He cocked his head in contemplation. “That’s acceptable.”

  “It better be,” she said, throwing a dishtowel at him.

  Customers started coming in for an early lunch. A few took seats. “It’s still damp and foggy out there,” said a woman sitting at the counter, who worked at the Guerneville 5 & 10. She was lucky to find her way out of that store; there was so much stuff everywhere.

  “Where’s Jill?” Susan from the post office asked.

  “Home resting,” Cathy said.

  She shrugged her shoulders and studied the chalkboard menu. “Is the potato leek soup any good?”

  What did she think? Just because Jill wasn’t there, the food wasn’t good?

  “Well, let’s ask the chef.” She turned to Jamie.

  He ladled some soup in a bowl and snatched a spoon. “Now, who would like a taste?”

  Charm oozed from every word and dimple. He got several takers. A middle-age woman in a green cardigan took a sip and murmured, “Ooh.” A young man with shoulder-length hair brushing over his army jacket sighed, “Yum.”

  Jamie looked pleased. Orders for soup poured in. Cathy ladled bowls for the customers while Jamie passed around a tray of veggie burger bites.

  “If you guess the secret ingredient, your burger is free,” he said.

  Now he was giving away free food. Cathy was going to have to watch this guy.

  The shop filled up fast with locals and tourists, and no one was leaving. Jamie knew his way around people. Cathy tasted the dressing for the grated salad that Jamie had doctored with mustard and lemon: divine.

  “Hey, Cathy, the food was good before, but now it’s dy-no-mite,” Susan yelled from her table.

  Cathy frowned. “Careful now, we don’t want it to go to his head, do we?”

  Jamie winked at her. “Praise where praise is due.”

  I guess wanting to hit him over the head is better than wanting to kiss him, she thought.

  The next few hours were a whirlwind. No way she could have done it without him. The word was out about town, and all six tables, the counter, and the booths stayed full most of the afternoon. Tim scrambled in the front selling products, and Cathy looked forward to seeing the results on paper.

  Jamie cleaned the kitchen while Cathy counted the tabs.

  “Good draw?” he asked, sweeping the floor beside her.

  “Beginner’s luck.” She continued rifling through the receipts. He was no beginner and that was clear, but what could she say? Thank you. You’re a god in the kitchen?

  Maybe she could get on her knees and beg him for the recipes. It was crazy. She didn’t want to get too accustomed to having him around. Jill was golden and the business was successful before he arrived. She didn’t need him. But he was a perfect fit.

  Cathy turned and faced Jamie. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done without you.”

  “My pleasure,” he said with a satisfied grin. “I’ll fix something to eat now and take a break.”

  With the rush over, Cathy took a break too. Jamie made a veggie burger he’d doctored with guacamole, grilled chilies, and onions. A pile of his special baked garlic fries steamed next to it. Her mouth watered. But today she was going to eat healthy. She put together a grated salad of beets, carrots, and daikon and joined him at a table. Her feet were killing her, but he didn’t look a bit tired.

  “Busy day,” she said, spooning avocado slices drenched in Tahini dressing into her mouth. Ambrosia.

  “You have a great little business here, Cat, and some loyal customers.”

  Cat. No one called her Cat. She kind of liked it. “Thanks.”

  Jamie’s eyes were pale blue today and easy to get lost in. She glanced back at the salad but could feel his stare. Heat crept up her spine. She snuck a look at his fingers and remembered how perfectly they prepped the food, held the knives, held her hand. He placed a fry, smothered with roasted garlic, under her nose for a whiff.

  “Tempting,” she said.

  He waved it in front of her. “Bite?”

  She opened her mouth. Jamie placed the fry gently between her lips and watched her bite down. She could hardly breathe, much less chew. But the savory flavor of roasted garlic on the buttery potato skin was hard to resist. “Divine. We should make these a regular on the menu.”

  “We could call them Jamie’s Fries,” he said between bites.

  There was that smirk of his again. She glared back with mock annoyance then continued to eat her salad. She could feel his gaze but refused to look up.

  “Thanks for letting us stay with you. I’m sure I’ll have a job soon.”

  When she looked up this time, she saw a man struggling. She could relate. It was hard for him to ask, hard for him to say thank you, and probably hard for him with his Cordon Bleu degree to work in a health food café. For free no less.

  “Any restaurant would be lucky to have you,” Cathy said.

  His face melted into a spectacular smile. She liked the way his blond hair curled around his face and turned up in a flip at his shoulders. The way his eyelids drooped slightly like a puppy dog’s.

  “I have an interview tomorrow in Sonoma, but not until the afternoon. I can still help you through lunch.”

  Jamie’s eyes flashed concern. Sonoma County had some great restaurants, and he seemed to really like it up here. But it was not like a big city with jobs everywhere.

  “Good luck. They’ll love you.” She would hate losing him, but she meant it.

  After putting away dishes, they started gathering food and supplies to bring for the kids’ afterschool program. She didn’t want to forget napkins this time.

  “Go ahead and pack the mashed avocado and some of the left-over grated veggies,” she told Jamie.

  He put plastic wrap over the bowls and loaded them into an ice chest. “So, what do you usually do over there?”

  “We make sandwiches, sometimes, or bake oatmeal raisin cookies.”

  Jamie reached for something on the back counter. “I made extra bread this morning, so we could lay out some different proteins and vegetable combinations and help them make a nutritious snack. Kids need to know these things.”

  “Great idea,” Cathy said. “We could bring some tofu egg salad, real cheddar cheese, and nut butters. And maybe talk about how to grow sprouts in a jar.”

  Jamie smiled. He was obviously all over this idea. “We have lettuce and radishes from your garden. We could add them to the sandwiches.

  Next he unplugged the VitaMixer. She gave him a quizzical look.

  “You’ll see,” he said with a wink.

  Good thing they’d brought the station wagon. The kids and counselors were going to love this, Cathy thought.

  ***

  Jamie and Cathy drove up and parked in front of the big entry door. It was open, and they could see the kids playing pool. Other kids ran, yelling as they chased a bouncing ball. Books and games were scattered across tables, along with a TV set, and an eight-track tape player all donated by local businesses. A few of the younger kids ran to the door to greet them.

  “It’s the food lady,” said a skinny boy with frizzy hair and a torn shirt. Cathy hoped this was not his only meal today. Larry, an older boy who’d been there a while, rode over on his skateboard and skidded to a stop in front of them. He was in his usual cutoffs and no shirt. “Got anything good in there?” he asked.

  “Come on in and see,” Jamie said.

  They walked into the kitchen and started laying out food.

  “What did you bring us today?” little Rio asked. He had just started kindergarten and was one of Cathy’s biggest fans.

  Jamie pulled out a box. “How do strawberry banana smoothies sound?”

  Rio stared at him. “Is that like a milkshake?”

  “Absolutely,” Jamie said. “Only better.”

  They were drawing a crowd. The young boys and girls poured into the big kitchen area. Barb, Cathy’s friend from book group, was the working counselor today and followed in behind the kids.

  “C’mon,” she said loud enough to drown out the Rafi song on the tape player. “Who wants to see what Cathy is making today?”

  After getting the youngsters’ attention, Barb introduced Jamie as a gourmet chef.

  “What’s a gor-may?” asked Geneva, a cute little girl with long black braids.

  Jamie pronounced it for her and said, “It’s a fancy name for someone who went to school to learn how to cook well.”

  “You went to school to learn how to cook?” little redheaded Justin asked. “Anyone knows how to do that.”

  They all laughed. It was time to get down to business before the enrichment hour was over.

  Jamie started by telling everyone, in simple language, that the government was trying to get people to eat well to stay healthy. “Not everyone agrees on what is healthy,” he said. “But Cathy and I think that natural foods, foods you see in nature, are pretty good for you.”

  A hand shot up. “My mom makes me eat my vegetables every day. But I don’t really like them.”

  “Me too,” a few kids echoed.

  Cathy brought out the fresh baked wheatberry bread and held it up. “How about sandwiches? Do you all like them?”

  A resounding “yes” filled the room.

  She loved volunteering here and Jamie fit right in.

  Jamie unwrapped the plates with sliced vegetables, avocado, tuna, cheese, and tofu egg salad. “Why don’t you all get in line? When you come by the table up here, Cathy and I will help you choose which things taste great and are good for you, too.”

  Barb led they way. Cathy let the kids choose their toppings and suggested a sprinkle of grated carrots or beets. Not everyone was willing, but most were interested enough to try.

  “What’s this yellowy white stuff?” Rio asked.

  Jamie laughed. “It’s tofu egg salad. Made with soy bean curd instead of eggs.”

  “Yuck.”

  Five-year-old Annie, in her faded blouse and ill-fitting shorts, tapped Rio on the arm. “Mr. Rogers says to try new things.”

  “Annie, that’s just a TV show,” he said, skipping the tofu salad and moving to the alfalfa sprouts.

  Jamie stepped in. “Rio, if you eat sprouts, the Force will be with you!”

  Rio’s eyes opened wide.

  “Like Luke Skywalker?” said one of the older boys.

  Jamie nodded, keeping a straight face.

  The veggies moved fast after that.

  When all the kids finished the line and Jamie whipped up smoothies, they sat down at the long table to eat. Annie came and snuggled next to them. “I like my smoothie,” she said. “Pink’s my favorite color.”

  Cathy’s heart went out to Annie every time she saw her. Today, Annie’s hair needed washing and some tender loving care. Last week she looked like she’d slept in her clothes. But most of all it was Annie’s eyes that pulled on Cathy’s soul. That exact mixture of sorrow and fear reminded Cathy of herself at that age.

  Jamie froze beside Cathy and stopped in mid-sentence. Cathy turned to see what was wrong. Jamie nodded his head toward Annie’s arm. She was holding up the smoothie. Revealing itself under Annie’s sleeve was a large bruise. It was obvious by the shape that someone had grabbed and held Annie’s forearm very tight.

  Cathy willed herself not to throw up. A white heat raged through her body. There had to be something they could do for this little girl.

  Annie caught the stares and quickly pulled her sleeve down over the bruise. She forced a smile. “It’s okay,” she said. “I just fell down.”

  Cathy put her arm around Annie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry you...fell down.”

  Annie shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  Larry slid his skateboard over to the table and butted in. “Annie’s always falling down. No one picks her for their team either.”

  Jamie leaned over and met Larry eye-to-eye. “Annie would be my first pick for any team. In fact, next week she is going to be my assistant chef.”

  “That’s not fair,” Larry sneered. He picked up his skateboard and sat farther down the table.

  Jamie shot a look at Cathy. She could read his thoughts. He sat down next do Annie. “Did you know strawberry smoothies help heal every hurt?” Jamie asked Annie.

  Annie’s eyes opened wide. “Really?”

  Jamie held up his glass. “Bottoms up.”

  Annie giggled and gulped down some smoothie.

  “You too, Cat,” he said. Jamie stood. “My glass is empty. I better go pour a refill. Cat, could you come help me?”

  Cathy followed him to the kitchen. She had a good idea what his real motive was.

  “Why hasn’t anyone done anything about Annie?” Jamie demanded.

  Cathy sighed. “Barb and all the counselors are aware of this. Social Services has been notified, but they can’t prove anything.”

  Jamie slammed his hand on the counter. “The bruises aren’t enough?”

  “This afterschool program is all Annie has. Her mother has threatened to pull her out of here if the counselors make any more trouble for her.”

  “I can’t believe we’re suppose just turn our heads and ignore it.”

  “I know. It’s horrible. But for now, we just need to feed her and give her all the love we can.”

  Jamie wiped away a lingering tear from his cheek. “For now only.”

  Cathy nodded and held out her hand to shake on it. Jamie’s hand in hers was warm and reassuring. Resolved, they walked back to the lunch table.

  “Miss Cathy,” Annie said. “Is he your boyfriend?”

  “Yeah, is he your boyfriend?” Larry called out.

  Everyone looked at them. Jamie grinned. Cathy’s face felt like a third-degree sunburn.

  “No,” she said. “Jamie and I work together.”

  A bit of twinkle left Jamie’s eyes, and the kids looked suspicious.

  Cathy put her arm loosely around Jamie’s shoulder. “We’re friends.”

  The kids smiled, and eating resumed. Cathy removed her arm and sipped her smoothie, trying to cool off before they packed up and headed home. What if she’d had a champion like Jamie when she was a little girl? Someone she could show her bruises to and would take her side? Under the table, Cathy placed her hand over Jamie’s and whispered, “Thank you.”

  He looked perplexed. “For what?”

  That’s easy, she thought. “For being you.”

  Jamie’s gaze said all she needed to know.

  Barb stood up and clapped her hands. “Time for everyone to start cleaning up,”

  The kids picked up the plates and cups and put them in the big trash bins. Cathy and Jamie packed up their supplies.

  Barb met them at the door. “Time to say thank you to Cathy and Jamie.”

  A big thank you resonated through the room, followed by multiple forms of good-bye.

  Annie raced over and hugged Jamie. “Will I really be assistant chef next week?”

  “You bet,” he said. “I wouldn’t want anyone else for the job.”

  Barb carried the blender and followed them out to the car. “Thanks again. You two are great together. The kids really enjoyed themselves.”

  Jamie and Cathy both said thanks at the same time.

  “See you next week,” Barb said, waving goodbye.

  ****

  When they got home, Pam was made up like she was going to the Academy Awards. Open cute pink cosmetic boxes cluttered the coffee table.

  “I had the most fun today,” she said. “Ellen, the Mary Kay lady from Santa Rosa, came by and did a makeover on me.” She held her face up to the light. “What do you think?”

  Cathy was not sure what to think. Pam looked like a little child who got into her mother’s makeup.

  Jamie quickly chimed in. “Attractive.”

  Pam puffed out her lips. “Do you like this Pink Posey lipstick? Caroline has the same shade. It stays on all day.”

  Their friend, Caroline, always reminded Cathy of a perfect, pretty doll with silky hair and all the right outfits. Barbie had left her mark on Caroline. But Cathy highly doubted that anyone with Caroline’s tastes would buy Mary Kay. Lancôme maybe.

  “And look at my fingers, Daddy!” Amber held up both hands to show off her glittery nails. They matched her sparkly T-shirt and barrettes that held back her curls.

  Cathy admired her rainbow-colored nails one by one. “Gorgeous!”

  “Very cool,” Jamie said. “My two pretty girls had fun today, I see.”

  Pam held up a basket of pink-labeled products she had bought. “More than that! All of this was only twenty-five dollars to get started. Now I can be a businesswoman too.”

  Was that really the best choice? Cathy wondered. But then who knew what she herself would do left home all day with a four-year-old and trying to help out? Caroline’s influence was in the air. Cathy made a mental note to check her phone bill for long distance calls to Santa Barbara.

  Pam rattled on about possibly becoming a Mary Kay representative and how she’d make lots of cash. She meant well, but Cathy had her doubts about success with Mary Kay on the River. Makeup was not big with most of the back-to-the-earth types here.

  “Then I can make everyone gorgeous,” Pam said. “You know, Cathy was one of those pretty people in high school.”

  Pam looked at Jamie for a reaction. Nothing like putting him on the spot.

  “Ah…” Jamie muttered. “I’m sure you both were.”

  Cathy felt her cheeks burn. “Not as popular as you, Pam, Miss Head Cheerleader.”

  Suddenly Pam was up, throwing her arms in the air, repeating an old cheer. “Hey all you in the stands, jump up and down and clap your hands! Come on, Cathy, join me.”

  “I…I’ve forgotten how. Too long ago.”

  Amber ran over and started kicking and jumping in the air beside her mom. Pam beamed at Jamie as she finished her cheer, slightly out of breath.

  “My, my,” he said. “My two beautiful girls are so talented.”

  Amber giggled and ran into his arms. She looked so safe and loved. Cathy wanted to run there too.

  “She’s definitely a daddy’s girl,” Pam said. “Just like you were, Cathy, when you were a kid.”