It certainly had been easy for Megan to forget Sean. She’d never thought of him again after graduation when everyone had gone their separate ways to college. Apparently, Janey had never gotten over him or past their senior prom fiasco. However, Janey’s side of the story had never quite jibed with Sean’s. He’d always claimed it was her who dumped him first and that’s why he’d asked Amanda.
“What does Sean have to do with Sweet Sensations?”
“Everything!” Janey blurted out. “Everything!” she repeated.
Megan shifted on her feet, and even Sammy sensed Janey’s explanation was going to take more than just a minute.
“Maw-mee, doughnut please?” he asked.
She’d just heard his little stomach growl and didn’t want to put him off any longer. Her plan had been to take their time and eat their doughnuts outside. But they’d already gotten to Janey’s later than she’d hoped to, and she sure hadn’t planned on a lengthy conversation with her friend, voyaging into past loves, dumpers and dumpees. “Sure, honey.” She set her coffee cup on the counter, plucked some napkins from the dispenser there and laid them across Sammy’s lap. “Go ahead and eat your jelly doughnut here.” She pulled one from the bag. “Then we have to get going. We don’t want to be late.”
“Late?” Janey’s ears perked up as she moved back behind the counter and started making a fresh pot of coffee. “Late to where?” She poured out what little residual coffee was still in the pot and began to refill it with fresh water.
“Oh, you know, we’re, uh, taking a ride.”
“See Mac farm,” Sammy sputtered between chomps of doughnut and spurts of jelly.
Janey immediately set the carafe down. “You’re going out to MacNeill’s?” Her eyes widenend.
“Just to check out the place for the event.” Megan nodded. “Allie and her kids were going to come along, but Carrie has a bad cold and Allie didn’t want Sammy to catch it.”
She’d asked Mac if it’d be okay for Allie and her kids to come out to the farm along with her, making it sound like his place would be something fun for all of them to experience. But that was only half the truth.
In reality, she was just plain nervous to be alone with him. He confused her. He didn’t make sense. No, MacNeill Hattaway didn’t make sense at all. Not in the way he looked at her. Not the way he was so nice to her. Not the way he acted interested in her. Not when he could have his pick of almost any woman on the planet.
Was it because they were using his farm for the event? Was he thinking that meant there was something more going on between them? Something he expected? Although honestly, he had even been acting nice and interested long before the farm situation came up.
And the worst of it was, when she was around him lately, she confused herself, too. Why did she have such a hard time looking into his eyes? Was she afraid of who she might see there? Maybe a man so different than the one she first believed him to be? Not that it mattered. It really, really didn’t. She’d vowed long ago not to let a man—especially not a man like MacNeill Hattaway—into her and Sammy’s life again. But then, oh—she had to be crazy to even be thinking thoughts along those lines.
“Take a lot of notes.” Janey’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Notes?” She shook her head, trying to clear it of one MacNeill Hattaway. “Oh, I will. For sure. We have to figure out where to set up the parking area. Then we need to know where all the booths and events will be situated around the property.”
“No. I mean, take lots of notes so you can tell me everything about the place.”
“Janey, it’s the old Lochen farm out on Route 48. You know the place well.”
“I know, but it can’t be the same old farm anymore. Not with MacNeill living there now. That’s different … oh, hold on. Can I help you, sir?”
Saved by one of Janey’s customers, Megan swiped at Sammy’s gooey mouth then gathered up the used napkins and threw them away along with her half-empty coffee cup. Tugging her purse onto her shoulder, she was ready to push his wheelchair toward the door where she could call out a good-bye to Janey, when her friend returned, stopping her short with another guy matter.
“So, I never finished my story about Sean Shaffer.”
“Oh, right. What’s going on with him?”
In a millisecond, Janey’s pretty hazel eyes narrowed, making her look atypically malicious. “He’s back in town; that’s what’s going on with him,” she practically hissed. “He’s back in town, and he’s doing it to me all over again.”
Megan tried to make the connection. Was there a community dance coming up she didn’t know about? Had Sean tried to invite Janey or something? “Sorry, Janey, I’m not getting it.”
“The Donut Emporium? The one in the gas station right across the bridge?” Megan noted that Janey refrained from saying “duh,” even though her tone implied she wanted to. “That’s his, Megan. That’s Sean’s place.”
“The Donut Emporium?” She knew of the small doughnut shop of course, but had never considered stopping there. After all, her allegiance was to Janey, and besides that, she and Sammy had enjoyed their routine at Sweet Sensations for forever.
“But Janey, your place is totally different. It’s not a little shop; it’s more like a haven. A really comfortable one. And you have breads and coffeecakes and birthday cakes, all in addition to your doughnuts. Plus a variety of great coffee drinks, did I mention that? And—”
But Janey wasn’t listening. “I just can’t believe him. It’s like the guy has it out for me or something, always ruining my life.”
“Oh Janey. People change, don’t you think? I doubt if he’s the same old Sean you remember him to be.” Not that Megan remembered him as the sneaky, conniving guy Janey thought him to be anyway. “Besides, hasn’t the Donut Emporium always been there?” she asked her friend. “Like ever since we can remember?”
“Well, yeah, but now Sean’s running specials. And he’s sponsoring a girl’s softball team. And he’s sending out those coupon mailers. I got one in my mailbox yesterday. My heart about sank to my knees.”
“Oh.” Megan could just imagine what that must’ve felt like. She was almost afraid to ask her friend the next question. “Have you—have you noticed a decrease in your store traffic?”
“Yes. Not a lot,” Janey said somberly. “But some.”
“And that’s why you made all the signs?”
Janey nodded.
Her friend had always had the ability to create quality bakery products and had a great sense about what it took to create a charming atmosphere for Sweet Sensations. But Janey’s strong suit had never included marketing. Of course, in the past that had never been an issue. Sweet Sensations never required much advertising and pretty much sold itself on its own merits.
But if Sean was going to keep chipping away, trying to attain a bigger piece of the pie, so to speak, Janey probably did need to take some action.
“Well, what if you did this? What if you made the signs a tad smaller for starters?” Megan suggested. “You know, get some of those starburst things you can buy at a craft store. You want them to be visible of course—just not in the way, you know? And then, maybe you could turn it into a promotion so it all makes sense.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, uh, a contest.” She tried to think fast. “A contest where all your customers have to do to enter is to write down their favorite Sweet Sensation. They can enter each time they visit your bakery. Whoever’s name you draw wins a Sweet Sensations gift card or free baked goods for a week. Or whatever you decide.”
“That’s a great idea.” Janey’s eyes lit up as she brainstormed. “I can run it in conjunction with the upcoming Amazing Race. Maybe I’ll even get some new customers that way.”
“Who knows if it’ll work?” Megan shrugged. “But you can try it.”
“I just don’t know why Sean Shaffer is doing this to me, Megan.” Janey finally picked up the carafe again and poured water into the coff
eemaker. “First the prom, and then this.” She pushed the brew button.
“Janey …” Once again Megan started to tell her she suspected that wasn’t Sean’s primary intention. He was probably just trying to make a life for himself back in Loveland. But doubting her friend would care to hear that, she gave Janey a reassuring smile instead. “It’ll all be okay. Don’t worry.”
Janey nodded and gave Megan a smile, too, though a wan one at best. Her friend taken care of for the time being, Megan bent down to Sammy who had been patient beyond belief. Removing his ball cap, she kissed him on the forehead. “Ready, Samster?”
“Reh-hee,” he replied, taking his cap from her hand and clumsily fitting it back on his head.
“Oh! I packed up some bear claws for MacNeill.” Janey came from behind the counter with a bakery box. “And there’re extras for you guys.” She settled the box into Sammy’s lap. “Don’t eat them all up on the way to the farm.”
“Not to worry,” Megan promised.
Just hearing Mac’s name—or even thinking about him—created an instant quiver in her stomach. She hadn’t been able to eat anything all morning and didn’t plan to anytime soon.
Mac was just pulling a navy T-shirt over his head when he heard the crunch of Megan’s SUV on the gravel drive. He’d cut the time close, but everything had taken him longer to get ready than he thought it would.
Though he’d been getting better at cooking for himself the past few months, and even forced himself to settle in and watch a cooking show every now and then, it wasn’t like he was a whiz in the kitchen by any means.
Pizzas might look easy with a little sauce and cheese and whatnot on top, but when you were trying to make one from scratch—crust and all—there was more preparation involved than he would’ve thought. And the worst part was definitely the clean-up. Somehow he’d managed to have more sauce on the counters, floor, and wall than on the pizzas themselves.
He wasn’t sure how the end result would taste, but he thought the house sure smelled good when he took the pizzas from the oven. Wrapping them in foil, he packed them with three drinks, a salad, and some plates and plastic utensils in a broken-down but still usable picnic basket he’d found in his uncle’s hall closet.
Setting the lunch on the island, he noticed his phone vibrating alongside it on the counter. Picking it up, he checked the display. Hal Halvorsen, his agent. Well, Hal’s weekly check-in call would have to wait, Mac decided. Because he had something—actually a pair of someones—more important to attend to.
Sliding into a pair of Reefs by the front door, he sent a word of thanks heavenward for the sunshine as he sauntered outside to the driveway. Of course, the prettiness of the day wasn’t even a contender where Megan was concerned. Already out of the car and opening up the trunk door, her hair was piled on top of her head and she had on some kind of yellowish dress that hit just above her knees, showing off the curve of her calves. She peeked at him over her sunglasses as he shuffled down the stone walkway toward her.
“Hey! Glad you made it. Let me help you with Sammy’s wheelchair.” He sidled up next to her.
“Hi.” She seemed unusually shy to see him, and he had to admit as much as he was looking forward to her coming, he also felt a sudden twinge of awkwardness.
“Oh no—it’s okay. I can get it. I’m used to it.”
“I’m sure you are,” he said, as he stepped closer and grabbed at the metal frame, his hands just inches from hers. “Got it.” He lifted the chair out of the car, over her head, and onto the ground, suddenly aware of how many times a day—a week—a year—that Megan went through the same motions. Unfolding the chair, he took it upon himself to push it over to the rear passenger door where Sammy was buckled in.
“Mac. It you,” Sammy chirped as Mac opened the car door.
“Yes, it’s me, Sammy. How you doing, bud?” He unclipped the seat belt and lifted Sammy out of the car and into the wheelchair.
“Do good,” Sammy answered him.
“He’s always doing good, isn’t he?” Mac smiled at Megan.
“Most of the time he is.” She smiled back.
Mac pushed the chair out of the gravel and into a grassy area to the side of the driveway, feeling somewhat silly about how happy he was about the news he had to share. “So, Sammy … do you like surprises?”
Sammy gave a vigorous nod.
“Great, because I have a surprise for you.”
“Suprise? For me?” Sammy grinned up at him before turning to his mom. “Buh it not my birt-day, is it, Maw-mee?”
“No.” She laughed. “You’ve got a ways to go yet. Your birthday isn’t until the week after All-Stars Sports Day.”
“This is an everyday sort of surprise,” Mac told them. “Actually it’s just something I’ve been fiddling with.”
“More whittling?” She lifted her sunglasses from her eyes, settling them on top of her head, exposing every pretty feature of her face to him.
So she’d remembered, had she? The thought made him smile.
“No, I’ve been doing some of that off and on. But this is something I made that’s a lot different and a whole lot bigger. Something for Sammy and the other kids for the All-Stars Sports Day. I figured he could be the first one to test it out today before we get started on our work. If that’s okay with you, that is.”
He could see the curiosity in Megan’s eyes—how she squinted at him even though the sun wasn’t shining in her eyes in the least. Looking at him as if she was trying to figure it all out. Figure out why he was going to such ends. Couldn’t she just believe he was doing things simply because he wanted to? Wasn’t that reason enough?
She glanced at her son whose face glowed with excitement then back at Mac. Mac figured his excitement probably showed on his face as well. She shook her head, smiling as if she’d been outnumbered. “It’s fine with me, Mac.”
“Where surprise?” Sammy asked.
Mac motioned toward the clearing to the left of the house and barn. “It’s right over there. Ready to see?”
Again, Sammy nodded with earnest, and having Megan’s permission, Mac pushed on through the grass.
“Did you have a hard time finding the farm?” he asked as Megan walked by his side.
“Oh no. I’m somewhat familiar with these back roads. The only hard thing was getting away from Janey’s bakery.”
“Bring you bear claws,” Sammy spurted out.
“Bear claws?” Mac chuckled. “My favorite.”
“Oh, believe me, we know. Janey has signs all over Sweet Sensations.”
“Signs?” He couldn’t imagine what she was talking about.
“It’s a long story, trust me, and …”
He’d been enjoying the first easy flow of conversation they’d had since she got there. It had taken Megan some time to even look his way when she spoke to him. But her chatter came to a halt when she spotted the wooden structure he’d created. She paused in her tracks. “What’s that?”
“That’s the surprise.”
“Surprise for me,” Sammy stated, growing more excited at the sight of the mass of wood.
“Yes, for you.”
“I like it,” Sammy said brightly, his enthusiasm never lacking.
“I like it, Mac.”
Mac laughed from his belly. “Like it? You don’t even know what it is, do you?”
“No. Buh, I like it,” Sammy answered him. “It from you.”
Sammy’s words caught Mac off guard, jarring his heart in an unexpected, touching way. Megan had raised one sweet kid. No wonder she wanted to protect him fiercely from all there was out there that could harm him or his spirit in any way. Mac could certainly understand and appreciate that. Why, just the way Sammy looked at him—with no judgment, no expectation—just pure joy and trust, like the world rose and set in him, made Mac want to make that happen.
“I hope you like bowling,” he told Sammy.
“Like it on TV.”
“Now you can do it yourself,
” he informed Sammy, pushing the wheelchair up against the wooden ramp. “At least I think it’ll work,” he told Megan. “I sort of did a test-drive myself. But we’ll see how Sammy does. The ramp might need a little tweaking.”
He grabbed a light bowling ball from a plastic container sitting next to the ramp and pulled out ten bowling pins from the bin.
“You’re serious.” Megan’s lips crinkled into a mystified smile. “Aren’t you?”
“Very.” He set up the pins in a triangle a ways from the base of Sammy’s chair. “I made the ramp adjustable. Sammy’s chair looks like a good height for it the way it stands right now. But I figured not all kids would have chairs the same height. Or some kids might have longer torsos or whatever. Bottom line is, they need to be able to sit high enough to throw the ball down the ramp.” He picked up the lightweight ball and handed it to Sammy, who didn’t waste any time hurling the ball down the ramp, knocking over a majority of the pins.
“I good bowler,” Sammy stated, pride in every word.
“Really good,” Mac said, picking up the pins and ball, getting them all in position again. “Of course, we’ll need several volunteers to help set up the pins and so on. And I do plan to paint the ramp and make it look decent. I also just put this wood down as a platform.” He stomped on the sheets of plywood beneath their feet. “I figured I’d see Sammy in action first, make sure everything works before I get a cement guy out here to pour a slab and so on.”
“I can’t believe— I can’t fathom you did all of this, Mac.”
“It wasn’t that big of a deal. I have time. And a barn where I set up a work table. Just did some measuring, hooked up a saw, and—”
“Didn’t it hurt your elbow?”
He shrugged. “Not really.”
“Do again?” Sammy asked.
Mac didn’t know how many times he retrieved the ball and set up the pins for Sammy. Sammy’s delight made it easy to keep at it, not noticing the minutes clipping by at all.
“My turn,” Megan finally said. “You take a rest.”
“No, it’s okay. I can do it.”
Wedding Homerun in Loveland, Ohio Page 9