“Mama, you gonna get a pancake, too? They got real Maine maple syrup.” Chelsea had to laugh. Her daughter sounded like an advertisement for the tourist board.
“Pancakes do sound good.”
“Are we doing pancakes for everyone?” the redhead asked, strolling to the table with a pad and pencil.
“Hey, Katie,” Theo greeted. “I think they might get pancakes, but I’ll get the Lumberjack special. Chelsea, get whatever you want. Don’t let the little pancake queen talk you into anything.”
“I like pancakes.”
“Me, too,” Jordan chirped, bouncing up and down on the seat beside her. Was it good Theo was across from her? Less chance of him touching her, but there he was with his handsome face and the dimple at the corner of his mouth.
“Anything else?” Katie asked, scribbling on the paper.
“Bacon!” Jordan yelled. A few heads turned, and some chuckles floated their way.
“That’s the way to go. You can never have too much bacon.” A dark-haired man in a police uniform came up behind Katie and nuzzled her neck.
“Hey, I’m working here. Don’t you have people to arrest or at least haul in for questioning?” Katie snarked back
“Aiden, how are you?” Theo said, reaching out and shaking the man’s hand.
“Was hoping to get my wife for a few private moments in the kitchen, but she insists the customers come first.”
Katie rolled her eyes. “Like he didn’t already get a few private moments this morning.”
Aiden patted Jordan on the head. “Who’s your friend here?”
“This is my mama.” Jordan’s excitement echoed through the room. More than a few heads turned this time. What had these people heard about Jordan’s mother? Her?
Both Katie and Aiden stared down at the wedding ring on her finger, then looked at Theo’s. Yup, a matching set.
“This is Chelsea,” Theo said by way of introduction. “These two clowns are Chief Aiden Cavanaugh and his wife, Katie. She owns the place. Best cook around.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Chelsea.” Katie jabbed her elbow into her husband’s side, most likely to stop him from gaping at her. Which he was. As were all the people in the restaurant. At this time of year, they’d mostly be locals, which meant they knew Theo and Jordan and the fact she hadn’t been around since before her daughter had arrived.
Swallowing hard, a smile shadowed her mouth. “Nice to meet you, too, Katie. Aiden.”
“We’ll give you some peace, and I’ll get your order in. How about some coffee while you wait?”
Picking up his cup, Theo said, “I’d love some coffee. Chelsea, did you want a cup of tea?”
He remembered she preferred tea over coffee? Did that even mean anything?
“A cup of tea would be great, if it’s no trouble.”
Aiden put his arm around his wife. “It’s her job. It’s no trouble.”
“You’re going to find some trouble if you don’t go away and let me work.”
As Katie sashayed away, Aiden smirked. “She loves me. What can I say? Guess I better get some work done, too. See you around, Theo. Chelsea, nice to see you again.”
“See me again?” Her gaze met Theo’s as the chief strutted away.
“Aiden’s lived here his whole life. We probably crossed paths a few times the summer you were here.”
She picked up her napkin and unrolled the cutlery inside. Jordan was busy coloring on the placemat with the three crayons Katie had placed on the table when she’d first come over.
Where did she even put her eyes? The people in here had gone back to their meals, but every now and then, some of them would peek over to check out what was happening. What did they all think of her? Looking at Theo was a big mistake. Every special moment they’d had five summers ago flitted through her mind, making her crazy that it had all been ripped from her.
