“All right, everybody! Let’s get this day started. Doors open in ten minutes!”

I clapped my hands together with a smile and my crew at Simmer sent up a whoop and moved out of the morning huddle and to their stations. I gazed around the place that had become my second home, and felt so much pride for the restaurant that I’ve worked in since I was a teenager. I’ve come a long way from bussing tables and washing dishes to earn enough to help out my mother. I learned a lot during those long summer days. I’m not sorry.

All the tables were set for hungry customers. Bright Georgia sunshine was streaming in through the spotless windows.

Given everything that has happened in the last few months, coming to work has done more than given me a paycheck to take care of my home. It has kept me sane.

Our lives haven’t been the same since we got the news from the Army. No one ever expects that knock on the door from the Chaplain and a Commanding Officer, informing you that your beloved brother is gone.

Your only brother.

Galen finally had purpose in his life. He had been struggling to find out who he was and what he wanted out of his life. He was always into something that he most definitely should not have been in. He kept me and Mom up most nights, waiting on that phone call from the police, case workers, or juvenile hall. He stole cars for joyrides and shoplifted anything that wasn’t nailed down. He was sullen, angry, and so damn bitter. He was lost and had been since the day Gordon Alexander fell dead in our living room from a massive heart attack. He was only eleven years old. At sixteen, I had to take on the role of father figure, but I wasn’t our father. I didn’t want that role in his life.

Galen did a few months in juvie after getting busted in a bait car, and I had hope that he would change after getting into so much trouble. He went to boot camp and when he returned, Galen did fine for a while, but was listless. After meeting his girlfriend, Maxi, he simply found his reason to put one foot in front of the other. Love had changed him. He wanted to do whatever it took to be the man she needed him to be. Maxi had her own troubles at home and Galen gave her calm in the storm of her abusive family. When he came to me, telling me that he wanted to join the Army so that he could take care of his family, I begged him to reconsider.

“Galen, why not go to school? Or even come to Simmer? You’re a better baker than I am!”

“Gideon, no. I have to do this. For Ma. For Maxi. You’ve taken care of us every day since Pop died. You have to let me stand up and take care of myself now. This is the way. Discipline. Honor. All the things that you have tried to teach me, and I didn’t give a fuck about until I looked into Maxi’s eyes.”

“But, Galen. Man, you don’t have to do this to prove shit to me! I already can see what you’re doing to be a better man. You go to work every day. You see Mom when you can. You were young and stupid and did stupid shit. She needs you here. I need my brother here.”

With a calm determination in his eyes, my little brother placed his hand on my shoulder. When had he become the man that was looking back at me? “Big Brother, all of your life, you’ve only wanted one thing and needed the other. You gave up culinary school when Ma got her diagnosis. That was your want, and we could have still made that happen. But you are so stubborn; you threw away a full scholarship to Johnson & Wales. Idiot,” he chastised me with a huff and a smirk.

“I forgave you for not trusting me to take care of my own mother. The thing, or rather the one, you desperately need? You’re going to have to find a way to forgive yourself for that.”

“Galen, this is not about culinary school.”

“But it is about Bethany, isn’t it?”

An exasperated sigh left my lips and I scowled at the man who was more than my brother. He was my confidant. He knew my secrets and held them close to his heart. He would never tell Mom that I gave up the scholarship. To this day, she doesn’t know that I got it. I knew that the guilt would plague her that I turned it down to stay and take care of her.

Bethany Thorne was my greatest regret.

“Bethany made her choice. She had a great opportunity, and I wasn’t going to keep her here.”

“It didn’t have to be you keeping her here. She wanted you to go with her. I wanted you to go with her! Don’t fool yourself, Gideon. She may have had the opportunity, but you made the choice for her. You think just because you’re the head of this family that you don’t deserve some happiness too? How much do you have to sacrifice?”

I wish I had known then what sacrifices I was going to have to make. I closed my eyes and felt the old familiar pain right under my heart. The loneliness never quite seemed to move.

Bethany Leighton Thorne.

God, I miss her.

I opened my eyes and shook off the longing for those luscious auburn curls and beautiful hazel eyes that I wanted nothing more than to fall into. I remembered her taste, her scent, the touch of her skin. My hands fit her curves perfectly and I could outline every detail, every imperfection. She’d been gone for three years and still, the memories are just as vivid as ever. This must be what hell is like, day after day. Wanting but never having. This crazy longing has been my constant companion, but today, it seems to be so much bigger… so much closer than it has in quite some time.

I have bigger responsibilities now, and while I wanted so badly to run to New York and have a chance to make a life with Bethany, go back to culinary school—to be free—that wasn’t happening then, and it surely couldn’t happen now.

Galen was gone.

Ma was barely hanging on.

The restaurant needed me.

Greyson needed me.

With a heavy sigh for what could never be, I walked over to the doors, turned the locks, and started this day.

It’d been busy since we opened the doors at ten this morning. I’d been trying to help keep up, bussing tables, cashing out checks. The phone had been ringing off the hook for takeout and reservations. I’m glad I was able to get some baking done at home and brought extra in with me. There was no time for me to get back to my kitchen today and immerse myself in the simplicity of measuring, mixing, and decorating.

“Gideon! Phone for you!” shouted one of my crew, who happened to be going by the still shrilling phones and answered.

Oh my God! Greyson!

In a panic, I ran for the phone, hoping that everything was okay with my son, and I wouldn’t have to call in the evening manager to take over. I have been so grateful for this crew since Greyson came into our lives. They stepped up to make sure that he would have everything he needed. A couple of the waitresses have come over to babysit, just so I could catch a few hours of sleep, or bake to meet our orders for customers. Even my managers have gladly rearranged their schedules so I would be free if ever anything happened.

Like right now.

“This is Gideon,” I breathed into the phone in a panicked rush.

“Gideon, honey. Breathe.”

With a sigh of relief, I sagged against the counter and smiled. “Mrs. Rosemary! How are you?”

“I’m fine. More than fine, but I certainly didn’t mean to give you a heart attack. I’ve called a couple of times now. Are you swamped over there?”

I scanned the front of the restaurant and saw all the tables were full and customers were waiting to be seated. My crew was really moving and they were a bit frazzled, but still smiling and laughing with the customers at their tables. Turning my attention back to the call, I answered her. “Yes, ma’am. It’s been quite a day.”

“Well, of course, I won’t hold you long, but I was hoping to ask you a huge favor?”

“You know I’ll help you anyway I can. Is something wrong out at the vineyards? I have to tell you though, Mrs. Rosie, I know nothing about wines, except how to pour and drink.”

Her happy laughter filled the line and for the first time in a few hours, I could laugh right along with her. It’s hard not to love her. She’s always been supportive, always in my corner. I hate that I don’t get to see her as much as I used to. “Well, sweetheart, that’s the best part of wine and not necessarily the pouring. It’s the drinking!” she chuckled. “Now, I know you have your hands full with that beautiful boy and your precious mother, but I’m hoping you can make one of your gorgeous creations for Clara’s engagement party? It’s a last-minute request and I’m terribly sorry. The caterers seem to have their hands full at the moment. Fuller than I ever imagined.”

I mentally went through my schedule for Greyson and Ma. Maybe if one of the girls will give me a hand… “Well, I’ll try to make some arrangements for Greyson and get in the kitchens here to make something special for the party. Will the caterer be able to come out and pick up the cake from here?”

“You’ll do it?” she asked with excitement in her voice. “That’s wonderful, Gideon! Why don’t you plan on delivering the cake out here, and then you can stay for a while for the party? I hear the food is going to be amazing and the wine is this year’s best vintage. What do you say? Come celebrate with us?”

She knew I couldn’t say no to her. I’ve never been able to say no, but this time, I couldn’t accept the invitation without knowing who would be available to care for my son. “I can’t totally accept this time, Mrs. Rosie. I’ll have to try to find someone to watch Greyson for a few hours. I’m so happy for Clara and Sheridan, and I want to be there, but you know how tough it is to find someone to watch a baby when you need them.”

“Well, Gideon, just bring him with you.”

I sent up a bark of laughter. “Bring a rowdy little boy who’s trying to crawl all over the place to a party with lots of breakable things? It’s a disaster in the making. Are you sure you want to risk it? You know I’m a just a poor single guy needing to buy diapers.”

This time, she let go a full belly laugh that went on for a few seconds. It made me laugh just to hear her. “You hush! I’ll see you and Greyson on Saturday. I’m not taking no for an answer either, Gideon Alexander! I cannot wait to get my hands on that cute little thing! Dress him nice, bring his bag, and then let me worry about who’s going to watch him. You just come ready to enjoy yourself for a while. Okay?”

“You drive a hard bargain, you know that?”

“How can you say no? Great food, even better wine, and free babysitting. Not to mention, we get to enjoy one of your delicious cakes and you get to breathe for a few hours. Come on, sweet boy. You need this. I know the last few months have been such a mess. Let us take care of you for a while,” she pleaded in my ear.

I had to sigh. She really was one of the best people in Savannah. It didn’t hurt that she loved Greyson too. “You sure about this? You’re supposed to be enjoying the party too. It’s not every day your only daughter gets married.”

“See you Saturday, Gideon,” Mrs. Rosemary stated firmly, and hung up the phone.

I guess I just got my answer.

 After talking with Rosemary, the day kept moving along and we managed to get through the lunch rush with a minimum number of broken plates, spilled drinks, and complaints. We had some of the best customers in Savannah; lots of regulars who frequented the restaurant, who bring their families and their stories of ball games, lost loved ones, and the old times. They come to celebrate good times, mourn the bad times, and to share all that was in between.

I glanced up at the clock and saw that it was getting close to four. My evening replacement had already made it in and we discussed the day’s business, the evening’s reservations, and crew schedule. I knew I was leaving the restaurant in very capable hands. James Christopher was my right hand and sometimes my left too. It didn’t hurt that we had been best friends since either of us really understood black and white. It didn’t matter. We were just two kids who loved my mother’s chocolate chip pecan cookies. My mother adored him and lovingly called him her third son.

She wouldn’t have survived losing Galen without Jamie.

“Wow, it’s been a day, man. Look at the sales. And these reservations for the night! It’s not even the weekend.”

“It’s Thursday, and business has been great, man. It’s been a long day, and I have to head out to get Greyson. I wanted to stick around to make sure everything is set here. You ready for the evening?” I didn’t want to be late picking up the little guy from my aunt.

With a grin, James gave me thumbs up. “No doubt. All the wait staff is here, and the kitchen is set to go. Go ahead, man. I got this. I’ll call only if I have to, or I’ll buzz Olivia. Speaking of beautiful women, any more hot dates with that rep from Atlanta? What was her name?” He thought for a minute and snapped his fingers. “Oh, that’s right. Aveline DeMarco.” He lifted his eyebrow and gave me a smug look.

I groaned and shook my head. “Aveline is a friend, Jamie. That’s it. We went on a few dates when she was in town.”

“A few dates, huh? Gideon, you forget I walked up on you two out in the parking lot of this place and that kiss was so not just friendly. Be glad it was me, and not the Savannah police who caught y’all. How would I explain an indecent exposure charge to Mrs. Lynn?”

There was that evil laughter at my expense. I groaned again. I loved Jamie but I wanted to fucking kill him at the same time. “You’re never going to let me live this down, are you? The one time I’m trying to make a move on a gorgeous woman and I’m getting it done, there you are. Damn, cockblocker.” I had to snicker at my own self. I was definitely busted that night. It didn’t change how the night ended, in Aveline’s hotel room. But a few stolen hours with her still couldn’t change the fact that all I could really think about—all I really wanted was the one who got away.

But Bethany and I have been a part now for three years. Enough was enough. It was time to move on. I mean, really move on. Aveline still called to say hi, still sent texts every day. She was interested in more. She knew about my obligations and responsibilities, but it hadn’t stopped her pursuit of me and the chance to be more than friends with occasional benefits. Would it hurt to see where things could go with her? She did mention plans for another trip here. Maybe we could talk then.

“Long gorgeous legs up to her ears, amazing caramel colored skin… beautiful face.” James sighed. “What a man wouldn’t give…”

I snorted a laugh and gave him a light punch on the arm. “James, my friend, I do believe that ship has sailed. Plus, umm… Victoria would kill you. Remember her? You know… your wife and mother of my goddaughter?”

“You know I love my wife. I do. I adore Victoria. A man can still dream.”

“Well, dreamer, come on back to the office so I can grab everything I need and go get—”

“Hey there, boys. I hear we can get some of Georgia’s best lemon pound cake here. Any chance we can get a slice or two?”

That voice. That sinful sultry voice shadowed my dreams and haunted my waking memories. It reminded me of whiskey and slow warm summer nights.

I looked up and gazed into the beautiful hazel eyes I had remembered earlier in the day. The eyes of the girl I had loved since she walked into this restaurant to interview for a position I had coveted and desperately wanted.

As she placed her wide sunglasses on top of her head, an amazing but timid smile spread across her face. There was a slight blush to her cheeks and her curly auburn locks lay well past her bare shoulders. Her hair was longer than she wore it on TV, and I wanted to fist my hands in the waterfall. Her amazing curves were only accentuated more in the light blue sundress that she was wearing. My eyes grazed her body, taking in what I had missed for so long, and my fingers itched to touch and touch some more. The shock of seeing her again shook me to the core and robbed me of my voice. I didn’t want to believe what I was seeing, but she was here. In Simmer. Not on one of the televisions in this restaurant. Not in New York City. Here.

“Hello, Bethany.”