by Barbara Lohr
Freshly perked coffee perfumed the air with a hint of hazelnut. Definitely not the roadside stuff. Everything about the place looked the same, just the way Kate liked it. Her irritation eased. Would it be a cheese crown or a brownie? Kate was still deciding when Sarah whirled through the swinging door to the back, patting her brown curls. “Why, Katie Kennedy. Back so soon?”
“Couldn’t stay away from your cheese crowns.”
“I know. Me too.” Laughing, Sarah wiped her hands on the apron around her ample waist. Miss Congeniality, hands down.
“Everything good? Boys and Jamie doing all right?”
Sarah had married Jamie Pickard, her high school sweetheart now serving overseas. They had two little boys.
“Yep, as far as I know. One cheese crown coming right up.” Sarah handed over the largest pastry on the tray. She nodded toward the tables at the window. “Got time to chat? Coffee’s free.”
“Sounds like a plan.” That run-in with Cole after all these years had left Kate’s head fuzzy. She just wasn’t ready to see her mom yet. After pouring a cup of hazelnut coffee, she slid onto one of the wire-backed chairs.
Sarah settled across the table with a sigh. “Your mother will be glad to see you.”
“So you know about her stroke?” No secrets in this town. Today that felt good.
“How’s she doing?”
“The therapists say she’s improving.”
“She’ll be tickled to see you.” Supportive to the bone, Sarah always had your back.
“Picked up groceries and thought I’d stop here.” Kate’s grin felt shaky. “Kinda tired. I started out late last night.”
“A woman on the highway alone at night?”
“Cole Campbell already told me that was stupid.”
“You’re in touch with Cole?” Sarah’s eyebrows lifted into her curly mop.
Kate brushed the crumbs from her jeans. “My kayak came loose, and he stopped to help.”
“Really? Always so helpful. Cole’s a mover and shaker here in town.”
“Samantha must love that.” Kate had heard Cole and Samantha married right out of college. By that time, Kate had been dating Brian for three years. High school friends pairing up had been old news.
But with Cole? Okay, the news gave her a twinge or two.
“They split up.” Sarah stirred more cream into her coffee. “It’s been tough for him the last few years. He has custody of their daughter.”
Cole Campbell, a single father? “Thought the mom always gets the kids. Does Samantha live around here?”
“Nope. California, from what I hear. Anyway, Cole wants to move Gull Harbor ahead.” Sarah glanced at the street outside. “Make some changes.”
“Things look just fine the way they are.” Kate took another bite of the sweet cheese.
“We’ve had a rough few years, Kate. Shops have closed or changed hands. Michiana Thyme was sold. Did your mom tell you?”
Kate shook her head, struggling to swallow. She always bit off more than she could chew. “Nope. She might be a little out of touch now.” Craning her neck, Kate stared down Whittaker at the combination gift shop and diner on the main corner. Been there forever. Now it was sold? Her contentment at being home unraveled around the edges. “I was looking forward to their stuffed French toast.”
“And I would have been right there with you, not that I need it. Loretta retired and moved to Florida to be near her son. No one wanted to take on the store.”
“What’s going to happen to the place?”
Sarah lifted a shoulder. “Town meeting pretty soon. Cole bought it. He’s got plans. Your mom never said anything? She’s always been so involved in Gull Harbor.”
“She will be again. I have no doubt.”
Sarah’s eyes softened. “She’ll be so glad to see both of you.”
“Mercedes can’t come. Too much going on with her company.”
At least that had been the excuse. Kate didn’t need to spell it out for her old friend. Eons ago, her older sister had borrowed an outfit from Sarah. The fluffy teal sweater and pants had been so pretty. After go-karting with friends, Mercedes returned it with oil stains. Never said a thing about it. Kate had been so embarrassed. Just another page from the book of Mercedes Kennedy. “I’m hoping Mercedes will be able to come soon.”
“You Kennedy women are strong. Almost didn’t recognize you, Kate. Like the blonde hair.”
“What was I thinking? Crazy, right?”
“Maybe you need more crazy.”
“Don’t know if I’m ready for that.” But change was bearing down on her, whether she liked it or not. This two-block street was all Kate had ever known in Gull Harbor. They’d hung out here at the Swirly Top, eaten Loretta’s special orange ricotta stuffed French toast at Michiana Thyme and grabbed pizza at Touch of Italy. All the local kids got part-time jobs in the shops during the summer. “I want it to stay just the way it is.”
“I don’t know if that’s possible, Kate.”
Her coffee had turned lukewarm. The cozy hazelnut flavor was gone and a chill stole through the glass window. “Boy, it’s cold. When will spring get here?” Kate pulled her hoodie tighter.
“We had a long winter.” Sarah gave her a wry smile. “The ice floes didn’t melt until just a couple weeks ago. Beach is going to be wide this year. Hope people can afford to rent cottages.”
By Memorial Day, families would be bustling from store to store with bulging shopping bags. At least, that's the way it used to be. “How's your business?”
“Not bad. Course I have been taking more day-old pastries to the soup kitchens. Might as well have someone enjoy them, right? Gonna be here for a while? I'm sure the girls would love to see you. You probably have to get back, though. Husband, job, and all that.”
Kate sucked in a slow breath, not quite ready to share the news. “So much depends on Mom’s condition. I’m freelancing now, you know. Healthcare blogs.”
“Right, you told me the newspaper had a layoff.” A silence stretched until Sarah carefully swept crumbs off the table and into a napkin. “Well, then. You always liked to read, Kate. Come to our book group.”
“Anybody I know?” Last thing she needed was a bunch of strangers asking questions.
“Chili and Carolyn Knight, who teaches at the high school.”
“Chili? Don’t think I would have passed Spanish without her.” Chili would quiz Kate about verb conjugations until she could recite them in her dreams. “Carolyn? You mean Miss Knight? Still single and teaching at the high school?”
“Yep and then Phoebe and Diana. Both new to the area. You’ll enjoy them. Phoebe has a hair salon and Diana opened Hippy Chick, a clothing store. Kind of cute.”
Being with other women might be good for her. “Maybe. Thanks for mentioning it.”
Sarah looked pleased with herself. “Good. We're meeting next Wednesday. My house at seven.”
Whoa. “But I haven't read the book.”
“‘Bridges of Madison County.’ I'll get it to you next week.”
“Oh, I can wing that one.” An old favorite, the novel was packed up in the garage of the condo, waiting for a destination address.
The door to the kitchen slammed open, and two little boys tumbled out, barefoot with t-shirts untucked. “Mom, Mom!” the first little guy called out, running to Sarah. “Nathan won’t share!”
“Mine! These are my dinosaurs!” The other boy clutched some plastic figures to his heaving chest. The unruly hair marked them as Sarah's children.
“Double trouble.” Sarah stared them both down. “Justin and Nathan, can’t you say hello to Kate?”
The boys looked like they might consider it.
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
Sarah laid one hand on each boy’s shoulder. “Where's Grandma Lila?”
Justin poked one finger back toward the kitchen. “Making something.”
At that moment, a silver-haired woman appeared in the doorway, looking tired an
d more than a little frustrated.
“Sarah, I tried but they’re bored.” When Lila threw up both hands, white flour flew. “Hi, Kate. Good to see you.”
“Boys, we’re going to learn to share or your father will be very disappointed.” Sarah wagged one finger before turning back to Kate. “Their daddy is a very brave soldier.” The last was obviously said for their benefit.
“You must be so proud of him,” Kate said. With his polished Italian loafers and weekly hair styling, Brian wouldn’t have dreamed of going over to the Middle East. “Was Jamie in the reserves?”
Sarah nodded. “Called up, but he would have volunteered anyway. I’ve got a ton of chores ready when he gets back.”
Kate checked the time. “I should get moving. Guess I’ll take a cheese crown for my mom.”
Shepherding the two boys toward their grandmother, Sarah bustled back behind the counter to retrieve Kate’s cheese crown. “Mom, I think it’s nap time.”
Both boys howled.
Waving away Kate’s money, Sarah squeezed her hand. “Oh, don't be silly.”
“I’ll see you…”
“Next Wednesday,” Sarah supplied. “My house. Seven o’clock.”
“Right.” Slotting something on her calendar felt good. Almost banished the embarrassment from running into Cole Campbell.
After all, wasn’t he the one who should be embarrassed?
To read more of this book, click here. Coming Home to You is a free novel. You’re welcome! Please sign up for my newsletter to enjoy new releases and great giveaways!
More Books by Barbara Lohr
Man from Yesterday
Summer Riptide
Coming Home to You
Always on His Mind
In His Eyes
Windy City Romance
Finding Southern Comfort
Her Favorite Mistake
Her Favorite Honeymoon
Her Favorite Hot Doc
The Christmas Baby Bundle
Rescuing the Reluctant Groom
The Southern Comfort Christmas
About the Author
Barbara Lohr writes heartwarming contemporary romance. A flair for fun and subtly sexy love scenes is her trademark In her Windy City Romance series, the women are based in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. However, these adventurous girls take readers on jaunts to Tuscany, Guatemala and Savannah. The Man from Yesterday series is based in Gull Harbor, Michigan. The charming, small beach town actually exists but under another name.
Family often plays an important role in Barbara’s stories. “No woman falls in love without some family influence, either positive or negative.” Dark chocolate is her favorite food group and good food often figures in her work. She lives in the South with her husband and a cat that insists he was Heathcliff in another life. Sign up for her newsletter for new release information and great giveaways. Friend her on Facebook or connect on Twitter. She loves to hear from readers!
www.BarbaraLohrAuthor.com
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A Word from the Author
Many thanks to the Romance Writers of America, whose members are generous with their knowledge base. The loops and forums of writers who address writing and publishing issues are invaluable to me.
To my readers, thank you! Your appreciation and support warm my heart. To my Street Team, you rock! Special thanks to Kay Crocker, Pam Mitchell, Debbie Sutherland and Jane Whitmeyer for their excellent proofing skills. To my growing First Readers Team, love you guys! Keep responding to my newsletters and be sure to enter my giveaways. I sure appreciate your interest and hope to continue to write books that take you on “journeys of the heart,” as one of you mentioned.
Thanks to Kim Killion for covers that package my work perfectly. I look at those covers and think yes, my characters could walk right off that page. Your creative and technical skills are sure appreciated. And to Chris Hall, my editor. After untold hours of working n a manuscript, your suggestions and insight help polish my work.
For my daughters Kelly and Shannon, keep those reading lights on over your beds. For us, reading has always been a tie that binds. My grandchildren Bo and Gianna bring me such joy and of course pop up in my work. To my husband Ted, thank you for your love and support, especially when my computer has fits and you provide tech support. May we have many more wonderful years together with trips to Leopold’s for ice cream.
