Love Inspired June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Patricia Johns

  He twined his fingers through hers. “Say the word and I’ll be there.” A call to which he’d be delighted to respond.

  Anytime. Anyplace. Anywhere.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Over the next couple of weeks Kara realized she’d been going about fitting into Truelove all wrong. And she made the necessary adjustments to correct course.

  Each day more petition-signing customers returned. Since her Flip-Off victory, the word about Kara’s cooking had spread. Will had been right.

  The kiss at the Mason Jar was the stuff that dreams were made of. The memory brought a heated tint of pink to her cheeks. And though Will continued to be under a great deal of stress with the fate of the TFD hanging over him, it was by no means the only kiss they shared over subsequent days.

  It was a struggle to keep her mind on the café. She was more or less successful, depending on how long since she’d seen him last.

  Dwight Fleming, owner of a local rafting company and Amber’s father, was the first of the ROMEOs to make a sheepish reappearance. “My wife told me I could either get over it or find other living accommodations, such as the doghouse.”

  By the next day the ROMEO breakfast club was back in full swing. In the booth with his old friends, Pops raised his café au lait to her in a toast.

  Kara, Lila and her mom, Myra, finalized reception food details. The cooking videos on Heart’s Home had found a growing audience. Callie hired her to cater Amber’s baby shower.

  Through her landlady, Wilda Arledge, Kara connected with an agency that delivered weekly meals to shut-ins. She always had leftover food so she began dropping off the extra at the firehouse. And when she discovered there was a soup kitchen located nearby at the county seat, a charity near and dear to her heart, she volunteered to supply a meal once a week.

  One afternoon Maggie talked her into giving her boys and Maddox a short cooking class after the café closed for the day. It was so much fun, she decided to do it again the next week. This time she knew better what to expect for their age level.

  She and Glorieta made a quick trip to the big-box craft store on the highway at the outlet mall. And she had tiny chef hats with their names embroidered—Miss IdaLee had taken care of that—and small aprons for them, as well.

  Maggie and her mother-in-law, Wilda, supervised Austin and Logan while Glorieta oversaw Maddox. Leaving Kara free to teach.

  “Would you consider teaching a couple of classes during the summer session at the rec center?” Maggie pushed the hat away from Austin’s eyes. His tongue sticking out of his mouth, he concentrated on spooning the cherry filling into the dough-lined muffin tin. “Lila says Emma Cate is dying to try out her culinary skills.”

  “Classy Kids Cook?” Kara cocked her head, a slow smile spreading across her face. “I love the idea. Sign me up.”

  “Uh, Maggie?” Wilda pointed to Logan. He had more cherry filling on his hands and face than appeared to have made it to the tart shells.

  Each of them holding an arm high, Kara and Maggie escorted Logan to the sink. Climbing the stool, he thrust his hands under the flowing water and soaped up.

  “Since the petition incident, your aunt GeorgeAnne hasn’t been to the restaurant.” Kara bit her lip. “I didn’t mean for her to feel barred for life.”

  It surprised Kara how much she felt the older lady’s absence. It was weird seeing the two Double Name Club members seated at their usual table near the bulletin board minus their sharp-tongued de facto leader. But Kara didn’t know how to make that right.

  Maggie made sure Logan lathered between his fingers. “Change is harder for some than others.”

  Bringing Will to Kara’s mind.

  “I also discovered that Walter went away to stay with his daughter over the winter.”

  A retired judge, Walter was GeorgeAnne’s not-so-secret gentleman friend.

  Maggie handed a drying cloth to her son. “Walter hasn’t come back, and I think Aunt GeorgeAnne is afraid he never will. I think Walter’s absence was the real tipping point that sent my aunt into orbit. The hardware store is doing better.”

  Which Kara was thrilled to hear. It was hard to be a small business owner. Especially in the current economy. She bore the Allen clan no animosity.

  Maggie took Logan’s hand as he climbed down from the step stool. “I know it was you, Kara, who suggested AnnaBeth do a feature on GeorgeAnne and the store.”

  Kara fluttered her hands. “It was no big deal.”

  “But it was. It gave the store the shot in the arm it needed with publicity. My cousins, GeorgeAnne’s sons, somehow also managed to override her objections to adding an online component to the store, emphasizing its old-fashioned, small-town appeal. Business has picked up. I think the worst is over.”

  “Good news.”

  “Thanks in large part to you shoving my aunt in the right direction.”

  Just then the oven dinged, signaling the first batch of cherry tartlets was ready to be removed. The children watched from their stools at the prep station as she took the tins out of the oven. After the mini-pies cooled, they celebrated by eating them. Plus, a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

  That evening Glorieta took Kara out for a surprise dinner.

  “Monday is Terence’s daughter’s birthday.”

  “How could I have forgotten?” Kara laid down her fork. “And of course, you must be there.”

  She’d become so used to Glorieta as part of the Mason Jar team, she’d almost forgotten Mama G had other responsibilities at home.

  “The restaurant seems to have turned a corner.”

  Oh, how Kara hoped so.

  “I won’t be gone forever.” Glorieta reached across the table and laid her hand over Kara’s. “I’ll be back. You can’t get rid of me that easy, missy.”

  Kara refused to allow herself to cry. She’d known this day had to come. She would just miss the stout-hearted woman so much.

  Blinking rapidly, she lifted her chin. “I wish I could be there this year. Tell Meriah happy birthday for me. I promise to make a trip to Durham next Sunday when the Jar’s closed and celebrate with her, albeit belatedly.”

  “Thinking about bringing a certain fire chief and his adorable son?”

  Unable to hide her smile, she beamed at her foster mother. “Do you think I should?”

  Mama G nodded. “Seems like it’s getting serious. You two have spent a lot of time together since the contest. What has he said to you about his feelings?”

  Kara ran her tongue over her teeth. Actually, not much. But that was her solemn, keeps-his-feelings-close Will.

  “He has trust issues. And a lot of baggage to overcome.”

  Glorieta didn’t say anything, but her gaze never wavered from Kara.

  She twisted the napkin in her lap. “He’s cautious by nature. Which is what makes him such a great leader and fire chief. And after that woman—”

  “His ex-wife.”

  Kara winced. “After she did a number on his head... He has to reason things through for himself. Consider the implications for Maddox. And of course, he’s distracted about the ongoing turmoil over the TFD.”

  She was aware she was rambling. And making excuses?

  “What do you want out of this relationship with Will, Kara? How do you see your future unfolding?”

  “You and I both know the restaurant business can be all-consuming.”

  Glorieta propped her elbow on the tabletop. “So how do Will and his son figure into your plans?”

  “I want a life outside the café, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to buying this property in the first place.” Kara leaned forward. “Open only for breakfast and lunch. Closing each day in time for me to be there after school for my children. With nights free to enjoy my family.”

  Glorieta nodded.

  “As for my business
plans?” Kara opened her hands. “Best-case scenario, the Mason Jar does so well I can hire a manager to take over day-to-day operations. Surprisingly, I think with some training, Trudy would be perfect for the job. Leaving me free to do what I really love.”

  Glorieta pursed her lips. “Cooking.”

  Kara placed her hands on either side of her plate. “And since we’re brainstorming here, one day I’d love to contract the pastries out. Truelove needs its own bakery, which maybe I’d co-own. And if the sky’s the limit on dreaming, I’d add a more upscale haute cuisine restaurant for evening diners?”

  “Big dreams. And why not?” Glorieta’s smile widened. “Your own Truelove restaurant empire.”

  “Above all else, I see Will and Maddox in my life.” Kara sat back in her chair. “I can’t imagine any of it—I wouldn’t want any of it—unless they were there, too.”

  Please, God. Let it be so.

  God’s purposes were always for good. So much had changed for her since moving to Truelove. She’d found a life she hadn’t imagined could be hers. A home.

  Is this what You intended all along for me, God?

  Her feelings for Will so new and real, she was almost too afraid to even verbalize them. Time to stop hiding behind her fears that it couldn’t last. That this, like so many other things she’d loved, was too good to be true. Too good to last.

  Time to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. Time to embrace and enjoy all the blessings God had wrought for her in this small mountain town.

  She’d never been so happy. And it was all because of a small-town fire chief and his adorable son.

  * * *

  With the town council vote scheduled for late afternoon, Will decided to get his Kara and chocolate croissant fix a little earlier than usual on Thursday. He strolled inside and took a seat on a stool at the counter.

  Trudy wandered over his way. “I’m assuming you want the VIP treatment from the boss?” she said with a smirk.

  Will laughed. “If she’s available.”

  Trudy rolled her eyes. “Don’t see her ever being too busy to spend time with you.” She pushed at the porthole door. “I’ll get her.”

  He did a quick scan of the front area dining room. A few lunch patrons still lingered. He waved to Jake and his father-in-law, Nash, probably on a supply run for the orchard.

  The kitchen door swung open and Kara glided through. “Hey, stranger. Long time, no see.”

  Will grinned.

  He and Maddox had dinner at Kara’s just last night. She’d pulled out her collection of ceramic mixing bowls. Vivid reds, blues and yellows, all the way from France. He’d flinched a little every time she let Maddox near the matching prep bowls. But his son had a blast helping put together the tacos—the French-inspired tacos.

  And thankfully, nothing was damaged in the making of dinner.

  “With Glorieta back in Durham, I didn’t want you to get lonely.”

  “That’s very considerate of you,” she said.

  He lifted his chin. “I’m a very considerate guy.”

  “Yes, you are.” She batted her eyes at him. “Among other things.” She handed him a menu. “Time for that rain check.”

  “I thought I might be out of rain checks by now.”

  “Nope. Take a look at the dessert page.”

  “But I usually just—”

  “Will MacKenzie.” She tapped her foot on the linoleum. “Look at the dessert page.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He scanned the listings. So fun to push her buttons. Get her all riled—

  “Whoa.” He looked up. “You put the apple pie back on the menu.”

  “I did.” She sniffed. “Right beside my apple tart galette.”

  He leaned against the stool. “Good for you.”

  “I decided Truelove was big enough for both desserts.”

  He smiled. “I agree.”

  She pretended to take an imaginary order pad from her skirt pocket. “So what will it be today, Chief MacKenzie?”

  “I think I’m going to take a walk on the French side.” He hiked his brows. “The galette, if you please.” He handed over the menu. “See if it lives up to the hype.”

  “Oh, it will.” She gave him a look. “I promise you, it will.”

  He moistened his lips. “Looking forward to it.”

  After placing his order, she returned, propping her arms on the counter. “What’s my favorite firefighter-in-training up to today?”

  “Pops took him to the dollar store. Somehow over the last year, his Easter basket got lost so they’ve gone to replace it.”

  “Ah. The egg hunt on the square tomorrow.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it’s almost Easter.”

  He waggled his eyebrows. “Stick with me, kid, and I’ll make sure you’ve got a front-row seat to all the big events in Truelove.”

  “I look forward to seeing you there.”

  He hunched his shoulders. “By then, I guess I’ll know one way or the other about the station. Being in limbo is the worst.”

  Leo dinged the bell.

  Kara whirled toward the pass-through window. “You know what stressed spells backward, right?” She set the plate before him as if bestowing crown jewels. “Desserts.”

  At the aromatic steam rising off the hot apple tart, his nose twitched in appreciation. “Here goes.” He stuck his fork into the slice, speared off a segment and brought it to his mouth.

  Her gaze fastened on his.

  Will closed his lips and chewed. His eyes widened. “Wow.” He took another bite.

  “As good as advertised?”

  “Better.” He swallowed. “Tastes almost as good as you look.”

  A becoming shade of rose pink blossomed in her cheeks. He loved that she was a woman who still blushed. And that he could cause her to do so.

  Her eyes sparkled. “The galette must be mighty good, then,” she teased.

  “It is.”

  They made plans to meet again that evening. A real date this time. Just the two of them.

  He glanced at the clock above the chalkboard specials. “I should go. I want to go over my closing argument one more time before the council hearing. Pray for me?”

  Reaching over, she squeezed his hand. “Always.”

  He climbed off the stool. “If there weren’t all these people here, I’d give you a proper kiss right now.”

  “I don’t recall it stopping you last time.”

  He laughed. “You are very good for me, Kara Lockwood. But so much of a distraction. Rain check, okay?”

  She grinned. “That tab of yours keeps adding up.”

  Unable to resist her any further, he leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her upturned face. “Tonight.” He sighed. “What is it that makes your food so much better than anyone else’s?”

  “I have a secret ingredient.” She smiled. “Everything I make is made with love.”

  Two hours later he found himself whistling as he walked over to the town hall. But the afternoon went downhill fast. Despite his and Bridger’s impassioned pleas, the council voted to shut down the TFD.

  Afterward, Bridger looked about as stunned as Will felt. “I’m so sorry, man.”

  They parted ways on the sidewalk outside the town hall.

  Will looked across the square to the station. The fire department had been his world for as long as he could remember. There were not enough available slots at the larger county firehouse to absorb the entire TFD.

  How could he face his men? What was his crew going to do now? Will rubbed his throbbing temples. What was he going to do now?

  The Roebuck fire chief would have no need of another chief in his own firehouse. Will found himself in the unenviable position of being overqualified and undervalued.

  He could pretty much count on a demotion. I
f he was even able to secure a job at another fire station. A big if. His entire career might be over. And if he didn’t work for a fire department, what else would he do?

  What else could he do?

  But no matter which way he looked at it, relocating was an absolute given.

  Maddox would be distraught at the prospect of moving away from his best buds, Austin and Logan. When Will had been so alone and Maddox’s life so precarious, Pops had given up everything for them—his career, his home, his town.

  And now when Pops had finally won his battle against cancer, and found his place in Truelove with the ROMEOs again, how could Will ask him to throw it all away?

  He couldn’t. Pain exploded behind his eyelids. He just couldn’t.

  Somehow, he found himself standing in front of the Mason Jar. Late-afternoon light dappled the sidewalk. The diner was closed.

  Where was Kara? His gut knotted. She was probably in the kitchen, baking for tomorrow’s menu. Unaware that everything had changed. Nothing could be the same. Not for him. Not for them.

  This was the end of everything.

  He could hardly believe only a few hours ago he’d felt as if life held so much hope. That finally, after the sorrow, the disillusionment, the loneliness...

  Will raked his hand over his head. What a chump he’d been to think his future would be bright with promise. Liz, God, the town council—he’d been cast aside again.

  There. Were. No. Second. Chances.

  At least, not for him. He was a failure. As a husband. As a son. As a fire chief. And knowing what else he needed to do, soon he’d be a failure as a father, too. Denying Maddox access to the one person he wanted above all else.

  Will refused to stand in the way of Kara’s dreams. She could do nothing to change the fact that he’d lost his job or that he was going to have to move away from Truelove. Her life, her dream, however, was firmly planted in the mountain soil of the sleepy Blue Ridge town.

  He’d never dream of making her choose. He wouldn’t ask her to give up anything for him. Because if she did, he’d eventually fail her, too.

  And that was more than he could bear. To see the special thing between them unravel. The disappointment in her eyes when she looked at him. The resentment of what being with him had cost her. The both of them forced to reenact the animosity he’d experienced with Liz.