Read Online Daffodils and Danger by Mary Manners - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Manners
Tags: Christian fiction
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enjoy your company.”
“That’s nice to know. Ditto, by the way.” He sighed, chewed, sipped and swallowed. “At least you’re still on my side. I’ve made a mess of things.”
“How so?” Kami dropped her fork, slid the pie plate back and went for her coffee. “What’s going on?”
“Things are changing so fast. I’m not sure I can keep up. I thought I’d come back to Clover Cove for a while, set the nursery back on its feet and then head out to New York again, to my life and my future there. Then, today, I unveiled a long-term plan to Mom and Reese and I realized…” He shook his head, lifted his gaze to capture hers. “My brain is jumbled, the synapses firing like live wires in a thunderstorm.”
“Sounds pretty serious.”
“I needed some time with you to help piece things together. I suppose that’s why I came here now…tonight.”
“Wait.” Kami’s pulse shimmied against her skin. The pie and the coffee were no longer appealing as her belly tumbled off the map. She glanced toward the kitchen, watched her dad for a moment as he rolled pizza dough through a stainless steel dough sheeter machine, readying crusts for the next day. At his side, Fred chopped toppings for tomorrow’s pizza line, as well. She drew her cell phone from the front pocket of her jeans, typed a quick text to Fred and sent it before sliding from the booth. She turned to take Wyatt’s hand. “Let’s go for a walk. I think we can both use some fresh air.”
8
Kami walked at Wyatt’s side, giving him space while waiting for him to speak. His breathing was deep, labored, and she sensed the turmoil brewing inside him.
“I never thought Clover Cove was where I belong. I never imagined I’d spend my life here. It just doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense at all.”
“Why don’t you start at the beginning and talk it through? Maybe that will help.”
“I let Dad down, then Mom and Reese.” He slapped the thighs of his jeans as they meandered along the sidewalk.
The nursery was behind them along with the pizzeria. Ahead, the foothills of the Smokies beckoned in a halo of moonlight. The pavement was damp from an early evening rainfall, and here and there Kami sidestepped to avoid a puddle.
“I suppose I just experienced a gut-punch of reality today, a check of my conscience that’s brutally painful. I’ve spent my entire life looking after Reese and Dillon. Mattie, too, while Mom and Dad chased their dream of growing the nursery. I grew to resent them—and the nursery, as well. That’s the largest part of why I left here. I thought I’d had my fill.”
“And now?”
“I still feel I’ve had my fill, but something’s holding me firm. I can’t put my finger on it, but when I think of leaving again I feel this overwhelming sense of dread, like I’m boarding a plane doomed to crash.”
“Then, why are you fighting it so?”
“I suppose I’m being selfish.” He shook his head. “I know it’s wrong, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
“You need to get over it, Wyatt.” Kami turned on him, felt a bite of temper flare. “I understand what you’re feeling. I feel it too, with the restaurant. I’ve spent my life there, grew up talking to customers and watching Dad experiment with recipes and menus. Laughter and love, that’s what fueled me for all those childhood years, at least until Mom died, taking the laughter with her. The restaurant is a chore now, something I’m beginning to despise. At once it’s both not enough and too much, with Dad hiding in the kitchen and Jada unpredictable at best. Fred has been a help, but he’ll probably move on to his own place soon enough, with the way he and Dad butt heads over the smallest things. We need changes badly, more employees to help carry the load while I keep the books and take care of stock and marketing like Mom used to do. And, at least for now, a more streamlined menu would be sensible. But Dad can’t focus
“That’s nice to know. Ditto, by the way.” He sighed, chewed, sipped and swallowed. “At least you’re still on my side. I’ve made a mess of things.”
“How so?” Kami dropped her fork, slid the pie plate back and went for her coffee. “What’s going on?”
“Things are changing so fast. I’m not sure I can keep up. I thought I’d come back to Clover Cove for a while, set the nursery back on its feet and then head out to New York again, to my life and my future there. Then, today, I unveiled a long-term plan to Mom and Reese and I realized…” He shook his head, lifted his gaze to capture hers. “My brain is jumbled, the synapses firing like live wires in a thunderstorm.”
“Sounds pretty serious.”
“I needed some time with you to help piece things together. I suppose that’s why I came here now…tonight.”
“Wait.” Kami’s pulse shimmied against her skin. The pie and the coffee were no longer appealing as her belly tumbled off the map. She glanced toward the kitchen, watched her dad for a moment as he rolled pizza dough through a stainless steel dough sheeter machine, readying crusts for the next day. At his side, Fred chopped toppings for tomorrow’s pizza line, as well. She drew her cell phone from the front pocket of her jeans, typed a quick text to Fred and sent it before sliding from the booth. She turned to take Wyatt’s hand. “Let’s go for a walk. I think we can both use some fresh air.”
8
Kami walked at Wyatt’s side, giving him space while waiting for him to speak. His breathing was deep, labored, and she sensed the turmoil brewing inside him.
“I never thought Clover Cove was where I belong. I never imagined I’d spend my life here. It just doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense at all.”
“Why don’t you start at the beginning and talk it through? Maybe that will help.”
“I let Dad down, then Mom and Reese.” He slapped the thighs of his jeans as they meandered along the sidewalk.
The nursery was behind them along with the pizzeria. Ahead, the foothills of the Smokies beckoned in a halo of moonlight. The pavement was damp from an early evening rainfall, and here and there Kami sidestepped to avoid a puddle.
“I suppose I just experienced a gut-punch of reality today, a check of my conscience that’s brutally painful. I’ve spent my entire life looking after Reese and Dillon. Mattie, too, while Mom and Dad chased their dream of growing the nursery. I grew to resent them—and the nursery, as well. That’s the largest part of why I left here. I thought I’d had my fill.”
“And now?”
“I still feel I’ve had my fill, but something’s holding me firm. I can’t put my finger on it, but when I think of leaving again I feel this overwhelming sense of dread, like I’m boarding a plane doomed to crash.”
“Then, why are you fighting it so?”
“I suppose I’m being selfish.” He shook his head. “I know it’s wrong, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
“You need to get over it, Wyatt.” Kami turned on him, felt a bite of temper flare. “I understand what you’re feeling. I feel it too, with the restaurant. I’ve spent my life there, grew up talking to customers and watching Dad experiment with recipes and menus. Laughter and love, that’s what fueled me for all those childhood years, at least until Mom died, taking the laughter with her. The restaurant is a chore now, something I’m beginning to despise. At once it’s both not enough and too much, with Dad hiding in the kitchen and Jada unpredictable at best. Fred has been a help, but he’ll probably move on to his own place soon enough, with the way he and Dad butt heads over the smallest things. We need changes badly, more employees to help carry the load while I keep the books and take care of stock and marketing like Mom used to do. And, at least for now, a more streamlined menu would be sensible. But Dad can’t focus
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