The Stone Family Heart - Taylor Hart Page 0,39
okay?” Cheryse asked her.
Kat checked her phone. “Yeah, I’m good. I just didn’t realize how much work having a bakery and a deli would be. My own fault, I know.” She put a hand to her chest. “But I had this horrible guy come in yesterday and eat a couple things and then complain it was the worst food he’s ever had.”
“Imbecile,” Lucy said, making a face.
Kat laughed. “That’s pretty much what Stan told him.”
“Stan?” Kensi asked.
“Oh, Stan Stahlei. I don’t know if you remember him. He’s a bit older than you and Trey; he’s a retired Marine, and he lost his wife a couple of years ago. Nice guy. He manages the deli for me.”
“What did this guy look like?” Lucy asked, eyeing Kensi.
“Average height. Dark hair. Told everyone that he’s looking for the conquistador’s gold.”
“Mr. Banks?” Just saying the name made Kensi’s blood boil.
“Who?” Dawn asked.
Lucy gestured to Kensi. “That jerk dot-com billionaire who made a pass at Kensi.”
Kat smirked. “The one you kneed in the crotch?”
Cheryse threw her head back and slapped her thigh, squealing with laughter. “Whaaat?”
“He deserved it, too,” Kensi said, sticking her chin in the air and feeling rather proud of herself.
Dawn beamed at her. “I wish I could have seen it.”
“Pfft.” Kat nodded. “I wish I could have kneed him in the crotch, too. The guy was a grade-A jerk face.”
“Yes, he was,” Kensi confirmed.
Lucy picked up a cinnamon roll. “Don’t listen to the jerk face. Your baked goods are divine. I swear I’ve gained ten pounds since you opened your bakery.”
Kat feigned modesty. “Stop. Actually, continue.”
They all giggled.
Lucy spoke to Kensi. “Kat has a talent, and now I’m going to use her for everything I cater before I can’t afford her because word gets out that she’s a baking genius.”
“She really is,” Cheryse agreed.
“Totally,” Dawn said. “Good thing I’m not worrying about performing at the moment, or I’d have to say no to these delightful things more often.”
“Are you done performing?” Kensi asked Dawn.
Dawn shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Kensi hesitated, not wanting to ask too much, but she’d spilled her guts already. “What is going on?”
“Since I moved home after Dad passed, I’ve just been helping Mom.”
Kat frowned. “Just tell her.”
“My husband … well, he has slept with countless TAs, and he’s even been brought up on sexual harassment at the college, but he gets out of it. He always denies it and he tells me he loves me and …” Dawn blinked. A tear slipped down her cheek. “I’ve been in limbo for a long time. I don’t know if I should stay in South Port and rebuild my life, or if I’ll forgive George and go back to New York.”
Kensi knew how complicated relationships could be. “Dawn, I’m so sorry."
Dawn shrugged. “I’m pretty pathetic, actually.”
“You’re not pathetic,” Cheryse growled. “Stop saying that kind of stuff.”
“You have a vocal degree from Juilliard; you’re the furthest thing from pathetic.” Lucy gave Dawn a stern look.
Dawn’s eyes drifted downward. “Not that it matters." She sighed. “Maybe I should take Marshall’s advice, too, and quit being addicted to the drama of George.”
Kensi nodded. “It’s good advice.”
With a snort, Kat said, “This is the state of affairs; we are all taking Marshall’s advice.”
“If it’s good advice, take it,” Lucy said.
“You should perform here,” Cheryse told Dawn.
“I’d come back to see your performances,” Kensi agreed.
Dawn grinned, twirling her hair shyly. “You think I could really sing here?”
“Yes.” Lucy nodded. "You just tell me when and I'll put together an event."
Dawn seemed delighted by the prospect. “Okay, I’ll let you know.”
Kensi knew how hard it was to feel like you weren’t making a difference in the world, like you didn’t have a purpose. She’d been feeling that way a lot lately. But she didn’t know what to do about it.
Dawn nudged Kensi. “Do you like living in Boston?”
“Yes,” she said quickly, thinking about what Marshall had said about her being an attorney. “At least I used to. I just miss my mom.”
They all nodded.
“Your mom was the best,” Cheryse said wistfully.
“I loved her pancakes,” Kat said.
“Right,” Kensi agreed. “Tim cooked them for everyone, and he won’t give me the recipe.”
“What?” Dawn asked, laughing. “That’s funny.”
Kat shook her head. “Sounds like Tim.”
Kensi’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and grimaced when she saw her ex’s name.
“Is it Tim?” Kat teased.
“Nope.” Kensi hit decline on the call and put her phone back in her pocket.
“Jeff?” Lucy asked.
She nodded.
It was quiet for a second. Then Kat said, “Are you going to