My mother, who stood at the farmhouse sink, dabbed her eyes with a paper towel. “Honey, we’ve got some bad news. They took the baby to the children’s hospital in Houston last night. He has an infection, and he’s very sick.”
My stomach dropped. “Oh no. Is he going to be okay?”
My mother shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“He’s going to be fine.” Sitting at our sturdy wooden table, spreading raspberry jelly over his toast, my dad spoke with all the confidence in the world.
“You’re right. He’s going to be just fine.” My mom offered a brave smile. “Marcus went up with the baby last night. Your father and I are going this morning. We’ll stay in Bianca’s apartment. The doctor is keeping Anna here. Hopefully, she’ll be released from the hospital and will drive up with her parents this morning.”
I nodded as bile burned my throat. The memory of Allie and her brothers washed over me. I wrapped my arms around my stomach. Life was fragile. Babies especially were incredibly fragile. How was anyone supposed to get through something like this?
Noticing my panic, my dad set down his coffee mug. “Honey. The baby is going to be okay. Don’t worry. God’s got this.”
Clenching my teeth, I nodded, knowing my dad was right, but I worried all the same.
Please let him be okay, I silently prayed. Please, God. Just let him be okay.
*
As Bocelli played in the background at work, I kneaded the dough for the cinnamon rolls. The rising sun was just beginning to bathe the kitchen in a buttery light.
Humming along to the music, Mrs. Delacroix decorated an anniversary cake. “How’s the baby?” she asked. “Cute, I bet, just like your brother.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and gave the dough an extra shove. “Actually, he’s not doing so well. They had to send him to the children’s hospital in Houston because he has an infection.”
“Oh no.” Mrs. Delacroix placed a hand over her heart. “That’s dreadful. I can’t imagine going through something like that.”
“I know.” I glanced outside at the little courtyard just off the kitchen. Tall Italian Cyprus trees, large pots of flowers, and comfortable patio furniture made the cozy space my favorite place to take a break. Due to the number of specialty orders we had this morning, however, I wouldn’t be taking any break today.
The extra work was probably a good thing, given how anxious I felt over baby Travis. The harder I worked, the less time I had to worry about my nephew.
“You know,” Mrs. Delacroix began, interrupting my thoughts, “I’ve always believed God must give parents a vast amount of strength and resilience. Personally, I never could’ve dealt with something like Anna and your brother are dealing with right now.”
Using a heavy rolling pin, I rolled out the dough to the shape of a thin rectangle. “Mrs. Delacroix, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course. What is it, my dear?”
Hesitating, I wondered if I was being rude. Maybe this was too personal. I hadn’t been working with her long, but the two of us had become close. Yesterday, she said she thought of me as the daughter she’d never had. In fact, that was why she’d offered to sell me the bakery.
“Vicki?”
“Yes, well, I was just wondering if you ever regret not having children.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to take them back. What kind of question was that? “I’m sorry. I know that’s too personal. You don’t have to answer. In fact, just pretend I didn’t ask.”
“No, it’s fine, dear. The thing is, even in this day and age, there’s a taboo around women who choose not to have children. People assume it’s because of infertility or selfish reasons. For me, I think it would’ve been more selfish to have kids.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” She secured a decorative tip onto the yellow frosting to make the flowers that would adorn the edge of the anniversary cake. “I built this bakery from the ground up. That took a tremendous amount of time and energy. I couldn’t have done that with kids. I’m sure some women can balance work with family, but I always felt my business needed to come first. Maybe I chose poorly, but I’ve had a good life. I’m very close to my sister’s kids as well as several children on the island. And I’ve loved owning the bakery. My only regret—”
She offered a sad smile before continuing. “How’s that saying go? I don’t have regrets. I make choices and accept the consequences.”
Taking a handful of flour, I dusted the dough and rolling pin. I definitely had regrets.
“It’s just that sometimes . . .” Mrs. Delacroix straightened and pressed a hand to the small of her back. “Sometimes I wish I would’ve accepted Lorenzo’s offer of marriage.”
“Lorenzo?” My mind raced through the list of regulars who frequented the bakery. I didn’t know anyone named Lorenzo. “Who’s Lorenzo?”
Mrs. Delacroix softly laughed. “Oh, he was just this handsome Italian man I met at the culinary school in Paris years ago. We fell in love, and he asked me to marry him, but I said no.”
“You did? Why?”
She sighed as her eyes filled with palpable longing. “I was too young to get married. Plus, my mother was sick. I needed to come home to care for her. Lorenzo insisted he’d wait for me, but I didn’t think that was fair, so I ended the relationship. Anyway, I don’t regret being with my mother during her last year of life, but I was heartbroken. Lorenzo was . . . well, he was the love of my life. He’s the reason I never found anyone else.”
“You never married?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“But everyone calls you Mrs. Delacroix. I just assumed you were once married.”
She nodded. “You’re not alone in that assumption, but no, I never married. One of my customers, a darling little boy, called me Mrs. Delacroix. Although I’d corrected him at first, he couldn’t grasp the concept that I wasn’t a Mrs. So, it just stuck, and I’ve been Mrs. Delacroix ever since.”
I smiled, surprised to learn that about her. “Whatever happened to Lorenzo? Did you ever look him up or contact him?”
She returned to decorating the cake. “I wrote to him after my mother passed, but he never wrote back. A mutual friend told me Lorenzo had married his childhood sweetheart.”
“Oh, Mrs. Delacroix. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised a man like that didn’t stay single for long. He was so handsome, and that accent . . . well, that accent and everything else about him made my knees tremble.”
I laughed, thinking she always got a little giddy over any man who walked into the bakery with an accent.
I melted a stick of butter in the microwave and thought about Seth and the way he’d made my knees tremble last night. Best not to go there, Vicki.
As I brushed the melted butter on the dough with a pastry brush, Mrs. Delacroix gave a little chuckle. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but when I first got the internet, I looked up Lorenzo.”
“You did? What’d you find out?”
“I found out that he was still incredibly happy with his wife and their five daughters.”
“Five girls. Wow. That’s a lot. I’m sure learning about his family was painful for you.”
She shrugged. “Maybe a little, but it wasn’t like I wanted him to be miserable. I was happy he had a full life even if that life didn’t include me.”
I nodded, suddenly seeing Mrs. Delacroix in a completely different light. No longer was she just the beloved bakery owner. Instead, she was a woman with a past who’d given up the great love of her life to do the right thing by caring for her mother.
“Anyway, all that’s in the past. I’ve had a wonderful life, and I’m looking forward to selling the bakery and retiring to Florida with my sister.”
*
The rest of the morning flew by as I continued helping with the baking as well as working the front counter. Right before we closed for the day, Seth stopped by for a chocolate brownie. He�
�d always been a big fan of chocolate, and I was glad we still had some brownies left.
Although I was happy to see him, things between us were awkward at first. I really wanted us to remain friends . . . friends that had once shared a great kiss, but friends first and foremost.
As I handed him his order, I found myself wanting to tell him about Mrs. Delacroix and her Lorenzo, but now wasn’t the time nor the place. Maybe I could call him tonight. He really was an amazing kisser. Listener! Seth was an amazing listener.
Holding the white pastry bag containing his order, Seth waved as he left. “Have a good day, Vicki.”
“You too, Seth. Have a great day. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
His brow lifted. Why did I say that? Had I been trying to encourage him and give him false hope? From here on out, I’d have to be more careful.
After Mrs. Delacroix closed the bakery for the day, the two of us sat in her cozy little office just off the kitchen. Over cups of orange tea, we went through the company’s finances. While the bakery made a decent profit, there was definitely room for improvement. Our beverage sales were barely noticeable, something that didn’t surprise me given the quality of our coffee. As Seth said, it truly was horrible. Maybe a new cappuccino machine and updated coffee mugs could increase sales.
Before leaving the bakery, I called the hospital to see if Anna was still there. To my relief, she’d been released. Hopefully, she’d arrived safely in Houston and was now reunited with Marcus and the baby. I was anxious to get ahold of my parents and find out how the baby was doing.
On the drive home, my thoughts drifted to Seth. It was ridiculous, allowing him to occupy so much space in my head. I should be thinking about my nephew or my decision to buy the bakery. I should be making a plan to pay off the last of my debt, buy a new car, and move out of my parents’ house.
I needed to focus. I needed to study the notes I’d taken with Mrs. Delacroix and call the bank for an appointment to discuss finances.
I also needed to talk to my parents about my future, but they were understandably preoccupied with the baby. Maybe I could call Seth. He didn’t have any education or experience with buying a business, but he’d always seemed insightful for his age.
Passing the sign to the new farm-to-table restaurant on the mountain, I groaned. The only reason I wanted to call Seth was because I wasn’t thinking straight. Seth couldn’t help me. He was too young. At his age, I thought I knew everything. Little did I know how fast life could change.
Determined to get a grip on reality, I made a vow not to call Seth or even think about him. Then, I turned up the volume on my favorite country music station and sang at the top of my lungs to a Kenny Chesney song.
It was a beautiful afternoon. The blue sky and blue ocean lifted my spirits as well as the music on the radio. Life on the island was good, and I had a feeling that everything was going to work out for the best.
As I turned onto our property, Duke and Lady came out to greet me as usual. I honked hello. Realizing it was me and not an evil intruder, they wagged their tails. Then, they raced back to the field where a familiar German shepherd named King obediently sat at his owner’s feet.
I sucked in a sharp breath as my heart slammed into my chest. Breathe, Vicki. Just breathe.
Apprehensive, I raised my hand in greeting and parked the car.
Chapter 4
Seth
I didn’t know where I found the courage to drive out and see Vicki that afternoon. I just knew I had to see her. Like I had said last night, I was in love with her. That was just a fact. A fact that I felt embarrassed for admitting aloud, but a fact nonetheless.
“Hey.” I walked toward her, the dogs nipping at my heels, desperate for me to throw the ball. I appeased them by plucking the ball from King’s mouth and chucking it as far as I could. All three of them charged after it, kicking up dust, and giving me a moment alone with Vicki.
“Hey, Seth.” Vicki smiled, pleased to see me. At least, I hoped she was pleased to see me. When it came to girls, I was clueless.
The dogs returned with King carrying the ball triumphantly. He dropped it at Vicki’s feet and sat on his haunches, waiting for her to respond. Understanding protocol, the other dogs sat as well.
Vicki looked down at the old tennis ball. “Oh no. There’s no way I’m touching that slimy thing.”
The dogs panted. I laughed and told King, “All done, buddy.” Familiar with that phrase, he picked up the ball and trotted off, Duke and Lady trailing behind him.
“He’s so obedient.” Vicki smiled up at me. “So, Seth, what brings you and King out to the Morgan family ranch?”
Although I’d heard her question, I didn’t answer at first because I was caught up in the way the sunlight shone on her short blond hair. I thought about the way she felt in my arms last night and how her lips had tasted. Seeing her at the bakery today had been the highlight of my day.
“Seth?”
“Oh, sorry. Yeah, I brought you a book.”
“A book?”
Coming to my senses, I strode to my truck to retrieve the paperback I’d recently finished reading. “Here.”
She took the book from me, glanced at the title, and read it aloud. “Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Small Business.”
The line in the middle of her forehead crinkled in the most adorable way. “I know you’re not starting a small business, but I thought the book might be helpful. With the bakery,” I added as if she didn’t know. “There’s a lot of useful advice in it.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Seth, this is so sweet of you.”
“Yeah?” I shrugged in an attempt to appear unaffected by her gratitude. “What can I say? I’m a sweet guy.”
She laughed, giving me hope that I hadn’t ruined everything between us. Shoving my hands into my pockets, I tried to look more confident than I felt. “The book helped me a lot with setting up the paintball business.”
“The paintball business?”
I nodded. “It’s what I’ve been working on lately.”
“You’re kidding? I thought you were working for that landscape company.”
“Just part time.”
Out in the field, the dogs spotted a squirrel and chased after it. The poor creature escaped by scampering up an oak tree that still held the remnants of a tree house Marcus and I once built.
“So tell me about your paintball business,” Vicki said. “Where is it, and what do you do there? Just sell paintballs?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, we don’t just sell paintballs. We have this whole course. Well, several courses, actually. We also rent guns, masks, and protective gear.”
“We? Who’s we?”
“Robbie and me. Eventually, we’ll need to hire more people, but right now, it’s just the two of us.”
She nodded. “Where are you doing this?”
“Out at our family’s property on the west end.”
“I forgot you had property out there. Marcus used to go out with your family to camp and fish, right?”
“That’s right. I’m living in the trailer out there while I get everything set up.”
“Interesting.”
I could tell by the word interesting she meant that it sounded like a crazy idea. That was okay. Once she saw the place for herself, she’d have a better understanding of my vision.
Changing the subject, I asked about Marcus and Anna’s baby. “Your brother texted me to say they had to take the baby to the hospital in Houston. Have you heard any updates on how he’s doing?”
She shook her head. “Not yet, but I’m really worried about him.”
“He’ll be okay. He’s a tough guy for a little baby. You wouldn’t believe how tight he gripped my finger when I was holding him. I’m sure he’ll be home before you know it.”
She smiled sadly, and I thought about pulling her into my arms and kissing her again. The way she looked at me made me feel like she was thinking the sam
e thing. What if I just stepped toward her and—
“So, hey.” Her eyes shot to the ground before returning to mine. “About last night, in the parking lot. I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“Me neither.”
“Good because I think of you as . . .”
The knife in my gut twisted as I waited for her to say the words little brother.
“I think of you as a friend, Seth. As a good friend.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “Yes. I want to keep it that way. Talking to you last night at dinner meant a lot. I don’t have very many friends on the island. Most of them left for college and never came back, so I’d like to stay friends with you. I’ve always enjoyed hanging out with you, and I don’t want anything to ruin that.”
Being put in the “just friends” column wasn’t as bad as the “little brother” or the “stay away from me, you deranged lunatic” column. “I don’t want anything to ruin our friendship either.”
“Good.”
She smiled and thanked me again for the book, making me feel like I was being dismissed. Well, okay. I definitely wasn’t going to overstay my welcome.
I whistled for King, who obediently ran back to me. “Time to go.” I opened the truck door, and he jumped into the cab.
“New truck?” Vicki asked, admiring my new F-150.
“It is.”
“Impressive. New truck and new business. You’re moving up in the world, Seth Watson.”
I smiled. “I needed something more dependable, given the rough road out to the property.”
She shifted the book from one hand to the other. “Believe it or not, I’ve never been all the way out to the west end of the island. I’ve driven by the yacht club. In high school, I babysat for a family out there, but I’ve never gone past where the paved road ends.”
“That’s a shame. It’s really beautiful out there, especially this time of year. The wildflowers are just coming into bloom, and the view of the sunset from my beach is amazing.”
“Your property is on the water?”
“It is. You should come out and see it for yourself.”
Vicki’s Gift Page 3