Lifting my girl’s hand to my lips, I give her knuckles a tender kiss. She’s agreed to stay here with me. With all of us. And I’ve never been happier. It’s not merely because I have her here with me. But that she’s trusting someone to enter her world.
To build a new life with me here.
Walking down the sidewalk, hand in hand, we reach Elliot’s Hot Chicken and venture inside. Ellie’s finally taking some much-needed time off in preparation of the twins’ arrival. And low and behold, Char’s fairy godmother, Betty, has volunteered to come and run the restaurant temporarily. At least until they can find someone to help out on a more permanent basis.
“Hey, doll. Find a table and sit your sweet ass down.”
“Good grief.” I chuckle. “She knows this is a small town with families, right?”
“She’s a work in progress. I’ll talk to her.” Char giggles. “I’m just thrilled she’s here.”
I pull her into me for a hug before we slide into a booth. It doesn’t take long before Betty brings coffee cups and a full carafe. “Your usual?”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Whatever I bring ya.” Betty pats me on the shoulder with an eye roll. “You have a lot of work ahead of you with this one,” she tells Char.
“What does that mean?” I huff out a laugh.
Charlene pats me on my hand, like a mother reassuring a wayward child. “Don’t you worry about it. It’s only girl talk.”
Pouring a cup of coffee for each of us, I place the carafe back down and decide to share my recent conversation with her foster mother. “I may have run something by Liz about helping you get your salon moved here,” I admit carefully.
Her face scrunches. “Without asking me first? Have you learned nothing, sir?” She crosses her arms over her chest in indignation, but she can’t hide that one corner of her mouth is still curled up in a grin.
“No, no,” I say quickly. “It wasn’t like that. And I’d never think of doing anything without talking to you first. I just floated an idea by her. I was trying to figure out logistics. So I asked her if she thought anyone in Candy Cane Key would be a good match to take over your original location.”
Her brows shoot up to her hairline. “My original location?”
“Yeah. Wanted to consider all of the options. Like, instead of closing down To Dye For and having all of your equipment shipped here, wondered if maybe Norma Jean might run your Florida place while we opened a second location here.”
“I’d be a chain!” she squeals, eyes wide.
I blink. “What?”
Char rolls her eyes. “It’s a line fromSteel Magnolias.” She snickers. “Remind me to educate you on southern cinematic classics.”
I shake my head at her crazy antics. “Yes. I guess you’d technically be a chain.” I chuckle. “I’ll add that to my list of movies to survive for your sake.”
Her laughter lingers in the air, warm and easy, and I reach for her hand again, unable to stop touching her. There are honestly days I roll over and can’t believe she’s really here. How incredibly lucky I am.
“Liz is fairly certain Norma Jean would be willing to take overoperations there. She just started dating a new guy, and while the jury is out on him, she’s getting more serious about wanting to move out of her apartment and into a house.”
Char looks shocked. “Wow. I can’t believe it. This is really happening.”
Betty returns, depositing two plates of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy on our table. “Enjoy.”
The food looks amazing, but… “So, how long is Ellie going to be gone?”
“Oh, hush and enjoy your breakfast.” Char laughs.
We tuck into our food, holding hands across the table. “So, since we’re talking about the future, I thought I’d share something I’d been thinking about. You know, I’ve always wanted to start something for kids up here. Like a youth program, maybe.”
“Oh?” Char puts down her fork. “Is your biological clock ticking?”
“No,” I tease, poking her hand with my fork. “I just want to create somewhere they can get excited about. Somewhere they feel they belong.” I take a bite of my food. “I was blessed to be able to participate in any activity I wanted growing up. But all kids aren’t that fortunate. I want to use the money my grandfather left me for good.”
“That sounds incredible,” she says, her voice soft.
