by Tessa Gray
Making her way outside, she gave the sign a once-over, viewing it critically. She hadn’t told anyone her plans. And if someone didn’t express an interest in buying her out, she’d need to put off her plans for another year.
Several minutes later, a dark-haired woman dressed in pale blue capris and a yellow sleeveless blouse walked in.
Sauntering over to the woman, she greeted her. “Hi, honey. What can I do for you?”
“I just noticed the For Sale sign in the window.” The woman looked familiar, mainly because her eyes were the most intense shade of green Izzy had ever seen. You didn’t run into someone with beautiful eyes like this every day.
Then she remembered. This was Jake Crenshaw’s girl. Izzy had known Jake since he was just a boy. He’d been a scrappy little thing, always getting into a peck of trouble. Of course he’d settled down considerably, being a bar owner and all.
“You’re Jake’s girl, aren’t you? Too bad about the accident. How’s he doing?”
The woman twirled her ponytail about and dipped her head. “I’m Rachel Martin. Jake and I used to date, but we’re just friends now.” After she said it, she blushed.
“Izzy Monroe.”
“Pleased to meet you, Izzy.”
Izzy sauntered over to the coffee pot and held up a mug. “Can I pour you a coffee, hun?”
“I’d love that.” As Izzy poured the coffee, the woman looked about the shop and stared at several shelves laden with items.
“It’s kind of a hot mess, ain’t it? As you can see by the sign in the window, I’m planning to sell off the place.”
Rachel Martin took the coffee from her and took a long sip. She looked back up and smiled. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I’ve decided to start my own business. I’m taking cooking classes at the college. It’s a lifelong dream I’ve had to own my own shop. I-I know I could never afford a place like this right now, but I’m wondering if you’d consider leasing the place to me. Just until I can make a go of things.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and Izzy thought back to the enthusiasm she’d had when first starting her own business. She’d have given anything to have so much energy and such a bright outlook on life.
Still, she had no intention of leasing her place. That would involve a certain amount of oversight, of making sure the shop was well run. She wanted to sell it outright and completely wash her hands of it. She and Bernie were moving to Florida, and they needed every bit of cash they could come up with. While Rachel Martin seemed sweet enough, business was business.
“You seem like a sweet soul, hun, but I’m really looking for a buyer.”
“Has anyone expressed interest?”
The woman’s eyes bore through her, and for an instant, Izzy was almost relieved no one else had asked about it.
“Not yet, but I just put up the sign.”
“I’ll be leaving for Dallas in a few days, but I’ll be returning next week. If anyone expresses any interest in the place, would you call me? Here’s my card.”
The woman handed her a pale lavender business card with a picture of a pie and plate of cookies on it. Izzy held the card closer, attempting to make out the italicized writing: Rachel Martin—Proud Owner of Last Dance Café.
“You’ve got a card and everything.”
“I know I’m jumping the gun here, but I always thought if I owned my own place, I’d call it that.”
“Sounds like there’s a story behind this.”
“It’s based on a memory I have of my grandparents dancing together when I was a kid. Back then, my grandfather was a strong, very powerful man. But he got diabetes and ended up losing a leg. He was never the same after that. He died when I was in high school.”
“Oh, hun . . .”
“But I prefer to remember him when he was strong.” Rachel’s voice held a certain reverence to it as she spoke of her grandfather. Something Izzy greatly admired in a young woman.
Amazing that the man’s granddaughter continued putting him on a pedestal after all this time. Oh, to be that lucky—to have your grandchildren continue revering you, long after you passed.
She liked this plucky woman, very, very much.
“It does my heart good that if you end up with this place, that’s what you’ll call it. I’m sure your grandfather would be proud of you.”
“I think he probably would be.” As the woman glanced about the bakery, Izzy had a good feeling about this. Finding just the right owner for her business hadn’t really been a priority-up until now. She liked this lady and wanted to know more about her.
“You say you’ll be heading to Dallas in a few days?”
“Yes.”
“If you have time, could you bake a couple of pastries before you leave? You could drop them off here before you head out of town. I’d be happy to try and sell your items to my customers. It would actually be a very good plug for your . . . Last Dance Café. And leave some business cards. They’re very impressive.”
Rachel broke into an enormous grin, and Izzy suspected she’d made the woman’s day.
“Absolutely. I’ll drop off a couple of pies the day after tomorrow. Apple pie is my specialty. I’ll also bake some lemon bars. That’s always a favorite. What time do you open?”
“Nine, honey. I open at nine.”
“You’re a sweet soul, Izzy. I so appreciate the opportunity to allow people to sample my cooking. Bless you.” Rachel reached over and gave her a hug.
Izzy hugged her back, moved by this stranger’s kind ways. If she had a daughter, she would have asked for one just like this sweet soul.
“I probably better get moving. I work the supper shift at the diner.”
Izzy smiled, trying to think of the last time she’d heard the evening meal referred to as ‘supper.’
“I’ll see you the day after tomorrow then.”
“Absolutely.” Rachel started heading toward the door but quickly turned back. Racing over to Izzy, she gave her another hug.
Before Izzy could say anything, the woman left.
~ ~ ~
Rachel drove to the diner, unable to stop thinking about the bakery. She’d always been intrigued by it, having stopped there numerous times. But now that she was considering buying the place, she viewed things from a totally different perspective.
As she thought back to how the bakery had looked—the faded oak cupboards, black and white tile floor, and yellow walls—she realized Izzy’s place would need a serious makeover. For some, that idea would prove overwhelming. For her, it provided an adrenaline rush.
Her mind raced as she considered how she’d redecorate. For starters, she’d put primer on the cupboards and paint them white. She loved that bright, clean look that more modern shops opted for. The white cupboards would blend perfectly with the black and white tile. Of course, she’d need to repaint the walls. Gray perhaps. Yes, gray would blend in perfectly with her color scheme.
She scolded herself for having already remodeled the new café—the one she imagined in her head—but she couldn’t help herself. It was important to have something to look forward to.
Her thoughts turned to Jake. She wondered what he’d think of all this. Although she continued working at his bar, the two rarely saw each other.
They had crossed paths a few days ago. She’d seen him on the college campus where a plethora of young people surrounded him as they all sat around a table. He appeared to be helping them with spreadsheets of some type. It had surprised her that as busy as he was, he still managed to find time to help those who needed him. But then, that was Jake.
But her mood soured when she thought of the woman named Kathryn who had phoned Jake on the evening of his PTSD incident. While she had absolutely no right to be jealous, the plain and simple fact was, she couldn’t help herself.
; Moving on without Jake was more difficult than she’d anticipated. She relied on him a good deal, more than she’d realized. And the fact was, she never gave him the credit he deserved. But it was too late, and the more she thought about how he was turning his life around, the more convinced she was that she needed to let this go and move on.
Jake had found someone else. She had no choice but to be happy for him and support him in any way she could. Someday she would meet Kathryn. And she would embrace her with open arms. Because given all Jake had done for her, he deserved her undying support.
~ ~ ~
Late that afternoon, Jake strode into the diner with Caden and Parker. He’d wanted to take them to a fast food restaurant after Caden’s baseball game, but the ten-year-old had insisted they go to Penny’s Diner. And since he was the one hitting a winning home run for his baseball team, he fully deserved to eat wherever he wanted.
They’d just gotten their food when Rachel strode in. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, just as it always was during her shift. Dressed in capris and a sleeveless top, she looked fresh, considering the sweltering heat.
She grabbed an apron and began humming a tune.
Walking over to where he sat, she looked at both boys and smiled. “I see you’re not dining alone. Who are these two incredibly handsome young men?”
“Boys, I’d like you to meet Ms. Rachel. Ms. Rachel, meet Caden and Parker.”
Parker gazed at Rachel, pushed his blond bangs away, and grinned, exposing space where his baby teeth had been. “My brother just hit a home run. That’s why we got to come here.”
A smile crept across Rachel’s face. “I never played baseball, but I did play softball for years. And in all that time, I don’t remember ever hitting more than a double. Your brother sounds like a pretty amazing ball player.”
Caden bowed his head, looking embarrassed. Keeping his head bent, he folded his arms and shrugged.
“Caden, look at Ms. Rachel when she speaks to you and address her as ma’am.” Jake heard the tension in his own voice as he tried to deal with the boy’s lack of manners.
Ignoring Jake’s reprimand, she continued talking. “In addition to being an awfully good hitter, what position do you like to play?”
“I play the outfield, but I kind of wish I could be a catcher.” Caden came close to smiling after he said it, and the comment surprised Jake. He’d been to four of the boy’s games, and this was news to him.
Rachel leaned over, making eye contact with Caden. “Have you told your coach that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t think I’m good enough.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll never know until you try something, whether or not you’re going to succeed at it.” Her tone was filled with emotion, and Jake suspected she might be talking about more than baseball.
“Maybe I’ll tell coach.” Caden stared down at the table after he made the comment, and Jake made a mental note to ask coach about the boy playing catcher.
“I don’t know if you boys like apple pie with ice cream on it, but I delivered two pies to the diner early this morning, and I noticed there are a few pieces left. How about after you finish eating your meal, I dish you up some. That is, if it’s okay with Jake.”
Jake nodded, pleased at how comfortable the boys were around her. “That sounds good to me. Just have Stephanie add it onto my bill.”
“No, it’s my treat. It’s the least I can do for such fine athletes. When Caden becomes famous, I’ll ask for his autograph, so we’ll consider this an even trade.”
Although touched by the kind gesture, Jake realized Rachel could ill afford to be giving out free slices of pie.
“If you’re sure.”
“One hundred percent.”
“Then we accept.” After he said it, both boys grinned.
“Guess I’d better get a move on. I see a couple of customers walking in. It’s been lovely meeting you boys.” Rachel gazed at him, a soft look sweeping across her face. “It’s good seeing you again, Jake. I hope your classes are going well.”
Before he could say anything, she raced over to the new customers and quickly seated them.
~ ~ ~
Rachel watched Jake as he sat talking with the two boys. His reprimand directed at Caden for not calling her ma’am had surprised her, but then, Jake was a southern gentleman and while not addressing her that way didn’t bother her a bit, in Jake’s eyes it appeared to be unacceptable. To her relief, Jake had let it go. With kids you had to pick your battles.
He’d made a bigger deal out of this than she would have, but then, he was new at this parenting thing. She suspected Kathryn would be the one to discipline the boys, anyway.
She picked up the disinfectant and sprayed a counter. Wiping it down, she looked up when Parker’s laughter rippled across the room. Jake was holding him in a headlock as he tickled him, and apparently the six-year-old found it hysterical. Even Caden was smiling now.
As the threesome interacted, she watched Jake wrap his arms about both boys, drawing them closer. They looked like any other family as they carried on a conversation. A lump formed in her throat as she watched them.
It occurred to her that on some level, Jake’s life was better since the accident. He’d reinvented himself and gone back to school, something he swore he’d never do. And, of course, he’d found Kathryn, a woman he no doubt was comfortable around. The man looked happy as he sat in the booth with the boys. And in the grand scheme of things, there was no one on earth more deserving of happiness than Jake.
When he climbed to his feet and made his way over to pay the bill with the boys in tow, she met him at the register. He handed her a fifty and placed a hand on her shoulder. The golden flecks in his eyes lit up as he spoke. “That was some seriously good apple pie Ms. Rachel made, wasn’t it, boys?” When both boys nodded, she grinned.
She considered telling Jake she’d be heading to Dallas, but decided against it. Biting her lip, she wondered if she could continue staying here in Alpine now that Jake had moved on with his life. Could she handle being in the same town with him, seeing him with Kathryn every day, watching him become a father to these two boys?
“Is something wrong?” He stared at her, his jaw muscles tightening. “You seem distracted.”
“I was just thinking about all the things I have to do.” She reached into the register and retrieved Jake’s change.
Their hands touched as she handed the change to him, counting it out. His touch felt warm-warm and familiar.
“Goodbye, boys. It was nice seeing you. Stop by any time.”
“Goodbye, Ms. Rachel,” the boys yelled in unison.
Caden waved at her and said, “Thank you, ma’am,” before looking at Jake. Smirking, Jake patted the boy’s shoulder.
She watched them leave, Jake’s hand resting on each boy’s head as they made their way to his truck.
Sighing, she walked over to the kitchen area to make more coffee. As she considered what a great example Jake was setting for the two boys, she smiled, pleased he was on the road to healing. He’d done it on his own, without her. And that served as a relief. She’d always considered that Jake would struggle if she wasn’t in his life. But she’d been wrong. It was actually the other way around.
While she wanted nothing more than to tell him how she felt—tell him that she loved him, tell him that she had so many regrets—she wouldn’t.
Meema had always told her that ‘timing was everything.’ And from her perspective, no truer words were ever spoken.
Chapter 16
Several days had passed since Rachel had spoken with Jake. As she sat cross-legged in her favorite chair at her parents’ home in Dallas, she leaned against the back of the chair, feeling like a pampered princess.
She studied her parents as
they sat on the sofa, Daddy’s hand resting on Mama’s knee. They’d been married for nearly fifty years and were still openly affectionate with each other.
“You’re looking a bit thin, honey. Are you taking care of yourself?” Her father leaned forward as he spoke.
“Our girl’s been busy, Tim. Remember that she’s working two jobs, now.” Mama winked at her and continued talking. “Since you’re helping Jake at his bar, I suspect you spend a great deal of time together. How’s he doing?”
“We generally work different shifts, but he’s doing very well. I’ll tell him you asked about him.”
Her mother smiled and continued the same line of questioning. “I don’t suppose—”
“If you’re asking if the two of us will ever get back together, the answer is no. We’re just friends now. For both of us, that’s worked out well.”
“You never know . . .”
“Mama, stop.” Rachel began twisting her hair and stared past her mother, unable to look Mama in the eye. “He’s found someone. Her name’s Kathryn. She has two young boys who Jake’s gotten very close to.”
“Really?” Her father climbed to his feet and walked over to where she sat. “I’m surprised he found someone else so quickly.”
She initially thought Daddy might criticize Jake as he’d often done, but he didn’t.
Mama rose from the sofa and walked over to where Rachel and her father sat. As her mother stood with her hands on her hips, staring at her, Rachel realized Mama might not let this go. Intent on convincing her parents that she’d moved on, she began reassuring them. “Jake is in a really good place right now. I’ve met the two boys and they’re just awesome. He’ll be a good role model. I’m fine with this, Mama. Really, I am.”