He deserved better.
He would have better.
Leaving the bakery, he winced at the bright sunny day. A shock of this magnitude should come with stormy skies. He cursed at the sky.
“Language,” an older woman scolded. Her Bread Basket apron was embroidered with the name Connie in gold cursive lettering. “We’re a family place.”
He gaped at her and then burst out laughing. “No truer words,” he said when his hysterics subsided. “My apologies.”
“I’m Connie. Original owner.” She jerked her thumb toward the bakery. “Couldn’t help but notice you didn’t order anything.”
“I got distracted. Next time, I promise.”
“So you’re staying in our little piece of paradise?”
Cooper dug deep for some patience. The folks around here cared enough to ask and being rude wouldn’t help matters. Especially since he was sticking around. Not just for his vacation or the explanation Scarlett had promised. He had a family and he was staying until they sorted out what that would look like. “Yes.” He meant it. “I like it here.”
“Good. It’s a good place to raise a family.”
He sure as hell hoped he would find out. “Your family is here?”
Connie smiled, her eyes crinkling with delight. “Finally.” She beamed at him. “Scarlett’s a good customer. And a great mom.”
He could only nod. “I, uh, need to get going.”
“School’s out at three,” Connie said. “She and Cora usually head for home around four.”
Cooper bristled. “Do you always tell strangers her business?”
Connie grinned. “Only the strangers with Cora’s eyes.” She pressed a box into his hands. “Enjoy. And I hope we’ll see y’all again soon. Together.”
CHAPTER 5
At her desk, Scarlett tried to put it all out of her head. Impossible. Her life was over. Well, not literally, but her secret was definitely out and parading about town. That scene at the bakery wouldn’t go unnoticed.
Her personal phone chimed with a text. She would need to set some hard limits with Cooper. Instead of looking at her phone right away, she kept on working. But when she finished with her work email and checked her phone, she saw it wasn’t him, it was Lila from the bakery:
head’s up Gram cornered the guy you were speaking with. Says she has a good feeling about him
Great. Connie was a lovely woman and a wonderful local grandmother figure for Cora, but she had no fear of meddling.
did she read it wrong?
fill you in later
Scarlett sighed. Lila deserved a better answer.
and no, Cooper is one of the good guys.
Especially when he wasn’t furious with her. She didn’t take a full lunch break, having come in an hour late, but she took a few minutes to call Trina Ellington.
“I need a favor,” Scarlett said when her book club friend answered. As the manager of the historic Inn on Brookwell, Trina was usually busy, but she also had a devoted staff.
“Anything,” Trina responded immediately.
Scarlett swallowed. This was one of those moments when she appreciated the family she’d built for herself here on Brookwell. She and Cora had been so lucky to find a soft landing here. Work, home, and a full life with amazing support.
“Is everything okay?” Trina prompted.
