He’s out of my league, he’ll grow bored with me, he’ll break my heart.Her hand shook, and she sliced through her glove and into her thumb instead of the carrot she held. She hissed and dropped the knife. A bead of blood oozed from the wound.
Mistake, mistake, mistake.
She stripped the gloves, washed her hands in the sink, and scrounged for a bandage in the back cupboard where she kept a few first-aid items.
Travis came in as she applied the bandage. “You cut yourself?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t paying close enough attention, I guess. Um, Travis, before you head out, could you give me a minute? I want to talk to you about something.”
“Sure. What’s up?” Travis pulled out a stool and sat.
Bethany set the knife to the side. She didn’t want any more accidents. “Hank’s invited us to California. To his home.”
Travis leaned forward in his chair. “Seriously? To hang with him?”
“I’m planning on turning down his offer.”
“Why? If you’re worried about Grandma Lou’s, don’t be. I bet we could get Rosie to cover for us.”
“That’s not necessary. Hank said he’d hire someone to oversee things while we’re away, and he’d pay for our travel expenses. He thinks we both need a break.”
“Why shouldn’t we take him up on it? It’s been a long time since we’ve had a vacation from this old place.” He cast his gaze around the kitchen like he was seeing it with fresh eyes. “Besides, we could never afford a trip on our own. I thought you liked Hank. You said you trust him. Why wouldn’t we go?”
She put on some fresh gloves, picked up the knife again, and resumed cutting the carrots, careful to keep her movements slow and steady. “I do like Hank. I just don’t think we should leave Grandma Lou’s right now.”
“But why? You need a break. I need a break. Sounds like a perfect opportunity.”
“You want to go to California?” Bethany eyed her brother. He rarely asked for anything.
“Not if you don’t want to.”
“That’s no answer.”
The doorbell jingled, indicating the arrival of their first customer of the day.
Travis slid off the stool. “Keep cutting. I’ll take care of whoever it is.”
Bethany finished chopping the vegetables, then added themto the pot of broth on the big stovetop. She ditched her gloves, but something dragged on the floor—her shoelace had come untied. She started to bend over when Travis came through the swinging door, carrying a giant bouquet of sunflowers in a cobalt blue vase.
“I think Hank really wants you to visit him in California.” He set the vase on the worktable, handing her a small card.
Bethany forgot about her shoelace and read the scribbled note in Hank’s bold hand.
Sunflowers to remind you how bright the sun is in Los Angeles. Thanks for the birthday gift. Wishing on a star. Hank.
She swallowed and nestled the card among the blooms.Mistake, mistake, mistake.“He’s going to be disappointed.”
“We also got a paying customer. Elizabeth’s looking to buy a carafe of coffee to go. Will we sell it that way? She brought her own carafe.”
“Sure.” The doorbell jangled. “I’ll get the pot and see who else is here. You can take out the trash. It’s overflowing.”
Travis nodded, and Bethany wiped her hands on her apron, grabbed the pot of coffee, and went to fill Elizabeth’s carafe. Hank’s publicist stood by the kitchen door in a pale peach number, tapping her French-manicured nails against the counter.
“You’re up bright and early,” Bethany said, trying for a friendly smile. She suspected she was not Elizabeth’s favorite person right now. “I’m, um, sorry about breaking our agreement to keep away from Hank.”
“Pshaw.” Elizabeth waved her hand like it was no big deal. “Hank’s hard to ignore.”
Bethany lifted the pot of coffee in the air. “Travissaid you’re looking for an entire pot of coffee? It’ll be twenty for the pot.”
