Cooking Up Love

by Gemma Brocato

  This was what she needed, the open heavens, nothing bulldozing her effort to breathe. The metal shutter covering the front windows of the café clanged hollowly as she leaned back against it, trying to control her breath. She shivered again, but welcomed the sensation because she was cold, no longer in the grip of a nightmare.

  She sensed Jack next to her and smiled weakly toward him. He avoided touching her as he offered a jacket. She fumbled with the closure, still gasping. He sighed and pushed her hands away, fitting the zipper together and pulling it up before he stepped back. Her gaze remained on the dawn sky as he kept his on her face. Patiently leaning his bare shoulder against the building, both of them waited for remnants of her claustrophobic terror to pass.

  Jem’s breath evened out and tension ebbed away as she became aware of her surroundings. She glanced toward the ground. “I don’t suppose you brought shoes? I can’t go back inside yet—it’s too soon. I wouldn’t bother, but my feet are kind of cold.”

  “Mine, too.” Jack gestured toward his equally bare feet as Jem started guiltily. “I can see you feel bad, but don’t. This whole episode is my fault. I shouldn’t have held you in your sleep.”

  “You know, your insistence on things being your fault is annoying. My bare feet and bad dreams are not your fault any more than these broken front windows,” Jem argued, gesturing toward the café at her back. She softened her tone. “I’ve gotten used to your arms around me in my sleep. I honestly like it. Any other night, snuggling with you wouldn’t be a problem. Tonight was a bit more intense than normal.” She laughed at her deliberate understatement. “That’s what caused the bad dream. Nightmares are a reaction to a stressful situations after the fact.”

  Jake smiled before he leaned nearer and kissed her cheek. She laid her hand tenderly over his as his lips lingered, and her eyes closed. Her eyes remained closed as he moved away. Jack raced up the stairs to get their shoes. When he returned, with Clooney as well as his shirt and jacket, Jem had found a seat on the curb, holding her toes. He sat next to her and together they pulled on socks and shoes.

  A car approached slowly, its headlights illuminating them as they sat silently on the curb. It was the village police cruiser. The driver stopped as the car came alongside them.

  The window rolled down as the driver leaned toward them. “You folks okay?”

  Jem didn’t recognize the young officer at the wheel, but Jack did. “Hey, Pete. Yeah, we’re good. We just needed a little air.”

  “Hey BC, I heard there was a little excitement here tonight. Captain asked us to cruise this street a few extra times tonight. Just to keep an eye on things.”

  Jack nodded briefly. “Thanks. We appreciate it. This is Jem, the owner.”

  Jem raised her hand in a greeting and the officer sent a salute her direction.

  “Evening, or I guess, good morning. I was in last week after I got off shift. I had the breakfast sandwich, which is going to become a new habit of mine I think. I’m off shift in a couple of hours, you know, if you need extra help cleaning up.”

  Jem just stared in response to the generous offer of this person she didn’t know before five minutes ago.

  “Thanks, Pete, but I think we’re good,” Jack answered for her. “We got a fair bit of it done tonight. Mostly cleanup left.”

  Pete nodded, admonished them to call if they needed anything and drove off.

  Jem shot an incredulous look at Jack. “I don’t know him. Why would he offer to help?”

  “It’s what we do,” he answered. “It’s a small town. We help each other. In Granite Pointe, everyone is family. Oh, sure, we have a few bad apples. The kind of person who’d throw bricks through a window and use florescent spray paint to write dirty words on hundred-year-old bricks.” Jack shook his head and pulled his tennis shoe on. “But mostly, we’re good to each other. That’s why I wanted to move back here after college. It’s why, even though I could live in a large city and play professional football, I chose to call Granite Pointe home.”

  Jem leaned into his strength, “Yeah. It feels like home. I’m glad I’m here, too. At first, I resisted moving here. I do miss some things about New York, but I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else. Not now.”

  “Feel like a walk?” Jack asked.

  “The beach?”

  “No better place to catch a sunrise.” His dimples creased with his smile. He stood and held his hand out.

  Jem took it and let him pull her to her feet. They walked the short distance to the rock jetty in silence. Jack signaled Clooney to go play and turned toward her, pulling her into his arms. His lips caressed hers, full of sweet promises. She rose to her toes, her body fitted to his, her arms wrapped around his neck.

  She’d called Granite Pointe home, but she knew the real truth in her heart. Home was in this incredible man’s arms. With Jack as part of her life. Being part of his. It didn’t matter where she lived. Wherever he was, she’d be home. The thought hit her as he pulled her closer and held her lips with his, his arms warm and strong around her. She let her emotions flow toward him and returned his kiss, telling him without words how important the moment was.

  Jem broke the kiss breathlessly, leaning into him, blending their souls through the closeness of their bodies. She laid her head on his chest and the steady beat of his heart soothed as much as his hands stroking her back. Together, they watched the sun rising over the bay, accepting the promise of the new day.

  Chapter 24

  After they’d returned from the beach, Jem had grabbed a quick shower while Jack fed Clooney. Steam curtained her when he slid open the glass door and joined her, his strong fingers flexing on her scalp as he helped rinse her hair. He distracted and detained her with his lips, hands and body, cocooning her body with his, loving her thoroughly, intensely. He finally let her escape the misty confines around the tub when she promised him breakfast.

  His smile was still broad as he ran into the restaurant for a quick bite before tackling the cleanup. The smell of coffee wafted through the café with a powerful punch as Jem stood chatting with Dunk. If Jack was surprised to see Jem’s favorite ROMEO measuring window frames, he hid it well. Winking at her, he shook the older man’s hand before grabbing a mug and helping himself to a freshly brewed cup of adrenaline. “Morning, Dunk. What brings you out here this early, besides the obvious?”

  “I heard about the trouble. Walt Childers called at seven this morning. Insisted I get my butt over here and replace these broken windows, toot sweet. I tried to tell him I’m a retired glazier.” Dunk shrugged. “I guess he figured since my son owned the company now, I’d have more pull. ’Course, he was right. Sonny will be here by noon with replacements. Jem will be open in time for breakfast tomorrow.”

  She was still surprised by Walt’s action as Dunk repeated what he’d told her when she found him waiting in front of the café for her, tape measure in hand. “I can’t believe Walt called you. It isn’t out of character for him to try to get his way with his wife and son, but this is different.”

  “You did a good thing for the Childers,” Dunk answered, patting her hand. “He probably figures he owes you, and this is a good way for him to repay a debt. Tit for tat. He’s doing the right thing.”

  “Dunk, I need a favor.” There was a serious note in Jack’s voice. “Jem disagrees, but I’m convinced this is Tessa.”

  “Jack, we should wait for the police report. You don’t know for a fact that Tessa did this.” She huffed out an exasperated breath and continued. “It could be thrill-seeking teens or SPACES. I thought you were done thinking you’re responsible.”

  “Jem, I don’t think I’m responsible. I believe Tessa is. What can it hurt to check into it?”

  “If she’s as unbalanced as you think, I’d rather you stay away from her. Let the officials handle it.”

  “I won’t take the chance of her getting to you first. I have to find her. Or Nancy. Maybe between her mom and I, we can convince her I’m really through with her.
I thought our confrontation the other morning might have done it, but it looks like it had the opposite effect.” His fist clenched around his cup. “I don’t want to leave Jem alone until this is resolved. Would you stay with her when I’m gone? Sam will be back before ten today, but I don’t—”

  “Say no more.” Dunk held up a hand. “I’m here until the cleanup is done, anyway. You go do what you have to do. I’ll make sure Jem always has company. Nancy favors the nine thirty service at the Congregational church, if you can’t find Tessa. That girl worries me, Jack. She honestly does.”

  “Me, too.” Jack agreed, then added, “It’s got to stop, before someone gets hurt. And my fear is it’ll be Jem.”

  “The other ROMEOS and I can be constant companions until this gets resolved. Some folks say we have nothing important to do, being retired.”

  “Dunk, you don’t have to—”

  Dunk held one gnarled hand in the air, cutting her off. “In for a penny, in for a pound. We like you, Jem. A whole lot. So let us do this.” Smile lines deepened in his wrinkled face when she finally nodded her head, agreeing to let a bunch of old men babysit her. She still thought it was a waste of their time, but didn’t feel like expending energy to argue the point. Not on an empty stomach, anyway. She’d talk Jack out of it later. Dunk stood up and scooted his chair under the table. “I’m here now. Point me in the direction of some cleaning rags and I’ll get to helping with this mess.”

  “I’m fixing breakfast for Jack. When I give you a cleaning rag, it will just be for the dishes after we’ve eaten.”

  Dunk glanced at Jack and shrugged again. “That’s twice today somebody has told me what to do. Not even freaking eight in the morning yet. I’m retired, not living a second childhood. I hated taking orders in the army. I still don’t like it much. It’s why I opened my own business.”

  Jack’s short burst of laughter echoed off the metal shutters covering the broken front windows. He reached for the coffee pot and poured more for Dunk and Jem. “Hearing an order from those sweet lips makes it a bit more bearable doesn’t it?”

  She didn’t give Dunk the opportunity to decline her invitation to a hearty meal.

  Walking toward the translucent curtain hanging over the swinging doors to the back half of the café, she pulled the heavy plastic to the side. “I hope you don’t mind sitting in the kitchen. It’s less dusty. Jack hung this before they sandblasted the graffiti last night.” Before she could step through the opening, she turned in time to see Jack grasp Dunk’s hand in the firm handshake of two men in agreement on one thing. Their resolve to keep her safe shifted her heart. She belonged to this community, and their willingness to embrace her as one of their own made it home. She couldn’t fault them for that. She mock-glared at the pair of them. “Are you guys hungry or what?”

  Jack shot her a wide grin and pumped the older man’s hand. “Thanks, Dunk. I appreciate the help.”

  “It’s what neighbors are for,” Dunk answered. Together they walked toward Jem with coffee mugs in hand.

  Once the trio finished breakfast, Jack took Jem’s hand, the warmth seeping into her soul. “I’m going to see if I can find Tess.” He touched his fingers to Jem’s mouth as she started to speak. “You’re going to tell me it wasn’t her, again. I know you want to let the police handle it. But I can’t, Jem. I’m the reason for this whole mess. Only I can stop it. I have to. You’re too important.”

  Jem kissed the lightly calloused fingertips Jack laid across her lips. “Actually, I was going to say it’s okay. You go do what you have to do. I trust you—I love you. And I know you love me, which is why you’re determined to find her.”

  “I want you safe. I’m going to fix this.”

  The expression on Jack’s face stopped additional comments Jem might have made. Instead, she pressed her lips to his, then turned him toward the door with a little push.

  The bell over the door tinkled prettily as Jack left and Elizabeth and Walt walked in. “Oh my goodness, Jem. My heart stopped when Avery called last night. This is horrible.” Elizabeth enveloped Jem in a bear hug as Walt stood by, holding several dozen donuts and a tray of fresh fruit. “I brought sustenance for the troops.”

  Irene and Avery followed a moment later. Two of Jem’s teammates on the Thursday night darts league arrived with Sam and Eileen. Bruce stayed behind to help Noah and Colby pack the car for the return trip to New Hampshire, and all three would be over soon.

  Three hours later, Jem glanced around, thinking life inside a beehive must feel like this. Every worker had a cleaning rag in their hands, working toward the same goal: fix this mess. Avery had tuned the radio to a Sixties station, a surprising choice for a seventeen-year-old. He quipped there wasn’t any better music to clean to than classic Motown, a fact he’d learned at an early age from his mother. The dust had been cleared, leaving hard surfaces shiny and bright.

  “Alright, everyone. That’s enough.” Jem clapped her hands, raising her voice over the chorus of Dancing in the Street by the Vandellas. When they quieted and stopped moving, she continued. “Look around. You’ve cleaned everything and are going back over the same things. We’re done. I can’t thank you enough for your help. I didn’t expect this. You’ve blown me away with your generosity.”

  Walt Childers leaned on his mop and spoke for the rest of the group. “Even though you’re a newcomer, you’re family. We take care of our own.”

  “Only, let’s hope we never have to do it again,” Sam muttered. “I don’t even clean my own house this thoroughly.” Laughter rang out as Jem’s volunteer army moved to put away buckets, mops and rags.

  Every person hugged Jem as they walked out the door. Elizabeth lingered, holding Jem tightly until Walt cleared his throat, urging her toward the exit. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. I’m going to mix up some special sticky buns tonight. We’ll call ’em our clean-up special.”

  Jem smiled at Avery’s parents. “I’ll remember to do twenty extra minutes of yoga tonight so I can have one.”

  After a quick peck on the cheek, the couple walked out the door. Dunk and Sam lounged against the counter, coffee cups in hand.

  She pointed a finger at the pair of them. “I know what you’re doing. And it isn’t necessary. You guys don’t have to wait for Jack to get back. I’ll be fine.”

  Dunk’s face morphed into an innocent expression. “I’m waiting for Sonny to get here with the replacement windows. Are there any donuts left?”

  “Yeah,” Sam chimed in, pushing himself away from the counter. “Or leftovers from the breakfast I didn’t get invited to. All this time I thought I was your favorite. Sorrowfully, I have to admit it might not be the case. But I’m starving.” His expressive face conveyed hurt and hungry at the same time, boggling Jem’s mind.

  Dunk smirked. “Well, I didn’t get invited. I just sort of crashed the party.”

  Jem sighed in mock exasperation and pointed toward the kitchen. “Come on, Sam. I think there’s leftover pancake batter. If you’re going to hang here so I’m not alone, I might as well feed you. It’s what I do.”

  The second breakfast was prepared and served by the time the new windows arrived. Dunk left Jem and Sam seated at the island in the kitchen and went to supervise the installation. Sam dragged his finger across the plate, collecting the last of the syrup when Jack walked back through the swinging doors.

  As he leaned over to kiss her, Jem read frustration in his face. “No luck, huh?”

  His jaw clenched and popped as he sagged onto the stool next to her. “No. I couldn’t find Tess or Nancy anywhere. I spent the last hour cruising the streets looking for Tessa’s car in front of her friends’ houses. Nothing. When the woman doesn’t want to be found, it won’t happen.”

  Jem rubbed her hand over Jack’s fisted one, struck at how the tables had turned. She offered comfort now, payback for the concern that had plagued him for the past twenty hours. “She’ll turn up eventually. And, until she does, I have a protective escort whenever I
need one.” She lowered her voice. “I still don’t like it. People have lives, you know. They don’t need to, and shouldn’t, waste their time babysitting me.”

  “Jem, I know how obsessive Tessa can get. I’ve seen it before. Sam can vouch for it, too.” He glanced at Sam, who nodded his head vigorously. “I won’t take chances with your safety. None of us wants to see more damage, or God forbid, anyone injured. Please, just humor me.”

  Jem raised her hand to Jack’s stubbled cheek and leaned in to kiss him. She pulled back her gaze searching his face before answering. “I love you. If this will make you happy, I’ll go along with it.”

  Chapter 25

  By Tuesday afternoon, life returned to normal. Except for the presence of her ROMEO protective guards, Jem couldn’t believe someone had thrown bricks through her plate-glass windows just three days earlier. Thanks to the help of her new friends, the entire restaurant gleamed.

  Jem stood behind the cash register finishing up the daily deposit. She closed the cash drawer and turned to her companion of the moment. “Dunk, you don’t have to stay.” Jem had locked the door behind Avery when he completed his shift and left.

  “Hell yes, I do.” Dunk scowled at her from his usual table. He crossed one leg over the other, deliberately settling in. “I promised Jack I’d be your shadow and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do. I brought Boston Globe and if you’ll just pour me another cup of joe, I’ll be fine. It’s what I’d be doing at home, except the coffee is better.”