Sweet Promises

by Nicole Ellis

  “I’m not getting married anytime soon. We’re going to take it slow and figure out what we want out of life,” Gretchen said hastily. “We just wanted to check in with how we were feeling about our long-term relationship goals.” She turned to Maggie. “What about you and Jake? You looked like you were getting pretty cozy at Dahlia’s wedding.

  It was her turn to blush. “We’ve decided to try things out between us.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if it will work or not.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re giving him a chance.” Gretchen smiled at her. “He’s a good guy—and he’s crazy about you.”

  “I think he’s a good guy too.” An image of Jake playing with Alex flashed into her head. He really would be a good father. Then she stopped herself. What was she thinking? They’d only been dating for a few days and she was already imagining herself married to him? She hastily changed the subject.

  “So, Charlotte, how are sales at Whimsical Delights? I refer customers there all the time to get unique souvenirs from Candle Beach.”

  “Thanks.” Charlotte patted her mouth with her napkin. “Things are going better than I expected. I thought the winter season would be really slow, but sales have been steady.”

  “That’s great.” Maggie sipped her drink. “Gretchen, are you and Parker going to start your real estate business soon?”

  “Yes, we’re working on what we want the company to look like and where we want to focus our sales efforts. It should be up and running by early spring.” She beamed. “I’m so excited! I’m finally going to be branching out on my own.”

  It was good to see her friends so happy and fulfilled, but it reminded Maggie that there was still so much she wanted to do. The café was still important to her, of course, but she was ready for a new challenge. The farm property may have already sold, but if something else came up, she knew she needed to be prepared.

  “You okay?” Gretchen asked, a concerned look on her face.

  Maggie focused on her friend. “Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking about the event space I wanted to purchase.”

  “Sorry the farm sold. It would have been perfect.” Gretchen frowned. “I’m keeping an eye out for other properties that will work though, okay?”

  “Thanks.” It didn’t hurt to keep her options open.

  “Hey, did you guys hear about the bank robbery in Haven Shores today? I was down there getting some supplies for my shop and there were police cars all over near the State Street bank.” Charlotte sipped her drink.

  “Yeah, one of my clients mentioned it,” said Gretchen. “Apparently one of the bank robbers shot at the police. One police officer was hit in the leg and had to go to the hospital.” She shook her head. “The robbers got away. Scary.”

  Maggie’s face blanched and chills shot up her spine. It hadn’t occurred to her that Jake’s job could be dangerous. It should have, but with everything else going on in her life, it was one thing she hadn’t obsessed over. Now, the danger he could face was crystal clear. As a military wife, she’d always had it in mind that something bad could happen to her husband. After having her worst nightmares come true with Brian’s death in a war zone, could she handle worrying about Jake on a daily basis?

  “Okay, now what’s wrong?” Gretchen peered into her face. “I swear, I’ve never seen you so distracted. Is this what dating does to you?”

  “No,” Maggie said, more sharply than she’d intended. Charlotte stared at her with wide eyes.

  She sighed. “Sorry guys. Until you mentioned that robbery, I didn’t even think about how dangerous Jake’s job is.”

  Charlotte’s face fell. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t think first before I mentioned it.” She smacked her forehead with her palm. “I knew Jake had been hired by the police department here. I shouldn’t have said anything.” She looked at Maggie anxiously. “Are you okay?”

  Maggie put her arm around Charlotte. “It’s not your fault. Before Brian died, I tried not to let it get to me that his job could be dangerous. I never watched the news while he was in the Middle East so it wouldn’t make me crazy with worry. And then my fears came true anyways.” Tears streamed down her face.

  Charlotte pulled her close and Gretchen handed her a tissue.

  “Oh, Maggie. It’s okay. Jake’s a member of the Candle Beach Police department. I don’t think dangerous things ever happen here, so you don’t need to worry.” Charlotte squeezed her shoulder as Maggie dried her tears.

  She looked around the wine bar. Nobody appeared to be watching her outburst. She gulped her drink. “So you think I’m silly to worry?”

  “No, not silly. But, I don’t think you need to let it affect your relationship.” Charlotte smiled at her reassuringly.

  Maggie slumped down in her seat. “But how do I forget that he could be in danger every time he goes to work?”

  Gretchen shrugged. “You can’t. But if you want a relationship with Jake to work, you have to accept him, job and all.”

  “I don’t know if I can do that.” Maggie was quiet for a moment.

  “Let’s talk about something more cheerful,” Charlotte said. “Has anyone seen that huge house going up on Alder street?”

  The next night, Jake showed up at Maggie’s apartment with a bouquet of flowers for her.

  “Thanks, they’re beautiful.” She sniffed the roses and disappeared inside her apartment, presumably to put them in a vase.

  Jake waited outside for her, excited to go on their first real date. Her parents had invited Alex to spend the night with them, leaving her free for a dinner alone.

  She returned to the door and smiled brightly at him. She wore an emerald-green sweater over a gray skirt that emphasized her curves. He wondered again how he’d been so lucky to take her out on a date.

  “How does Chinese sound? There’s a place called Lu’s down the street from the B&B.” The smells coming from the Chinese restaurant tantalized him every time he walked past.

  “Sounds good. I love Lu’s.” Maggie’s skirt swung with every step she took.

  He held his arm out to her and she looped her arm through his.

  “I feel so free. I hate the early morning shifts, but it sure is nice to have the evening off.”

  The evening was chilly but clear, and they walked the half mile to Main Street. Lu’s was decked out in gaudy Christmas lights, but he had to admit the overall effect of the town’s decorating efforts was charming. He grabbed Maggie’s hand and pulled her inside the restaurant. It smelled even better inside than outside. The restaurant featured red—lots of it. Gold cats and other knickknacks smiled down on him from a ledge near the cash register.

  “Maggie.” An Asian man in his sixties beamed at her. “Who’s this with you?”

  She looked at Jake with uncertainty.

  “This is Jake, my...uh...boyfriend. Jake, this is Mr. Lu, the owner.”

  “Ah, I’m glad to meet you.” He shook Jake’s hand.

  “Good to meet you too.”

  Mr. Lu showed them to a small booth in the back of the restaurant. Maggie slid in on the far side and Jake took the seat across from her.

  “So what’s good here?” He ran his finger down each listing on the extensive menu.

  “Almost everything. I’m not a fan of the moo shu pork, but I’ve never really liked it anywhere.”

  “How about getting a family-style meal? That way we get a good sampling. I’d love to find a good Chinese place up here.”

  “Sounds good.” Maggie flagged down Mr. Lu and they ordered.

  After ordering, they sat at the table staring at each other. Jake’s heart pounded. What if they had nothing to say to each other now that they were alone?

  He searched for a topic, landing on something that was popular at work. “So did you hear about that bank robbery in Haven Shores yesterday? The station’s been abuzz about it all day. Apparently those bandits have been hitting banks up and down the coast.” He peered at Maggie, who appeared lost in thought. He waved his hand in front of her fa
ce. “Hello?”

  Her eyes finally met his. “Sorry. Yes, I did hear about the bank robbery.” She didn’t say anything else, and he fought to think of another topic of conversation.

  “How’s Alex?”

  Her face brightened and she told him all about Alex’s latest Lego creation. He loved seeing her face light up when she spoke of her son.

  Then she stopped, looking embarrassed. “Sorry. I’m boring you, aren’t I? I’ve been talking about Alex too much. We can talk about something else if you’d like. It’s been so long since I was out on a real date, I’ve forgotten how to have an adult conversation.”

  He smiled. “No, it’s fine. I like hearing what he’s up to. Now that I’ve started my job, I don’t get to hang out with my little buddy as much as I’d like.”

  Their food came and they dug in.

  “Mmm. This is really good.” Jake shoveled fried rice into his mouth.

  “Told you so.” Maggie hummed softly as she picked up chow mein with her chopsticks, eating faster than was ladylike.

  He loved how comfortable she was with him. He’d been out on some dates where his companion only ate a few forkfuls of salad and then claimed they were full. Maggie wasn’t like that. Everything about her spoke of her honesty.

  After dinner, they walked down to the Marina Park.

  “Hard to believe this was full of tents for Dahlia’s wedding only a week ago.” Maggie grabbed his hand and led him to the swings. “This is one of my favorite places in Candle Beach. I’ve been coming here to swing since I was a baby. I love how when you swing high, you can see the ocean.”

  They swung companionably for a few minutes until Maggie jumped off and beckoned for him to walk with her. “C’mon. I’ll show you another of my favorite places.”

  She led him over to a bench on a hillside overlooking the water. There weren’t many other people out on this cold winter evening and all of the benches lining the hillside were empty.

  They sat down and she snuggled up to him. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “It’s beautiful here. I see why you love it so much.”

  She nodded and tucked her head against his chest.

  Below them, the waves crashed upon the beach, their frothy tips illuminated by the moon. The wind blew slightly, but their heavy winter coats protected them from the brunt of it. He kissed the top of her head and watched as she smiled.

  She turned her head up to look into his eyes.

  He leaned down and kissed her lightly. As she responded to his touch, he deepened the kiss and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He positioned his hands around her waist.

  “I feel like I’m kissing a marshmallow,” he said. “This coat must be eight inches thick.”

  She grinned and smacked him on the chest. “Thanks a lot.”

  She leaned back on the bench and they stared out at the water together. He began to softly sing an old song that his father used to sing about a girl named Maggie. She bolted upright and stared at him like a deer caught in the headlights.

  “What’s wrong?” He could hear the terror in his voice.

  She averted her eyes. “It’s nothing.”

  She walked away and he jogged to catch up with her. He placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her. “What is it?”

  She turned and his eyes widened. Tears were falling down her face. He pulled her close, but her arms hung limply by her side.

  “Maggie. Tell me.”

  “Brian used to sing me that song. It was kind of our thing.”

  He closed his eyes. He’d really stepped in this one. “I didn’t know. It’s something Dad used to sing to us when we were little kids.”

  “It’s okay.” Her eyes were red from crying. “Things like this are bound to come up, right?” A haunted expression clouded her face. “You sounded so much like him though.”

  He hugged her and this time she reciprocated his touch.

  “I should get home,” she whispered. “I have to be at the café at five tomorrow morning.”

  “Okay.”

  They walked hand in hand back to her apartment. Something about their connection had broken.

  He kissed her goodnight and she closed the door. He swiveled with his hands in his pockets. What had happened? The evening had been going well and then a simple song had derailed everything. Was Maggie over his brother? He never wanted to take Brian’s place in Maggie and Alex’s life, but he did want to forge his own place in their family. Would he ever have the chance to do that?

  Maggie closed the door on Jake and slid to the floor. He must think she was crazy after she broke down from a simple song. He’d been very apologetic after she panicked, but he’d obviously been upset by her behavior.

  She knew she’d overreacted, but the incident also made her worried that she wasn’t ready to date again. But she really, really liked Jake and he cared about her and Alex. It had been five years since Brian’s death. She needed to put herself out there and allow herself to love again. But with his dangerous job, could she do that?

  16

  The next day, Maggie unlocked the front door of the café early in the morning. She hesitated outside, allowing herself to see the town in its pre-dawn state.

  The lampposts were draped with strings of white lights and the store owners had decked out their windows with Christmas displays and colored lights. The air was crisp, but a layer of fog hung over Main Street. She loved this town and knew she was lucky to live there. Moving with the military, she and Brian had often lived in places that weren’t near the water and she felt like a little piece of her soul died with every day spent away from the magnificent ocean. She breathed in more of the salty air and opened the door, glancing ruefully at the Help Wanted sign on the front window.

  Bernadette had left two weeks ago, and Maggie had even put an ad in the Haven Shores newspaper for a new pastry chef, but there hadn’t been any applicants. She had been doing all the baking, with some help from a few of her employees. The Bluebonnet Café had a history of offering whole pies for sale every Christmas, but she’d made the decision not to do so this year. There just wasn’t enough time for her to make the quantity of pies they’d need for the community. She knew there would be some frustration from her customers, but there was nothing she could do about it.

  She relocked the door behind her and flipped on lights as she walked back to her office. The morning crew would be there by six, but she liked to have a few minutes alone to get her day organized before everyone arrived and chaos reigned.

  She pored over the bills and lost track of time. When Velma barged into her office without knocking, she looked up in annoyance. “Good morning,” she said.

  “It’s not a good morning,” Velma replied. “The milk and egg delivery hasn’t arrived yet and we’re almost out. Things like this didn’t happen when Gus owned the place.”

  Maggie gritted her teeth. She couldn’t control the milkman’s delivery schedule, even if Velma seemed to think she could. “I’ll call the dairy and find out what’s going on. Thanks for letting me know.” She smiled at her employee, determined to kill her with kindness.

  Velma stared at her with suspicion. “Hmph. Bill at the dairy probably stopped for a coffee break. He’s never here on time.”

  Maggie had never know the milkman to be late except when there were extenuating circumstances, so she said pleasantly, “I’ll give him a call.” She looked pointedly at the door and Velma huffed her way out.

  She found the dairy’s number and called. “Hey Bill, sorry to bother you, but we haven’t received our order this morning.”

  “Oh, I meant to call you, but things got hectic here. We had a calf born last night that needed medical attention and I had to call the vet. I’ll be out there in about thirty minutes. I’m sorry about the inconvenience. I’ll throw in a couple gallons of ice cream too for free.”

  She grinned. This was another thing she loved about small town life. Her local suppliers were real people and they cared about eac
h other.

  “No problem. We’ll make do until then. I hope the calf is okay.”

  “Yup, she’ll be fine. Thanks Maggie. See you soon.” He hung up.

  Maggie went out to the kitchen to let the staff know the status of the dairy order. There was some grumbling from Velma, but she knew they’d figure things out until the order arrived.

  Customers were lining up already at the hostess desk. Her hostess wasn’t scheduled until eight o’clock, so she filled in until she arrived. Then she disappeared back into her office to tackle the remaining accounting tasks.

  A call came in from her mother’s number. “I oke a ooth.”

  “What?” Maggie stared at the phone. It sounded like her mom, but she couldn’t understand her.

  “I oke a ooth. Octor Han is going to fit me in today at one, but I can’t watch Alex this afternoon.”

  “You have to go to the dentist this afternoon because you broke a tooth and you can’t watch Alex.” Maggie sighed inwardly. Having Alex home on Winter Break made everything more complicated. Where was she going to find a babysitter on such short notice? Was Stacey available?

  “I’ll pick him up at a quarter to one, okay?”

  Her mother made an affirmative noise.

  Maggie found the contact info for Stacey and called her. Hopefully she was back in town by now.

  Surprisingly, she was in luck.

  “Sure, I’d be happy to babysit Alex. I’ll pick him up at a quarter to one from your mom’s house. We can go to the park or something.”

  Maggie sighed in relief. “Thanks Stacey. I really appreciate this. I know it was short notice.”

  “No problem. I feel bad that I couldn’t help you out when I was sick. I’ll see you later.”

  Phew. Two problems solved already and it wasn’t even noon yet. She hadn’t even had time to worry about Jake’s job.

  She worked on paperwork for the rest of the day until it was almost time for her to get off at two o’clock.

  “We’ve got forty orders for Christmas pies. Twenty-five mincemeat and fifteen apple,” Velma barked at her after barging into her office for the second time that day.