The Missionary's Purpose

by Kat Brookes

  Addy turned to Jake. “Braden knows what the secret is?”

  “Had to tell him,” Jake explained. “I needed his help with this one. Are you ready for your surprise?”

  “Do you even have to ask?” she said excitedly, ready to follow him wherever.

  Only Jake didn’t go anywhere. He worked himself around on his crutches until he was facing the vacant storefront.

  “Jake,” she said, laughing at his silliness. “What are you doing?”

  He produced a key and inserted it into the door’s lock. “Giving you another option for a career path.” Pushing the door open, he motioned her inside.

  “I don’t understand,” she said as she stepped past him. “What does this have to do with my being a pastry chef?”

  “Everything, if you want it to,” he replied as he joined her, balancing himself on his crutches as he closed the door behind him. Sunlight streamed in through the nearly floor-to-ceiling picture windows and filled the room with light. “This place is about to go on the market. I was thinking about buying it and leasing it out for a really low rate—to you.”

  “To me?”

  “Addy, I’ve never seen you happier than when you’re baking and creating your own recipes.” He motioned to the room around him. “It wouldn’t take much to make this place your own. The town doesn’t have a pastry shop or a bakery. Why not do what you love in the town that you love?”

  Shock filled her. “Jake,” she said in a soft gasp. She was so touched by his generous offer. To think that he was willing to buy a building for the sole purpose of giving her a place to start her own business. Oh, how she loved this kind, giving man.

  “Addy, please hear me out before you say anything,” he said with a gentle smile. “You’re between jobs. This is your chance to do something you have a true passion for while giving the town something it doesn’t have. I know you were concerned about funds when we talked about your going into business on your own before. I’ve got money to invest in the building. I can see to any updates to the apartment upstairs and rent it out to help cover the cost of the mortgage. You could fix this bottom floor up however you like,” he said, looking around. “Create the bakery you’ve envisioned in your dreams.”

  Jake’s barely restrained excitement spilled over to her. My own bakery. How many times had she dreamed about that very thing? Addy let the possibility sink in for a long moment as her gaze drifted about the empty room. The building was older, but the current owner had seen to its upkeep well enough. She could tell it had been vacant for several months or more, because several small gossamer webs stretched from ceiling to wall in two of the corners, shimmering in the sunlight. A light layer of dust coated the hardwood floors. That didn’t keep Addy from pushing those things aside in her mind and imagining the changes she would make to the place if it were hers to do with what she would.

  She envisioned the walls painted in warm, soothing pastel shades. Long, glass-front display cases filled with an assortment of that day’s selections. Each of the storefront window shelves decorated specially for each month or holiday with hunger-tempting displays meant to draw in passersby.

  “Can you see it, Addy?” Jake asked. “A bakery specializing in all those sweet treats you so love to bake. Your bakery.”

  “Yes,” she said with a sigh. It was a dream so close she could almost touch it. The time spent in Sweet Springs with Jake had shown her that home really was where the heart was. This was her home. A place she would love to be a part of, start a business in, continue building her relationship with Jake. For him to have gone to these lengths, he had to feel something more than friendship for her. Didn’t he?

  “I don’t want to push you,” he said, reining in a bit of his enthusiasm, “just give you another option. A place where you could be your own boss, choose your own recipes to make, set vacation days whenever you wanted them.”

  Addy laughed softly. “No pushing there.”

  “Okay, consider it a small nudge. But only if this is what you want,” he added.

  He was giving her an option she hadn’t thought a possibility. And Jake would be a fair and honest landlord, she knew. It would be a good business opportunity for Jake, too. That made her feel less guilty about actually considering what he was so generously offering her.

  She turned to look up at Jake, her heart catching in her throat. “You are the kindest, most giving man I’ve ever known.” A man so worth loving, and love him she did.

  He smiled warmly. “I enjoy spending time with you, something I won’t be able to do if you’re back in Atlanta. So part of my offer is definitely on the selfish side. And then there’s the people in Sweet Springs and the surrounding counties who will, no doubt, be thrilled to have a local bakery with the quality of baked goods I know you could offer them. But it’s your happiness with whatever career path you choose to travel in your life that matters most.”

  Tears flooded her eyes. “Jake,” she groaned.

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Addy girl,” he replied with so much tenderness in his voice that several tears fell free, sliding down her cheeks.

  Addy girl. That endearment made her feel like she was his. Like his world was hers. Like there truly was a chance for her to have it all, Jake included.

  “Addy,” he sighed, a fretful expression on his handsome face.

  “I’m okay,” she said with a sniffle. Gathering up a smile, she looked up into his eyes. “Thank you, Jake. For everything. For the laughter. For your help with my recipes. For supporting my dreams. For forgiving me.”

  Jake reached out to gently brush away the stray tears with the pad of his thumb. “You left something out.”

  She looked up at him questioningly.

  Propping a crutch against the wall beside him, Jake used his free arm to draw her closer. “For loving you.” He lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.

  Jake loved her. Addy’s heart melted into one big sugary-sweet puddle of happiness, but at the same time fear urged her to take a step back. She knew better than most that love wasn’t always enough. Her momma loved her, yet life had been complicated for them, and so unpredictable. And when she’d been taken into foster care, Addy had learned that lesson. Could she trust in her love for Jake, his love for her, long enough to give them a chance to find a way to make things work?

  Jake offered up a gentle smile. “Those mental wheels are turning again, I see.”

  She looked up into his tender gaze, returning his smile. “I’m not sure they ever stop. Jake...” she said, tearing up again.

  “You don’t have to say anything,” he told her. “I just needed you to know where my heart lies. I don’t want there to be any more secrets between us ever again. Even if friendship is all you’re able to—”

  She pressed a finger to his lips. “Shh... I have something I need to say.” She let her hand fall away.

  He stood there, waiting patiently, a hint of something akin to yearning in those dark eyes.

  She could see the love there. Could feel it wrap its invisible arms around her. Her smile softened. “I love you, too. And while starting my own bakery wasn’t really a consideration for me when I left Atlanta for Sweet Springs, I will definitely add it to my options.”

  * * *

  She loves me!

  Jake wanted to pick her up and swing her around, but his injuries kept him from seeing that urge through. “I pray this isn’t some dream I’m about to wake up from.”

  “I feel the same way,” Addy replied. “Are you sure the age difference isn’t going to be an issue for you? I saw how you reacted to the thought of your momma being interested in someone younger than her.”

  He shook his head. “Your being older than me never made a difference for me. I was just waiting for you to realize that I’m more than Mason’s little brother. As for Momma, I admit that did throw me off a bit at fi
rst. But thinking of one’s momma dating anyone takes a few extra chews to swallow, younger man or not. Reverend or not. But I could never begrudge Momma the same happiness that I’ve found with you.”

  “I’m so glad you feel that way. I know it wasn’t easy for you to process at first. Your parents were happily married for so many years. My momma never had that until Ben came along, so it was something I never had to experience.”

  “I’m glad your momma found someone.”

  She smiled up at him. “Me, too.”

  “Finding that special someone made me realize how lonely Momma must have been since Daddy passed,” he said with a tender smile. “Once I’d taken a little time to mull things over, I knew I needed to talk to Reverend Hutchins. The opportunity presented itself the other day when he stopped by the market and saw me sitting on the porch. He came over to say hello, and we talked.”

  Her eyes widened. “You did?”

  He nodded.

  “What did you say to him?”

  “I told him that I don’t want to see Momma invest her heart in someone who isn’t able to reciprocate those feelings for one reason or another. The reverend made it crystal clear where his intentions lay. I, in turn, told him he has my blessing to see where things might go with Momma. Mason and Violet’s, too, because the three of us have been discussing our feelings, and we’d be happy to have him become a special part of our momma’s life.”

  “And...?” she prompted.

  “If he has his way, he and Momma will be enjoying meals out for more than their need to discuss church issues.”

  “I knew it,” Addy said, her face lighting up.

  “I guess this is where you get to say I told you so,” he teased with a grin.

  Addy pretended to zip her lips.

  Jake released a husky chuckle. “I appreciate your declining to point out my habit of wearing blinders when it came to Momma and Reverend Hutchins’s budding relationship.”

  “Better late than never.”

  “That goes for us as well.” He had nearly thrown this chance away over his refusal to forgive her. He was so grateful for her persistence. It had made him realize what truly mattered. Who truly mattered. Addy was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, be it in Sweet Springs or Atlanta. They could find a way to make things work. “Now, enough about Momma’s happiness. Time to get back to yours. I still haven’t shown you the back room, where you could have a kitchen put in if you decide to accept my offer. Or the upstairs apartment, which I would have renovated before renting it out if I end up buying this place.” It was then he noted she was no longer smiling.

  A worried frown creased her slender brows.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  “You’re still recovering from your injuries,” she pointed out, her gaze zeroing in on the crutches at his sides. “I don’t think it’s a very good idea for you to be escorting me all over this old building. Or renovating buildings.”

  “If it will make you feel better, I’ll wait here while you take a peek around.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  “And as far as renovations go, I’ll contract out the work I can’t do physically right now.”

  She nodded, relief clear on her face. “Stay here while I go take a peek,” she told him. “I won’t be long.”

  “Take your time,” Jake called after her as she walked away. He wanted her to really be able to envision the place as the bakery she’d only ever dreamed of owning. Just as he’d begun envisioning the kind of life he’d never thought he could have with Addy. He just prayed they settled down and raised a family in Sweet Springs. Because there they would be surrounded by so many who loved them. A place where Addy had mentioned more than once she was happiest.

  Chapter Twelve

  Several days had passed since Jake had made his very generous offer. An offer Addy hadn’t been able to push from her thoughts. The possibility excited her as much as it terrified her. What if she invested money into a bakery of her own and it didn’t end up a success? If that happened, she could find herself struggling to make ends meet. These concerns were why she’d spent time doing research and speaking to other area bakeries. There was a clear need for one in Sweet Springs, and the traffic passing through town on a daily basis supported the already existing stores. A positive sign for her future business there if she decided to accept Jake’s generous offer.

  Even so, memories of her childhood were determined to spill over into the present. Despite knowing that she wouldn’t go hungry if her business failed, she struggled to set them aside. If she chose this new career path, she would need to invest in equipment and supplies for her bakery. That meant having less of a cushion in her bank account to lean on.

  Just knowing she would have Jake there, supporting her in her endeavor, believing in her, made the risk so much more worth considering. But she wanted more than his shoulder to lean on. She wanted his heart forever. Wanted a family. But what kind of mother would she be? Her upbringing had been far from the norm. Could she be the kind of parent Jake’s future children deserved? Catching herself, Addy put on the mental brakes. Jake had said he loved her. But he’d never spoken about marriage or starting a family.

  The ringing of her cell phone pulled Addy from her warring thoughts. Setting her hairbrush down, she reached for the cell phone lying on the dresser in front of her. A glance at the screen showed a number she didn’t recognize. Answering the call, she brought the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Mitchell? Adeline Mitchell?” a woman asked on the other end of the line.

  “This is she,” she replied.

  “Good afternoon. This is Chantel Wilks with Greenford Country Club. I’m calling in regard to the job application we received from you a few weeks back. We’ve recently had an unexpected opening for our head pastry chef position, and I recalled seeing your résumé come through. You are more than qualified for the job, and the references you listed gave you glowing reviews. Have you accepted a position elsewhere yet?”

  “No,” Addy said, shaking her head. “I haven’t.”

  “Well, if you’re still interested, I’d like to offer you the position,” Ms. Wilks said and then proceeded to go over the offer package they were extending to her for their head pastry chef position. A very generous offer. Months earlier she would have been ecstatic over this opportunity. It was the direction she’d planned to go in after being let go from her previous job. But everything had changed for her since coming back to Sweet Springs. She now had Jake’s offer to consider when making her decision.

  “I’m out of town at the moment but will be returning to Atlanta in a week. How soon would you be needing an answer?” Addy asked.

  “We had hoped to bring someone in immediately, but we also want the right person. Take a few days to decide. In the meantime, I will email you all the pertinent information.”

  “Thank you,” Addy said appreciatively. “I’ll look it over and will get back to you soon.”

  When the call ended, Addy set her phone down and then reached for the discarded hairbrush in a daze. This was what she’d wanted. To find a job as a head pastry chef. And while it wasn’t a hotel, she would be working for the very prestigious Greenford Country Club. More people working under her. More money than she’d been making before. So why didn’t that make her heart happy?

  Addy knew the answer to that question. It was because of all she stood to lose if she were to accept the offer. The chance to own her own business. The chance to live in Sweet Springs—the one place where she was the happiest. And she could risk losing Jake, right when they had finally moved past a friendship and had started an actual relationship, if she accepted the job offer at the country club. Long-distance relationships were hard for so many reasons. Not that she wouldn’t do everything she could to make things work between them once she returned to Atlanta. If she chose to retu
rn to a life there.

  “The package guy was here!” Finn called out from what Addy concluded was the front porch.

  Her cookbooks! Tossing the brush onto her bed, she hurried from the room.

  Lila shot out of the living room, nearly colliding with Addy as they both raced for the front door.

  Laughing, Addy grabbed onto Lila in an attempt to steady them both. “Sorry.”

  “My fault,” Lila said apologetically. “Perfect example of why Mama Tully used to tell us not to run in the house.”

  Addy nodded as they walked together at a much slower pace to the open front door.

  “I was hoping it might be those little plastic umbrellas you fill with mints that I ordered to set out beside the guest book at the reception,” Lila explained as she pushed open the screen door.

  “I thought it might be my cookbooks,” Addy said as she followed her out. Although there was a far greater chance of it being Lila’s package. Items for her and Mason’s wedding had been arriving almost daily for the past few weeks.

  “It’s for Aunt Addy,” Finn announced, waving them over.

  Addy suddenly felt like a kid on Christmas morning. At least, like she had during those few holidays she’d spent in Sweet Springs with Mama Tully.

  “It’s a real big box,” Finn said as he eyed the package.

  “That’s because there are a whole lot of cookbooks inside it,” Addy explained.

  “Ooh!” Lila said with a squeal. “I can’t wait to see them!”

  “What’s all the commotion?” Mama Tully asked as she came around the side of the house, where she had been tending to her garden.

  “Aunt Addy’s cookbooks are here!” Finn said excitedly, pointing to the shipping box near the door.

  Mama Tully’s face lit up. “They are?”

  Addy nodded with a grin, barely able to contain her excitement.