“Have to call the insurance company.” He practically collapsed against my side as we started walking to where I’d had to park my truck at the opposite end of the block.
“Give me the info and I can call.” I opened the truck door and steadied him as he climbed in. If he used anyone local, I’d be shocked if they didn’t reach out to him. There were benefits to everyone knowing everyone’s business.
Shiloh slumped against the door, and by the time I hurried around to the driver’s side of the truck, he was sobbing again. I slid across the seat, pulling him into my arms. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. I know it doesn’t feel that way right now, but it will be. Things can be replaced. The bakery can be rebuilt.”
“I know that, logically. But right now it feels like nothing’s going to be okay, ever.” I couldn’t fault Shiloh for feeling that way. He’d moved to Harmony Grove to make a name for himself, and now that hard work had gone up in smoke. Literally.
“Let’s get you home.” I put the truck into drive and pulled away from the curb. Instead of going to Shiloh’s place, where we’d spent most of our time lately, I took him to my house. Sure, people might still look for him there but it was less likely. “After we sleep, we’ll start making plans.”
“Yeah. Okay.” We were less than a block from the house when Shiloh’s eyes drifted closed. Somehow, I needed to help him see that he hadn’t lost everything. Not really.
I hooked a finger under his chin, dropping tender kisses from his forehead to his nose. I stopped and he opened his eyes. It felt important that I keep reminding him he wasn’t on his own anymore. He searched my eyes for a moment, as if looking for any hint that I might be lying, and then nodded slowly. I could tell he was trying to believe me, but the weight of his loss still hung heavy around him like a shroud.
17
TEDDY
My eyes wateredat the stench of smoke lingering in the air as I surveyed what was left of Shiloh’s bakery. The fire had been relentless, leaving almost nothing salvageable.
“Teddy…” Shiloh whispered, his voice hoarse and broken. He struggled to keep the tears at bay, or maybe he simply had no more tears left to cry.
“Oh, baby,” I murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder, hoping to offer some semblance of comfort. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”
I’d lost count of how many times I’d said those words to him in the past week. With every day that passed without him being able to set foot in the wreckage, I felt him retreating into his shell a little more. As much as I wanted to help him, there was nothing I could do. Nothing any of us could have done until today, when the building was finally released to us.
“It’s really gone.” His eyes never left the burnt-out shell of his once thriving business. I wanted to remind him that the two of us had worked together on the remodel, and we’d do the same again, but it wasn’t that easy. There was nothing on this plot of land to rebuild. He was right. Shiloh’s Sweets as he’d once envisioned it was gone.
“Oi! What’s all this then?” A shrill voice cut through the silence, pulling our attention away from the wreckage.
A group of old ladies approached us, their concerned faces a mix of curiosity and sympathy. Mrs. Callahan, the nosiest of them all, led the march with her white hair pulled up into a tight bun.
“Dear me, Shiloh!” Mrs. Jenkins exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth in shock. “We heard about the fire, but we didn’t want to bother you. How are you holding up, sweetheart?”
“Thank you,” Shiloh said, trying to muster a smile. “I’m still a bit numb, if I’m honest.”
Like hell he was. He was ripped open and his wounds were still raw and festering. But he’d never tell anyone that, not even me. It was only because I’d barely left his side that I saw the depths of his pain.
“Of course you are, dear,” Ms. Ruth chimed in, patting his arm. Waylon’s mom had brought dinner by a couple nights ago and asked after Shiloh. He’d been sleeping, something he did in fits and starts these days. We’d spent nearly an hour on the back porch talking about what happened next. “We just wanted you to know we’re all here for you. You’re one of us now, and that means you have half a dozen grandmas who plan on fussing after you.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Mrs. Callahan asked as the group nodded in agreement.
I looked at Shiloh, who hesitated for a moment before answering. “Honestly, I don’t even know where to start,” he admitted, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’ve been trying to reach out to everyone who had orders placed. No one’s been shocked about me canceling, but I feel horrible. They hired me to do a job, and now they’re all left scrambling for cakes.”
“Baby, it’s not like you planned this. Finding a cake is nothing compared to losing your entire business.” I stepped up behind Shiloh and placed my hands on his shoulders. His other fear with losing business was the lost revenue on top of everything. No matter how many times we reassured him insurance would take care of all of that, it still sent him into a spiral.
“Shiloh, dear,” Mrs. Thompson called out, her voice gentle yet firm. “I think I might have a solution for you. The new church at the edge of town wants to open a preschool at some point. That means they have a commercial kitchen that’s not being used right now. Maybe you could set up shop there until you can rebuild.”
Hope flickered in Shiloh’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by uncertainty. “I appreciate the suggestion, Mrs. Thompson, really, but kitchen space is only the beginning. All my equipment is a total loss.” He gestured towards the wreckage, his hand trembling ever so slightly.
“Hey,” I said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We’ll help you find everything you need to get back to baking.”
Someone had started a fund at the bank to help Shiloh with anything insurance didn’t cover. He’d insisted he’d never touch that money because he didn’t want to accept charity, but it was time for him to set his pride aside. People around town had donated because they loved him. It wasn’t just the food he created, it washim.He had an infectious personality and everyone looked forward to seeing that gleam back in his eyes.
Shiloh looked at me, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He turned away from the ladies and kept his voice low. “Teddy, I… I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Of course you can,” I reassured him. “You’ve got the whole town behind you. And you’ve got me. I’m not going anywhere. I helped you build your dream once and I’ll do it again.”
His gaze held mine, and I knew whatever doubts and fears we’d harbored were buried in the ashes. We were in this together, and we’d come out stronger on the other side.
