Lily

by Chris Keniston

  “Oh, my God.” Color drained from Lily’s face. Her hands drifted to cover her mouth.

  Dropping the extinguisher in the sink, Cole maneuvered around Lucy and the General now on their feet, and pulled Lily into his arms.

  Her head dropped against his shoulder and he felt understanding dawn in her shivering shoulders.

  “It’s okay,” he murmured.

  “Thank you.” The General’s beefy hand slapped him on the shoulder. The man took a step away and Cole heard his heels snap together. “Attention!” the patriarch bellowed and Cole could have sworn he heard spines snap straight. “We have a mess to clean up and an order to deliver. Let’s get a move on.”

  Even Lily pulled out of his arms, sucked in a breath, and reached under the sink. Pausing, rags and cleaners in each hand, her gaze locked with his, and sweet lips softly muttered, “thank you.”

  Just like that everyone in the room was back to business as if this chaos was any other normal morning in the life of the Hart family. Except for the fire, none of this was anything close to normal for his life, and he was pretty sure normal for him had just taken a dramatic and permanent shift.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and see how it all looks set up?” the caterer asked Lily.

  As much as she would love to see the final display and the guest’s reactions, at only a little past noon, this had already been the longest day of her life. “Thanks, but it’s all yours.”

  “Oh good. I see everything is here.” The wedding coordinator waltzed past the stainless-steel counter where the cookie platters had been set. Coming to a complete stop at the button-sized spitzbubens, she did a double-take. “These aren’t on the menu.”

  “No.” Lily swallowed. She’d hoped not to be here when someone noticed the addition. “They’re a special family favorite. A little gift to compensate for the last-minute baker change.”

  The young woman hugged a computer tablet closer to her chest, and eyes narrowed, pointed. “May I?”

  “Of course.” In hopes of hiding her nerves, Lily tightened her lips into a smile.

  If there was such a thing as real time slow motion—the woman’s arm stretching forward, her fingers uncurling then gripping closed around the cookie’s edge, that same arm lifting back toward a now open mouth, and the tiny confection slipping inside—was definitely in very-slow-motion. Even slower, jaw muscles moved up and down, chewing, tasting, and from the sudden gleam in her eyes, Lily would bet savoring.

  “Oh, my,” the coordinator mumbled, hand to her mouth. “What are these?”

  “Spitzbuben.”

  The woman’s eyes circled round as she reached for a second cookie and popped it into her mouth. Chewing slowly, she swallowed and nodded. “I don’t care what they’re called. If the rest of your desserts taste as good as these, I’m recommending you to every client we have. Do you have a business card?”

  “Uh.” Card? “Not on me.”

  “What was your name again?”

  “Lily Nelson.”

  “I mean your bakery.”

  “Oh,” and just like that her mind was apparently made up, “the Pastry Stop.”

  Well penciled brows creased to a point. “Doesn’t sound familiar. Where is it?”

  “Lawford. It’s uh… under renovation. Today was a special effort to help Sam.”

  “Well, I’m sorry Sam was hurt but am delighted to meet you.” She eyed the plate of cookies, pressed her lips tightly and slowly inched back. “These things are addictive.”

  Lily couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “So I’ve been told.” By a very special someone. A someone she wanted to be the first to know that she would be accepting Margaret’s deal and officially opening The Pastry Stop. Though from the raves, maybe she should call it The Spitzbuben Stop.

  “You ready?” Her grandfather stood, keys in hand, behind her.

  “Yes. Let’s give these folks room to do their magic.” Lily’s long day suddenly felt a whole lot lighter. The only thing she wanted now, more than anything else, was to see Cole. To tell him her news—at least—about the shop. Her other revelation, that she had tumbled chef hat over heels in love with him, would have to wait. Maybe after they got the shop together, enough time would have passed for him to feel at least a little the same.

  “You look happy.” The General smiled at his granddaughter. “You should be. This wasn’t an easy feat.”

  “It would have been a whole lot worse if Cole hadn’t been there.”

  “True. Those extinguishers aren’t light. Even injured, he didn’t disappoint.” General Harold Hart lifted his chin and pointed to the door. “The van is around front now. Out of the way of the caterers. My car is parked at Sam’s. Once we switch out you can get home and get off your feet.”

  “Oh, that does sound heavenly.” Especially if it could involve a warm fire, a soft sofa, and her fireman.

  ***

  “I’d like to say you shouldn’t have done that,” Violet brought a fresh ice pack and set it on Cole’s shoulder, “but seeing as how you single handedly saved Hart House, and maybe Lily too, I’m glad you did. Just sorry about the arm.”

  “It’s only a little sore. No big deal.”

  “And the foot?”

  He used his good hand to wave it off. “That’s what these boots are for.”

  “Right.” Taking a step back, her hands on her waist, Violet shook her head. “So now what?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “If you can walk across a kitchen on your own steam and wield a thirty pound fire extinguisher, you probably don’t need a live-in nursemaid.”

  Oh, hell. That hadn’t occurred to him. “On second thought, my ankle is really throbbing and, and, maybe the shoulder needs another adjustment.”

  “Uh, huh.” Laughing, Violet slapped his good leg and backed away. “Thought so.”

  “Thought what?”

  “Just, so.” Violet tipped her head toward the door. “That sounds like the General’s Jeep. I’ll hitch a ride and do my best to make sure he doesn’t bring the evening card brigade over here.”

  “That won’t be—”

  A squeaking hinge announced the opening door.

  “Sure it won’t.” Violet shook her head and waved at him. “I’ll see myself out.”

  “Oh.” Lily came to a stop in front of her cousin. “You leaving?”

  “Yep. The patient is in good hands now. He’s all yours.” Violet leaned in to kiss Lily on the cheek and closed the front door behind her.

  “What’s she so chipper about?” Lily asked. “A couple of hours ago everyone looked like Raggedy Ann left in the rain.”

  “I could say the same about you. Well, not the Raggedy Ann part, but the chipper part. You look much too happy for someone who should be dead on her feet.”

  Lily headed in the direction of the club chair and Cole patted the sofa beside him, delighted when she pivoted in place to change direction. He wanted to feel her close. Especially after what Violet said about his time together almost being over. Logic said in less than a week he shouldn’t care so much, but who said logic had anything to do with love.

  “Wow.” Lily kicked off her shoes and practically fell into the seat beside him.

  “Come here.” He shifted slightly away, dropped a pillow behind her and lifted her feet onto his lap. Using only his good hand, he ran his thumb under her arch. “Tell me what happened.”

  Lily burrowed into the cushions. “Keep this up and I won’t be able to utter a word.”

  “Try.” He smiled.

  “Well,” she adjusted the cushion to sit a little straighter, “you were right.”

  One brow shot up a little higher than the other. “I was? What about?”

  “The cookies. The shop.” She laughed. “Everything.”

  Everything. Oh how he wished that included his recently adjusted views on love and logic. “Care to explain?”

  “I’ll start with the cookies. The weddin
g coordinator tried one. Actually two. She loved them. Wanted my business card.”

  “I won’t say I told you so.” All that mattered was that soon the world was going to know how great a baker Lily was.

  “Thank you.” She rolled her eyes and almost purred as his thumb pressed deeply into her tired feet. “I’m going to call Margaret and tell her I’d like to sign a lease on the building.”

  “You are?” His hands froze.

  A huge grin took over her face and her head bobbed. “Yeah, thanks to you.”

  “Me?”

  “Without you here these last few days, I probably would have passed on even going to look at it, on taking this last minute job, and even if I had accepted, sneaking in the cookies.”

  “I don’t believe that for a minute.” His fingers resumed their motion. “You’re made of much stronger stuff.”

  Her head tipped to one side. “You really think so?”

  “I know so.” He patted her foot and shifted to the other. “There’s a difference between recognizing obstacles, and money is definitely an obstacle, and being afraid to tackle said obstacles.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just having you around that brings out the best in me.”

  “I was nowhere on the scene when you packed yourself up alone and went to study in France. That was a very brave thing to do. I certainly wasn’t around when you drew up your first business plans. Not everyone can do that either. And I’m not the one who orchestrated an extended family into a successful catering order.” He shook his head. “As much as I would love it to be true, you don’t need me.”

  “You do?” Her head lifted off the pillow and her gaze grew more intense.

  He wasn’t totally sure he understood the question, but it didn’t matter because the truth was when it came to Lily, for him everything was yes. He nodded.

  Her feet slipped out of his lap as she pushed herself upright beside him. “Just to be clear, are we talking ego here?”

  Cole shook his head. “Far from it.”

  “And you used the word love and need in the same sentence?”

  This would be the time when a block of nerves should lodge in his throat but they didn’t. His only concern was that admitting the words love and need were very much the way he felt about her might be enough to shove her completely off the sofa and out the door. “I did.”

  Silence hung while Lily quietly stared at him.

  “It’s your turn to say something,” he said softly.

  “I’m waiting for you to backpedal. You know, explain why this isn’t how it sounds.”

  Something popped in her eyes. A glint of anticipation. Maybe even hope. But nothing that said she was preparing to run for the nearest exit. Some things were too important to rush, to risk, to chance, but his gut told him if he didn’t answer now this would be the second time logic had no place in his life. “Would it be more clear if I said I would love to be a part of your life?”

  Her eyes widened and her head bobbed.

  “Or that I need you in mine?” He shook his head. “Not to wait on me or fuss over my aches and pains, but to just be with me.”

  The slow dip of her chin was so long in coming that for a fraction in time he thought he’d just made the biggest mistake in his life.

  In for a penny, in for a pound. “Or that I love everything about you?”

  Delight replaced the wonder in her eyes, followed by a sweet smile. “Even if I keep trying to kill you?”

  “You did not.” He stopped and shook his head. “If you came at me with a butcher knife it wouldn’t change a thing. I love you.”

  Lily flew in his direction, her arms settling around his neck. “And that’s number three.”

  “Three?” He tipped his head back just enough to clearly read her face.

  “All things come in three. My cookies are a hit. I’m going to get my dream bakery. And…” her smile widened, “the man I love loves me back.”

  “Loves you back?” How had he not read that? “I don’t—”

  Her finger landed on his lips. “Are you going to keep talking or are you going to kiss me?”

  He didn’t bother responding. Nudging her finger away, he eased forward and settled his mouth on hers. More addictive than her cookies, Lily was everything sweet and delicious life had to offer. As far as he was concerned, only one firefighter would be getting down on bending knee for her, and when he did, he wouldn’t be joking. Far from it. He planned to keep catching her for the rest of his life.

  Chapter Twenty-One - Epilogue

  “It’s almost time for the fireworks,” Fiona Hart announced with the same enthusiasm she’d shown every New Year’s Eve for as long as Violet could remember.

  No matter how cold, and it got polar at the lake some years, the General always arranged for a nice show over the lake at exactly 12:01 am. The stroke of midnight was reserved for kissing his bride of decades.

  “Those won’t be the only fireworks,” Cindy muttered, walking by Violet with a tray of roast pork. Another family tradition that the General and Grams had picked up during an overseas tour of duty was a midnight dinner on New Year’s Eve. For a few years there were the twelve grapes in one minute at midnight. As kids, they all loved that one. Who could gobble them up the fastest had been a near vicious competition until Poppy choked on one and it was decided the family had plenty of good luck without the grapes.

  Across the parlor, practically glued to the wall in the far corner, Lily was locking lips with her fireman. Despite the rocky start to the relationship, the pair made a good team. They brought balance into each other’s lives. Especially Lily. Violet hadn’t seen her trip over anything all week long.

  “I detect a hint of green around those gills.” This time Callie, following in Cindy’s wake, muttered through one side of her mouth.

  “Nope,” Violet called after her cousin. “Just happy for them.”

  Callie stopped short and looked over at the pair who reluctantly pulled apart. “They really do look very happy. I would never have pictured my Easy Bake sister falling for a hot fireman, but it seems to be working.”

  Violet sighed. “Your sister and my sister seem to have found the holy grails when it comes to love.”

  “And what are you guys chatting about so seriously?” Rose held a large salad bowl.

  “Love,” the two cousins echoed.

  Rose glanced at Lily and Cole chatting softly, holding hands while walking toward the porch for the upcoming show. “Ah. When I heard that the hunk had proposed on Christmas Eve, I thought this was all happening way too fast. But now I can see how perfect they are.”

  “I know what you mean.” Cindy came back empty handed. “I half expected the two to come to dinner tonight and announce they’d eloped.”

  “I know!” Callie chimed in. “I thought the same thing!”

  “Never happen.” Violet shook her head. “Grams would be heartbroken to miss any of our weddings.”

  “And then there’s Lucy,” Rose added.

  “Shh,” a couple of the cousins whispered. “Don’t let Lucy hear you mentioning the ‘W’ word or she’ll have us surrounded by a brigade of fireman from the next county over.”

  “That might not be so bad.” Rose glanced at Lily and Cole again.

  Three sets of eyes glared at the redhead from New York. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “What’s wrong with a hunky fireman?” Rose asked.

  “Nothing,” Violet answered.

  “But,” Cindy shook her head, “this is Lucy we’re talking about.”

  Rose seemed to ponder the statement for a minute and then, her forehead crinkling, nodded. “She does have a less than stellar reputation.”

  “Understatement,” Violet said.

  “Everyone to the porch!” the General barked. “Count down in 30.”

  Hurrying after their grandfather, all the cousins in attendance, a few close friends, and the new soon-to-be grandsons stepped outside, thanking the stars for the unseas
onably warm night. Well, warm by Lawford standards. Bundled in sweaters and light jackets, the singles huddled near the heaters and the couples made their own heat.

  “Ten, nine…” the General started. Violet moved closer to her sister Rose, watching her sister Heather with her fiancé, and her mom and dad, both couples holding hands and watching the sky.

  “Eight, seven, six.”

  Violet and her sisters, her cousins too, had all been blessed with great role models for love. And she was truly happy that Heather and Lily both found men worthy of them.

  “Three, two, one.”

  “Happy New Year” erupted all around her. Spinning to her sister, they hugged and then turned to the nearest cousin. Hugs and smiles abounded. Violet had barely managed to get in a hug with a handful of family when the explosion above sounded. Reds, blues, and whites filled the sky.

  “You look lost, dear.” Fiona Hart sidled up to her granddaughter.

  “No. Just thinking. The bright lights look so beautiful against the velvet sky.”

  Grams nodded and looped an arm around Violet. “Your grandfather said it starts the New Year off with a bang. Literally. Ordinary troubles seem so small compared to the possibilities.”

  “I suppose it does.”

  “Of course it does. Life is all about balance. Nothing is ever all good or bad, all right or wrong. It’s learning to find the point of equilibrium that brings joy into life.”

  “Equilibrium, huh?” Violet was pretty good at that. She could stand on one foot with her eyes closed for longer than anyone she knew, but somehow she didn’t think that’s what her grandmother was talking about.

  Grams squeezed Violet tightly against her. “Come on, it’s time for supper. If I do say so myself, the roast came out especially tender and the candied yams are making my mouth water.”

  “Always a good source of sugar overload.” Violet leaned into her grandmother and smiled.