TOGETHER FOREVER. DEAL?
He reached out and shook her hand. “Deal.”
Sixteen
Evan
I glanced up at the jade-colored awning hanging over the storefront in front of us.
My mom’s logo was printed on it like a beacon for the droves of people who flocked here each morning so they could make it through their days.
A Drop of Hope.
Had spent so much of my life within these walls that it felt like a second home.
A calling.
Or maybe it was the fact that Frankie had become such an intrinsic part of it.
My eyes darted around, making sure that prick from the other day was nowhere to be found.
Couldn’t help it that I was constantly on edge.
Unease riding high.
I huffed out a sigh of relief when nothing seemed amiss.
Everett had plastered his face to the window of the cafe, kid going nuts with excitement, doing this little jig that looked like he was doing knee highs, flaunting that ridiculous grin with that scrunched up nose and eyebrows shooting toward the sky.
My chest tightened. Was starting to get worried that he affected me too much.
Protectiveness swelled. A silent promise that I would do absolutely anything to keep him safe.
“Oh, you want to go in there, do you?” I asked him.
Another adorable nod. “Ehvie, go?”
“Yeah, buddy, you can definitely go inside. We have some of our favorite people in there, don’t we?” I murmured.
My mom and Carly and Aunt Jenna.
And Frankie.
Frankie. Frankie. Frankie.
Just her name twisted me in a thousand knots of anticipation.
Two days had passed since I’d seen her.
Two days since I’d had her pressed up against that rock.
Two days since I’d tasted her again. Felt her again.
Two days since I was reminded of exactly what I was supposed to be fighting for. Reminded of what I never should have given up.
I glanced down at Everett, heart getting all tangled up again.
It was getting harder and harder to hold onto the idea that I shouldn’t have left. Kept getting the sense that maybe it’d been purposed. Required. Knowing this child wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t have gone off and given myself to the loneliness. Given myself to the recklessness.
I swung open the door.
Instantly, I was hit with the overpowering scent of sugar and cake and all things sweet.
It was mixed with the heavy aroma of fresh coffee brewing in the huge urns that were set up on the left side behind the counters. Rows of display cases ran to the right of that, filled with every delicious thing you could imagine.
Jenna was behind the counter. A huge smile split her face as she finished checking out the customer who was paying. As soon as the man stepped back and took a sip of his coffee, she was clapping. “Ah, you’re here! I was wondering when you were going to come back and see me again. I had to work the whole weekend and miss out on all the fun out at the lake. Damn Susie for going and gettin’ pregnant and being on maternity leave and making me have to step in to take her place. So uncool.”
It was all a ramble of a tease.
“Seems everyone around here is up and having babies from out of nowhere.” This time she was all raised brows and speculation.
I chuckled, roughing a hand through my hair, gazing over at Everett who’d made a beeline for the display cases and was currently slobbering all over the glass.
Remind me to take care of that.
“Life is full of surprises, isn’t it?” I told her, totally droll.
She rounded the counter, came directly for me, and pulled me in for a tight hug. Stepping back, she set her hand on my cheek and met my eye. “It sure is. And I hope you’re cherishing that surprise.”
“I guess it’s sometimes the least expected that come to mean the most to us.”
Affection filled her expression, and she angled her head, brushing her thumb over the freckles under my eye the way she’d always done when I was a little boy. “That’s the Evan I know. I sure missed him.”
“I’m right here,” I told her, knowing it was time I reclaimed what I’d thrown away. Praying it wasn’t too late. That the bridges I’d burned could be rebuilt. The love I’d shunned could be rescued.
Movement in my periphery grabbed my attention, and I looked that way to see my mom come out the swinging door.
Mom’s smile was so soft, so good, it flooded the entire room with warmth. “I was hoping you two would stop by to see