Charleston Harbor Novels: Books 1 - 3

by Debbie White

  “Appease them?” Annie raised her voice, but then quickly softened it. “You’re right. That’s exactly what I was doing. I was going along to get along, but that’s all behind us. I found the perfect mate for me, and I love him with all of my heart.” She reached out for his hand.

  Jack took her hand in his and rubbed her thumb with his. “I’ll think about hiring some help. I agree. If I do most of the work, I can still claim that I built it with these two hands.” He chuckled.

  “That’s the spirit. Besides, we have a lot of landscaping to do as well. We really have our work cut out for us.”

  “As soon as we get back, I’ll call some companies,” Jack said.

  Annie’s cell phone vibrated on the table. She glanced over to see the number. It was from her sister, Mary. “I wonder what she wants?” Annie said, picking up the phone. “Hello?”

  “I can’t believe it. We can’t even finish our honeymoon,” Annie said as she tossed her clothes into the suitcase.

  “I gave our apologies to Kenton and his family. He said if we ever want to come back, he’ll allow us to use our unused days.”

  “That’s so nice of him. I hope you told him we will,” Annie said, closing her suitcase.

  Jack took both suitcases and rolled them toward the door. He glanced around the room. “So long, villa paradise, until next time.” He opened the door wide, and he and Annie stepped outside.

  They drove to the airport in a daze. Jack didn’t mutter a single word about the bakery, but after about half an hour of silence, Annie broke it by sobbing.

  “Now, dear, we don’t know the damage yet. It could be minimal,” Jack said, reassuring her by patting her leg.

  “I don’t know, Jack. A fire in a kitchen can be devastating.”

  “Yes, but you have good insurance, and we’ll get it all fixed up. I’m just glad no one got hurt.”

  “Yes, that’s a true blessing. All the employees were gone for the day. I wonder what started the fire?”

  “We’ll find out when we read the report. Right now, why don’t you get your camera out and snap some pictures of these spectacular views? The bridge is coming up soon. The sun is shining and it should make a great picture. I’ll pull off at the lookout,” he said, motioning ahead to the sign indicating the exit.

  Annie took pictures of the bridge and of Alcatraz in the distance. She made eye contact with a nice jolly-looking fellow, who seemed to receive her telepathy suggestion she sent him, and offered to take a picture of them both.

  Soon they were on their way, once again weaving in and out of traffic in the bay area. Once at the airport, they settled into the leather chairs at their gate, waiting to hear their name. They were on a standby list since they had to make immediate changes to their departure. Annie was stunned and still bewildered by the shocking news that she didn’t even hear their names called. Jack went up to the counter, and when he came back, he let her know that everything would be fine. They’d be on the next flight home.

  “I want to go straight to the bakery,” Annie said as they drove into Charleston.

  “Okay, but I’m not sure they’ll let us in. It might be a crime scene.”

  Annie cut a strange look at Jack. “A crime scene? Why?”

  “Just to determine that the fire wasn’t set purposely, I would imagine.” Jack turned the car onto the street of the bakery.

  Annie’s eyes widened when she saw the orange cones and yellow police tape. She gasped. “Oh, my God, look,” she said pointing.

  Jack pulled the car slowly in front as they both looked at the charred remains of the bakery. Annie began to sob.

  “Everything is gone, Jack. The entire bakery is gone.” She cupped her face with her hands and cried.

  Jack found a parking spot the next block up and pulled the car over. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

  Annie wiped her eyes and leaned back into the seat, her head against the headrest. “I can’t believe it.”

  “We don’t know that for sure. Right now, it looks pretty bad, but it could just be on the surface. Let’s go home and call the authorities and go from there. Let’s not get all upset before we have all the answers.”

  Annie’s chest lifted as she took a deep breath. “I have to pick up Buffy from Grandmother’s.”

  “Dear,” Grandmother said, holding out her arms to Annie.

  Annie laid her head on her grandmother’s shoulder and cried. “It’s all gone,” she said, muffled by her grandmother’s blouse.

  Grandmother Lilly held her back and searched her face. “It might be, but you’ll rebuild. It’s not going to be the end of the world.”

  Auntie Patty came up behind them and put her arms around them both. “It will be all right, dear, just as Lilly said.”

  Annie stepped out of their reach and wiped her eyes. “I’ve cried so darn much these last several hours. We drove by the place, and I just can’t believe what I’ve seen.”

  “Now, Annie, listen to your grandmother and auntie. It’s going to be all right. I think we need to head home now,” Jack said, holding Buffy at bay as she tried to lick his face.

  Annie took Buffy from Jack and mashed her face into her fur. “Let’s go home, Buffy.”

  “Call us later and let us know how things are,” Patty called out.

  With one foot in front of the other, Annie crossed to the bedroom in a zombie-like fashion. She plopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Buffy jumped up and lay beside her. Annie turned her head and looked at the fluffy ball. “You know you’re not allowed on the bed, girl.” Buffy blinked but didn’t move a muscle. Annie petted her and continued to look at the ceiling.

  Jack came to the room but stopped at the door. He held up his hands and braced the threshold as he stared into the room. “Baby, why don’t you rest a while? I’m going to make some calls and see what I can find out.”

  “Okay, why don’t you do that,” she muttered, closing her eyes and soon drifting off to sleep. When she woke, she found Jack next to her, spooning her.

  She stretched her arms wide and yawned. “Jack. Jack, wake up,” she said as she jostled him with her hands.

  He rubbed his eyes and then tried to focus on his watch. “What time is it?”

  “We fell asleep.” She pitched her legs over the side of the bed and sat upright. She peered at the clock that sat on her end table. “Looks like it’s midnight.”

  “Midnight? We should just keep sleeping then. Why did you wake me up?” He rolled over away from her.

  “What did you find out about the bakery?” She was wide awake now.

  “I’ll tell you in the morning,” he mumbled.

  “You’re going to sleep in your clothes?”

  He rolled onto his back and sighed. “I guess not.” He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and stood. He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it on the end of the bed. Then he unzipped his pants, stepped out of them, and pitched them near his shirt. Standing in his boxers with his hair sticking up in all directions, he pulled down the bed covers and slid in between the sheets.

  Annie watched this play out before her, and within fifteen seconds of him getting into bed, she could hear him softly breathing.

  “Men—they can sleep through any disaster.”

  Chapter 3

  Annie woke before the sun peeked through the blinds. Her back ached from all her tossing and turning. She stretched and yawned, peering over at Jack as he lay next to her still sleeping. She stood and crossed to the closet, pulling down a light robe from its hanger. She slipped her feet into slippers and shuffled to the kitchen. Coffee—that’s what she needed, and plenty of it.

  As she reached for the coffee, warm arms embraced her, causing her to twirl around. Her eyes met his. “I didn’t even hear you come up behind me.” She leaned in to kiss him.

  “I’m sneaky like that,” he said, kissing her back.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Once you got out of bed, neither could I.” He removed
his arms and took the single serve coffee pod from her hands. “You sit down and let me get the coffee going.”

  Annie moved the few steps toward the table and sat down. She watched Jack as he made her coffee first, then his own. She smiled up at him when he placed the mug before her.

  “You know … everything is better with coffee.”

  “I know. I just can’t believe we’ve been hit with this.” She held her head in her hands.

  “Annie, it’s going to be okay. Your insurance will pay for everything. We’ll get on the phone, get the police and fire reports, and then make some calls.” He sat down across from her and pulled his cup up to his mouth. “Seriously, I promise. It’s going to be okay.” He drew in a taste of the coffee. “What we really need is some of those delicious cupcakes you make.”

  Annie began to sob uncontrollably. Jack slid out his chair and ran to her. “Honey, what’s wrong? Is it something I said?” He wrapped his arms around her.

  “You … you … said cupcakes,” she said, her voice muffled by her hands across her mouth.

  “Oh, baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought how nice this cup of coffee would taste with one of your cupcakes.” Annie turned toward Jack and buried her face in his chest. He calmly slid his hands up and down her back. “Now, now, honey. Get it all out right here. I love you.”

  A trip down to the police department proved to be more upsetting than Jack had promised Annie. It turned out they ruled the fire suspicious and prompted an investigation. Jack read the report three times before giving her the news.

  “Now, listen, just because they opened up an investigation doesn’t really mean anything,” he said, not convincing her.

  “Oh, sure, that’s what you think, but I think it means someone tried to burn down my bakery on purpose!”

  “Why would anyone want to hurt you?” Jack said, cocking his head as he awaited her answer.

  “I don’t know, competition, maybe?”

  “There’s room in this city for more than one cupcake bakery. That’s ridiculous. You’re grasping at straws now.”

  “I don’t know, Jack. I thought about opening up another store nearby. Maybe my inquiry into the leased space prompted this.”

  Jack sighed. “No, that’s crazy talk, Annie. Let’s just wait and see what they find out. In the meantime, what do you want to do regarding your business?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you want to set up somewhere temporarily while we rebuild?”

  Annie pursed her lips. “I really hadn’t thought about that. I guess that would be a good idea, but where?”

  “I have an idea,” Jack said. He held out his arms to her. “Come here,” he said in a commanding but loving tone that made her march right into his arms. “You know I love you right?”

  Annie nodded, her bottom lip protruding.

  “You also know that everything is going to be all right. We’ll get you set up somewhere, we’ll start building our dream home, and yes, it will be stressful, and yes, it will be crazy, but we can handle it. And we can handle it, because why?” Jack pulled away from her and stared into her green eyes.

  “Because we love and respect each other.” Annie lowered her gaze.

  Jack tilted her chin up with one finger. “That’s right. And I promised you on our wedding day that I’d take care of you. I don’t break my promises.” He leaned in and kissed her.

  Chapter 4

  When Annie called her group of employees together for lunch to discuss how the fire would change things, Betsy’s hand flew up first to volunteer.

  “We’ll need to bake the cupcakes in our homes and then sell them via the truck. I know it’s a lot to ask right now, but I’m checking into using a kitchen that is available for lease until the bakery is rebuilt. My sister is going to help, and so are my grandmother and auntie. I’ve made a schedule for each of you.” Annie handed the papers to each employee. “As you can see, this is for your rotation to work the truck. Any questions?”

  “I’m ready to help,” Rebecca said.

  “Me, too,” Morgan echoed.

  Nodding his head, Peter raised his hand. “Boss, you can count me in.”

  Annie smiled. “Thank you, Peter. Thank you, everyone, this means so much to me. So Friday night will be our first test run, and Betsy and I will be the guinea pigs. Saturday it will be me and Rebecca. Rebecca will also be helping her folks with their truck, so she’ll be bouncing back and forth. That should be interesting,” Annie said, heaving her shoulders up.

  “Why don’t I take Rebecca’s spot on Saturday?” Peter suggested.

  “I thought you might be working for Jack on Saturday. But if you can switch with Rebecca that would be awesome.”

  “Consider it done. I can ask Jack to put me on the schedule for Sunday.”

  “Great, sounds like we have a plan. Thank you for sticking with me as we get through this ordeal together. Jack seems to think it won’t take long to rebuild Sweet Indulgence. I hope he’s right. Enjoy your lunch,” Annie said as her eyes traveled to everyone’s plates that now sat before them. “But before we do enjoy our lunch, let’s just say a little blessing shall we?”

  Everyone bowed their heads as Annie shared her thoughts about the recent fire and how blessed she felt that none of her employees had been hurt.

  Annie blew the hair out of her eyes that kept escaping from under her hairnet. She reached into the hot oven and withdrew the next tin of baked cupcakes and set them on the wire rack to cool. She did a count, mumbling the numbers.

  Her tiny kitchen soon had stacks of baked cupcakes ready to be iced. She dropped down on her couch, apron and all, and propped her feet up on the coffee table. Her eyes made contact with Buffy’s. “I know, you need a walk, but I just need a break right now. Can you just hold it, please?”

  Buffy cocked her head and then ran over to Annie. Annie leaned over and grunted as she rubbed her head. “My feet are killing me. I’ve baked six dozen cupcakes so far.”

  The phone rang just then. Annie recognized the number. “Hello, Mary. How are you?”

  “I’m up to my neck in cupcakes, that’s how I’m doing. How about you?”

  “The same. I just sat down. This is the first time I took a break all day. I’m exhausted.”

  “I told Grandmother and Auntie to go take a nap. They’ve been at it for a few hours. Now it’s my turn.”

  “I’m sorry to have saddled you with so much, but you guys have the larger kitchen.”

  “I know, no worries. Have you talked to Betsy today?”

  “No, I haven’t. I suppose no news is good news.”

  “Or she’s lying dead in the kitchen from exhaustion.”

  “Mary McPherson! What an awful thing to say.”

  “Well, I didn’t mean anything by it. But she had a lot to do as well.”

  Annie’s mind wandered to a vision of Betsy lying on the floor, covered in flour. “Listen, I better go. I’ll be over later to help frost.” Annie clicked the phone off and searched for Betsy’s number. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she heard her voice. “How are you doing, Betsy?”

  “I’m doing all right. I have three more dozen to make then I’ll be icing them.”

  “Okay, I’m about done here for the day. I’ll be heading over to help Mary ice the ones they baked today.”

  “Okay, what time are you coming over on Friday?”

  “By about two o’clock. We rented a van that is an empty shell inside and I also rented some baking racks and pans so we should be able to load the cupcakes easily. Anything that won’t fit we can just transport in our own vehicles. We should be ready to sell by five o’clock.”

  “Okay, I’ll be ready and so will the ten dozen cupcakes,” Betsy said with a giggle.

  Annie furrowed her brows and became silent.

  “Annie? Are you there?” Betsy asked.

  “Yes, I’m here. It’s just when you said ten dozen and I know I did six, and I think Mary, Gra
ndmother, and Auntie did ten, too, it puts it in perspective the number of cupcakes we’re dealing with.”

  “Yes, it’s a lot, considering the short time we had and the space to do them in. I miss the big kitchen and plentiful countertops, not to mention the storage space the bakery offered,” Betsy said.

  “Well, it is what it is. That’s Jack’s famous saying. We’ll make it work. See you on Friday.” Annie clicked the phone off and leaned back on the sofa.

  Buffy let out a loud bark.

  “No rest for the weary, huh, Buffy?” Annie rose from the couch and crossed over to where her leash hung. “Okay, but it has to be quick. I have cupcakes to frost.”

  After the short walk outside, Annie resumed her baking detail. She whipped up a batch each of cream cheese, chocolate, and plain vanilla frosting. She’d just put the finishing touches on the vanilla frosted cupcakes when Jack came home.

  “I hope you’ll be fine with toast and cereal for dinner. I’m pooped,” Annie said with slumped shoulders.

  “Baby, we can go out to eat,” Jack said, embracing her. He wiped some frosting off of her cheek and tasted it. “Cream cheese?”

  Annie tried to smile. “Cream cheese, chocolate, and vanilla. I’m too tired to go out to eat. Besides, I have to go over and help frost cupcakes at Grandmother’s.”

  Jack crossed toward the bedroom, taking his jacket off. “I can help. Why don’t we go over together and frost cupcakes?” He turned around, winking at her.

  Annie couldn’t help but smile. In all of her exhaustion, just seeing Jack’s glowing face and glistening eyes put a spark in her. She untied her apron and tossed it on the table.

  She traveled toward the bedroom where she found Jack slowly undressing. He’d taken off his shoes, loosened his tie, and as she watched him remove the belt from his pants, deep feelings began to stir inside. He turned toward her as he began to unbutton his pants.