That sounded like something they could easily do. “We could coordinate with the local schools and set a date that works for everyone.”
“Good idea.” Chloe wrote some notes while Mabel drew everyone’s attention back to the group.
After everyone sent her their ideas, the committee would go through each email and let everyone know which ones they’d incorporate into their plan.
As the meeting ended, everyone gathered their belongings. Liam placed his empty coffee cup beside Chloe’s. “Do you want to visit some stores this morning?”
She nodded, slipping her phone into her bag. “That works for me. We could start at the bakery at the far end of Main Street.”
“Perfect,” he agreed. He glanced over at Oscar, who was busy showing his clipboard to Shelley. “Oscar looks like he’s had a great time. I wonder how many dinosaurs he’s drawn?”
She smiled warmly. “He was concentrating so hard that there must be at least a dozen.”
They collected Oscar and headed toward the front door. As they walked outside, Chloe seemed distracted. The meeting had gone well, so that couldn’t be the problem. She must still be thinking about the message she’d received.
“If there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here to listen.”
Chloe looked up, meeting his concerned gaze. For a moment, it seemed like she might tell him what was wrong, but then she offered a gentle smile. “Thanks, Liam. I appreciate it. Maybe another time.”
A sinking feeling hit him in his chest. He was disappointed Chloe didn’t want his help, but they hadn’t known each other that long. It took time to build trust—and spending a lot of time in Sapphire Bay was something he hadn’t planned on doing.
“First stop, the bakery,” Chloe announced, trying to lift the mood.
“Why are we going to the bakery?” Oscar asked.
Chloe looked down at her son. “Liam and I want to talk to Mrs. Pratchett about Christmas decorations.”
“Like tinsel and lights?”
Chloe’s phone beeped again. She glanced at it briefly, then slipped it back into her pocket. “That’s right.”
Liam saw her frown deepen but didn’t say anything. “You know, Oscar, the last time I was in the bakery, they were selling some new chocolate chip cupcakes. If it’s okay with your mom, I could buy you one. And if you’re really lucky, you could eat it while we discuss the decorations.”
Oscar looked up at Chloe. “Can I, Mom?”
Chloe’s sad smile made Liam’s heart ache. “That sounds like a delicious treat.”
Oscar looked at Liam. “I love chocolate cupcakes. Does Trixie like them?”
Liam shook his head. “Chocolate makes Trixie sick. But she loves the doggie cookies the pet store bakes. We could stop in there after we’ve been to a few stores and get Trixie something to eat.”
“Okay,” Oscar said excitedly.
As they walked along the street, Oscar chatted about school and what his friends were doing. Chloe didn’t say much, but that was okay. She had something on her mind and Liam was more than happy to fill the gaps in the conversation.
When they entered the bakery, the warm aroma of fresh bread and sugar greeted them. Mrs. Pratchett beamed at themfrom behind the counter. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite people! How can I help you today?”
Chloe said hello and began discussing the plans for Main Street. With another person serving Mrs. Pratchett’s customers, they were able to come up with some great ideas that would bring more people into the bakery.
Halfway through the conversation, Liam bought Oscar a muffin. Seeing him enjoy the chocolaty treat made Liam smile.
After they’d finished in the bakery, they continued down Main Street, visiting each store and gathering input from the owners. Even though Chloe had smiled and said all the right things, Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that she still had other things on her mind.
By the time they walked into the pet store, Oscar was more than ready to choose a treat for Trixie.
“I think we made some great progress today,” Liam said to Chloe while Oscar studied the row of homemade treats.
“We did. I’m looking forward to seeing what the other teams have done.”
