“So I can add it to my collection of women’s rain gear,” he teased, mitigating the tension between them. “If you’re done with your boots, I’ll take those too. They’ll go nicely next to my shrine of umbrellas.”
She peeled off her coat, her forehead scrunched in suspicion. Rather than hand her dripping rain slicker to Colt, she draped it over the back of a nearby chair.
Although she’d rebuffed his attempt at chivalry, he noticed the glimmer of terror in her eyes had faded. And he mentally addedafraid of thunderstormsto the list of Penny Heart’s Curious Traits and Tidbits he’d been compiling over the last several days.
“Sit here, Pen.” Eliza patted the empty chair beside her.
Penny readily obliged, seeming eager to put some distance between them.
Yeesh.It wasn’t as if he planned to drop a centipede down her dress…again.
“Can I get you something?” Cassie asked her. “A latte? A slice of pie?”
“A cup of tea would be lovely.” Penny swept a few strands of damp hair behind her ears, shooting a sideways glance at Colt as he took the seat on her other side.
“I wouldn’t turn down more pie.” Jack unabashedly handed Cassie his plate.
“Big surprise,” Luke razzed with a good-natured grin.
“Hey,” Jack protested. “Is it my fault Eliza’s baking is so addictive? Besides, your piece was twice the size of mine. I think you get special treatment since you’re married to one of the owners.”
“He might have a point.” Cassie tossed a playful smirk over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen. When she returned, she passed out the refreshments before settling beside Luke, her countenance strained. “First, I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I know it’s late, and the weather is atrocious. And Liza, please thank Grant for watching Ben so you could be here.”
A soft smile illuminated Eliza’s chocolate-brown eyes as she admitted, “They’re having a great time. They were making a fort in the living room out of sheets and couch cushions when I left, getting ready to watch my favorite musical,Singin’ in the Rain.Plus, I whipped up some peanut butter cookies that are safe for dogs, so they can share with Vinny. I think Ben wishes we could have thunderstorms every day now.” Her vivacious, lilting laugh lent a modicum of joy to the otherwise downcast ambience. For a moment, it even made the persistent raindrops clobbering the cobblestone sidewalk seem slightly more chipper.
Cassie smiled, but it quickly wilted into a frown as soon as she turned the conversation back to Frank. “Beverly called to tell me Frank’s prognosis. It’s… not good.”
Colt crossed his arms in front of his chest, bracing himself for the bad news.
Even idyllic small towns like Poppy Creek weren’t immune to heartache and loss.
A fact he knew far too well.
Chapter 2
The heady aroma of bergamot curled from Penny’s teacup as she sipped the piping-hot Earl Grey. She barely tasted the pungent citrusy spice as she swallowed, intently focused on Cassie’s next words.
Ever since Frank Barrie nearly collapsed on the dance floor at Luke and Cassie’s wedding, Penny feared the worst. He’d insisted he felt fine, but his pallid features denoted otherwise.
“Frank had a mini heart attack,” Cassie explained tearfully. “And because of preexisting conditions, his doctor is recommending some severe lifestyle adjustments. At least temporarily.”
“Like what?” Jack asked, taking an unprecedented break from his pie.
“He has to limit his activity as much as possible. Which means…”
“No coffee roasting,” Eliza finished on a horrified gasp.
Penny’s gaze darted between the two women who’d built their business around Frank’s specialty blends. Not only did half the café run off of Cassie’s inventive lattes, but Eliza modeled an entire line of desserts around unique, coffee-infused recipes like her mouthwatering tiramisu cheesecake. Not to mention, thanks to Grant’s outstanding web design skills, online orders for The Calendar Café’s custom coffee blends were skyrocketing.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Cassie admitted. “Or cooking, cleaning, and plenty of other activities we all take for granted. Which makes the fact that Frank lives alone particularly problematic.”
“He needs to marry Beverly already,” Jack laughed, before twisting his face into a more austere expression. “But seriously, I can take care of the cooking. He can order anything he wants off my menu, and I’ll find someone to deliver it.”
Penny smiled fondly at her flannel-clad friend. A giant bear of a man, Jack had one of the biggest hearts of anyone she knew. And considering Frank spent nearly every Saturday night enjoying a plate of all-you-can-eat ribs at Jack’s diner, she didn’t think he would protest the generous offer. Although, Frank’s doctor may want him to cut back on his red meat consumption. But she wouldn’t bring that up in front of Jack. Or he might have his own coronary.
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.” Cassie beamed in his direction. “Beverly has offered to cook for him several nights a week, too. And take care of laundry, basic cleaning, and things like that. However, that presents a problem of its own.”
“What’s that?” Penny leaned forward, her anxious heart sputtering at the mention of Beverly’s troubles.
