacks of brochures and fliers.

  Logan couldn’t add much to the discussion, though he offered to check if any of the agency’s clients would donate time at the upcoming street fair. “Most aren’t huge stars, but their presence might draw a few extra visitors,” he explained.

  He lingered to speak with Jessica and walked with her to the parking lot.

  “You have a great group of folks,” he said. “And they didn’t seem to mind having me suddenly added to the ranks.”

  If anything, Logan had expected a hint of wariness about a newcomer horning in on their business, but the welcome had seemed genuine.

  “Why should they mind?” Jessica asked. “They’re terrific. No monster egos to be stroked or control freaks, and when somebody says they’ll do something, you can count on them.”

  She was a natural leader and motivator, and totally committed to the project.

  “Your talent seems wasted on a small shop like the Crystal Connection,” Logan said without thinking.

  Her eyes turned stormy. “You may have intended that as a compliment, but when will you figure out that I consider the store worthwhile? Honestly, I think you’d be happiest if I just closed the shop and disappeared.”

  Shocked, Logan stared at her. As inconvenient as Jessica and her store might be, he’d hate it if she wasn’t there. It was a feeling he didn’t want to examine too closely.

  “That isn’t true,” he said quietly. “In fact, the store is why I wanted to talk. I’ve told my friends about your idea and we’re all interested in seeing if it’s feasible. But before a decision can be made, I have to do research on renovation costs.”

  The glow from the lowering sun slanted across Jessica’s face and turned her eyes an even more intense blue. She almost looked enchanted.

  Would one kiss spoil everything?

  There was only one way to find out. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

  * * *

  JESSICA’S BREATHING STOPPED and she wondered if her heart had stopped along with it.

  She couldn’t remember the last time a man had kissed her that way and she wanted the soft caress to go on forever.

  Distantly she heard an odd sound then realized it was Logan’s stomach growling.

  Stepping backward, she managed to smile at him. “Never mind kissing me, I think you’d better have dinner.”

  He looked chagrined. “I ordered a sandwich for lunch, but I was too busy to eat. Are there good restaurants in Regen Valley?”

  “Several, but I especially like the Hong Kong over on Main Street.”

  “Would you join me?”

  “Sorry, it’s a school night. I have just enough time to get home, check Cyndi’s homework and tuck her into bed.”

  With a casual wave, Jessica got in her car, but a few blocks down the street, she pulled over to wait while her trembling subsided. She wasn’t sixteen any longer; an innocent kiss shouldn’t affect her so much.

  Logan had just been curious. That was all. Well, she’d been curious, too. It was perfectly reasonable. They were unattached adults and didn’t have to be coy.

  A knock on the car window made her jump—it was Logan. Darn it. Why had he followed her?

  She rolled down her window. “How can you be lost? GPS works all over Regen Valley.”

  “I wasn’t using it. When I saw you’d pulled over, I was concerned you had a flat or something.”

  “Nope. Just working out a problem in my head.” It was true—Logan Kensington was a big problem. “You aren’t too far from the restaurant. Turn around, go three blocks, and then left. That will put you on Main Street in the downtown district. It’s also where we’re going to have the Flash Fair. The streets will be closed a block each direction from the city square.”

  “The town supports stuff like that?”

  “Sure. They close downtown for all sorts of things, like the chili cook-off in July and the Christmas Gala in December. Only big-city types complain about having to take detours. No one else cares.”

  His forehead creased. “Come to think of it, cities close streets for parades and other special events.”

  “True.” Jessica grinned. “When they close streets in DC, you can end up miles from where you want to be.”

  “Regen Valley isn’t big enough for that to happen.”

  Her fingers tightened on her steering wheel. She wanted to get home, slip into a warm bath and forget she’d invited Logan to join her committee.

  “It’s big enough for us,” she murmured.

  But obviously not big enough to avoid someone you don’t want to see.

  She checked her watch. “I really have to get going now. You should, too. The Hong Kong closes at 9:00 p.m. during the week. Have a good rest of your evening.”

  “Sure, you, too.”

  He stepped away and she continued down the street. A glance in the rearview mirror showed he was still standing where she’d left him, but she refused to speculate why.

  Back at the house she tried to act as if this had been a normal meeting...instead of one that had ended with a kiss from a man who was utterly impossible. Casual was the key. She didn’t want her grandmother to get the idea anything unu
sual had happened.

  “Hey, Grams,” she said as she walked inside. “I appreciate you watching Cyndi.”

  “I love spending time with her. How did the evening go?”

  “Fantastic. We’ve sold over three hundred tickets for the pancake breakfast. With drop-ins, the number could go to over four hundred. A Christmas event is also in the works and every store in town has a donation jar by the cash register.”

  “Was Logan there tonight?”

  “Yup, and he might be able to get some clients to be involved with the Flash Fair. If so, Moonlight Ventures will put a notice on their website about it. That way their clients will get some advertising, and so will we. Isn’t that great?”

  “Marvelous.” Grams bit her lip. “Cyndi had an asthma attack while you were gone and had to use her inhaler. She’s all right, but I put her to bed early.”

  Jessica hurried to her daughter’s bedroom. The small figure under the blanket seemed so slight. It wasn’t right for a kid to have to struggle just to breathe.

  Cyndi stirred and yawned. “Hi, Momma. Did you know Teddy Roosevelt had asthma and still did amazing things like exploring rivers and being a cowboy? That’s what Grandma says.”

  “He was also president of the United States.”

  “And then he went on a safari.” Cyndi stuck her tongue out in little-girl fashion. “I want to do that, but I wouldn’t shoot any animals, ’cept with a camera. When I grow up I’m gonna have a camera like Logan’s, with the big lens thingy, so I can take pictures far away.”

  “That will be nice. But right now, you’d better get some sleep.”

  “Okay. G’night, Momma.”

  Jessica kissed her daughter’s cheek and tucked the fluffy blue bedspread around her. “Sleep tight. Don’t let bad dreams bite.” She’d substituted bad dreams for bedbugs in the old saying after Cyndi had learned what bedbugs were. “Do you want the light on or off?”

  “On, please.”

  Cyndi usually didn’t want her night-light on anymore, unless she’d had an attack. So Jessica turned off the table lamp and switched on the small, glowing orb she’d found for Cyndi’s room.

  This was reality, and except for her daughter’s asthma, a great reality. She didn’t need kisses or romantic fantasies to make her life complete.

  * * *

  LOGAN ATE A tasty meal at the Hong Kong. He was surprised to discover such an excellent restaurant in a small town, but that was just his big-city bias showing. He’d have to ask Jessica what other places she could recommend.

  Jessica...

  His last bite of Mandarin beef seemed to lose its flavor.

  He’d frequently thought about kissing her, but had never expected to put that particular thought into action. Though visibly startled, Jessica had handled it well, making light of the moment. Curiosity seemed the best explanation for his behavior, but was it the right one?

  Logan pushed his plate away.

  The last thing he’d expected when moving to Seattle was to meet someone who unsettled him this way. Jessica was right, his camera had become a shield against getting too involved.

  The server had delivered his check, along with a fortune cookie, so he broke the cookie open and read the slip of paper inside.

  You are energetic and hardworking.

  No help there.

  Logan paid the bill and left. His dilemma about Jessica wouldn’t be resolved by fortune cookies. But he sure wasn’t going to ask for advice from Adam and his other friends, either. They’d just suggest he was falling in love.

  * * *

  ON FRIDAY MORNING Penny hummed as she drove to the bakery-café where Kevin had suggested they meet for coffee. They sat in the small patio area that looked into a garden and chatted about world events. Being with him was so comfortable and normal she sometimes didn’t remember that everything in their lives had changed.

  “Are you really okay if Logan and his partners move the agency?” she asked finally.

  Kevin smiled. “Moonlight Ventures is about people, not the location. If this works better for the agency and for Jessica, I’m all for it.”

  “They may not be willing because of the cost, but I’m so proud of her. She’ll do anything to protect other people but rarely stands up for herself. I know she was concerned the idea would upset you.”

  Penny wondered if it was fair to turn Kevin into a confidant, despite their friendship. Of course, he had a longtime investment in the agency and regarded his old clients and renters as family.

  He patted her hand. “I’m thrilled Jess came up with an alternative. Truth be told, I flew home because I was determined to fix everything, but all I can do is sit on the sidelines.”

  Penny nudged an unopened sugar packet around the table. She was still worried about Kevin, and hearing him talk about being on the sidelines wasn’t reassuring.

  “I forgot to tell you that Jessica also recruited Logan for the clinic fund-raiser,” she said slowly.

  Kevin’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

  “I’m serious. He’s buying the Satterly House—the one he got the real estate flier for on Saturday—so he must realize how important the project is to the town.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Yes, it is. And I’ve been thinking, why don’t you join the committee, too? You don’t have to live in Regen Valley to do something for the community.”

  Kevin shook his head. “I’m too old. They need young, energetic people.”

  Penny’s worry deepened. “Don’t be silly. One of Jessica’s members is eighty-six and she works her tail off. Don’t tell me you can’t keep up with an eighty-six-year-old woman.”

  Another smile tugged at Kevin’s mouth. “Maybe Jess doesn’t want more help.”

  “Something this big always needs willing hands. They’re having a pancake breakfast tomorrow and a street fair in a couple of weeks, plus half a dozen other projects in the works. I’m serious, Kevin. You have so much to offer them.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Penny had to be satisfied with that...for the moment. Allison was no longer here to poke and prod, so it was up to her to keep him from giving up on life.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  LOGAN DROVE OUT to Regen Valley as the sun was rising, astonished that he’d volunteered to help with the pancake breakfast. They were going to be disappointed. He didn’t cook and his social interaction skills were questionable without a camera in hand.

  Maybe he could wash dishes.

  “Welcome.” Perry said and slapped a name tag on Logan’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to wear one of these at first, but Jessica said we shouldn’t assume everyone knows us. Darned if she wasn’t right. I was mayor three different times and still meet strangers who don’t recognize me.”

  “Not strangers, Perry,” a woman said as she bustled past. “Just friends we don’t know yet.”

  “Yes, dear.” Perry grinned, then leaned closer. “My wife. Wonderful woman, just can’t resist giving me her opinion.”

  “I heard that,” his wife called over her shoulder.

  Perry chuckled.

  Logan was grateful for the name tags. Though he’d met the committee a few days earlier, the names and faces were a blur. He followed Perry toward the kitchen and saw Cyndi in the central room, studiously laying paper place mats on tables. She waved.

  “Good morning,” Jessica said, coming in while they were donning chef’s aprons. “All set?”

  Logan doubted she wanted the truth. “Your customers won’t all come at once, will they?”

  “We’re serving until noon, so they should be spread out. Say, I understand you already have the keys to your new house. That was fast work.”

  He blinked. “How do you know?”

  “News gets around. Remember, I mentioned your neighbors would take a friendly inter
est in your life. You can’t claim you weren’t warned.” She hurried away before he could think of a suitable comeback.

  “Logan, your workstation is right over here,” Perry said. “I’m assigning you to the pancake griddle.”

  “Uh...didn’t I mention you were getting unskilled labor? I’m not much of a cook.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Perry insisted. “Once things get busy we’ll have at least three pancake flippers, so you can ask questions if needed. Let me show you what to do.”

  As it turned out, pouring batter and flipping pancakes didn’t require skill. It was repetitive and gave Logan time to consider his plans for the next week and see if there was anything he’d overlooked.

  He’d arranged for a local cleaning service to come Monday. According to Carol Foley, the service was popular with people dealing with asthma because they didn’t use strong chemicals or scented products. It had been a selling point for Logan, though he didn’t want to examine his reasons too closely...after all, Jessica’s daughter had asthma.

  He pushed the thought away.

  The cleaning company had agreed to admit the installer for phone, cable and internet service. And with the majority of his belongings still in storage, he’d arranged for the moving company to deliver everything Tuesday afternoon. His personal belongings in the furnished studio weren’t a problem—two trips in the SUV should take care of the lot.

  Of course, he still needed to tell the manager that he wasn’t renewing his lease. He was tempted to keep the studio in case living in Regen Valley didn’t work out, but that didn’t make sense. Besides, he could imagine what Jessica might say if she thought he was keeping one foot in the city as a contingency plan.

  Jessica again.

  Logan abandoned his mental list.

  The cheerful, organized chaos in the kitchen was pleasant and he gradually became acquainted with the couple—Shirley and Jim Weston—who were also making pancakes. It helped that there was less time for casual conversation, which was never his strong point.

  Perry offered to relieve them with another crew at 10:00, but Logan declined, as did the Westons.