An Unexpected Family

by Jenna Mindel

  Cam loved it when Rose laughed.

  “Cam, hey. Dude!” Jess waved her hand in front of his face.

  “What?”

  She shook her head. “You two really need to go out or something. I have two more specials. Do we have enough for the next hour before close?”

  “Plenty.” Cam hoped he had enough fresh cut turkey to last. “And we are going out.”

  Jess hadn’t heard the last part. She’d already hurried to the next table needing their order taken.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. This date loomed like a tournament he had to win. Rose didn’t seem the least bit pressured by it. This morning she’d teased him in that friendly way of hers, calling him crazy once again for cooking a whole turkey on what promised to be a hot summer day.

  Returning to the grill, Cam plated four cheeseburgers and two deluxe hamburgers. With Greg heading to camp after program tomorrow, maybe he should ask Rose to dinner or take her out on his boat to catch the sunset to take the pressure off Sunday. Neither idea sounded casual enough.

  He’d put off reading together, but maybe he should rethink that, too. Friday night might be the perfect time, but when she realized how badly he read, would she change her mind about spending the day with him Sunday?

  He blew out his breath. Greg’s camping request had come along and opened up the door for Cam to make good on Rose’s offer to help. Reading would make it more of a casual thing, too. Casual was good. Smart. Safe.

  Cam slapped the call bell, announcing the large order of burgers was ready. His phone buzzed again and moments later it whistled with an incoming text. This time he checked, scanning a text that came from his business manager.

  Good news. Call ASAP.

  He read the first line over again. He’d been waiting to hear good news for months—

  “Everything okay?”

  He focused on Rose’s concern-filled eyes. “Yeah. Why?”

  “You look like you just got bad news.”

  “A text from my business manager.” So why wasn’t he more excited?

  Her face fell. She didn’t look excited, either. “Oh?”

  He glanced at the clock. They closed in half an hour, but with this crowd, they wouldn’t have everyone out by then. Not by a long shot. The bells on the door announced more people coming in.

  Cam reached out for the order ticket Rose held. Work now, good news later. “What’s next?”

  “Another two specials.”

  He grinned at her. “The turkey club is a hit.”

  She nodded. “Okay, okay, you were right.”

  “Of course I was.” He chuckled as she quickly grabbed four menus and headed for the latest customers.

  The following hour flew. When every customer was finally gone, Cam cleaned the grill and prep station, but didn’t offer to do more. He had a phone call to return.

  Catching Rose’s attention at the cash register, he mouthed the words, “I’ve got to go.”

  She nodded, and so he left, hitting the return call button as he went.

  “Took you long enough to return my call.”

  “I was working.” Cam barely missed a group of teenagers who suddenly stopped walking and pointed at a storefront window.

  Bob snickered. “You’re cooking at a diner, right?”

  “That’s right. So, what’s your news?”

  “Got a big technology company that wants to meet you. Dinner tomorrow night and we’ll seal the deal.”

  “Whoa, hold on.” Cam ran a hand through his hair. “When and where?”

  “I emailed you a flight schedule. You can fly out of the Pellston airport tomorrow morning and pick up a connecting flight in Detroit. That’d get you into Kansas City in time for dinner in Olathe.”

  Cam’s head spun. He couldn’t leave tomorrow. He couldn’t leave Rose hanging, not on the busiest weekend of the summer. There was his promise to Greg, as well. The kid didn’t want Rose alone for the fireworks. “Can’t do tomorrow.”

  “What!”

  “I’m needed here the next three days. Make the same arrangements for Monday, the fifth.” The day the new cook started.

  Silence.

  “Bob?” Cam stepped off the sidewalk and stopped near Center Park.

  “You use their GPS and sonar technology and always have. Do you realize what a perfect situation this is? In no time, you’ll be right back in the groove with other sponsors jumping on board. I’ve got a call in to an iced tea company, too.”

  It didn’t feel perfect, but Bob was right. With a big name backing him, Cam had a good chance of signing more advertising sponsors. Maybe even re-sign some that he’d lost. “I need a couple days.”

  “Cam, if you wait, you might lose this opportunity.”

  He considered that. For years, he’d jump at chances like this, feeling like a beggar. He was tired of it. At thirty-four, maybe he was tiring of the struggle to stay near the top year after year.

  He closed his eyes and focused on God and the deal they’d made. This was the answer to his prayers. Refusing didn’t seem like a good idea and yet he had responsibilities here that he wasn’t going to shirk.

  “If these guys can’t wait a couple days, then I don’t want to represent them.” A sense of peace filled him. It was his career and he’d made the call. A good one.

  He heard Bob sigh. “Okay. Who is she?”

  “She?”

  “I wasn’t born yesterday. There’s got to be a woman involved for you to give up a golden opportunity so you can stay home and play house?”

  Cam tamped down the blistering retort poised on the tip of his tongue. He wasn’t playing. He cared for Greg and Rose. He cared a lot. Enough to want things he never thought he could have.

  “I’m not giving up anything. I’m asking for a weekend. A holiday weekend at that. Make it so and let me know.”

  Bob sighed again. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “I do.” Cam disconnected before he changed his tune.

  He might have thrown away the chance he’d been waiting for, but he wasn’t going to let Rose down. More important, he didn’t want to let God down by sliding into his old ways.

  Hitting another number in his contacts, Cam waited until she picked up. “Mom? I have another favor to ask you.”

  “What’s that, honey?”

  “Could you help transition the cook for me on Monday? If she’s good, you needn’t stay long. I’ll be there for a couple hours of the morning.”

  “Why, where are you going?”

  “To meet with a potential sponsor. A big one in Kansas.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  Cam didn’t know how his mom did it, but she cut right through to the heart of his own doubts. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re more relaxed than I’ve ever seen you. Working at the Hometown Grille is good for you, Cameron. So is Rose.”

  Cam couldn’t argue with that, but before he could ever hope that Rose might want to share his future, he had to redeem it. He needed to make some very wrong things right again.

  “Right now, Mom, it’s something I have to do.”

  “I sure hope you’ve prayed about this.”

  “Every day since I came home.”

  “Maybe I should call Rose and make sure she wants me there.”

  “I got it, Mom. I’ll let her know and then call and confirm with you, okay? Just plan on coming to the diner around eight on Monday.”

  “Okay.”

  Cam disconnected.

  Rose knew this day would come. They both did. Hiring a new cook confirmed that it was time for him to go. He’d never expected this hesitation to leave, feeling as if he had left something undone.

  * * *

  Friday morning, Greg ambled into the diner d
ragging his backpack and looking sleepy.

  “Hungry?” Rose smiled at her son. She’d helped him pack for his weekend trip last night, making sure he had everything he might need. It was no wonder that backpack looked overstuffed.

  “Sure.” Greg dropped the backpack and grabbed a real glass for milk. One of Cam’s tall glasses he used for iced tea. He sat on a stool at the counter.

  “What do you want, bud? Eggs, French toast?” Cam asked.

  Greg shrugged. “Eggs are fine.”

  The diner wasn’t full this morning, so Rose slipped onto the seat next to him. “You should have everything. Did you grab your toothbrush?”

  “Yeah.” He sounded irritated.

  She brushed his hair back. “Be careful and listen to Mrs. MacMillan.”

  “Okay, Mom.” Greg tipped his head away from her touch.

  Rose sighed. Her baby hadn’t often gone away for the weekend unless it had been with her parents. “I won’t see you till Monday.”

  Her son nodded.

  Cam finished up Greg’s scrambled eggs with cheese over hash browns. He handed him the plate and her son ruined it by squirting ketchup all over the top. “Aren’t you taking your fishing pole?”

  “I’m going to use theirs.”

  Cam nodded. “Good idea.”

  “I’ll miss you.” Rose bit her lip to keep from getting really mushy.

  “Awww, Mom.” Greg rolled his eyes and dug into his food.

  Rose glanced at Cam. He looked amused by her fussing over Greg and shook his head. He must think her overprotective, but this was the first time Greg had gone away on his own, without any family, for a whole weekend.

  Rose watched her son eat, memorizing his face in case he looked different when he came home. Her son was changing fast, growing up and needing her less. Wanting her motherly hugs and snuggles not at all.

  The MacMillans planned to leave for the Straits State Park after picking up the boys from the youth program. Once she’d met them, Rose knew Greg would be in good hands. They were nice people. Cam had been right about that.

  He’d been right about many things—from buying local products like his parents’ syrup to roasting a whole turkey in July. Cam was good at what he did. She believed that he’d increased business at the diner, so it wasn’t any surprise that he’d received good news from his business manager.

  She hadn’t even asked what it was, knowing whatever it was would likely push Cam out the door for good. She’d dreaded the day he left the diner to pursue his fishing career. She’d hired Sheila with the hope that Cam might return in the fall. After everything was settled with the diner, maybe then she could offer him a partnership.

  Linda’s attorney had let her know that Kory Dean had signed for the letter they’d sent refusing the buyout offer. She’d followed the attorney’s suggestion to call their bluff. It was their move now. Would they really contest?

  “What?” Greg looked at her.

  “Nothing.” She shook off her dark thoughts and smiled. “Have fun this weekend, okay?”

  Greg nodded, his mouth full.

  Rose would have fun, too, even if she had to force it. She stood when Greg grabbed his plate, in a rush to be off and gone. She followed him into the kitchen. “Okay, give me a hug.”

  “Awww, mom.”

  “Hey, give your mother a hug.” Cam had come in for more mayonnaise from the industrial fridge. That sure sounded like something her father might have said. It was as if they’d become a family of sorts.

  Greg did as bid and Rose hung on tight. “I love you.”

  “Me, too,” her son mumbled and let go.

  Cam fist-bumped her boy. “Have fun, bud.”

  “Yeah.” Greg nodded and left.

  Rose watched him leave with a combined sense of loss and freedom.

  “You okay?” Cam touched her shoulder.

  “I am.” Freedom won out as she looked up at Cam. “Hey, what are you doing later? Want to come over and read?”

  He looked surprised and then smiled. “I was thinking about asking you the same thing.”

  She grinned. “I’ll order takeout. No cooking. Say six?”

  He nodded. “Seven is better so I can get a couple hours of fishing in.”

  Her hopes took a dip. Fishing came first. She heard the bells to the diner door ring with new customers. “Seven it is. Got to go.”

  She didn’t have time to ask about his news from the previous day. He might well have a sponsor in hand. If so, he hadn’t said anything and he would, wouldn’t he?

  She’d find out tonight.

  * * *

  That evening, Cam took a deep breath and knocked on Rose’s door. Tonight was about his issues with reading. He’d agreed to her offer of help, figuring that she might as well know sooner rather than later what she was up against. If he wanted a future with Rose, he could no longer hide who he was. And who he wasn’t.

  With Greg gone, it would be the perfect time to start. Awkward? Definitely, but not nearly as bad as having her son observe how poorly he read. Cam was probably worse than the average fifth grader.

  She opened the door and smiled. “Hi.”

  He struggled to keep his gaze fixed on her pretty face and failed. Dressed in a light green tank top and breezy white pants that ended at her shins, Rose looked cool on a hot summer’s eve. “Hi.”

  “Come in. Sorry, it’s so warm. I don’t have air-conditioning up here. We can go downstairs to the diner if you’d like. It’ll be cooler. You can check that brisket you’re marinating for tomorrow’s special.” She seemed nervous.

  That made two of them. This was the first time they’d been alone, without Greg.

  “Here’s fine. I’ll come in early to take care of the brisket. I’ve got a barbecue platter planned complete with corn on the cob and boiled salt potatoes with drawn butter for the special.”

  She tipped her head. “What are salt potatoes?”

  “They’re small new potatoes boiled in salt water. It’s a big thing in upstate New York. I discovered them at a local fair after fishing a tournament there.”

  “Oh.” Rose headed for the tiny kitchenette. “Iced tea?”

  “Please.”

  He scanned the living room. The stacked cardboard boxes he’d seen before were gone. The window fan churned heavy warm air from one of two tall windows facing Main. He could see the bay from up here and dark clouds gathered in the west. They might be in for a storm. He should have driven instead of riding his bike the short three blocks from his house, but it hadn’t looked that bad a while ago.

  His attention snagged on a stack of books lying on the coffee table. Wiping his hands on the front of his T-shirt, he swallowed panic. Could he really do this? That stack taunted him, like the kids used to in grade school when he took forever to muddle through a page he was supposed to read aloud.

  Cam pulled his phone from his pocket, hoping a return message from Bob might give him an excuse to leave. There was still nothing to report. He might have blown the offered opportunity. He leaned against the half wall of the kitchenette. Time to man up and give this reading thing a shot.

  “You never told me about your good news.” Rose plated aromatic cashew chicken with a side of vegetable lo mein.

  “You didn’t ask.” There’d been nothing from Bob other than he was waiting for a call back.

  “Honestly, I was afraid to.” She stopped dishing up food and looked at him. Through him. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

  “Not yet. My manager’s working on setting something up, but nothing’s been confirmed.” Friday evening with no word, so Monday looked doubtful at this point.

  Rose reached into the freezer and dumped a handful of cubes into a tall glass with a clatter. “Ice?”

  “Sure.”

  There was no sense telling her tha
t he hadn’t jumped at the offer to meet because of his responsibilities this weekend. He wouldn’t word it right and he didn’t want Rose to think losing a sponsor was somehow her fault. Because of a date he wanted to keep.

  If Cam didn’t land this sponsor, it could be a long wait before another one showed interest. This would make his placement in the August tournament even more important. He’d funded his own way this year and his bank account still had a nice balance. He’d be okay. For now. But next year’s pro series events were expensive. He’d need sponsors to continue.

  He watched Rose’s fluid movements as she grabbed the pitcher of iced tea. Given the chance to do it over, he’d make the same call. There wasn’t any place he’d rather be right now than right here.

  Rose caught him staring and blushed as she poured their drinks.

  “We can eat here at the counter or in the living room,” Rose offered.

  “Living room. I want to check out those books and see what torture you have planned.” He grabbed his plate and glass and headed for the couch.

  Rose laughed as she followed him. “I’ll go easy on you.”

  She sat on the couch but with a good bit of distance between them. “Chopsticks?”

  He reached for the fork she also held out. “You think eating with sticks is going easy? I want to eat while it’s hot.”

  She opened the package of chopsticks with a flourish and dug into her cashew chicken. “I’ve eaten a lot of takeout in my day.”

  “I can tell.” He took another bite. The rumbling sound of distant thunder confirmed a storm rolling in off the bay. “Any word from Greg?”

  “Beth MacMillan texted me earlier with their campsite number and to say that they’d made it.” Another rumble of thunder, louder, made Rose cringe. “Good thing they have a camper.”

  Cam agreed. “Have you thought about getting Greg a phone?”

  “Yes.”

  When she didn’t say more, he prodded. “But decided against it because...?”

  She shrugged. “I have to look into it. I have an older phone that’s month to month, not an actual plan.”