“Chef alert!” Paintbrush in hand, Lila poked her head around the corner of the lime-washed brick building. “Batten down the hatches, everyone. She’s coming down the block, and she doesn’t look too happy.”
He straightened. Everyone sped up their pace in a rush to finish.
“The rest is up to you now.” AnnaBeth patted his shoulder. “I’m going to head inside and make sure everything is ready for the final reveal.”
He scrubbed his face with his hand.
“You got this. Just don’t forget to tell her how you feel.”
He prayed Kara would give him the chance to do that. Before she let him have it.
Will had one chance and one chance only. And he didn’t mean to waste it.
* * *
Charging down the block, Kara slowed at the sight of the scaffolding erected next to the building. Her building. And was that Lila drawing an outline of the Eiffel Tower?
Juxtaposed against a Mason jar. Filled with what appeared to be sweet tea and a slice of lemon.
She craned her neck. “Lila?”
Peering down, her friend waved briefly, before she returned to painting in the letters that spelled out Mason Jar Café.
What was going on?
Picking up speed again, she rushed around the corner. The sight that met her eyes halted her in her tracks. Her mouth dropped open.
More than slightly discombobulated, her gaze pinged from Luke and Zach affixing a red-and-white-striped awning over the front entrance, over to the cheerful red-and-white geraniums ErmaJean and her granddaughters were planting in the moss-lined window boxes someone had erected.
The tables. The chairs. Her friends and customers bustled about. Except for Will, standing beside a blackboard placard, which read Welcome to the Mason Jar Café, Home of Truelove’s Apple Galettes.
“What is going on here?”
“Everyone wanted to show you how important you and the café are to us.”
She did a slow three-sixty. “I can’t believe you did this... It’s exactly how I envisioned the Mason Jar, but I didn’t have the money to do this when I remodeled the restaurant. As an outsider, I was afraid of doing too much change too soon.”
A muscle worked in his jaw. “You’re not an outsider. Not anymore. And everyone is sorry we ever made you feel that way.”
She went from table to table, thanking the volunteers, touching a flower petal, fingering the tablecloths. She couldn’t quite believe this was real. That people had done this for her.
Taking her arm, he brought her inside and gave her the grand tour. Leo. Shayla. Trudy. Their commitment and loyalty meant so much. Sam was packing up paintbrushes and sealing up paint cans. Ethan gathered up his tools.
AnnaBeth hugged her. “We’ll talk soon.” Catching sight of one of the ROMEOs out on the sidewalk, her expression sharpened. The older man was a retired school administrator. “But right now there’s someone I want Miss ErmaJean to meet.”
On their way out the door, everyone wished Kara well and expressed their warm regards. Finally, only she and Will remained in the café.
“Is this what you imagined?” He looked at her. “We tried to get it right. Based on the journal you shared with AnnaBeth.”
She was amazed and touched beyond words.
“It’s perfect.” Her lips quivered. “Better than I could’ve imagined. I love it.”
“Your own little piece of Paris.”
“Why did you do this for me, Will?” She ran her hand over the smooth, cool surface of the counter. “Why did everyone do this?”
“This is Truelove’s expression of love for all you’ve done for our community. When faced with the prospect of losing you, everyone wanted to show how much you and your food mean to us. Something we realized almost too late.” He swallowed. “We aren’t too late, are we?”
“An expression of love?” she whispered.
“Everyone loves you, Kara.”
She bit her lip. “Does that include you, too?”
“Me most of all.” His gaze never left hers. “I went into panic mode when I heard the council’s decision to close the firehouse. The sky felt like it was falling. I was wrong. And pigheaded. And stubborn. And stupid. And...” He folded his arms across his chest. “Feel free to stop me at any time.”
She flicked her eyes at him. “Please, feel free to carry on. Get it out of your system once and for all.”
“I’m never going to get you out of my system. And I never want to. I want you to know that if you choose to stay in Truelove, or if you choose to go, I support whatever you decide is best. I support you. Maddox and I just want to be wherever you are.”
“But what about your job? Being a firefighter?”
“I love being a firefighter, but I don’t love anything as much as I love you.” His eyes bored into hers. “I lied to you that afternoon about not seeing a future for us. Worst of all, I was lying to myself.”
She bit her lip. And he wanted to kiss her so bad. To take the pain from her eyes. Sorrow he’d caused. Had he crushed the love she felt for him? Was it too late?
But if he’d learned anything from Kara, he’d learned he must open his heart, show his heart, to have any chance at hers. To be worthy of her.
“I love you, Kara. I’ll find another firehouse and commute if I have to, or find some other work. But the important thing is that we’re together.”
Tears sprang to her eyes.
“Forever.” Taking her hand, he went down on one knee. “Because, darlin’, when I look at you, I see the rest of my life.”
She put her hand to her throat.
“I want to spend my life loving you. Will you marry me? Will you marry Maddox and me?”
Her mouth trembled. In his gaze, she beheld his heart. And his was a heart of love. For her. For her dreams.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I love you so much, Will. Yes.”
He took her in his arms. And in his embrace, she knew she’d found the forever home she’d been searching for her entire life.
* * *
“We should tell Maddox.”
His fingers twined with hers, they moved out to the sidewalk. “Glorieta and Pops, too.”
“Do you think he’ll mind sharing his dad with me?”
Will squeezed her hand. “Are you kidding? The better question is, will he share his Kara with dear old dad? That boy of mine is nuts about you.”
She laughed. “What great taste he has.”
Feigning surprise, he widened his gaze. “Hey, what about my taste?”
She patted his chest. “You are still a culinary work in progress.”
“Chief!”
Letting go of each other, they angled as Mayor Watson, red-faced and puffing, lumbered toward them from the direction of the town hall.
“I’m so glad I caught you...” The mayor wheezed. “Big news.” He placed his hands on his knees, struggling to regain his breath. “Big. Big. The biggest, greatest news.” Beads of perspiration dotted the area around the white bandage on his forehead.
“Sir? Take it easy. Don’t try to talk. Breathe in through your nostrils. And blow it out through your lips. Breathe in through—”
“The town council called an emergency meeting.” The mayor’s blue eyes gleamed. “And they reversed their earlier decision. Truelove will keep its fire station.”
“But the budget?” Will shook his head. “I don’t under—”
“The tornado yesterday provided some much-needed clarity to our more stubborn council members. Thanks to the valiant and heroic efforts of our own TFD, no lives were lost. It could’ve been so much worse, except for the quick action taken by the fire department. The necessary budget adjustments will be made, but no firefighter jobs will be lost.”
She grasped his arm. “Oh, Will. How wonderful.”
&
nbsp; “My men will be so relieved.” He extended his hand. “Thank you, Mayor. You championed the department throughout this entire ordeal. I fully appreciate all you’ve done to make this happen for my crew.”
“When I said, no jobs lost—” the mayor shook his hand “—I meant no jobs lost, Will. I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to look for greener pastures, but the council would like for you to stay on at the TFD, as well.”
He swallowed.
The mayor gripped Will’s shoulder. “Your leadership is invaluable to this town. I realize you may have already made plans to take a position at a bigger firehouse. To a bigger city that can offer you so much more than Truelove ever could. After the way the council treated you, I wouldn’t blame you. But would you give the town another chance to prove how much we appreciate your service?”
Will turned toward Kara. “What do you think?”
“I think if a certain French-loving chef is going to continue to run the Mason Jar, her favorite fire chief ought not to be too far away. God is good.”
He faced the mayor. “Truelove has given me more than I could have ever asked for or imagined. Friends. Love. Home. There’s no place I’d rather put down roots with my family. Thank you for the opportunity, Mayor.”
“Thank you, Chief MacKenzie.”
Will hugged Kara to his side as they watched the mayor head back toward the town hall. “Did that just happen?”
“Stick with me, Chief.” Rising on her toes, she planted a kiss on his cheek. “The best is yet to be. Plus, free chocolate croissants at the station for life.”
“Yep.” He curled a strand of her hair around his index finger. “That’s what I’m really counting on. Besides, if I didn’t marry you first, I was afraid one of my firefighters would.” He winked. “Those croissants of yours truly are quite something.”
She play-smacked him. “You are so ridiculous.”
“And you love me anyway?”
She looked down and then up at him. Leaving his heart lying in a puddle of melted jelly at his feet. “I’ll love you always.”
A sentiment that prompted him to kiss her again. No hard task there. And then she in turn felt compelled to return the gesture. Not that he was complaining.
She pulled back. “Enough of that for now. Take me to see my future son.” She smiled. “Rain check?”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
She cocked her head. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”
He smiled. “Till then.”
“Karwa!” Maddox shouted and ran down the block toward them.
Will frowned. “What’s that he’s carrying?”
She let go of his hand. “He’s got something bundled in a jacket.”
Will’s navy blue TFD jacket.
Pops was doing his best to keep pace, but he lagged about two strides behind the little boy. “Will!”
His heart kicked up a notch. Both he and Kara raced forward. Maddox’s face was red. As if he’d been crying.
Kara reached out her hand. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Chest heaving, Pops caught up to them.
Amid the tears, Maddox’s face shone. “Daddy! I found him. I found him.”
There was a soft meow.
Her lips parted. “Maddox?” She started to shake. “Is that—? Is that...?”
Maddox folded back a corner of his jacket. A cream-colored cat poked out his head.
“Soufflé?” She reached for the little tabby. The cat leaped into her arms. She pressed her face against his fur. “Oh, kitty cat. Where have you been? I’ve been so worried.”
Eyes half-closed, ears forward, the tabby lay content in her arms and purred.
Pops grinned. “That is one happy cat.”
Using the tip of his finger, Maddox stroked Soufflé’s back. “I’m a weal firefighter, Daddy. I wescued Soufflé. I find him for you, Miss Karwa.”
She sat down on the curb and pulled Maddox into her lap alongside the cat. “Thank you, Maddox.” She kissed his forehead. “Thank you for finding Soufflé, sweet boy.”
Will looked at his father. “How? Where?”
Pops grinned. “Maddox insisted Glorieta and I let him search the area around Kara’s house again.”
“But Kara and I both searched. There was no sign of him. Was he trapped under something?”
“We found him sitting on what was left of the back porch. Like he was just waiting for his people to show up.” Pops scratched his head. “Best I can figure, when the tornado hit the house, maybe something fell onto the cage. The door must’ve popped open. And somehow Soufflé escaped through a broken window, or a crack in the wall before the entire house collapsed.”
“But where has he been the last twenty-four hours?”
Pops shrugged. “We’ll probably never know all the adventures he’s seen. I’m just so happy he’s okay.” His dark eyes flickered. “If y’all will excuse me, I left Glorieta in our kitchen. She insisted on putting together a pre-Easter dinner. Deviled eggs, ham and biscuits were mentioned.”
“And sweet tea?”
His father smiled. “Of course.”
“We won’t be far behind you, Dad.”
“Good.” Pops winked. “You know how testy these professional chefs get if you keep them waiting and their food gets cold.” Whistling, hands in his pockets, he set off across the square toward home.
Maddox tucked his head under Kara’s chin. “Soufflé wost his way home, but I help him find it. Now he never be wost again from his twue family.”
She looked up at Will.
He sat down beside her, putting his arm around her, his son and the little cat. “Me, too. Lost nevermore. Not now that I’ve found my one true home and family.” His voice hitched. “No more strays.”
She touched Maddox’s cheek. “Sweetie pie, what would you think about me coming to live at your house?”
He perked. “And be our cooker?”
Will bit back a smile. “Not exactly.”
“I was thinking maybe you could be my little boy.” A line puckered the space between her eyebrows. “And I could be your mommy.” She moistened her bottom lip. “Would that be okay with you, Maddox?”
The child’s features lit. “I dink dat would be de greatest idea ever.” He flung one arm around Kara and the other around Will. “Now you won’t be sad anymore.”
“No,” Will rasped. “I won’t be sad anymore.”
Maddox pulled the both of them close. “And I won’t ever go hungwy for a mommy ever again.”
“I love you so much, Maddox.”
Will’s eyes watered. Kara loving his son was such a beautiful, longed-for sight. She was the mommy Maddox had always been meant to have. And now they’d found each other.
“I wuv you.” Maddox patted the tabby’s small head. “And I wuv you, too, Soufflé.” The cat purred.
Will rose and held out his hand. “Thank you for loving Maddox. Thank you for loving me.”
She got to her feet. Soufflé jumped out of her arms to the pavement. The cat rubbed his head against Kara’s leg and then pranced forward.
“Wait for me, Soufflé.” Maddox tugged at her hand. “Wait at de corner for me and Karwa and Daddy.”
The fire chief kissed Kara’s cheek. “And one day, I promise, I’ll give you Paris.”
Folding the jacket over her arm like a maître d’, her eyes flitted to the Eiffel Tower painted on the wall.
“You already have.” One hand on Maddox’s head, she wrapped her arm around Will’s waist. “And so much more.”
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
For me, change has never been easy. In this story, it seems as if everyone in Truelove is undergoing a season of change. Do you struggle with change? On their journey of faith, Kara and Will must let go of the past if
they hope to truly embrace the beautiful future God has planned for them.
A tornado wreaks destruction on Truelove, but provides an opportunity for its citizens to choose love and forgiveness. This is the spiritual truth I’m learning right now—that every day, in every situation, with every relationship—we are given the choice to choose love and forgiveness. Or not.
Oftentimes living within the contexts of our life relationships we find it challenging to live in peace with each other, with ourselves and with God. And yet, we must not only choose to love our neighbors, but to also show our love in practical, visible actions.
Like Soufflé, once upon a time you and I were strays until God made a way for us to become part of His family. Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is the ultimate expression of love. And it is through Him, we find our forever Home—the true Happily-Ever-After for which we were created.
I hope you enjoyed taking this journey with Kara, Will, Maddox and little Soufflé. I would love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected] or visit www.lisacarterauthor.com.
In His Love,
Lisa Carter
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Love Inspired June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 Page 54