A Haven on the Bay - Nicole Ellis Page 0,63
raving about the food. When he spoke with the caterers, he was told they were recipes you’d found in the barn on the property.” She paused to take a breath, then continued. “We would love to have you come on the show to teach us how to make one of the recipes. It would be such a great local-interest piece.”
Pressure built in Meg’s chest, squeezing her lungs to the point where she had to concentrate to breathe. She loved cooking, but her job was usually behind the scenes. This would entail teaching someone else to cook a recipe and would have the added stress of being filmed. Was she up to it?
Celia stared at her with concern and Meg smiled to let her know everything was okay. The tension eased from Celia’s face, but it reminded Meg that all of them had a lot to lose if the Inn wasn’t a success. An appearance on Coffee Talk Seattle would be fantastic free publicity for their new business.
“I’d love to share the recipes on Coffee Talk. When did you want me to come in?” Meg had to work hard to steady the pitch of her words.
“Would next Monday, September fourteenth work?” Penny asked.
Next week? Meg’s gut twisted at the thought of being on camera in front of the whole region. With a specific date, it was frighteningly real. “That would be great,” she eked out.
“Great,” Penny echoed. “We’ll be in touch with you later this week with more details. I’m looking forward to meeting you on Monday.”
“You too,” Meg said automatically. They said their goodbyes and Penny hung up.
“So? Who was that?” Celia asked. “You look like you swallowed a goldfish.”
“I feel like I swallowed a goldfish, or maybe a frog,” Meg admitted. “It was someone from Coffee Talk Seattle. They want me to come in next Monday and show them how to prepare one of the recipes from the journal.” Her gaze strayed to the Carlsen family photo in front of her. Seventeen-year-old Davina never could have imagined her recipes would one day be broadcast to thousands of people around the area.
“That’s wonderful! I love that show.” Celia searched Meg’s face. “You do want to do it, right?”
Meg nodded. “I’m not a fan of the idea of being on television, but I’ll get over it.” The shock was wearing off and she was starting to see it could be a fun experience. The barn restaurant may be a far-off dream, but new opportunities were sprouting up for her all over. She stilled. The sailboat trip with Theo—he’d be long gone by next Monday.
“What is it, dear?” Celia cocked her head to the side.
Meg told her about Theo’s offer and the conflict with being on the morning show.
“Oh.” Celia sat back in her chair and sipped her coffee. “That is quite a pickle.”
“Yep.” Meg picked up the photo of Davina’s family and focused on it. They looked so happy, sitting together in front of the gazebo. Life must have been so much easier in those days.
“Are you going to call them back and tell them you can’t do the show?” Celia asked.
“I don’t know.” Meg set the portrait down and buried her head in her hands.
Celia put her arm around Meg and hugged her close. “What do you want to do?”
Meg laughed sharply. “I wish I knew.”
“Do you want to go with Theo?” Celia asked. “It’s a big commitment to go with him for a few months. I wouldn’t want to do something like that without strong feelings for a man.” She peered at Meg. “Do you love him?”
Love hadn’t been something Meg had considered before. She and Theo had always kept things casual, but was she ready to take their relationship to the next level? And even if she was ready, was going away with him worth giving up the morning show appearance? He had demonstrated his commitment to her by visiting her in the hospital, but was that enough?
Meg stared blindly at the photos in front of her. “I don’t know.”
It wasn’t just about Theo and the boat trip. Thinking about the night she’d spent in the hospital had brought up the memory of seeing the man in the hallway and wishing it was Taylor. He’d been so supportive of her dreams for the barn and now he’d lost the restaurant he loved—and it was all her fault. Now, while he was hurting, she was being offered a chance of a lifetime to share her passion for cooking on