“No, like nervous.” Jacob tossed a cookie crumb at Ryan. “Oh. Sorry, Dean. I shouldn’t be throwing food in your house.”
“Hey, I’m still a bachelor. Someday you’ll have to apologize to Noelle, but for now, throw away.”
“Oh, well, in that case –” Tom pretended to get ready to throw his entire cookie across the room.
Dean shook his head, amused. “I’m glad he’s a good kid. Thanks for checking on that, Jacob. I’m really glad Samantha has a father.” He and Jacob shared a warm smile. Dean knew how much Jacob’s mentoring of Samantha meant to Hazel. “Hazel’s told me how happy she is that you’re so protective of Sam.”
“Of course.” Jacob looked touched by Dean’s words. “I love that kid like she’s my own flesh and blood. I’m honored to make sure no stupid twelve-year-old boys break her heart.”
“Sam’s too smart for that,” Grayson said. “Honestly, I’m surprised she’s dating anyone at all this young. We all know she gets excited about things, but I thought she was too level-headed for romance at her age.”
“Oh, man, adolescence is a whole new monster.” Ryan shook his head. “Keep an eye on her, Jacob.”
Jacob groaned.
“I think we’d better start cheering you up now,” Dean said, handing Jacob another cookie. “Chin up, Jacob. You don’t have to face this alone.”
“Yeah, Cooper will be by your side every step of the way,” Ryan said impishly. “He’s going to take notes.”
The men continued to chat and make jokes as they ate more cookies and drank their beers. Dean felt his spirits lift more and more, and he realized after a while how much easier it was to be positive when he had them by his side.
It’s clear they’re here to cheer me on,he thought.I’m so grateful.
Dean knew that his supportive community was one of the best blessings he had in his life, and he felt honored by their support more than he ever had before.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Faith clicked her favorite pink pen open and jotted down a few notes, biting her lip in concentration as she worked. Around her, Seaside Sweets Bakery was filled with the cheerful sounds of people laughing and talking, and the clinking of dishes and gurgles of coffee machines.
Faith loved working in coffee shops on the weekends. There was something about being surrounded by energy that helped her concentrate and made her feel more motivated. Besides, getting to sip on a delicious vanilla hazelnut latte while she nibbled on an apple crumb pastry were definitely perks she enjoyed seeking out.
She was working on some of the tasks that she’d agreed to take on for the McCormick Brewery. After years of mentally strenuous legal work, these tasks seemed pleasantly easy to her. She had to concentrate, certainly, but she enjoyed being able to check items off her list at a steady speed. She loved feeling efficient, and she always felt a pleasure in accomplishing tasks.
I agreed to do this for Ryan, she thought, picking up her latte and taking a sip of the creamy, nutty liquid,but I’m really enjoying it more than I thought I would. I’m feeling soenthusiastic about my role and I’m determined to help Ryan succeed in any way possible.
She set down her latte and took a nibble out of the apple crumb pastry. She sighed over how delicious it was, and she felt eager for the end of summer to morph fully into fall. She found herself becoming momentarily distracted by thinking about all of the things that she wanted to do with Ryan and her cousins, such as go for long hikes in the colorful woods, go on hayrides, explore corn mazes, and bake a myriad of delicious apple and pumpkin-themed treats.
She was gazing into space, daydreaming pleasantly of autumn, when she noticed a new customer walk through the front door of the bakery. Her face broke into a smile when she saw that it was Vivian, looking chic in a light blue jacket and colorful bracelets that Alexis had made.
“Hi, Vivian!” Faith waved excitedly to her, and when Vivian caught sight of her she waved back like an excited teenager.
“Hi, Faith.” Vivian hurried over to give her a hug and then sat down in the chair on the other side of Faith’s little table. “Mind if I join you for a little while?”
“Please do. You want to try this apple crumb pastry? It’s incredible.”
“Better yet, I’ll just go order my own quick. In theory, I’m here for coffee, but you know I usually end up getting a pastry, too, ninety percent of the time.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s true for all of us.” Faith laughed. “It’s a great business model.”
Vivian left for a few moments and soon returned with her own apple crumb pastry and cup of steaming hot coffee.
“Mm, two of the best scents in the world,” Vivian said eagerly, setting her plate and coffee mug down with a flourish. She glanced curiously at Faith’s notebook and open laptop. “What are you up to? Working on Saturday?”
Faith smiled when she sensed Vivian’s concern. Before moving to Rosewood Beach, Faith had overworked herself as a lawyer to the point of having a panic attack so bad she thought it was a heart attack. When her doctor had advised rest in order to restore her health, Faith had realized that she needed to turn her whole life around and she’d moved to Rosewood Beach. Ever since then, she’d been balancing work and rest in a way that made her days feel fulfilled and purposeful but also comfortable and peaceful.
“Don’t worry, I’m not working too hard,” Faith assured her. “I’m just doing a little extra busywork for Ryan. I offered to help him out now that he’s taking over the McCormick brewery.”
“He is?” Vivian’s eyes widened, her surprise clear to see on her face.
