Nora sat at a small table, reading a book to her dolly.
Cassie walked across to her friend. “It looks like Aladdin’s cave in here.” Four tables, clustered around the volunteers’ work area, held large rolls of fabric in a multitude of colors.
Megan unwound a few yards of dark blue material. “Isn’t it wonderful? I can’t believe the store in Great Falls donated so much fabric.”
“Neither can I. It’s amazing how generous they’ve been. Will you make the curtains here?”
Nora came over to the work table. “We’re making them at our house.”
Megan smiled. “Just some of them. We decided it would be easier if we sew the curtains from each of our homes. That way, we can make them in our own time instead of having to drive here each day.”
“That makes sense. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You can hold the fabric while I cut it.”
“Sure.” While Megan sliced through the fabric with a sharp pair of scissors, Cassie looked around the room. “When did you arrive?”
“About an hour ago after school finished. Nora and I met Noah’s granddad. He seems like a nice person.”
“How did you—”
“I didn’t go out of my way to say hello. When we arrived, he was sitting outside, having a cup of coffee.”
Nora leaned against Cassie’s legs. “Do you want me to tell you about the book I’m reading? It’s about dragons and princesses, and a small frog called Peter.”
“As long as Megan can spare me for a few minutes, I’d love to hear about your book.”
Nora’s big blue eyes settled on her aunt. “Would that be okay? We won’t be very long.”
Megan folded the piece of fabric she’d cut. “Of course, it’s okay. But before you tell Cassie about your book, I need her to help me lift this roll of fabric off the table.”
Cassie’s eyes widened. “There’s no way you’re lifting anything. You could hurt yourself.”
“You sound just like William.” Megan sighed. “I’m perfectly okay. The fabric isn’t heavy, it’s just awkward.”
“Which is why neither of you is going to move it.”
Cassie’s mouth dropped open. As she turned around, her heart pounded. “Noah? What are you doing here?”
He lifted the roll of fabric into his arms. “Moving this. Where do you want it?”
“Follow me.” Megan smiled and led him across to another table.
Cassie didn’t move.
“I like Noah,” Nora whispered. “He knows lots of funny jokes.”
“You remember him?” Cassie was surprised when Nora nodded.
“Is he your boyfriend yet? I told Noah if he caught you a fish, you might want him to stay.”
Cassie wished their relationship could be fixed so easily. “Noah and I are friends.”
“Aunty Megan says boyfriends are like friends, only better.” Nora pulled her across to the table where she was sitting. “This is my book. Do you like the pictures?”
Cassie sat down and looked at the drawings at the beginning of each chapter. “They’re really pretty.”
“I like the pictures of the princesses the best. I’ll show you my favorite.” Nora took the book out of Cassie’s hands and flicked through the pages. “It’s in here somewhere.”
While Nora searched for the picture, Cassie watched Noah. Even in a blue T-shirt and jeans he stood out from everyone else. He was easily the most handsome man she’d ever met, but there was more to him than his looks. There was something about the way he moved, the way he spoke, and the things that were important to him that made Cassie’s heart melt.
Noah said something and Megan laughed.
Cassie sighed. She wanted to be the person who made Noah happy, but she didn’t know if that would ever happen.
Why had he traveled all the way to Sapphire Bay? Patrick said Noah was busy. Taking time out of his schedule wouldn’t make his workload any easier. Maybe he was worried about his grandfather. If Patrick told him he was working on the tiny home project, he might be concerned he was doing too much.
Or maybe, just maybe, Noah wanted to know how she felt about him.
“Here’s my favorite picture,” Nora said proudly. “It was above chapter ten.” She shoved the book under Cassie’s nose. “Do you like it?”
Cassie smiled at the pink, frilly dress the princess was wearing. “It’s lovely. Why do you like it?”
“’Cos Peter is there. Can you see him?”
It took Cassie a few seconds to remember that Peter was a frog. She looked closely at the picture. “There he is.” She pointed at a little green frog sitting beside the princess. “He’s cute.”
Nora leaned into Cassie. “Peter isn’t a frog for the whole story,” she whispered. “He turns into a dragon. When he breathes on people, their wishes come true.”
“That’s amazing.”
“And guess what?”
Cassie smiled. “What?”
“When Peter breathes on the princess, he thinks she’ll wish for a handsome prince. But that’s not what she wants.”
“What does she want?”
Nora leaned even closer. “The princess knows Peter is lonely ’cos he’s the only dragon in the kingdom. She wishes for more dragons so he can be happy.”
“Does her wish come true?”
“Yes,” Nora said excitedly. “Peter finds seven dragons. It makes him really happy. Do you want to know how I remembered the number of dragons?”
Cassie laughed as Nora jumped up and down. “How did you remember?”
“It was easy. I’m seven!”
Megan looked over Cassie’s shoulder. “Nora must be telling you about Peter.”
Cassie smiled. “She is. He’s the happiest dragon in the kingdom.” Her smile disappeared when she looked at Noah. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too.”
When she looked into Noah’s eyes, she forgot what she was going to say. She’d missed him terribly, and she didn’t know what to do about it.
Megan touched Cassie’s arm. “I’m taking Nora to the kitchen for a cookie and something to drink. Do you want to come with us?”
Cassie rose from the chair, grateful that her friend was looking out for her. “I’ll be okay.”
Nora grinned. “Do you want to come with us, Noah? Pastor John makes yummy cookies.”
“I’ll stay here. I want to talk to Cassie.”
“Okay.” Before she left, Nora tugged Noah’s hand.
He smiled and knelt on the floor. “Yes?”
“Remember to catch a fish while you’re here,” she whispered.
Cassie’s cheeks burned red hot.
“I’ll remember,” he whispered back. “Enjoy your cookie.”
“I will.” And with a quick wave, Nora skipped out of the room.
Noah stood and cleared his throat. “Do you think a fish will help us?”
Tears stung Cassie’s eyes. “It can’t hurt. How have you been?”
“Terrible. How about you?”
“About the same.” Taking a step closer, she searched his face, looking for anything that would tell her what he was thinking. “Are we still friends?”
Noah gently pushed a strand of hair off her face. “I hope so. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth about Emanuel when I had the chance.”
“And I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you explained everything.”
“Do you think there’s a chance we can be more than friends?”
Cassie wiped the tears off her face. “It’s a definite possibility, but you’ll have to catch an amazing fish.”
“Better than Granddad’s?”
“How did you know—?”
“He sent me a photo. I’m confident my fish will impress you.”
The teasing note in Noah’s voice made her smile. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Anything is possible, Cassie Harper. You just have to believe it will happen.”
Cassie sighed. “I’m open to other suggestions.”
Noah held her hands. “My barbecue ribs are pretty good. How does dinner with Granddad and me at six-thirty sound?”
“Like a great compromise. I’ll bring dessert.”
“I’m already looking forward to it.”
Cassie leaned forward and gently kissed Noah’s lips. “So am I.”
Chapter 18
Noah added a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the sauce he was making. So far, so good. The ribs he’d bought from the local butcher had been marinating for nearly an hour. In a few minutes, he’d wrap them in foil and grill them for the next ninety minutes. By the time Cassie arrived, they’d be tender, juicy and, hopefully, finger-lickin’ good.
“You could go on one of those TV shows you like watching.” Patrick stood on the other side of the kitchen counter sniffing the peppery scent of the sauce.
Noah sent him a sheepish grin. His brother and granddad were the only two people in the world who knew he was a closet BBQ Pitmaster fan. “It takes a lot more than a good sauce to get through the elimination rounds.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t try. What time is Cassie arriving?”
“Six-thirty.”
“Hmm.”
Noah glanced at his granddad before covering the sauce with a sheet of foil. “What does that mean?”
Patrick picked up his glass of wine. “Nothing.”
“Hmm isn’t nothing.”
“Sure it is, especially where Cassie is concerned. What are your intentions?”
Noah crossed his arms in front of his chest. “My intentions depend on what Cassie wants.”
“What she wants is a man she can trust. You have to tell her what happened.”
“It doesn’t matter. It was four years ago.”
Patrick shook his head. “You can be as stubborn as an old, cantankerous mule.”
Noah picked up his beer. “Didn’t you say I was a chip off the old block?”
“I should have listened to your grandma. She warned me about Emanuel Ricardo, but I didn’t listen.”
“It wasn’t your fault. No one knew what was going to happen.”
“Your grandma was a shrewd judge of character. All he wanted was his moment in the spotlight. Well, he got it, but not in the way he expected.”
“Nothing turned out the way we thought. Even grandma was shocked by what happened.”
“Talking about your grandma…” Patrick looked around the cottage. “We need flowers.”
Noah frowned. “Why?”
“It’s good luck. You can’t romance a woman without giving her flowers.”
If his granddad was trying to make him less stressed, it wasn’t working. “I’m not romancing Cassie. We’re having dinner. With you.”
“On my first date with your grandma, I gave her a bouquet of daisies. From that moment forward, we never left each other’s side.” Patrick’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “You deserve a woman who loves you like there’s no one else in the world. Someone who gives you the best of who she is and doesn’t expect anything other than the best of who you are. If Cassie is that woman, give her flowers.”
Noah looked at the pride on his granddad’s face, the love for his wife that would never die. His grandparents had found a once-in-a-lifetime love that changed their lives. It had given their son a glimpse of what could be, and their grandsons a life filled with joy.
With tears in his own eyes, Noah walked around the counter. He hugged his granddad and wondered where the years had gone. “Grandma loved you and so do I. I’ll find some flowers for Cassie.”
Patrick’s arms tightened around him. “Good boy. I’ll make the salad.”
With the story of his grandparents’ courtship ringing in his ears, Noah headed outside. If there were any flowers around Flathead Lake, he’d find them. If there weren’t, he would have to be a little creative.
Cassie held the cake box and took a deep breath. She was having dinner with Noah and his granddad. They would share some food and talk about what they were doing. After dessert, she’d come home and spend a few minutes staring at the stars before going to bed.
If tonight was going to be so straightforward, why was she nervous? She’d tried on three pairs of jeans, one skirt, and all three of her dresses before she’d settled on what she would wear. Her yellow sundress wasn’t new, but it was comfortable.
At least Noah’s dinner would be better than the frozen meal she was going to have. The smell wafting across the yard had sent her taste buds to heaven and back. She was a sucker for a good barbecue, and Noah’s smelled divine.
As she was about to leave, her cell phone rang. Rushing across the kitchen, she answered the call. “Cassie speaking.”
“You sound like you’ve run a marathon.”
“Dad! It’s good to hear from you.”
“You sound more positive than the last time we talked. How’s the new collection coming along?”
Cassie looked at the door to her studio. “It’s great. I’ve finished the Victoria necklace. I’m working on some of my own pieces while I wait for the gemstones for the Elizabeth necklace. They should arrive in the next few days.”
“Are you sure you’ll be safe? I don’t like you having so many valuable gemstones in your studio.”
From the moment her dad saw the draft sketches of the royal collection, he’d been concerned. He was worried someone would break in and steal the gemstones and, possibly, hurt her. “The new security system has been installed and I keep everything in my safe. As soon as each piece is finished, a security company from Bozeman collects it and takes it to Manhattan. Besides, no one apart from you, Noah’s family, and my friends know C.J. Davis lives here.”
“I’d still prefer you to work from your jewelry store.”
Jacqueline, her liaison person with Wilson Enterprises, had said the same thing. “It’s only for a few more days. The person who’s looking after my store starts a teaching job next week. When she leaves, I’ll be working from town.”
“Will you be able to meet your deadline with Wilson Enterprises?”
“I hope so.”
Her dad must have heard the uncertainty in her voice. “If you need me to look after your store, I can take some time off work.”
Cassie leaned against the counter. “You’re as busy as I am.”
“I don’t want you to miss this opportunity. If I need to move to Sapphire Bay for a couple of months, I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Dad, but I think I’ll be okay. I’m well ahead of schedule.” Cassie glanced at her watch. “Can I give you a call in the morning? Noah and his granddad have invited me to dinner. They’re staying in Acorn Cottage.”
There were a few seconds of silence before her dad spoke. “Noah and his grandfather are there? When did that happen?”
“Patrick arrived last Sunday. Noah came today.”
“How do you feel about seeing Noah again?”
Cassie looked through her kitchen window. “I thought I would be upset but, when I saw him, I realized how much I’ve misjudged him.”
“But?”
Her dad had a habit of knowing when she wasn’t telling the whole truth. “I’m still upset he paid Emanuel’s legal expenses. It’s not right that Emanuel walked away with no debt, but you lost everything.”
“Once the case went to trial, no one could have stopped it. If Wilson Enterprises knew Emanuel was lying, do you think they would have kept going?”
Cassie rubbed her forehead. “No.”
“The trial had an impact on everyone. If there’s anything your mom’s death taught me, it was that life is too short to hold a grudge against someone. Sometimes you have to let it go and move on with your life. If you don’t, it eats you up and leaves you less than what you were.”
“Have you been able to let it go?”
“It took a while but, yes, I’ve let go of the anger and resentment. So, when am I going to meet Noah?”
“I do
n’t know. We’re still working out what’s happening between us.”
“Do you love him?”
Cassie held the phone tight. “Yes.”
“And how does Noah feel about you?”
“I think he loves me.”
Tony sighed. “It sounds as though I need to meet him sooner rather than later.”
“He’s a good man, Dad.”
“So are a lot of people. But it doesn’t mean they’re good enough for my little girl.”
Cassie smiled. “Your little girl is all grown up.”
“Not in my eyes. Be careful, Cassie. You’ve been through a lot over the last few years.”
“I will. I love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too. Tell Noah and his grandfather I said hello.”
“I’ll tell them. Bye.” Cassie ended the call and picked up the cake box. Tonight didn’t have to be about her relationship with Noah. It could simply be dinner with two people whose company she enjoyed.
With that thought in her mind, she closed the front door and walked across to Acorn Cottage.
Noah wiped his hands on his apron and took the oven-baked fries out of the oven. So far, so good. His granddad was keeping Cassie entertained with stories about his vacation adventures, and dinner was ready to be served.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
The tray of fries landed on the counter, knocking over the ketchup and spraying the wall with thick, red sauce.
“Oops, sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Cassie reached for the dishcloth, mopping up the worst of the mess while Noah rescued the fries.
“It’s okay. I should have been paying closer attention to what I was doing. Did you enjoy Granddad’s story about Alaska?”
Cassie smiled. “I did. I thought he was going to tell me the whale swallowed him whole.”
“That would have been a little too close for comfort. At least the fishing boat made it back to shore before everyone was tipped overboard.”
While Cassie rinsed the cloth, Noah took the dinner plates out of the cupboard. “You put a lot of thought into what you’ve provided in the cottage. Your guests must enjoy staying here.”
“I wasn’t sure what people would expect, so I included everything I would want in a vacation home. There’s probably a little too much, but I thought it was better than forgetting something.”
The Sweetest Thing Page 20
