by Sophie Kaye
Tennis in Heels
Bellfrey Romance, Volume 2
Sophie Kaye
Published by Sophie Kaye, 2020.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
TENNIS IN HEELS
First edition. January 19, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Sophie Kaye.
Written by Sophie Kaye.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
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Chapter One
“Jenna, I need another burger and fries. No mayo.” Jessica checked her notes and took a stack of napkins from under the counter.
Jenna's head popped out from the kitchen. “You'd think they'd go for the fried chicken and mash with gravy.”
“I don't make the orders,” Jessica said and arranged the napkins into the dispensers. “I just relay the information.”
“I'm just saying, I make the fried chicken maybe twice a month, and they always say I should make it more often.” Jenna gestured with a pair of thongs into the dining room. “And people love my gravy. Why would they want burgers when they can have a proper meal?”
Jessica turned to the disgruntled chef. “It's all delicious, but this guy wanted a burger and fries, no mayo.”
“Fine.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “I'll try to extend my culinary skills to making a burger and fries.”
“Jenna.” Jessica locked eyes with her boss. “You make an excellent burger. One of the best I've ever had.”
Jenna huffed. “I know I do.”
Jessica shook her head and smiled. The bell on the door jingled.
“Good day, my dear.” Herb Peterson took off his hat and greeted her before sauntering over to a table.
Jessica grabbed the coffeepot and a mug and hurried over. “Coffee?”
“Please. And what do you recommend today?” He didn't bother opening the menu.
“Chicken and mash.”
Herb had come in every Saturday for lunch for as long as Jessica had worked there. He was a widower since many years and also met up with a group of elderly retired men every morning for coffee. He was also on the Valentine's committee with Jessica and a few other citizens of Bellfrey.
“Does it come with gravy?” He looked up at her.
Jessica lowered the coffee pot. “Do you really think I'd recommend a lunch for you that didn't come with gravy?” She winked at him.
He laughed so his belly shook. “I guess you know me by now.”
“I should hope so.” Jessica hurried behind the counter to put the order in, with extra gravy.
She picked up the burger and brought it over to the table as the door jingled again.
“Hailey. You look awful.” Jessica stopped.
“Thanks.” Hailey pulled at the scarf in front of her mouth. “We're sick.”
“Oh no, Sage too?”
“Yup. But I guess it's par for the course. She started the new daycare a couple of weeks ago.” Hailey came over to the counter. “I don't think I'm contagious anymore.”
“Coffee? Or do you want tea?”
“Tea, please.” Hailey sniveled. “With honey. I came to see if Jenna could make us some chicken soup.”
“Jenna?” Jessica leaned towards the kitchen.
“Chicken soup, I'm on it.” She popped a plate down on the counter between the kitchen and the diner. “Here's the fried chicken.”
Jessica poured a cup of warm water for Hailey and set out the tea selection and the honey before she brought Herb his chicken.
“Has Sam been looking after you?” Jessica returned behind the counter in time to catch Hailey's smile.
“He has, but he's got a job in Langford today.”
“On a Saturday?”
Hailey shrugged. “They pay extra, I think it was an office building that needed some renovations and they wanted it done over the weekend. I had to convince him to take it.”
“It must be nice.” Jessica grabbed a rag and started wiping down the counter.
“Which?” Hailey blew on her tea and took a sip.
“Having someone willing to give up a job to take care of you.” Jessica stopped wiping for a second.
“It is. Strange, though. Sage and I were alone for so long and now I have Aunt Myra and Sam, and all of Bellfrey, looking after us.” Hailey put a hand on Jessica's. “I'm sure you'll find someone too if that's what you want.”
“Me?” Jessica laughed. “No, I'm not ready for anything serious. I need some adventure first.”
Jessica bit her lip while Hailey took a sip of tea.
“Besides,” Jessica said. “I barely have time to take care of my plant. I'm in no way ready for anything serious.”
The bell on the door jingled and a young man and his mother came in.
“Are you helping out with the Valentine's Festival?” Hailey coughed into her elbow.
“I am. It's going to be amazing this year.” Jessica took the coffeepot and two mugs.
“Hi Tommy, Irene. Coffee?” She put the mugs in front of them.
“Jessica. Yes, coffee would be nice.” Irene turned her face towards Jessica and folded up her white cane.
“Would you like some fried chicken and mash?” Jessica asked.
“Sounds great.” Irene smiled and felt around for the cup. “Tommy?”
“Yeah, sure.” He took a packet of sweetener and emptied it into his cup. “Is there gravy?”
“Of course.” Jessica returned to the counter and put in the order to Jenna.
She turned back to Hailey. “We're going to turn the gazebo into a photo booth, so couples can get their picture taken. Families and friends, too, of course. And we have a chocolatier coming in from Thurmont.”
“Sounds great.” Hailey swayed a bit in her seat.
“You look tired.” Jessica poked her head into the kitchen. “How's the soup coming?” Jenna slammed down two plates of chicken and mash on the counter. “It's getting there. Soup takes the time it takes.”
Jessica rolled her eyes at Hailey and took the plates over to Tommy and Irene.
“I just found out that Michael, Sam's brother, goes to your country club,” Hailey said and held the mug.
“It's not my country club,” Jessica made a face. “But they have nice saunas.”
“Well, I think he's going to learn tennis, not for the sauna.”
“Oh, nice.” Jessica leaned against the counter. “The new instructor is quite good.”
“Isn't it a bit snowy to play tennis?” Hailey said.
“They have heated courts.”
Hailey stared at her.
Jessica shrugged. “The rich like their tennis. They have these inflatable dome things that they put up for the winter.”
Hailey raised her eyebrows.
Jessica shrugged again. “I'll keep an eye out for Sam's brother.”
“Mmm. I don't think he's your
type though.”
“I wasn't suggesting I'd date him. But if he is Sam's brother, I should at least say hello if I see him.”
“I'm surprised you don't know him already, he works at the bank... Scratch that, I'm not surprised. You two are night and day. You being the wild night and he the rainy day indoors.”
Jessica laughed. “Well, I do most of my banking online. Banks are about the most boring places in the world.”
“Didn't you get a bachelor's in finance?”
“Yup, that's how I know.” Jessica smiled.
“Soup's ready.” Jenna placed a container on the counter.
“Thank you, Jenna,” Jessica said and handed the container to Hailey. “I hope you guys feel better soon.”
“Thanks.” Hailey waited for her to ring up the purchase.
“Oh, before I forget,” Jessica said. “Do you think you could make some heart-shaped cookies or something? For the Valentine's Festival. Considering you are the town baker.”
“I thought you'd never ask.” Hailey smiled and put her mittens on.
“Great.” Jessica put the soup container in a bag. “I'll check with the committee and get back to you with details.”
“That's fine.” Hailey took her soup. “It's still more than a month away.”
“Feel better.” Jessica took the coffeepot to make the rounds.
“If you're looking for a date, my nephew is coming into town soon,” Herb said as she refilled his coffee.
Jessica smiled and shook her head. “Thank you, but I'm not. I'm quite happy being single at the moment.”
“Still, you're not getting any younger.” Herb waved a fork at her.
“Excuse me?” Jessica put her free hand to her chest. “You wound me deeply with your comments, Herb.”
Herb wasn't faced by her theatrics. “You could at least meet him. He's a nice kid.”
“Thank you, Herb. I'm sure I'll see him around when he comes, but I don't want to be set up.”
Herb waved his fork again. “That's what I like about you. You know what you want and you're not afraid to tell people.”
“Great. Then stop pushing your nephew at me.” She smiled and sat down opposite him.
“I'm just not sure you know what you need.” Herb thoughtfully moved his food around with his fork.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Jessica tilted her head. “You think I need a man?”
Herb shrugged. “Or maybe a dog. I sometimes get the sense you're lonely.”
Jessica smiled and patted his hand. “How could I be lonely when I'm surrounded by a diner full of friends?”
“I'm not talking about friends. I'm talking about that special someone.” Herb put a forkful of chicken and mash in his mouth.
Jessica thought back to last night. She had met up with friends in Langford and gone out to dinner and then to a club, stayed out long enough that she crashed into bed when she got home. But there had still been that split second before she fell asleep when her bed felt too big.
“Maybe I should get a dog.” She stared off into the distance. “No.” She squinted at nothing. “I don't spend enough time at home to have a dog.”
“If you had a dog, maybe you would.”
“I'll think about it.” She smiled at Herb and got up.
“Jessica.” Jenna leaned out into the diner. “Your phone is ringing.”
“You got this?” Jessica asked Jenna.
“Yeah, your shift is almost up, anyway.” Jenna glanced at the clock on the wall.
Jessica hurried over to her locker next to the kitchen. She managed to find her phone before it stopped ringing.
“Mother,” she said in a serious voice.
“Don't mother me,” Priscilla said. “I'm just checking to see if we're still on for lunch.”
“Yes, Mom. Is Dad coming?” Jessica tried to untie her apron with one hand.
“No. He wanted to sort his stamp collection.”
Jessica could practically hear her mom roll her eyes.
“Again?”
“I think that was just an excuse to not come to the club. I don't know how many times you can sort stamps before you're just moving them around at random. He did want me to invite you to dinner tomorrow though.”
“Sure. At the house?” The apron came off and Jessica shook it out.
“Yes. So far he hasn't rebelled against that at least.” Her smile shone even through the phone.
Jessica's dad was a man who didn't require much. He would happily have lived in a small apartment barely making ends meet. But he had fallen for the heiress to a fortune and found himself living in a mansion and lunching at the country club. Not that he minded, but he thought it was unnecessary.
“I'm just finishing up work now. I'll be at the club in about an hour or so.”
“Wonderful. I'll see you there.”
Jessica hung up the phone and studied the apron. She sighed. She never seemed to go a single shift without getting an apron dirty. She tossed it in the laundry basket for Jenna to take care of and changed her shoes.
After a quick look in the mirror, she decided it was good enough. Her black slacks and flowy pink top were thankfully free from any spills. She pulled her hands through her long, blonde hair that always seemed to fall straight over her shoulders, no matter what she did with it.
“I'm off,” she told Jenna as she made her way through the diner.
“You'll be in on Monday?”
“Yup. See you then.” She raised a hand.
“See you then,” Herb said and winked.
Jessica smiled. The diner was almost like a home to her.
Chapter Two
The country club was a gray, two-story house with several gables. Jessica drove up in her little car, another gift, this one from her father. He insisted it was necessary for his peace of mind to know that she was safe when she was driving. After her old car had stalled and left her stranded for four hours in the middle of the night when she was headed home from a night out in Langford, she had seen the wisdom in accepting the gift.
She stopped the car under the extended roof that stretched over the driveway and got out. A man in his early thirties showed up in his green coat, marking him as a valet.
“Good afternoon, Joshua. How's your daughter?” Jessica smiled at him and took the ticket. She came here often enough that she knew some of the staff and most of the regulars. Her mother enjoyed relaxing at the club after a long week at work, and Jessica didn't mind the free massages and sauna.
“She's much better.” Joshua smiled at her. “She keeps showing everyone the scar.”
“I'm just glad it wasn't anything more serious. Or that the appendix burst.” Jessica walked backward towards the big glass doors. “You should count yourself lucky.”
“Believe me, I do,” Joshua said and got into the car.
“Take care.” Jessica waved and entered the club.
She had been coming to the club since she was little. Or at least since she was old enough to be deemed civilized enough for the club. Without hesitation, she made her way to the dining room. Years of practice had thought her to skirt around the more talkative members of the club. Soon she looked out over the tables with their white tablecloths and vases of flowers, looking for her mother.
“There you are,” her mom said as she sat down. “I noticed Mrs. Downson was out there so I was prepared to send out a rescue party.”
“I spotted her in time and managed to avoid her.” Jessica picked up the menu. “Did you order?”
“Without you?” Priscilla looked taken aback. “You know I wouldn't do that.”
A waiter showed up at their table. “Are we ready to order?”
“Mom, do you want to split the appetizer tray?” Jessica asked.
“Sure, and I'll have the goat's cheese salad.” Priscilla folded up her menu and gave it to the waiter.
“And I'll have the grilled salmon.” Jessica handed over her menu.
“Would you like wine with th
at?” Jessica didn't remember seeing the waiter before and tried to scan his nametag. He turned towards her mother before she had time to read it.
“Water is fine,” Priscilla said.
“So, Mother. What's up with you?” Jessica picked at the napkin by her place setting.
“Well. Grant died.”
“What? Oh, Mom. I'm so sorry.” Jessica reached out a hand, but her mother waved her away.
Grant had been her mother's business partner for more years than Jessica could remember. He had occasionally been to parties at their house and she had heard her mother argue with him over the phone on more than a few occasions.
“It was expected. The cancer had spread. But it was still a chock, you know.” Priscilla looked at her daughter.
Jessica nodded. “Of course.” The waiter came over with a bottle of water.
“It's one of those things you think is going to happen in the future. You're not actually prepared for it to happen.” Priscilla stared at her glass as it got filled.
Jessica waited for the waiter to fill her glass.
“Do you need anything?” she asked and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.
Priscilla shook her head. “I'm working out the details with Cory. He's been more prepared than I for this.”
“Is Cory taking over his dad's business?”
“Some of it at least. We might need to cut some things and...” Priscilla waved her hand. “Downsize. I know it's silly, but I never thought Grant would die. I just assumed everything would carry on as usual.”
“I'm sure Cory will help as much as he can. And if you need anything, just let me know.” Jessica studied her mother's face to see how well she was handling it. Priscilla had worked in a though business for more years than Jessica had been alive, and one of the things she had mastered was putting on the appearance of a thick skin.
“You're busy with your own life, darling,” Priscilla said and gave a weak smile.
“Yes, but I can always make time for you. How's Dad taking it?”
“It's rough, they were friendly, never really friends, but you know.”
“Priscilla, dear.” They turned towards the woman who entered the dining room.