by Tonya Kappes
“Those cookies have saved you.” She looked down her tanned nose at me. She lifted her bejeweled fingers and dug them in her hair, pushing more body into the style. “Next week I expect you to be on time.” She pointed to the counter at the s’mores cookies. “Bring some of those.”
I smiled. “Here.” I opened the case and took out a couple of the cookies and put them in a to-go bag. “I’ll be there.”
My eyes gazed over the coffeehouse. There was a big smile on my face. The joy had returned to my body and soul. Aunt Maxi and Patrick were in the corner, no doubt planning my wedding without me. She’d come with a stack of bridal magazines, not mentioning I’d about had a near death experience a few short hours ago.
Pepper was laying in his bed and Sassy was next to Patrick. Bunny was talking to a couple of citizens as she refilled the tea bar.
The bell over the door dinged.
“Welcome to The Bean Hive,” I called out and looked up. My smile fell to a frown.
“Roxy.” Kirk stood at the door of my coffeehouse.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Aunt Maxi and Patrick stand up.
“I got the strangest email from you about coming home. I tried calling you,” he said. I suddenly remembered my phone was still sitting on Alexis’s computer at Crooked Cat. “At first I ignored it, but all night I couldn’t stop thinking about you. The thought that you were really going to come back to me excited me. I’d turned on the news and saw what’d happened here and when they said your name, I only wanted to see you. I want us to work it out.”
Bunny had shooed all the remaining customers outside to the café tables, save for Aunt Maxi and Patrick.
“Roxy, are you okay?” Patrick asked.
“You.” There was disgust in Kirk’s voice when he noticed Patrick. “I told you years ago when you showed up in New York that she wanted no part of you.”
“You did what?” I looked at Kirk. Then I looked at Patrick. “You left that part out.”
“There wasn’t any reason not to believe him when he told me that you didn’t want me after I’d seen you with him.” Patrick’s face saddened.
“Kirk, you’ve wasted a trip.” I stood tall and owned my words.
He laughed and looked around. “You seriously want to leave our life for this?” His nose curled.
“Beat it, pal.” Aunt Maxi butted in. “You heard her. You’ve wasted your trip.”
Kirk took a second to look at all three of us. He turned around and walked out the door. When the bell dinged over the door, Patrick dropped to one knee and held his hand out.
“I was going to wait and do this tonight, but it seems like none of my plans are working out.” He opened the small black velvet box in his hand. The prettiest antique ruby and diamond ring was nestled in the small cushion. “Beverly Teagarden at Wild and Whimsy said you’d eyed it every time you came in there. It seemed perfect for you. But if you don’t like it. . .”
“I love it!” I threw my arms around his neck. “I love you!”
He slipped the ring on my finger and it fit perfectly.
“It fits,” I gushed and showed Aunt Maxi.
“I tell you, everything happens for a reason,” she said with a proud voice.
“Yes, yes it does.” I rolled up on my toes and kissed Patrick.
Pepper, Sassy and Aunt Maxi danced around us.
RECIPES FROM THE
BEAN HIVE
Roxy’s Favorite Breakfast Casserole
Coffee Soufflé
Roxanne Bloom’s Famous Chai Tea
Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Scones with a Flavor Twist
Books by Tonya Kappes
Olivia Bloom Paranormal Mystery Series
SPLITSVILLE.COM
COLOR ME LOVE (novella)
COLOR ME A CRIME
Magical Cures Mystery Series
A CHARMING CRIME
A CHARMING CURE
A CHARMING POTION (novella)
A CHARMING WISH
A CHARMING SPELL
A CHARMING MAGIC
A CHARMING SECRET
A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)
A CHARMING FATALITY
A CHARMING GHOST
A CHARMING HEX
A CHARMING VOODOO
Spies and Spells Mystery Series
SPIES AND SPELLS
BETTING OFF DEAD
GET WITCH OR DIE TRYING
Grandberry Falls Series
THE LADYBUG JINX
HAPPY NEW LIFE
A SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTMAS (novella)
NEVER TELL YOUR DREAMS
A Laurel London Mystery Series
CHECKERED CRIME
CHECKERED PAST
CHECKERED THIEF
A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
A BREAD OF DOUBT SHORT STORY
STRUNG OUT TO DIE
CRIMPED TO DEATH
Bluegrass Romance Series
GROOMING MR. RIGHT
TAMING MR. RIGHT
A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series
A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING
A GHOSTLY GRAVE
A GHOSTLY DEMISE
A GHOSTLY MURDER
A GHOSTLY REUNION
A GHOSTLY MORTALITY
Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
FIXIN’ TO DIE
Southern Fried
Women’s Fiction
CARPE BREAD ’EM
Young Adult
TAG YOU’RE IT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tonya has written over 40 novels and 4 novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, two very spoiled schnauzers and grew up in the small southern Kentucky town of Nicholasville. Now that her four boys are grown boys, Tonya writes fulltime.
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