“We both have nicknames!” she said, laughing. “Do you like unicorns?”
“I love them!” I said so fast.
“Me too. My room is all unicorns. And Ariel. Do you like Ariel?”
“Your brother said you liked unicorns and Ariel.” I nodded. “I do too. Ariel is the best princess. She sings the best songs.”
Goldie smiled so big. “You should come over to my house, and we can watch Ariel with my unicorns.”
“I can’t wait!”
Maybe Camden didn’t think being five was cool, but Goldie was the coolest five-year-old I’d ever met.
CHAPTER ONE
GRAND OPENING
CAMDEN
Present
It’s a great day to be alive.
I’m completely stressed, running on fumes, and don’t see sleep in my future for a long time, but it’s the opening day of Elm & Echo, my new restaurant.
You only get one opening day.
My brain won’t shut off. I went to bed at 2:30 and woke up at 4:30, my thoughts in a whirlwind. I’ve gone over every possible worst-case scenario in my mind and am hopefully equipped for whatever goes wrong.
Because something will definitely go wrong.
I moved back home to Minnesota recently. I wasn’t sure I’d ever live here again—not because I don’t love it, but because I’d found my place in Colorado. The restaurant I opened there is still thriving, but when I found out my dad had cancer and wanted my siblings and me to help him do an overhaul of the run-down resort next to our lake home, I got serious aboutmaking the move to be with my family. He’s thinking about the legacy he wants to leave behind, and I’m thinking about being near him. I don’t want to miss a single day with him.
Which is why, as soon as he texts his standard good morning to the family, I jump on it and pull up a separate thread with just the two of us.
Are you up for coffee this morning? Get our day started out right before the craziness begins?
Dad
I’m always up for coffee with you, son.
I’m at the restaurant already, but I can come back to the house. Or do you feel like getting out? I can have coffee ready at the restaurant in five minutes.
Dad
Choices, choices. Actually, I have a craving for one of Juju’s scones. You up for going to the Kitty-Corner Cafe?
I groan internally. Juliana Fair, best friend to my sister Goldie, and the sister ofmybest friend Jackson, knows how to get under my skin. She owns the cafe in town, and it’s excellent. The girl has been a phenomenal cook since the day I met her as a kid and ate her homemade chocolate chip cookies.
As a chef, I’m particular about all things food, but Juju has only gotten more skilled as the years have gone by. No one can cook like her.
We may butt heads, but I know an amazing scone when I taste one…and the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had.
And I can’t say no to my dad.
I’ll swing by to pick you up in twenty. Sound good?
Dad
