“They say, ‘everything happens for a reason,’” Joe said.
“But what possible reason could there be for Branton’s burning down?” she said glumly.
“I don’t know,” he admitted honestly. “But I do know you’re now in a position to consider your options.”
“I don’t feel as if I have any,” she said sadly.
He watched her speculatively. “The world is your oyster, Krissy.”
“How so?”
“Well, you’re young, talented, beautiful…” he listed.
She laughed. “Sure.”
He turned and held her gaze. “Have you … considered … well, settling down someday?”
She laughed. “I guess I really haven’t thought much about it since I’ve had so little free time.”
“But … don’t you want a family, kids … a … husband?”
“Yes,” she said readily.
He grinned and took her hand. “That’s good,” he said, a smile enlivening his handsome face.
“I mean, if we rebuild Branton’s, I’ll be busy, I imagine—with the redesign and such. And when we reopen, I’ll probably be working around the clock…”
Joe emitted a haggard breath. “But…”
“What?” she said.
“How will you have time for anything else?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know,” she answered honestly.
“But … there’s a way,” he assured her. “If you do rebuild, why not hire additional staff? Perhaps only work a specified set of hours and stick to it. You really can have it all if you set some boundaries and learn to say ‘no.’”
“You could be right,” she said.
“I know I’m right,” he said, smiling. “I used to be you. I worked day and night. When Dad got sick, it made me reevaluate my priorities.”
“I can understand that,” she said. “When my dad died, Mom fell apart. Lori had moved home, but…”
He nodded, mentally filling in the gaps and urging her to continue.
“Anyway, I guess I realized if I didn’t do what needed doing, it wasn’t going to get done.” She shrugged. “If I’m being really honest with you, I’m really tired. I don’t know how much longer I could have kept up the pace, but I felt like I had no choice.”
“Because you were on your own, as far as help from family goes?”
She nodded and her eyes misted with unshed tears. “If we don’t reopen Branton’s, it will be heart wrenching. The building itself is on the historical registry. Branton’s is such a mainstay in Cooper Glenn. Frankly, it’s been my life. But if it turns out that we decide not to rebuild and reopen, I was counting on my portion of the insurance settlement to move on. I’ve realized I can’t live at home forever, nor do I want to any longer. It’s funny how once you have time on your hands and thereby time to actually think, you gain some clarity about your life.”
“Yes,” he agreed.
She sighed and sought his gaze. “Joe, I don’t want to believe Lori had anything to do with the fire,” she said.
“You mean, any deliberateness on her part.”
She nodded. “What if the Fire Marshal believes there was foul play?”
“Like we discussed before, it would be difficult, if not impossible to prove. Accidents happen.”
“That’s true,” she said. “Lori wouldn’t do anything to harm the bakery,” she added, willing it to be true.
They sat silently for several moments, lost to their thoughts. When his father’s surgeon entered the waiting room, Joe leapt to his feet. Kristine rose along with him and laid a hand on his arm.
The surgeon smiled broadly. “Your father is fine. The surgery went off without a hitch. You’ll be able to see him in recovery in about an hour.”
Joe thanked him profusely and dropped back into his chair when the doctor left. He tipped his head back and ran his hands along the sides of his face. He turned to Kristine, grinning. “Thank God,” he said. “And thank you for being here. I would have been a wreck without you.”
She returned his smile. “I’m glad I was here too.”
Later, after visiting his father in recovery, he rejoined Kristine in the waiting room. He checked his watch and seemed to be considering the time. “I was going to ask if I could take you to dinner,” he said, “but I think you’d better start back. It’s a long drive.”
“Yes, and Gracie is probably wondering where I am.”
He watched her for a long moment and shifted awkwardly on his feet. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
She smiled at the sentiment. “When will your father be able to come home?”
He spread his hands. “I don’t know. I’ll probably know more tomorrow when the surgeon comes in to see him.” He sighed and checked his watch again. He searched her face. “You’re not too tired to drive, are you?”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
“If you are, I’d be happy to…”
She waved off any offer that was forthcoming. “I’ll be fine.”
“Will you call me when you get back to Cooper Glenn?”
“The minute I arrive,” she assured him.
“Okay, then. I’m going to walk you to your car.”
“That’s not necessary.”
He wouldn’t be deterred and they walked together along the hallway and to the elevator. They rode down together and he escorted her to the parking lot. She directed him to her car and he accompanied her to her door.
There, he took her in his arms and held her close. “Thanks again for coming,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
She smiled into his eyes and watched as his eyes turned to liquid. He leaned in and claimed her lips in a kiss so sweet she hated for it to end. But it did.
With a long sigh, her squeezed her again and then pulled open her car door. “Be careful. Please.”
“I will.”
***
Just shy of three hours later, Kristine arrived back at Joe’s place. She yawned as she climbed out of her car and was still yawning as she let herself into the house. She hurried out back, in order to let Gracie in. When she arrived at Gracie’s dog run, she gasped. Gracie was gone.
She ran toward the center of the back lawn and searched the space. There was no place to hide really. Though the yard was beautifully landscaped, there were few shrubs tall enough to hide a large dog.
Kristine felt sick to her stomach. What if Gracie had jumped over the fence again? She could be anywhere now.
She hurried into the house and out front of it. “Gracie!” she cried. “Gracie!”
To her utter relief, Joe’s neighbor Maeve came hurrying toward her, with Gracie on a leash. “Oh, Kristine, I’m so sorry,” she said, even before reaching her. “I meant to watch for you, to catch you before you noticed her gone and became worried.”
“That’s okay,” she said. “I’m just glad she’s okay.”
“I’m afraid Gracie started barking and just wouldn’t stop. Joe gave me a key in the event of an emergency. Anyway, I just adore Gracie and Joe said I could bring her over to my place anytime I wished. She’s so good. She just lies at my feet and watches television with me, or keeps me company when I read a book.”
Kristine smiled widely. “It’s sweet of you to watch her for Joe. I know he appreciates it.”
She smiled ruefully. “I’d keep her if he’d let me.” She cocked her head slightly. “I’ve always been so afraid of pit bulls or even breeds mixed with pit bull, but Gracie has changed my opinion. I don’t think I’ve ever met a sweeter animal in my life.”
“I agree,” Kristine said, dropping to her knees in order to give Gracie a hug. “She’s a sweetheart.” She rose and gave her a mock stern look. “If she hadn’t chewed up Joe’s couch, I’d say she was nearly perfect.”
Maeve gasped. “Oh, Kristine. Did she really?”
She nodded. “Yes, she did. I was home at the time, which makes it all the more horrible.”
“Grac
ie,” Maeve sternly. “Why did you chew up Joe’s couch?”
“And a pillow, and Joe’s slipper,” Kristine listed in a scolding tone.
Gracie emitted a pitiful whine.
“She says she’s sorry,” Maeve laughed, but quickly sobered. “May I see the damage? I might be able to help.”
“Sure,” Kristine said. “I feel just awful about it.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much. Joe takes things in stride,” she observed.
Kristine led her back to the house. She hurried to let Gracie out back, while Maeve examined the damage to the luxury sofa. When she returned with Gracie, she found her still kneeling beside it, assessing the damage. She rose. “It’s bad, but could be much worse,” she said. “Since the couch is comprised of several, individual pieces, it’s only the end chair that is damaged. If we have it reupholstered, the whole set will be as good as new.”
Kristine sighed with relief. She’d been so upset about the damage, she hadn’t realized it was contained in one of the sectional pieces. “Do you know someone who could fix it?”
“I do. I have an old friend who owns the upholstery repair shop downtown.” She grinned. “I think I’ll call in a favor. I’ll be right back.”
Kristine watched after her as she left the house. She soon returned with a camera and began photographing the damage. “I’m going to run these photos by my friend’s shop tomorrow. I’m hoping she either has this fabric on hand, or can get a hold of it quickly. Either way, we’ll get this fixed right up.”
“Just let me know what I need to do,” Kristine said. “If I have to deliver it to your friend, will you let me know? I’m sure I could borrow a truck from someone.”
“No, no,” she said, waving dismissively. “I’ll have her come here.” She smiled. “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll take care of it.”
“But…”
“It’s really fine, Kristine.”
“But I can’t let you deal with it. I should have to since it happened on my watch.”
“I know how we can settle this,” Maeve said with an impish grin. “I’ll take care of the damaged couch if you’ll teach me to bake that delicious cake I love so much.”
Kristine grinned back. “Despite the fact that it’s an old family recipe, I’m going to do just that. When do you want to start?”
“Tomorrow,” she answered with a hopeful expression on her face. “You see, I have friends coming for the weekend and I’d love to impress them with my baking skills.”
“You name the time,” Kristine said. “I have all the time in the world.”
Maeve gave her a sad look. “I was hoping you were going to tell me you’re going to start rebuilding soon. I don’t know how I’m going to get along without Branton’s.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but…” She emitted a long sigh. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” She hesitated to say more, but continued talking, nonetheless. “Maeve, if I tell you something, will you…?”
“Keep it to myself?”
Kristine nodded.
Maeve raised her right hand. “I won’t tell a soul.”
She gestured for Maeve to take a seat. She crossed the room to the rocking chair. Kristine sat down on the sofa, and Gracie dropped onto her doggie bed. Kristine blew out a breath.
“It’s okay,” Maeve prompted. “I won’t divulge any confidences to anyone.”
Kristine nodded. “I heard from the fire marshal. Apparently the fire started when the hot oil in the fryer overheated. Additionally,” she added with a sigh, “a water bottle fell into the oil.”
“Was there water in it?” Maeve asked with a wince.
Kristine shrugged. “I don’t know, but even a drop or two—not to mention the plastic—made for an explosion of hot oil…”
“Which caught fire,” Maeve finished.
Kristine nodded. “I’m afraid the insurance company may believe the fire was intentional.”
Maeve watched her sadly. “Kristine, I’m so sorry to tell you, but I was having my hair done yesterday at Beverly’s Salon and what you just told me…”
Kristine nodded numbly, fearing the worst.
“It’s all over town.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Kristine climbed into Joe’s bed and patted the comforter beside her. Gracie, beside the bed, appeared to smile and leapt gently onto the mattress. She made several turns, in order to get comfortable, and then settled down beside Kristine.
She gently stroked the pup’s side as she recalled hearing Maeve tell her that the whole town was talking about the bakery burning down. She could understand that the fire would be a topic of conversation under normal circumstances, but to think her fellow Cooper Glennians might believe the fire was set deliberately made her feel ill. She refused to believe Lori had intentionally started the fire. Sure, Lori had a tendency to rewrite history, and was prone to storytelling, but even Lori wouldn’t do something so destructive and potentially dangerous.
She forced away the thoughts for now and closed her eyes. She found herself drifting off to sleep when the phone rang beside the bed. Rising awkwardly, she stretched to reach it. “Hello,” she said sleepily.
Joe spoke in a rush, “You’re in bed. I’m sorry to call, but…”
“Oh, Joe. I’m sorry. I was supposed to call you.”
“I was worried,” he said.
“Again, I’m sorry if I worried you. When I got here, I found Gracie was missing, but Maeve had her and I got distracted…”
“It’s okay,” he said, and she could hear the relief in his voice.
“How’s your dad?”
“Sleeping,” he answered, “which you should be doing. I’ll let you go.”
“Are you still at the hospital?”
“Yes. I’m going to stay here, I think. There’s a fairly comfortable chair beside his bed.”
“You’re going to feel like a pretzel come morning,” she said.
He chuckled. “It won’t be anything new. Gracie is a bed hog. More often than not, I wake up with one arm and leg dangling off the side and her sprawled out in the middle of the mattress.”
Kristine laughed. “Don’t I know it? But admit it, you miss her.”
“Yeah, but she’s not the only girl I miss…”
She couldn’t help the smile that lit her face. She missed him too. It suddenly struck her. She’d fallen in love with Joe Lancaster, the young man who had made her crazy when they were kids.
“Are you there, Krissy?”
She smiled again. Only he insisted on calling her Krissy. “I was just thinking about how you and I used to go at it when we were kids. I thought you were the cockiest…”
“…Jerk you’d ever met,” he finished for her with a laugh, but drew silent. “How do you feel about me now?”
She sighed softly. “Well, I think we’ve both grown up a lot.”
“So, you’ll admit I’m no longer a thorn in your backside?” he asked.
“You are no longer a thorn in my backside,” she acknowledged.
“That’s good news, Krissy, because, the truth is, I…”
“Joe, someone is at the door,” she said, interrupting him when she heard the sound of someone knocking. Why hadn’t the visitor used the doorbell?
Gracie lifted her head and perked her ears. She emitted a low growl. “Joe, Gracie growled!” she said eagerly. “She’s becoming a watchdog. Good girl,” she praised.
“Krissy,” Joe said, his voice deep with concern, “someone is at the door and it’s after nine. It’s kind of late for someone to be dropping by.”
“Oh, I’m not worried,” she said dismissively. “Besides, Gracie is really coming into her own. She growled! She’s such a good girl,” she crooned.
“Uh, huh, that’s good, but…”
“I’d better answer the door. Will you tell your father ‘hello’ for me when he wakes up?”
“Yes, but…”
She quickly hung up the phone. It was a tremendo
us relief to have someone stop by, regardless of the time. She knew in her gut Joe was going to tell her he had feelings for—and she believed she loved him—but… She still felt awkward loving him when Lori had loved him before her. Although a lot of time had passed and as the adage said, ‘all’s fair in love and war,’ she felt as if she and Lori needed to have a conversation in which they came to some sort of understanding.
If she were to enter a relationship with Joe, and Lori was unhappy about it, their sisterly relationship might sustain a mortal blow. And although she was conflicted about that—did she really owe Lori any consideration under the circumstances?—she hated to lose her big sister all together. She had hoped for years that Lori might grow up and figure some things out. Unfortunately, she had an entitlement mentality—but even that wasn’t her fault entirely. If only her parents had forced her to accept some responsibility for her actions. If only they hadn’t caved in to her every wish and desire, in order to avoid the inevitable scene Lori would create when she heard the word ‘no.’
Kristine registered the soft knocking again. Who could it be?
She rose from the bed. Gracie immediately climbed down and followed her down the stairs. She padded to the door and stood on tippy toes in order to see out the peep hole. Her mother awaited her.
She breathed a sigh of relief on one hand—it was her mom, rather than a stranger—but she wasn’t sure she was up to a visit with her mother right now. Regardless, she was here and probably wouldn’t leave until Kristine answered the door.
As she pulled it open, she decided she would start parking her car in Joe’s garage, in order to gain some anonymity. “Hello, Mom,” she said, forcing a smile.
“I don’t blame you for not wanting to see me,” Ruth said.
“It’s not that…”
“Yes, it is,” she said sadly. “But may I come in? We need to talk.”
Kristine nodded and stepped aside. Gracie greeted Ruth with a wag of her tail and followed the women into the family room. As Ruth sat down, she spotted Joe’s damaged sofa. “Gracie?” she said wanly.
The Icing on the Cake Page 17