Katie scrolled down the list.
Joyful to be around
Pretty smile
Resilient
“How do you know?” she said in a voice filled with question.
Part of her glowed under the positive accolades. The other part couldn’t grasp how this woman knew her. Had Bea stalked her or had her followed? For what purpose? That was the million-dollar question.
She looked around the bakery. It wasn’t a million-dollar property, but it was something special. Where the pinstriped wallpaper once hung, there was a fresh coat of paint the exact color of soft butter. On the walls were pictures of the muffins she had baked. Photos of the seven daily specials hung in a row.
Behind the counter was the new coffeepot she’d purchased. It wasn’t the espresso machine her friend Sage had suggested, but it was better than the percolator that once sat spitting and sputtering on the Formica surface.
No, this place wasn’t worth a million dollars. It was worth more because it changed Katie’s life.
In the end, it didn’t matter why the older woman had given her the gift. All that mattered was what Katie did with it.
She tucked the pink page into her notebook and flipped back to her bucket list of things she wanted to do and wrote things that came to mind.
Ride a roller coaster
Meet a celebrity
Cut down my own Christmas tree
Fall in love
Her number one priority was never to overlook an opportunity to try something new.
While Katie continued to jot down notes, she saw a flash of red out of the corner of her eye. Her friend Sage had hopped out of her SUV near Bishop’s Brewhouse and headed her way.
The bell above the bakery door rang as Sage skipped inside. From her bright smile to her rosy cheeks, she glowed from her happy life with Cannon. Katie couldn’t believe only seven weeks ago Sage had a black eye and an unquenchable desire to flee Aspen Cove, but no one knew better than she did that life could turn on a dime. Good could become bad and awful could become amazing in the time it took to take a breath.
“What’s up?” Katie rose from her seat to give Sage a hug. At five foot six, she appeared a giant compared to her friend, who was pint-size.
“Sheriff Cooper’s friends are back at the bed and breakfast tomorrow, and the last time they were around, they ate everything but the furniture. Can I take what you have, or do you want to make me two dozen muffins?”
“I’ll make them fresh and bring them to the bar tonight.” Katie looked at what she had left in the display case. There were just over two dozen muffins remaining. She’d have to whip up another batch for the afternoon crowd anyway. “Is Cannon’s brother still coming home tonight?”
“It’s still a go, as far as I know.” Sage plucked a sample off the tray that sat on the glass counter and popped it into her mouth.
“That’s great. I hope he follows through this time.” Cannon had been expecting his brother Bowie for the last two weeks. Bowie had told him twice he was on his way and then canceled the day he was due to arrive.
Katie imagined how difficult it would be to come back to the town where both his mother and fiancée died. According to Doc Parker, it had been almost a decade. Wasn’t it time to bury the past like Katie did when she left Dallas?
Sage’s bright green eyes lit up. “Hey, I know cakes aren’t your thing . . . yet, but maybe you can bake a welcome-home cake for Bowie.”
When Katie showed up in Aspen Cove, she barely knew how to boil water. Now she made the best muffins in town. They were the only muffins in town, but still . . .
“I’ve never made a cake.”
Sage cocked her head to the side. “Never? Not even from a mix out of a box?”
“I had a sheltered life. Ovens were hot and dangerous.”
From the age of thirteen on, Katie had been sickly. Her mother stuck to her like lint on fabric, hovering over her like an aseptic balloon, warding off everything that could set Katie back or place her in danger.
“Unbelievable. Even I’ve made a cake. Although I’m most famous for my reheating skills.”
“Famous isn’t exactly the word I’d reach for. That makes it sound pleasant. Notorious is more like it.”
Sage laughed as she rounded the corner to get herself a cup of coffee. Katie had a rule with her friends. If she’d served them a cup at least once, then they were family and could help themselves. However, if a stranger walked behind the display case, she would have nudged them out with a rolling pin. She’d consider a baking pan to the side of the head if they caused her trouble.
“We can’t all be Betty Crocker,” Sage said.
She followed her friend to the other side of the counter and prepped her new coffee maker for a cup of decaf. Sage liked her coffee laced with electricity whereas, Katie chose the heart-healthy option of decaffeinated.
Sage looked at the coffee dripping into the cup. “I don’t know why you bother drinking that. It’s just dirty water.” She lifted her own octane-filled cup to her lips.
“It makes me feel grown-up without hurting my organs.” Katie placed her hand on her chest. Under the cotton, she could feel the raised scar tissue from her surgery.
“I’m a nurse, and I don’t take care of myself as well as you do.”
“You have to take care of the body you’ve got.” Katie had told no one her medical history. She’d kept it a secret. She didn’t want people hovering over her. For once, she wanted to live her life like everyone else. Her anonymity in Aspen Cove had given that to her. What no one knew couldn’t hurt her or influence how they perceived her.
“What about the cake? Are you up for the challenge?”
Katie looked over the counter at her journal sitting open on the table. This instance fit the bill as a new opportunity. How hard could making a cake from scratch be? “I’ll do it. What flavor?”
“Let’s keep it simple. White cake and white frosting.”
“You want frosting, too?” she teased.
Sage shook her head. Katie had seen that incredulous look before on Sage’s face. It was the one that screamed, You’re kidding right? “Without frosting, cake is just flavored bread.”
“Fine, frosting, too.” She pulled her cup from the maker and took a sip. “What are Ben and Cannon doing today?”
The two women leaned against the counter and looked out the window. What once was a ghost town had new life. It experienced rebirth every year in May, when the tourists and fishermen showed up. The once whitewashed windows of the closed bookstore across the street were cleaned and now sparkled under the afternoon sun. It turned out that from May to October the women of Aspen Cove brought their wares to town to sell to the visitors. They offered everything from soy candles to beeswax soap.
“They’re at the cemetery. The new grave marker for Bea’s family is being set up today. Bowie will go there to say goodbye to Brandy, so Cannon wanted it to be perfect.”
Katie had been to the gravesite that had a temporary marker that contained only the names Bill, Bea, and Brandy. It broke her heart that this little town had lost so much.
“At least Bowie’s not coming home to a drunk father,” Katie said. Ben had sobered up and stepped back into the role of father and friend. “He’s been a lifesaver here. Without him, I’d be working seven days a week.” Katie had kept him busy at the bakery. She’d taught him how to make the weekend muffins, which gave her much needed time off.
“That’s a blessing, for sure.” Sage snatched another muffin bite from the sample plate. “I’m not sure how Bowie will acclimate to being back in town. He never wanted to return. He’s been tight-lipped about what happened to him in Afghanistan, but he was medically retired from the army, so it can’t be good. It’s one thing to come back home because he wants to. Another if he’s back because he has no choice.”
“That’s so sad, an injury added to a broken heart.” Katie imagined both would require recovery time, but she never considered it would take
so long to adjust. “You’d think all those years would be plenty of time to get past the grief and move on. Ben eventually did, so I hope his son can, too.”
Katie had no earthly idea how long it took to get over losing the love of her life. She’d never been in love, but she’d added it to her bucket list.
Sage drank the rest of her coffee and tossed the paper cup in the nearby garbage can. “Who knows how long that takes? Everyone works at a different pace.”
“Speaking of pace.” Katie needed time to figure out how to make a cake. She looked at the muffins in the case. With Ben gone, she was on her own. “You know what? If I’m going to make that cake, I better get to it.” She opened the display case and boxed up the remaining muffins. “On second thought, why don’t you take these? I think I’ll close up early so I can do justice to Bowie’s welcome-home cake.” The least she could do was provide something sweet for a man no doubt filled with bitterness.
Sage gave her a sideways glance. “Are you sure? I’ve never known you to close early.”
“You’ve known me for seven weeks.”
“I think I’ve got a good handle on you.”
What Katie wanted to say was, “You don’t know me at all,” but she didn’t because that would open an entirely different dialogue. She wasn’t ready to give up her secrets.
“Sometimes I don’t think I know myself.” She knew who she wanted to be, but there was a part of her that was a mystery. A part of her that had belonged to another—her heart. Donors were kept anonymous, so Katie had been in the dark. Records were sealed. She’d thought Bea’s daughter’s heart might sit in her chest, but the timeline didn’t fit. Katie’s second chance came years after Brandy’s death.
Sage picked up the bakery box and gave Katie a one-armed hug. “The party starts at seven. Everyone will be there.”
As soon as Sage left, Katie locked the doors and turned out the lights. There was only one thing left to do. She’d make the best cake she could for Bowie by adding a dash of courage, a pinch of resilience, and the love and compassion she had in her borrowed heart.
Chapter Two
At thirty-four years old, Bowie Bishop didn’t think he’d ever come back to live at home. It was never his plan to return to Aspen Cove, but then again, he didn’t expect to get shot again while in Afghanistan. When those bullets hit his femur and shattered the bone, everything changed.
He sat at the end of the dock and let his legs hang over the side. The soles of his boots skimmed the water, creating ripples that danced across the smooth surface.
He’d forgotten how high the lake could get after the snow melted; not exactly forgot, but banished it from his memory. He looked across the water to where the tree line split—it was the only place where the side of the mountain dropped off into the lake. He hated that patch of road. In fact, he hated just about everything.
At night in his dreams, he still saw her. Eyes the color of amber, chestnut hair, and a laugh that could warm even the coldest heart. Brandy was his everything, and when he lost her, he knew he’d never be happy again.
The familiar sound of a can popping open and the hiss of carbonation escaping meant he wasn’t alone with his thoughts any longer.
“I thought you might like one before we go to the bar.” Cannon sat down next to him and handed over the beer.
“I don’t feel much like celebrating my return. I think I’ll stay here.”
“No can do, bro. You’ve got a lot of people looking forward to seeing you. If you don’t show up, they’ll come here. There’s no way to avoid it.”
Bowie lifted the can to his lips and took several big gulps. It would take a lot more than a beer to get him through the night.
“Why did you tell them I was coming back?” This trip wasn’t a social visit. It was a place to land until the VA assessed his disability rating, and then he was gone.
“Because seeing you back in town would be like seeing a ghost.”
Cannon had described it accurately. He’d been a ghost. Most of him died when Brandy did. “I don’t want the attention.”
“Fine, show up, stay a while. Paste on a fake smile. Then come back here and hide in the house until tomorrow morning, when you get up to run the bait and tackle shop. I’ve been taking it all on by myself for years. You’re back, so you can help.”
Bowie never knew his brother to be so stern, but then he figured years of dealing with a drunk had taken the softness out of him. He’d always felt bad he’d left his brother to pick up the pieces, but Bowie couldn’t bear to spend another second in the town that reminded him of his loss.
“I’m not staying. Besides, Dad looks like he’s got a handle on things. He can run the bait and tackle store.” Cannon had told Bowie how bad his father had gotten, but to look at him now, he couldn’t believe it. He knew his brother wasn’t one to exaggerate, but Ben looked fine.
“No, he’s helping Katie at the bakery. It’s the place he found his sobriety. It’s best if things don’t change too drastically for him.”
Cannon picked up a few pebbles from the dock and tossed them into the water. Rings formed around the disturbance and spread out wide. That’s how life was. One thing created a ripple, and an entire life changed.
“Change isn’t good for Dad, but it’s okay if I’m propelled into a nightmare?”
He pushed the boot of his good leg beneath the surface of the water and kicked forward, sending a splash outward. Ten feet in front of him, a fish leaped from the water to catch a bug.
“It’s not my intent to pick at your wounds, but I want a life, too. I gave up everything. My life. My career. I gave it all up to come back here and try to save what we had. When will it be my turn to have something?” He emptied his beer and crushed the can in his fist. “Sage entered my life and changed everything. I’m in love with her, but I need time with her. I won’t get that if I’m running two businesses and watching out after Dad.”
Cannon was right. Bowie had bailed on his brother, but at the time he had nothing left to give. As he sat on the deck and looked around, he worried that he had less now than he did then.
“I’m not staying,” he repeated.
“I hear you. Just remember, I stepped up when you couldn’t. I’m asking you to step up while you’re here. I’m rarely selfish, but dammit Bowie, you owe me.”
That was another fact he couldn’t deny. He owed Cannon. He’d given up his dream job to come home and be responsible for the family. He was only twenty-four years old when everything went to hell. Too old to be a kid, but too young to be a full-fledged adult.
“You’re right. I owe you more than I could ever repay.” He turned to his left and took a good, long look at his brother. He’d grown into a man while Bowie was gone.
They’d been close as kids but drifted apart when Bowie fell in love with Brandy. He’d spent all of his time with her. It was the hardest part about losing her. He didn’t know how to live without her. He’d made a promise to himself the day they buried her. He’d never allow another woman to enter his heart.
“I’m not asking for blood. I’m only asking you to stay around for a bit. I’ve missed my brother.” Cannon reached over with one arm and bro-hugged him.
“Let’s take it a day at a time. Now tell me about this girl of yours.”
Footsteps sounded behind them. They turned to see who approached.
Cannon’s stoic expression softened, and a smile took over his face. “How about you meet her?” He stood and walked halfway down the dock to meet the tiny redhead. He picked her up and twirled her around. The only piece of Bowie’s heart that remained squeezed so hard it was almost painful. He watched the two kiss.
It wasn’t that Bowie hadn’t had female companionship since Brandy died. He’d seen plenty of action, but he was always clear about where those relationships would go. You couldn’t fill up a leaky vessel. Bowie was like a boat full of holes. He was a sinking ship and refused to take anyone else down with him.
He struggle
d to his feet and limped his way down the dock to meet Sage.
She stood in front of him and rose up onto her toes to kiss him on the cheek. It was an odd greeting from a complete stranger, but he liked her forwardness.
“Finally, I get to meet the infamous Bowie.”
He looked town at the runt in front of him. “Infamous, huh?”
She smiled, and Bowie could see why his brother had fallen so hard. With a smile like that, it was like the sun radiated from her pores.
“Oh yes. I’ve heard everything from how you terrorized him as a kid to how you protected him at school.”
Cannon looked at her and shook his head. “Sweetheart, that was bedroom talk and should have stayed in the bedroom.”
Sage rolled her eyes. “That would mean we couldn’t talk about anything. You work so much, I only get to talk to you in bed.”
Cannon looked at his brother with a see-I-told-you-so look.
Although Bowie knew he’d never fall in love again, there wasn’t any reason Cannon shouldn’t. Someone in their family deserved to be happy.
“Let’s see if we can change that. I’ll be around for a bit so Cannon will have more time to spend outside the bedroom.”
“Dude, I don’t want to reduce my bedroom time; I only want to increase my other time. Who knows, I might want to spend that time in the bedroom, too.”
Sage wound up and punched Cannon in the chest. “I’m not invisible here. Don’t be talking about our bedroom activities to your brother.”
It was hard not to laugh. Here was a woman who on her tallest day reached Cannon’s neck, and yet she was in control. God, he missed those days.
“Although due to your height, you’re easy to overlook, but now that I’ve seen you punch, you’re hard to ignore.” Bowie threw his arm around Sage and began the walk to the house. “One thing you should know, none of the Bishops kiss and tell. Your nocturnal secrets are safe. Nothing else is sacred, though, so give me some dirt on my brother. It’s been a long time.”
Sage told him about Cannon’s one-eyed cat. She laughed at the fact that such a tough man could have such a soft spot for a special-needs pet, but she had no place to talk because when they walked into the house, lying at Ben’s feet was her three-legged dog named Otis.
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