Jill and the crew were downstairs baking shortcake for the picnic and washing berries. Jamie stayed home this morning to comfort Pam after her difficult trip to see her mother. Cathy moved on to the attic room and made up the beds before heading downstairs to see how things were going.

  It was nice to see Jill back at work and really taking charge again.

  “So, do you guys need any help?” Cathy asked.

  “Not really,” Jill said, popping a ripe blueberry in her mouth.

  Everything looked under control, so Cathy decided to head home and lock herself in her office and get some work done. She had so much paperwork to catch up on and figures to review. If things still looked as tight for the restaurant, she might have to consider getting a second mortgage on her home. The thought made her gut twist. But the new addition excited her more every day.

  “Okay, I’ll see everyone bright and early here tomorrow morning, ready to load up and head to Duncan Mills.”

  ****

  River Road was slow with all the cars heading to the coast due to the hot weather and the holiday weekend. Billy Joel’s “I Love You Just the Way You Are” was playing and Cathy sang along. Her mind drifted immediately to Jamie, so she turned the dial to another station and caught some lyrics about needing someone and reaching out to touch them. She tried once more and got Dolly Parton singing about a man she couldn’t resist whenever he came by. Off you go, radio.

  With no music to distract her, thoughts demanded attention. Was she going out on a limb financially? Her best friend was questioning her integrity, and for good reason. The man she loved was unattainable. How could everything change so fast? Just a few short months ago, she took comfort in being alone, her own person, unreachable and safe. Sure, a handsome face and great body could turn her head, but her heart was out of reach. And now she was on shaky ground. Cathy hated this sinking feeling, the floating sensation that something bad was going to happen.

  A red warning light flickered in her mind with each racing heartbeat. Stop signs jumped out before her like a crazy ride at Disneyland. Go back…wrong way…stop! She remembered Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride from when she was a little girl and they’d gone to the Happiest Place on Earth. She sure thought it was. She’d loved the castle and the wishing well. But Mr. Toad had made the biggest impression. Just when you thought that you would crash and drive off the road forever, bam, the ride was over and you were out in the sunshine again.

  How would this emotional ride end? Cathy didn’t want it to ever end, but the bridge across the raging river was collapsing and a decision would have to be made soon.

  Not today. Today she had numbers to deal with. She needed to get home and concentrate, figure out what orders to place for the new restaurant kitchen and how to pay for them. The costs were double what they’d planned. They needed at least nine months’ backup in the bank, and even then, a bad month could close both businesses. She needed to write up a partnership agreement between her and Jamie. Risky ventures were not usually her way of doing things.

  Dark roads, dark thoughts, what’s the matter with me today? she wondered. She turned down her street and took a deep breath. Wildflowers and ferns lined the road, and puffy white clouds drifted across a cornflower sky. She was home.

  Everyone stared at her when she walked in the house. Pam was flushed, Jamie pale, and Amber looked confused. Oh no, Cathy thought, she hoped Pam’s mother hadn’t passed.

  Pam walked over, her sharky little teeth pasted in a smile, her eyes triumphant. “We have good news!”

  Cathy looked to Jamie and he looked down at the floor.

  “We might move by the ocean,” Amber said.

  The room spun. Jenner maybe?

  “Jamie has a solid interview in Santa Barbara. They booked him a ticket, for Tuesday,” Pam said.

  “When?” Cathy managed to get out. “But I thought…”

  “Sorry, Cathy,” she said, “but it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. ‘Sous chef at the five-star Santa Barbara Resort Spa!’”

  Jamie looked up and met Cathy’s eyes. “Pam arranged it all. I didn’t know.”

  Cathy felt her limbs go numb. Did Pam’s scheming ever stop? But what choice had they left Pam but to protect what was rightfully hers?

  “Caroline pulled a few strings for us because Jamie deserves the best,” Pam said, stepping between them.

  Damn Caroline, Cathy wanted to scream. And “the best” meant lots of money and prestige for you, Pam. It was a strategic move that would make Jamie’s career. Much better than what Cathy had to offer. But Santa Barbara was almost 700 miles south. That posh environment offered more opportunity, but would Jamie really fit there? Be happy?

  “I’m sorry, Cat,” he said. “I’ll still be able to work the booth with you tomorrow for the community picnic.”

  “Don’t be,” Cathy said between clenched teeth. “What a great opportunity. You can’t turn it down.”

  “I hate to leave you stranded. I’ll come in early Tuesday and do all the prep before Pam drives me to the airport. Perhaps Jill can come in for lunch?”

  Cathy nodded. Behind her back, knowing all the plans they’d made, Cathy had no idea Pam was so, so what…? Aware? Crafty? What would Cathy have done if she was his wife? The same and more, for sure. And Caroline? Cathy was sure she was only too glad to help.

  “Thanks, Jamie,” Cathy said in a fog. “I’ll handle it.” She retreated to her room before she said something she might be sorry for. Drawing up a partnership agreement was no longer necessary.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Fireworks were going off early in the café kitchen as the five of them finished last-minute prep and started to load up for the community picnic. The guestrooms upstairs were full for probably the last time before they began renovation for the new Upstairs Café. If there was still going to be one. She’d told Jill that Jamie might be leaving. They both decided to wait and see before making any decisions on the expansion.

  If he stayed, there was so much they could do. Cathy pondered the idea of arranging a junior chef training at the café for the kids at Head start. That was if Jamie didn’t get the job, or if Cathy still decided to go ahead without him. I can’t think about that now, Cathy thought. Dressed in shorts and a halter top, she was up to her elbows in strawberries. Jamie was yelling for someone to come help peel avocados for the guacamole for the veggie burgers. She walked over to help.

  Every fiber of her being longed to touch him. Finally he turned to her. “I don’t want to leave you.” He waved his hand around the café. “Or all of this.”

  “I know,” Cathy said. “Let’s talk about it later. Lots to do for now.” She turned walked away.

  Tim looked depressed, probably another relationship gone bad, and Jill was searching for aspirin for a headache. Sparks flew as they rushed around trying to package everything into ice chests and coolers.

  “Make room for the whipped cream, it needs to stay cold.” Tim procured a large chest filled with ice and shoved the cans in. “I sure hope it doesn’t get too hot out there today and melt the food and us alive.”

  Jill glared at him. “We have plenty of ice and the grocery store is just across the street there in Duncan Mills. So cool it.”

  Cathy stayed out of it, hummed a little to herself, and closed the Tupperware lids tight.

  Tim’s face matched his bright red shirt as he huffed and walked away. “I hate the Fourth of July. It’s all noise and mess!”

  Jamie chuckled. Cathy could barely look at him. The thought of him possibly leaving next week fanned her panic.

  “Shhh,” she said to Jamie, finger to her lips, trying not to laugh. All they needed right now was for Tim to have a full out meltdown right before the event. Hundreds of people were expected to be there and they could use the money they’d make to order new tables, chairs, and kitchenware. Who was Cathy kidding? Jamie would probably be gone next week. Any ordering would be done by her. Alone.

  “I’m taking a load to the van,” Jamie said, carrying two stacked coolers. Brian, in his uniform of jeans and a rocker T-shirt, was right behind him with more.

  With the block of ice in the coolers, they must be very heavy. Cathy ran to the back door and held it open for them. Jill’s old VW van had plenty of space for everything.

  Jamie loaded them inside and looked up at Cathy with a grin. “Hustle, girl. We’ve got a picnic to get to.”

  Cathy imagined pouring her red, white, and blue shortcake mix over his head. “I just have to load a few things, then you can come and get them.”

  Back inside she finished packing up the food and carefully sealed the lid closed on the chest.

  She snapped her fingers at Jamie. “Boy, these are ready for loading.”

  His grin was so cute it was hard to be angry as he scooped everything up and carried them outside.

  “Ten o’clock!” Jill yelled.

  One more time: Shortcake stuff, check. Burgers and fixings, check. Lemonade, check. Cathy ran through it all, satisfied.

  Jill walked over holding a tray of fresh-baked shortcakes. “Forget anything?”

  “That’s why I have you,” Cathy said.

  Tim had the charcoal and grill in the back of his pickup.

  “Who has the condiments?” Cathy shouted in the parking lot. Her voice stopped everyone and they all looked at each other.

  Brian shook his head.

  Jamie held up a small blue cooler. “All packed and ready. The guac too.”

  She couldn’t imagine Jamie leaving. He was whistling, “Happy Days Are Here Again.” She wished they were. Perhaps everything would be fine after all.

  Jamie rode in the pickup with Tim. Cathy followed in her plate-, bowl-, napkin- and plastic-silverware-stuffed car. Sun glared in from the window, baking her bare legs until the redwoods finally lined the highway and a cooler breeze picked up as they got closer to the ocean. Traffic slowed down as they approached Duncan Mills. It was certainly a destination that day. The town was a perfect setting for the picnic with its picturesque turn-of-the-century buildings, Old West style post office, and candy shop. The nostalgic North Pacific Coast RR train depot was still there even though the trains stopped running there in 1930.

  They pulled over and parked by the rodeo grounds. Red, white, and blue banners and flags dominated the scenery. People were scrambling to set up booths, get rides ready, and assemble music stages. Amber was going to love the little train ride. Cathy couldn’t wait to see Amber’s eyes when she saw the Clydesdale horses too. She hoped Pam got her here early. Kids definitely made holidays more fun. Cathy wondered if she was getting into this Auntie thing too much. What if they packed up and went away next week? She wouldn’t let her mind go there. If they did, they did. She would deal with it then.

  They all unloaded and carried things to the booth. Thank goodness Brian and Tim had set it up the day before. Cathy grabbed a load and followed. “Hey, it looks great,” she said, admiring the hand-painted flag, sparklers, and large strawberries and veggies floating on the big wood sign. Tim must have painted them. What a talent.

  “Cathy’s Veggie Treats,” good name. The Health & Hearth logo was on the sign as well.

  Jill put up a small tent behind the booth so they had some shade and could store the coolers in there as well.

  “Cat, should I start the grill now?” Jamie said, loading charcoal in. He looked very festive in his Hawaiian Shirt that Amber had suggested he wear.

  A crowd was milling around and it was almost eleven o’clock. “Sure, fire it up. Brian and I will handle the shortcake.” Cathy began stacking bowls and opening Tupperware.

  Jamie moved in so close she could feel his warm breath on her ear. “How about I’ll grill the veggie patties and pass them to Jill and then to Tim to dress?” he said.

  Tim thought this was hysterical. “How about a pink satin dress with red polka dots?”

  Jill hit Tim in the shoulder but couldn’t suppress her smile. “I’ll dress you if you don’t get to work.”

  “I think we’re all getting a bit giddy from lack of sleep,” Cathy said.

  People were lining up as fast as they put the food out.

  “Hi, Miss Cathy!” Rio and Annie from Head Start came running over to the booth, followed by Barb, the counselor.

  “How about some strawberry shortcake piled high with whipped cream?” Cathy asked.

  Barb caught Cathy’s eye. “Maybe small ones.”

  “It’s on the house,” Cathy said. “We’ll have them ready in a second.” She piled the strawberries high and smothered the plates in puffy whipped cream. “Here you go.”

  “What do you say?” Barb said.

  Annie licked the top of her treat. “Thank you!”

  Rio was already gulping down bites. “Thank you,” he said. His mouth was red from the berries as he smiled.

  She waved them away. “Go have fun now,” Cathy said.

  Cathy watched Jamie in action. His tanned arms moved gracefully as he tossed burgers on the grill.

  “Five more minutes for the best veggie burgers you’ve ever tasted,” Jamie called to the line forming in front of the booth. Small beads of sweat ran down his forehead.

  His eyes met Cathy’s, steadfast, reassuring.

  The local high school marching band went by blasting out an unrecognizable song. Cathy could barely hear the four hippie types, obviously stoned at the front of the line, ordering everything on the menu.

  “Order up,” Jamie said, holding a plate of burgers for Tim to retrieve.

  Their assembly line worked well as the line lengthened and everything became a blur of faces for over an hour. Finally there was a lull. Cathy sent Brian out to play the pied piper with his flute and bring more people over. Her stomach growled so loud she knew she’d better take a quick minute-to-stuff-her-mouth break. “Jill, can you handle the shortcake while I take five?”

  Jill fanned herself. “Sure thing, then I’m next for a break. My feet are killing me.”

  As Cathy sank down onto the grass floor of the tent and took her first gooey bite, a big golden dog pulled his owner, Paula, toward her.

  “Sorry, Cathy. This big lug just had to come say hi.”

  “Come here Charlie,” Cathy said. She laid the burger down and pulled his head to her face for a kiss. “What a handsome fellow you are.”

  The dog covered her in kisses.

  “How’s he doing?” Cathy asked.

  Paula kneeled down beside them and petted Charlie’s back. “Just fine, thanks to you. And isn’t that the man who helped with the rescue over there cooking veggie burgers?”

  “Yes, that’s him.”

  “Do you think he’d mind if we went over there and thanked him too?”

  Cathy smiled. “Go right ahead. He won’t mind at all. Perhaps he can come up with a snack for Charlie too.” She watched them walk over to the grill. Jamie’s face lit up at the sight of them.

  Just as Cathy started eating her veggie burger again, Amber came running in and landed at her feet.

  “Bite, bite,” she said, opening her mouth like a little bird. Amber took a good size chunk out of the sandwich and a green track of guacamole trailed down her chin.

  Pam followed close behind, her face flushed. “I told you to wait for me. Don’t ever run ahead again.”

  Amber swallowed her mouthful and stared back at her mom. “Dad is here, and Auntie Cathy.”

  “But I’m your mother, and I need to see where you are all the time.”

  “Okay,” Amber said. “I’ll run slower next time.”

  Pam sat down next to them and fanned herself with a flyer advertising hayrides.

  “How about some lunch?” Cathy asked Pam, handing her last bite to Amber.

  Pam shrugged. “Shortcake sounds good, with extra whipped cream.”

  “Me too,” Amber said, following Cathy to the counter. “Can I shoot the whipped cream myself?”

  Amber looked up at Cathy with eyes that no one could say no to. She looked particularly cute in her jean shorts and crop top.

  “Of course.”

  Together they built a three-layer, slightly lopsided, whip-cream-smothered dessert. Three spoons in hand, they joined Pam on the blanket and dove in, oblivious to the frantic activity in the booth. The noise from the crowd was building and a line formed again. Jamie was now dripping with sweat, working over the hot grill. He could use a break to cool off and Cathy decided to relieve him soon.

  “Mommy, let’s go now. I want to ride the ponies.”

  Pam got up and took Amber by the hand.

  “See you later. You girls have fun,” Cathy said before heading back to work.

  “Bye, Daddy,” Amber yelled as she trailed off.

  “Bye for now, honey,” he said waving.

  Cathy reached for the spatula. “Out of here, Jamie. Give me that and take a break before you melt.”

  He wiped his brow. “Not a minute too soon,” he said, handing it to her. “Don’t burn ‘em.”

  His wicked grin prevented her from hitting him over the head with a large blunt object.

  “Don’t be mad, Cathy,” he whispered. “Everything will be fine.”

  “And the interview,” Cathy said, scraping veggie burgers off the grill.

  “I’m sure it will be like all the others,” he said.

  She felt his hand on her shoulder and looked up.

  “I’m not leaving you.” He looked so sincere as he said it. Cathy wanted to believe him.

  “Go.” She waved him away. “Take your break so I can relieve Tim with the strawberry shortcake before he gives it all away!”

  Standing over the grill, perspiration poured down her back. She felt Jamie watch her every move.

  “Lightweight,” he yelled.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tim smothering the shortcake in whipped cream. “Hey, Tim, save a little for the next customer.”

  He lifted up a can and pointed it at her.

  “Don’t you dare!”