Looking at both girls, gratitude for their support flooded me. They’d been sending me regular reports, and my bakery was as popular as ever.
Kinsley’s attention diverted to something behind me, a huge smile splitting her face nearly in two.
Willa rolled her eyes and walked back to the counter. “Get a hold of yourself, woman. You’re fawning over the guy who dyed my mouth blue.”
Kinsley waved her off. “Don’t hold a grudge. And all that frowning will give you wrinkles.”
The bell over the door sounded, and Landon and Clay came inside. Landon’s attention snapped to Kinsley, and they nearly ran toward each other.
“Snowflake,” I heard him murmur before he bent her backward, kissing her senseless if the glazed-over eyes and slight sway of her body were any indication.
“Sugar cakes,” Landon greeted Willa with a chin lift before grinning at me. “Aunt Rayna, you’re back.”
“Don’t call me that,” I growled.
He pulled me in for a quick hug before putting his arm back around Kinsley, who was all too happy to attach herself to his side. “So, you’re famous now?”
I snorted. “Not even close. What’s been happening while I was away?” I gestured to the happy couple in front of me. “I mean, besides the obvious?”
Willa shrugged. “We had a streaker run through town. Well, he wasn’t completely naked, but the mankini he wore left little to the imagination, so he might as well have been.”
“Huh, that’s a new one,” I said, my eyes straying from our little group to my bakery. I’d missed being here more than I ever thought possible.
But I was as happy to be back as I was devastated. Grayson was still in LA, and I didn’t know when I’d see him again, if ever.
Yes, we’d parted on good terms, but what if we went back to being friends because of the distance? Or worse, what if we lost touch again?
An arm around my shoulder interrupted my gloomy thoughts. “Hey, you okay?” Willa held me tight, her body brimming with excitement.
“I’m fine. Just thinking of the last few weeks.”
She kissed my cheek and pulled me to the counter. “I have something to cheer you up.”
We walked past my small office and into the parking lot in the back. Willa opened the door with a flourish and waved me through. I stepped outside, curious what she was up to, then spotted the “Welcome back” banner and the huge table heavy with cakes and pastries.
And it also seemed like most of Humptulips was present.
Everyone cheered when I stepped outside. Then the music started up, and I was soon talking to people I hadn’t seen in weeks.
“I tried my best to keep that niece of yours in line,” Myrtle, the town busybody, yelled at me. She must have taken her hearing aid out again. “She doesn’t know how to make coffee, though. Glad you’re back.”
After listening to Myrtle complain loudly about Keith, who kept losing his dentures, I made my way to where Willa stood, her hand in Jameson’s. Sliding my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her in to my side. “Thank you so much for this. Even though I didn’t do much to deserve it.”
“Shut up and enjoy the one party you’ll ever get just for coming back.”
“Rayna.” Jameson nodded at me.
“A word?” I looked at him, nodding to the entry to the bakery.
He grunted his assent and kissed Willa, who watched us with a frown as we left. I hoped we didn’t have to tell her about her dad. But the way things stood, we wouldn’t be able to keep this from her much longer.
The door clicked shut behind us, closing us into the back hallway. I didn’t waste any time, knowing Jameson wasn’t much for formalities. Or talking. “Have you heard from Garret?”
“Hasn’t shown his face. But that doesn’t mean much. He might have messaged her.”
I didn’t think Willa would keep it a secret from her husband if she’d heard from him. But Garret brought out the worst in people, so anything was possible.
“There was an incident in LA.” I hadn’t told Jameson about what happened yet and didn’t want him to be blindsided in case this came back to bite us later on. “Garret showed up at the hotel I was staying at during filming.”
