Coming Home to Seashell Harbor (Seashell Harbor #1) - Miranda Liasson Page 0,21

out West somewhere and had never looked back. As the oldest, he’d driven all this from his mind as best he could and focused on helping his dad keep the family together.

He attributed the fact that he and his siblings were so close to his dad, who had taught them to value family above all else. Angelo was practical, no-nonsense, and loved them all down to the bone.

But his dad must really be concerned if he was offering the recipe.

And that touched Cam greatly. He liked—no, loved—the idea of using their family’s recipes from Italy in his restaurant one day. Of course, his investors had pitched his new restaurant as a sports bar, trying to take full advantage of his career. They hadn’t been interested in a mom-and-pop type of place with homemade recipes…so far.

“I’m speechless.” His dad hated it when they made a big deal of things, so he didn’t rush to hug him. “Thanks, Dad,” he said, a little flummoxed.

“Wow,” Lucy said, incredulous. “And I thought I was the favorite.”

“Hey, what about me?” Nick said, lowering his boot-clad feet to the floor with a clunk.

“No one’s my favorite unless the work gets done.” His dad shook a warning finger.

“I’m staying to get my work done, Pop,” Nick said, always the charmer.

“Good boy, Nicholas.” His father patted his brother on the shoulder. Then he turned to the other two. “So, get going on the fancy-schmancy lunch so you can get back to work.”

“You mean it about the dough recipe?” Cam asked, still a little stunned at the offer.

“Only if it’s an Italian restaurant,” his dad said. “By the way, I’m making ribs on Sunday with my famous sauce,” his dad added. “Come for dinner.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Cam said.

“Definitely wouldn’t miss it.” Nick rubbed his rock-hard belly.

“Maybe you could bring Hadley,” Cam thought he heard his dad say as he headed for the back.

* * *

“So,” Cam said, once he and Lucy were seated on the oceanfront deck at Mussels with some Cokes. His knee was a little stiff and creaky today, but with the warm breeze, hot sun, and miles of sparkling blue ocean spanning in front of them, Cam realized how lucky he was to call this place home. “You know I’m trying to figure out my next steps.”

He’d spared his family as much of his problems as possible over the past six months. It was what came naturally to him as the oldest and the one who’d needed to step up for Nick and Lucy after their mom left.

He was supposed to be tough and strong, not weak and floundering. But that was exactly how he’d felt these past months, mourning the sport he loved and would never play again. Struggling to find a way to carry on.

“Everything you’ve done so far has been football,” Lucy said, sipping on her Diet. She looked happy to be out of the office. It reminded him of when they were teenagers and he used to take her out for burgers, mostly to get her to talk and keep tabs on her. “But this restaurant thing…it makes sense to me. You love food, you love being around people. I think it might be a good fit.”

He nodded his agreement, even though just talking about leaving football behind forever made him break out in a cold sweat. But Lucy seemed like she was in a good mood today and he didn’t want to spoil that with his own troubles. He hoped she’d be open to his idea for her. “You love good food too…”

Cam waited for his opening.

“You bet.” She took a warm roll from a basket and passed it to him. “And I’ll be happy to eat there all the time.” Lucy looked young and pretty, her dark hair piled on her head in a messy bun. It was hard to believe she was all grown up and a mom.

He wanted Lucy to be happy. To have a chance to live her dream. To do anything she wanted, to again become the adventurous soul he’d known her to be. To do anything but sit in the corner of that office entering charges all day, watching others pass by the big plate-glass window, living their lives. “I was sort of thinking of something more than that,” he said.

“What are you talking about?” She put down her butter knife.

“You always wanted to go to cooking school. So go, then come back and be my chef.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she looked genuinely startled