“Not really. Every time someone makes a loud noise I jump. I have to set the timer to toast the paninis or I burn them. I even gave a customer the wrong order.”
“Do you think you should be here?”
“It’s better than being at home and worrying about Scotty.” She rang a bell and Vanessa collected the waffles.
“Mr. Jessop will love these,” Vanessa said. “He said he’d bring you some pumpkins when they’re ready to harvest.”
“Tell him that sounds wonderful.” Before Vanessa left, Andrea added a cinnamon roll to another plate and gave it to her. “Tell Gordon the roll is for the fresh lettuces and tomatoes he dropped in this morning.”
“I will.”
David held open the kitchen door. “That was a nice thing to do,” he said to Andrea.
“He’s been amazing to me and the boys. I don’t know how we would have made it through our first year in Sapphire Bay without him.”
He watched her make a large salad. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Andrea shook her head. “I’ll be okay. Pastor John called a security company. They’re installing security lights and checking the locks on my windows and doors at home. We’ll be as safe as we can be.”
“Hopefully, your lawyer calls you.”
“I hope so, too.”
David checked the time. He had two more meetings before he finished for the day, and neither of them would be quick. “I have to get back to work. If you need anything, let me know.”
“I will. Thank you for caring.”
Vanessa walked into the kitchen for the next order. “Natalie loves your chocolate cake. She wants to know if you’ll make one for her husband’s birthday.”
“I’d be happy to. Let me know when she’s finished eating and I’ll come and see her.”
“Okay.” As Vanessa passed David, she sent him a supportive look. She must have heard what Andrea had said.
“I’ll call you tonight,” he said to Andrea on his way out of the kitchen. “If anything changes before then, call me.” Although it was the last thing he wanted to do, he left the café. Apart from his meetings, there was one other person he wanted to speak to. Tanner Sutherland worked at Fletcher Security, one of the most successful security companies in America.
Three years ago, BioTech had contracted his company to transport their prototype prosthetics from Manhattan to San Francisco. The executives who were offering multimillion-dollar funding deals hadn’t seen the neural gel prosthetics working. Thanks to Fletcher Security, no one did until BioTech was ready to show them.
This time, he wanted Fletcher Security to find Andrea’s ex-husband. Scotty’s days of going anywhere unnoticed were drawing to a close, and it couldn’t happen soon enough.
As soon as Vanessa and Rosalie left the café, Andrea called her lawyer again. This time, she was in her office and prepared for their conversation.
After discussing what Scotty could and couldn’t do, they’d decided to contact his lawyer to see if he knew anything about the letter she’d received.
Andrea’s lawyer warned her it could take a few days to receive a reply. It wasn’t the news she wanted to hear, but it was better than not doing anything.
With a heavy heart, she’d collected Andy and Charlie from The Welcome Center and made her way home.
“Katie said our story will be ready to publish soon,” Charlie said from the back seat.
“That’s great,” Andrea said to her sons. “Are you excited?”
She caught the look Charlie sent his older brother. “Sort of.”
“Why sort of? You’ve been looking forward to seeing your book published for ages.”
“What if no one likes it?” Andy asked.
“Each person likes different things. I think it’s great and other people will, too.”
