An hour later, she parked in the condo parking lot and looked over to Grams with a sigh. “I was thinking something fast and easy for lunch today,” she said. “Or are you and Gramps going out to Bryce’s to help with the nursery?”
“Tex and Abby are there to help them with last-minute things in the nursery,” Grams said. “I don’t think we’re going to go.”
“Can we have grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup?” Joey grinned at her grandmother, who nodded. Growing up, Grams had made this meal for Joey plenty of times, always opening a can and pouring out the condensedsoup with the star-shaped noodles Joey had loved as a little girl.
But Joey hadn’t eaten canned soup in a long time now, and the moment she walked in the door, she set a pot of water to boil for broth and got out carrots, onions, and celery to make the holy trinity of mirepoix to start the soup.
Joey forgot her cares while in the kitchen, and she told herself that twenty pies would keep her plenty busy, and certainly was something to be grateful for. Her phone chimed with Adam’s assigned ringtone, and Joey wiped her hands on her apron and moved to pick up her phone.
Saw your post. You’re the cutest chef I’ve ever seen.Adam never sent emojis, but Joey would have added a smiley face and a person wearing a chef’s hat right there.I reposted it again. How many orders are you up to?
Her heartbeat skipped a couple of times as she went back to her social media to see if there had been any questions or comments left on her post. When she saw it had over one hundred likes, she leaned back against the counter as if her legs couldn’t hold her body weight.
“What is going on?” she murmured. Joey had never gotten over one hundred likes on anything, and she tapped on the button that told her how many times her post had been shared.
Seventeen.
Joey didn’t even know seventeen people outside of her own family, and her blood raced with excitement through her body.
She tapped there, and she saw Adam’s repost fromCountry Quad, as well as one from her momma, one from Bryce, one from Kassie, and—“Oh,” she said as realizations fell into place.
Pork and Beans had reposted her post with a caption that said,Joey is one of our fantastic chefs at Pork and Beans. She’s offering pies in her own company this year. And trust us, you won’t be disappointed if you get one. It’ll be the crowning jewel of your holiday meal!
Their post had been reposted a couple of times, including by the Daily Grind, which Michelle owned. She had not posted for Joey a couple of days ago.
A new warmth filled her from the soles of her feet to the tips of her hair. “Cake Bites reposted,” she said, her heartbeat doing funny things in her chest. She hadn’t exactly spoken to her boss about doing the pies—and Cake Bites didn’t offer pie anyway, so she didn’t think it would be a conflict of interest. Shehadasked for Tuesday and Wednesday off at the bakery, and now her boss would know why.
She hadn’t gotten any texts or reprimands, and her pulse picked up the pace as she tapped over to her email to see if she had gotten any more orders. Almost ninety minutes had passed since she had posted from the pews at church, and she pulled in a breath and held it as her email brightened on her phone.
She had seventeen new messages, and she whooped right out loud.
“What in tarnation?” Gramps asked. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack, girl?”
“I got seventeen more pie orders!” She rushed out of the kitchen and into the living room, where Grams had settled next to Gramps and had her knitting out. “From that post I made in church. Grams, look!” She thrust the device at her grandmother, who surely couldn’t see it before Joey pulled it back. “Oh, perfect pumpkin pie. Two more just came in. Nineteen orders!”
Giddiness galloped through her, and she tapped back over to Adam’s text.Almost twenty new orders today!she said.I think it’s because Uncle Shawn reposted from Pork and Beans and then Cake Bites picked up on that and posted too.
That’s so exciting, he sent back.I miss you. What are you doing this afternoon?
The scent of chicken broth suddenly filled her nose, and she whipped her attention back to the kitchen. She quickly stirred the celery, onions, and carrots, which she had been sautéing, and then poured them into the boiling broth. She’d give them a couple of minutes just to make sure the carrots would be nice and soft, and then she’d put in the noodles.
I’m going to have chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches ready in twenty minutes, she said.You should come eat.
I have a surprise for you, he said.Do you want it now or when I get there?
AnI miss youand a surprise? Joey’s anxiety couldn’t handle this. Plus, all those pie orders….
My heartbeat is already doing gymnastics, she said.From all the pie orders. Just tell me.
I booked us a horseback riding date on Friday.
She grinned and grinned.Are we going out to Uncle Tex’s or Bryce’s?
Bryce’s, Adam said.Your Uncle Jem said we could ride his horses and he’d meet us there.
That sounds amazing, Joey said.You checked the weather?
No snow in the ten-day forecast, Adam said, and Joey added that to her list of things to be grateful for. Standing in the kitchen, she pressed her eyes closed and murmured, “Thank you, Lord.”
