They were in love.
Falling deeper into more passionate kisses, Caleb dropped the umbrella in the rolling stream of the side street and clutched her with both arms; his right arm around her neck and the left around her lower back. Their lips were wetter than before, but their heat kept them warm. Evie’s hair clung to her face, and the brief shock of the cold rain made her gasp a bit, but Caleb crept his large hand on top of her head as if still trying to shield her. She squeezed her eyes tighter together and couldfeelin his kisses that his eyes were tightly closed as well. They were.
She let out a gasp and clutched his wet sweater sleeve and for a moment, they stopped to look at each other. He saw the rain glistening against her full lips, and her large eyes expressive as if in sadness, but she was simply moved. He whispered to her, “I love you, Evie.”
Her jaw shook from the cold and the emotions, the muscles in her temples tight. “Caleb,” she stuttered looking at him.
I’m here. What is it?he thought, never looking away. He cradled her face and watched her lips, then gazed into her eyes.
The words tumbled out of her mouth in one breath of longing, “I love you.”
He pulled her in hard and kept her warm.
And the patrons inside watched.
Joey had stopped pouring a cup of coffee for the local Navy veteran Donald Eaton, who was smiling at the young couple. He nodded. Another veteran stopped plucking at his old acoustic guitar on the comfortable chair by the window to look.
Sandy and Kelly stopped in mid-gossip and stared as their pastry flakes fell from the pastries in their hands. Sandy tried not to grin.
Myla Marr smiled and took a sip of hot cider.
Deputy Hunt, Hawkins, and Martin tried not to look.
Sarah watched.
Joey finally walked over and threw open the door. “Hey, you two lovebirds! Get yer asses in here where it’s warm before I get a switch on ya!”
Caleb and Evie laughed with all of their hearts. He picked up the umbrella and held Evie’s hand to walk inside. Joey held the door open for them as they walked by her old iron bistro tables outside. “I was gonna say! Take any longer and I’ll pull your britches down and embarrass y’all further in front of your friends!”
Upon getting inside, Sandy sneered in playful jest, “Y’all looked like two rats in a sock out there.”
Evie raised her brows and flashed a smile.
Kelly gawked.
Sandy winked.
The sound of the café was still quiet as Caleb and Evie walked in between the motley of tables and people staring at them. Donald Eaton stood up and saluted Caleb with a weak smile. “Good to see you back in town, Mr. Wright.”
Evie stopped and watched him salute Mr. Eaton back, smiling. They shook hands and then Evie and Caleb heard Joey call from behind thecounter, “C’mon, you guys! Y’all are off like a herd of turtles! Evie, I only got one bagel left and it’s got your name on it!”
She giggled, and they made their way to the front. Joey asked while she frantically began preparing Evie’s go-to order, “If you can see, I used your designs, and people love them, but I hate them.”
Evie laughed and tilted her head in a good-humor smile, knowing Joey’s behavior. “Why is that?”
“Because it’s not mine, and I can’t take credit for it. Y’all’s breakfast is on me today. I never got to pay ya for it.”
“Don’t worry about it, Joey. You’ve been nothing but nice to me.”
Joey said loudly in her normal voice, “What? You were mad at me the last time you saw me!”
“I know, but please understand why. It’s all water under the bridge now, right?”
Brooks and Dunn’s “Brand New Man” played on the radio suddenly.
How fitting, Caleb thought with a smile.
Joey gave Evie a high-five. “You know it, girl. But look!” She pointed to her fun and trendy spring menu up on the board behind her and added the lighting Evie recommended. There were photos by the local photographer that showcased an aerial view of a rustic country table setting with a closeup of little flowers, strawberries, leaves, pineapple, a bowl of honey, a blue ceramic coffee pot, and the main attraction was a pie done in three segments showing off her three seasonal pies of strawberry, apple, and lemon custard.
