24
ISLA
“How hasyour mother lived in Dogwood Cove for over a year and never taken you to Camille’s for lunch?” Juniper shakes her head in disbelief as she navigates her car into a parking spot along the main street of Dogwood Cove. “They have the best sandwiches. And the bakery next door is probably the best one I’ve ever been to. Their apple nut muffins are to die for.”
“She’s mentioned a bakery with good muffins, but not Camille’s,” I reply as we get out. I immediately pull my jacket hood up against the cold. “Do they have good soup? This is soup weather.” We hurry to the door of the very cute restaurant we decided to visit for lunch. Honestly, this entire town is cute. The town square with the white gazebo right across the street from the café looks like it was plucked out of a Hallmark movie. Stores and business line three of the four sides of the square, with a taller building, town hall, if I remember correctly, taking up the fourth. Even now, the first week of December, when the weather is cold and dreary,colour and life is everywhere. From Christmas lights on all of the street lamps, to winter and holiday-themed murals painted on the windows of many of the businesses. There’s what looks like a sort of nativity scene set up by the gazebo, and a huge tree covered in giant decorations.
Inside, the café is about half full, but we find a table by the front window and sit down, peeling off our winter wear. It’s warm and smells incredible in here, and I look around with wide eyes. “Okay, this place is fantastic.” It’s quirky and vibrant with bright colours splashed everywhere, an adorable chalkboard outlining the specials, a huge display case full of delicious-looking goodies, and subtle music playing in the background.
“Right?” Juni agrees just as a woman with dark hair comes over with two menus.
“Hey ladies, welcome to Camille’s. I’m Mila, and you’ll have to excuse me, but I’m normally in the bakery, not serving people. So if I drop something in your lap, it’s on me,” she says cheerfully. “Kidding.” She grins at our surprised expressions. “I mean, I am normally in the bakery, but I won’t spill anything.”
“Good to know. Hey, aren’t you the owner?” Juni asks. “I’ve been here a few times, and I feel like I heard someone say that once.”
Mila nods. “Yep. Owner, baker, whatever else needs doing, that’s me.”
All of a sudden, realization dawns on me. “Wait. You’re Mila Holt. From the Dogwood Cove Animal Shelter.”
Her smile grows. “Yep, that’s me. Have we met?”
“Not in person. Somehow, we missed each other atthe fundraiser gala. I’m Isla Forrester, from the Cedar Creek Thunder baseball team.”
Mila’s mouth falls open in surprise. “Oh my God! Get up here and hug me, woman!” I let her pull me out of my chair and into her embrace with a laugh. “How the heck did we miss each other that night? Oh wait, I know, because I was running around like crazy the entire time.”
I laugh along with her and Juni. “It was a wonderful evening. It’s so good to finally meet you in person after all those emails and phone calls.”
“Definitely. Well, ladies, lunch is on me.” Mila winks, then pulls out a notepad. “Do you know what you want or do you need a few minutes?”
I glance over at the chalkboard I’d seen on the way in. “I’m going to do the soup and sandwich special, please.”
“Oh, same here.” Juni hands our menus back. “Thanks, Mila.”
“You got it, be right back with some water.”
She walks away and Juni turns to me, leaning over the table. “Okay. So, spill the beans, girl. You came home from the conference saying you had big news, and it’s been killing me to wait to hear it.”
I can’t hide my smile, but I do cast a quick look around to make sure no one can hear. Not that I recognize anyone in here aside from Mila, and she hasn’t returned yet.
“When I went to Vancouver for the National ABS Foundation conference, you’ll never guess who was there.”
“Tom Hiddleston.”
“No.”
“Henry Cavill.”
“No, it wasn’t a British actor.” I laugh, and Juni huffs.
“Well, then, I’m lost. Who?”
I lean forward. “Luca. He was the freaking keynote speaker.”
Juni frowns in confusion. “Why was he the keynote—oh my God. Wait. What? Does he? No way.”
I nod. “Yes way. He has amniotic band syndrome, on his leg. But he doesn’t talk about it all that much, so keep that to yourself. I don’t know if any of the guys on the team or in the office know. Okay?”
Juni mimes zipping her lips shut. “Got it. Secret. Locked away. So he was there, and?” She waggles her eyebrows at me. “Please tell me you finally did the dirty with boss man.”
