Clara and I had been in town running some errands and finalizing plans for Saturday. I hadn’t intended to stop at Simmer. For the last couple of years, I had avoided this place; even though I wanted to see Gideon so badly, just simply be near him, I didn’t have the courage to face him. I tried to do what he asked and move on, but I haven’t even remotely moved on. I had a few dates here and there. I can’t say I didn’t have a one-night stand or two.

But no one was Gideon Alexander.

As we drove down the street and the sign for Simmer came into view, I glanced over at my cousin in the passenger seat and a look of understanding passed between us.

“Bitty, I think I would love some pound cake. Maybe we should stop in and get one for Momma’s house.”

I gave my cousin a wink. “I think that’s a great idea, or we could sit in for a slice?”

“That sounds like an even better idea. I’m a little hungry after all that running around.”

I had been putting this off for too long. It was time for me to see my love. After everything that I had learned in the last few hours, I knew I may not be able to get him back, but I wasn’t going to let a chance to talk to him slip through my fingers. There was so much to tell him and so many things I wanted to ask. I just needed some time with him.

It felt surreal being back at Simmer. Everything felt the same, but New York had changed me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. This was where I got my real start. This was where I learned the basics of the restaurant business from mopping floors to making menus. I wasn’t a Savannah debutante here. I was just Bethany Thorne, and I all I had to worry about was making sure the orders were right, the food was hot, and I didn’t break or spill anything. High society demands for finishing school may have helped me charm a few extra tips when I was learning everything about this business and its customers, but I was just another kid making her living. When I opened the doors and stepped inside, I delighted in my surroundings. I breathed in the smells of the grills firing, took in the sounds of happy customers, and wallowed in all of it.

When I saw him talking to one of his managers at the counter, my heart swelled and thudded in my chest. He hadn’t seen me yet. I stood there and simply stared at him. God, help me. He was still so incredibly beautiful and so sexy he made my mouth water. He seemed taller, his shoulders broader. His navy Simmer polo clung deliciously to his forearms. How I remember those arms holding me close. I remember how easily those shirts seemed come off me when he caught me in his clothes. His cobalt eyes were twinkling with mischief. I wondered how would he feel about seeing me again, how he would react to me being back in his space. I kept staring at him until Clara nudged me.

“Come on, girl. Let’s get that cake.”

I grabbed her hand for reassurance. She squeezed mine right back and whispered softly, so only I could hear. “It’s about time. You still love him and no matter what he says, he needs you. Go… talk to him.”

I pulled away from Clara slightly and turned my back. I felt nervous and unsure. Fidgety. I didn’t feel anything at all like the confident woman who charmed millions on television with witty comebacks and graced the cover of magazines. No, I was terrified to step up to that counter and have him reject me. That would be the final blow, and I would never recover.

“Clara, maybe this is a mistake. I’m going to be home for a while. Maybe I can do this later.”

My cousin set her face and gave me a pointed look. She knew I was trying to back down and run like I always had. Her face softened as she spoke to me. “After everything we talked about last night, are you going to be brave and face your fears, or are you going hide for another three years? I can assure you of something, cousin. If you do that, he won’t be here when you get done being scared.”

Damn Clara and her logic. Of all the times she could be right, why did she have to be right this time? I closed my eyes and a jittery sigh escaped my lips. “Why do you have to be so smart and so right?” I grumbled as I opened my eyes and looked into her face. She smirked at me and lifted her shoulder in a shrug. Another deep breath and I turned from my cousin.    

When we stepped up to the counter and I asked for the cake, our eyes finally met after being apart for so long. He was startled and surprised, almost as if he had been thinking of me and conjured me from his imagination. We had so much between us, so many things left unsaid, but in this moment, it was just me and the man I still loved so much that he was a part of my every thought and desire.

“Hi, Giddy.”

I couldn’t resist calling him by the nickname I had given him so long ago. A knowing smile came across his face. It’s the smile he always seemed to hold just for me. It was secretive and wanting. The night I called him Giddy, he had earned his nickname. Being with him made me light and so happy that I was giddy. It was the night we decided to take our relationship one step further. It was perfection, and I could see he remembered it too.

“Well, my, my, my! Look at who we have home from the big city! It’s good to see you, Bethany. Miss Clara, it’s always great to see you too! I hear congratulations are in order?” Gideon’s manager asked my cousin.

“Thanks, Jamie. Sheri and I are really excited. Now, when am I gonna get to snuggle with that precious little girl of yours? When I saw her and Victoria the other day, I wanted to kidnap her! Bitty, you have to see this little angel!” Clara squealed.

I glanced over at Gideon’s companion and was startled to see Jamie. “Oh my goodness! Jamie? You’re still here! It’s amazing to see you! I see the troublemakers of Savannah are still together. Gideon didn’t run you off, and neither one of you are in jail.”

“No, I’m hanging in and staying out of county lockup… for right now anyway. I have a wife and that little girl Clara wants to spoil rotten to see after. Gideon has taught me a lot and gave me a chance to show what I can do.”

Jamie turned to his boss and to scold him. “But dude, seriously, you’re going to be late. You have less than fifteen to get across to your aunt’s. I can seat these ladies and make sure they get their sweet fix.”

I turned my gaze back to Gideon. His eyes were locked onto me and his expression still held some disbelief I was standing in front of him. There was a banked fire glowing in the eyes my sights held onto, but there was also a good bit of wariness too. The air between us seemed to shift. It was if he was holding back from me. Clearly, he was as uncertain as I was and feeling how shaky the ground was beneath us. It wasn’t always this way. The awkwardness was foreign and unwanted.

There was a time when we looked at each other across this restaurant and no words were needed. How many times had he crooked his head at me with knowing eyes, his piercing gaze saying how much he wanted me, what he was going to do once we were alone? The thought of his mouth on my skin and his hands in my hair made my cheeks flush, and I knew I would never experience a fraction of the bliss I felt with him with anyone else.

“He’s a great guy,” I confessed.

“He is, and he’s going to be very late if he doesn’t focus and get moving,” James said, as he gave his boss one last firm look.

“Call me if you need anything tonight. You know where I’ll be.” He turned his attention to Clara and gave her a warm smile. “Congratulations, Clara. I know you’re going to be happy.”

I wasn’t really surprised as I glanced over toward my cousin and saw the expression on her face. Clara looked as if she had her own doubts about being a happily married woman. “Thanks, my sweet friend. That means the world to me.”

He grabbed a bag that was behind the counter and walked around to stand in front of us. He still had that same confident long-legged swagger. Clara had stepped to the side to give us some privacy and was talking to Jamie. “You staying at your mom’s place, or out with Mrs. Rosemary?” he questioned me softly.

“Stay with my mother? No way. I’m out at the cottage until Sunday, and then I’m headed to the hideaway.”

Another surprised look passed, but then a pleased grin crossed his face. “So, you kept it? I thought maybe you would sell once you got settled in the city.” As pleasant but very steamy memories seem to cross his mind, that grin spread to a full-on mischievous smile.

Right after I got the sous chef position here at Simmer, I decided to buy my first house. I wanted something to call my own. Gideon and I found the perfect little house not far from his own childhood home. We spent the time between our working hours at Simmer making that place our own. We called it our hideaway. It has the perfect front porch for cooler evenings and a backyard where we planned to have the best barbecues and parties with our friends. Every room, every surface, held a memory of us.

Oh, Gideon… give me a chance to make more memories with you. Please.

He turned his head and glanced at the clock over the counter before looking back at me. “I hate to do this, but I have to run. I’m going to be in a lot of trouble if I’m late.” He stepped a little closer into my space; close enough I could smell the cologne that I loved, and a scent that was just Gideon. Sugar and spice. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. I opened them on a silent exhale. Without a thought, his long, elegant fingers clutched mine tightly as his eyes softened. “Welcome home, beautiful Bethany.”

With a smile and a wink, I told him honestly, “Now that I’ve seen you, I am home.”

I watched his chest rise and fall as he lifted his hand, and I felt his finger slide down my cheek. I blinked heavily with a contented sigh when his thumb grazed my bottom lip. If we had been alone, I would have taken that thumb into my mouth and reminded him of what we had been missing out on. He still wanted me, of that I was certain, but I could see that he was unsure. We had so much that we needed to talk about. He had things to tell me and I could sense he was worried what he would say would ruin any chances of us reconnecting while I was in Savannah. He couldn’t be more wrong.

“Maybe we can see each other soon? Talk some and get caught up. It’s only been three years, right?” he said with a smile and moved in toward my ear. “I have so much I need to tell you. Don’t leave, okay?” His breath grazed my cheek as me moved back. His eyes were pleading with me to give us a chance to talk. Little did he know, I wasn’t leaving Georgia until we did.

“Oh. Not a chance.”

With a grin and a fingertip to my nose, I watched him head out of the restaurant and toward the parking lot. With a shake of my head, I turned back to Jamie so Clara and I could get that slice of cake.

He looked at me with a smirk on his face and his blue eyes twinkling. “Oh, you two still have it so bad for each other. That’s the happiest I have seen that man in weeks. The first real smile on his face since, well…”

I watched my friend closely. He was so fiercely loyal to Gideon, and it warmed my heart to know he had such good people on his side. He looked uneasy, as if telling me what had happened with Gideon and his family would be breaking his word to keep his secrets. It was an easy decision to erase his anxiety. “I know, Jamie. I know about Galen. My heart is broken.”

Jamie took a deep breath and exhaled as a pained expression crossed his face, a mixture of profound disbelief and sadness. “I loved Galen. He was a good man. I watched Gideon struggle through the worst time in his life. The only time that compares to it is when he watched you walk out of this restaurant for the last time. His world was crashing and burning around him, but he stood firm and took care of his mother and Maxi. I begged and pleaded with him to call you. You would have come back. I told him so.”

“It’s true, Bitty,” Clara chimed in. “We all wanted him to have you here. Momma almost called you herself but she respected what he asked for. You were filming in Europe at the time. He wanted you to finish the show and the charity work you were involved in.”

I felt the burn of hot tears in my throat and I blinked hard to hold them back. My heart was broken for Gideon and while the pain was fresh for me, I can only imagine what he has been feeling for the last few months. Death is always so final but when it blindsides, there’s nothing more crippling. “I would have been on the first flight out of wherever I was just to be here. I’ve been so out of touch and caught up in my own mess. All of that doesn’t mean a damn thing. He needed me, and I wasn’t here.”

Jamie leaned into the counter, furrowing his brow as he spoke. “Bethany, you can’t blame yourself for doing exactly what he insisted that you do. You had the biggest chance of lifetime. You have shown the world how talented you are. He’s damn proud of you. We all are. Of all the people in the world, you know how Gideon is.”

“Yeah, he’s stubborn as hell.”

“And he’s bound and determined to take care of everyone else before himself. I won’t lie to you, Bethany. He had his moments. They weren’t pretty, but he got through. He had too much responsibility on his shoulders for him not to get through.”

I couldn’t fight with what Jamie was saying. He was talking about Gideon’s mother and Galen’s wife, but he was talking about his child, too. I knew that hardheaded man inside and out, and as much as I would have dropped everything to be here to support him as he buried his brother and took care of mother and sister-in-law, Gideon would have fought tooth and nail against the idea. This time, though, he doesn’t have a say and he’s not getting rid of me. Yes, there’s a lot going on with the show and I need to handle Elliot. The emails I got from Jessa and Celeste this morning let me know that he’s already stepping up the antics to get me out of Culinary. I may have to go back to New York sooner than I want, but not before Gideon knew everything.

“Thanks for looking out for him. Both of you. It matters that he wasn’t alone.”

Clara put her arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. “He wasn’t, Bitty. I promise he had all of us, whether he wanted us or not. Momma was with Mrs. Lynn when Gideon wasn’t. She spent nights at the cottage, and I came out here to help when Gideon needed to be with Maxi.”

“The whole staff stepped up to take care of him and his family. And of course, our regulars offered to help in any way that they could. The support he had, and still has, makes me proud to be a part of this business and this community.”

Hearing some of the stories from Jamie and Clara helped to ease some of my hurt. Only some, though. I still had so much guilt and so much to make up for. But that was for me and Gideon to sort through. I could only pray he would forgive me. I thanked them both for sharing so much with me. “So, how about some cake, Jamie? Can we get a table?”

“Sure thing. Just let me check the seating chart and see what we got free.” He rounded the counter and headed toward the hostess stand. The place was packed and people were still coming in. After a glance at the chart, he walked back toward us with a frown on his face. “It looks like there’s going to be a bit of wait, ladies. I won’t have an open table for at least another half hour.”

I was so glad to be back. I remembered crazy Thursdays like this one… the place filled with families and tour groups. “Clara, you want to wait or you want to head out? We don’t have to be anywhere for the next couple of hours, do we?”

“No, I think we’re okay if you want to wait. Sheridan is coming to the cottage later, but we’ve got time,” she said as she looked at her watch.

“Well, it sounds like we’re waiting then, Jamie.” We moved into the lobby to wait for an open table. I was still smiling as I looked around. The hustle and bustle excited me. I could see that everything was running smoothly but they definitely needed a few more hands to cover the front of the house.

“You want to be back here in one of those polo shirts and khakis, don’t you?” Clara asked me with a grin. “God, I still remember how excited you were when you got the job here. I was just glad you were finally coming back to Savannah and I wasn’t going to be alone anymore.”

I cocked my head and wrinkled my brow at her. “Alone? Clara, what are you saying?” She sounded so melancholy for a moment.

“Oh, it’s nothing now. I knew you were pursuing your dreams and I was happy for you. Really, I was, but I wasn’t so sure what my dreams were. I was listless and I missed you. That’s all.”

“Clare Bear, honey… why didn’t you ever say something? You could have come to Rhode Island. When I was doing the apprenticeship, you could have come with me. I asked you to! You always gave me some bullshit about not wanting to be in the way. You finally came to New York after I won. You were happy. You were living your life and not hiding that you are gay.”

“Yeah, and we know how well it went with Daddy and Evil Anna when I came out.”

The anger was still the same. It hadn’t eased in nearly four years since that horrible night Clara and I had come home from the city. The bitter taste of bile rose in my throat. Two people who should have supported Clara no matter what only added to the anguish when she decided to speak her truth. I will never understand how a father could turn his back on his own child simply because she had finally found the courage to tell her family that she was gay.

“Have you talked to him lately?”

“Have you talked to her lately?” Clara countered.

I shook my head and continued with my answer. “I haven’t really talked to my mother since she decided that I was a traitor to the Leighton family name because I chose to, as she so loudly shouted at me, wallow with the help. Oh, and to make matters worse, I chose a black man on top of that! The name and the image always were more important to her than the daughter and husband. She actually had the nerve to tell me if I was going to fuck trash, the least I could do was find a Jew with money.”

Clara’s jaw dropped and a shocked gasp escaped her lips. Her wide green eyes flinted with the same anger I had felt for so long. “You never told me. What a despicable bitch your mother is. Why didn’t you tell me, Bitty?”

“Ehh, you had enough to deal with. And then, after everything that was said at the family dinner over at the mausoleum, there was no way I was adding more to your plate. I knew Uncle Martin was a tough man to love, but I never expected him to be so vicious. For God’s sake, he’s your father! In this day and age, you’d think there would be some tolerance and acceptance. Apparently, some of our family refuses to let go of their generation’s old prejudices.”

My uncle, Martin Westbrook, was the exact opposite of my Aunt Rosemary. Where my aunt was light, kindness and forward thinking, her ex-husband was close-minded, brittle, and jaded. Like my mother, he only cared about the name and the image that came with being one of the first families of Georgia. Too bad he hadn’t done a damn thing to add to the legacy, other than Clara. Having a “carpet-munching dyke” in the family would destroy everything that he had worked so hard for, he’d wailed at dinner the night of Clara’s coming out. What hard work had Martin Westbrook ever done? He lived off the family name and spent the money that others had earned.

“I never told you how sorry I was, Bitty. I never wanted that night to turn into a nightmare. I just couldn’t hide anymore. I was so in love with Jessa and I wanted the world to know what I had found with her. God, what a fucked up mess. My dad is a bigot. My aunt is a racist, and Jessa is back in New York. Even after we made promises to not let the distance and my dad come between, we broke up anyway.” Clara’s shoulders fell in a sad surrender. There’s no way she could tell me she was over Jessa, and there was no way she could tell me she was past the hurt of her father’s cruel dismissal.

Clara always wanted us to believe that she had a heart of steel and that she let hurts roll off her back and kept going. But honestly, she has a soft, loving heart and it’s still breaking. She wiped the tears under her eyes and I pulled her in close. It was time to go. We could get cake anytime.

I put my hand over her heart and patted her chest softly. Clara reached for my hand, her head hanging down slightly. “Let’s get out of here, cousin. I think you and I need some quiet time before Sheridan arrives.” She nodded as I handed her the keys to the car from my purse and headed for the door. I returned to the counter to let Jamie know we were leaving.

“Jamie, we’re going to pass on that table. I think all this running around for the engagement party has gotten to Clara and she needs some quiet time. It’s all a bit overwhelming,” I told him.

“No problem, Bethany. I totally understand and there’s so much chaos in here, it’s a lot to take in. Tell you what… there’s a lemon in Gideon’s cooler. I’ll box it up and bring it out. You ladies can enjoy some cake and wine later, in peace and quiet.”

“Aww, Jamie. You don’t have to do that! You know he’s going to hurt you for taking from the restaurant supply!” I admonished him with a laugh.

He gave me a smirk and rolled his eyes. “You know I’m not even scared of Gideon. Troublemaker, remember? Hold on. I’ll be right back.” He stepped away and headed toward the kitchens. He was back in no time, carrying the familiar Simmer takeout bag, and placed it on the counter. “Okay, Bethany. Here you go. One lemon pound cake with forks, plates, and napkins.”

I squealed a little and took the straps of the bag. “You’re the best! Now what do I owe you?”

He smiled his warm, happy James Christopher smile, the one that got him into so much trouble when I was working here. “Nothing. It’s all taken care of. You want to pay me back? Keep making Gideon leave this place with that look on his face. Now, get on out of here, girl. I have a restaurant to run. Come back to see me, okay? We need to catch up, and I have a little girl for you to meet.”

With a grin and a wave goodbye, I turned from the counter and headed toward the door. It looked like it was going to be a long night for the crew. I remembered nights like this—aching, tired feet. A sore back from lifting trays of plates filled with delicious food. Happy families and great tips. Just because I had a fancy title didn’t mean I was off the hook. I waited on tables, bussed them, and took out the trash, like everyone else. It was simple and fun. There were no scripts to learn, no worries about if the sponsors would approve of my shows… no constantly having to be on for the cameras or for the fans loitering outside my apartment building.

I headed out the door with the cake box in my hand and made my way across the parking lot to the BMW. Clara was inside with her head laid back on the headrest. She looked so small and drained. As I reached for the door handle, I looked toward the front windows of Simmer. It was still so busy and Jamie could definitely use an extra hand. I considered what to do and suddenly it dawned on me. If I was going to learn to love my career again, I had to start from the beginning, didn’t I? It wouldn’t take long to drive Clara back to the cottage and change into some jeans and my favorite work shoes. I was going back to work—tonight. First, I had to make sure that Clara was okay. Setting the bag and my purse on the backseat and putting my shades on the center console, I turned back to the passenger seat.

“Talk to me, Clare Bear. It was a little heavy in there.”

She lifted her head from the headrest and stared straight ahead. “I’m fine, Bethany. I promise. But leave it to you to come back to Savannah for a just a weekend and open a huge can of worms.”

“I’ll leave right now if you want me to.”

She whipped her head around toward me so fast I think it gave me whiplash. “Don’t you even dare.”

I winked at Clara with a grin and a chuckle and started the car. “Gotcha, cousin. I’ll stay put—for now.” I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward The Cellars. I explained to Clara my plan for starting to get my mojo back. The engagement party was a good idea but going back to Simmer tonight was the first important step; even more so because I could get my hands dirty. She agreed with me. I asked her to call the restaurant and put the call on speaker.

After a few rings, my plan moved into fast forward when James answered the phone.

“Thank you for calling Simmer. How can I help you this evening?”

“Hey, Jamie. Need some help tonight?”

By the end of the dinner rush, my feet were killing me and I so wanted a double shot of anything from Déjà Brew, but I was thrilled and exhilarated to be back at Simmer doing what I loved. It was fun going back to taking orders, serving food, and laughing with the people I knew and who knew me from my time as here. I saw some of the same faces that I remember were here the night I won The Competition. Those people insisted on hugs, and I was glad to give them.

When I got the chance to help on the line in the kitchens, no one cared that I was some celebrity chef or thought I was in the back for some spot to be shown later. I was a pair of willing hands putting plates together, chopping veg, or loading a dishwasher… no pretense or showing off my skills. I was a part of their team. Seeing the same cheerful faces and being with a crew that moved like a well oiled machine? That was what had been missing. For weeks, I have felt like a dressed-up prop in designer clothes and shoes. I was simply decoration and a face for a show that somehow was feeling less and less my own. Working a shift at the restaurant gave me a taste of what I wanted again.

Of course, I was recognized by people coming in that weren’t regulars. I was asked for pictures and I signed a few takeout menus. I was very sure that I would end up on Twitter or Instagram in a short while. I really didn’t care. I came to find my place again and Simmer played a vital role in doing just that, but the Cox sisters—especially Jessa—had been adamant that I stay off of social media until more could be done to stop Rowling. My ass was in so much trouble. I had no clue how I was going to explain this.

The tips were great, but I refused to take them. At the end of the night, I shared what I’d earned with the wait staff on duty. One was a young college girl who was saving to get the books she needed for next semester. Another was a young mom who needed diapers for her baby. She showed me pictures of her adorable little boy with the chubbiest little cheeks I had ever seen. The twenty-something dude on duty needed the extra tips to be able to make his portion of the rent for the month. A small two-bedroom from what he told me, but it was home for him and his ridiculously gorgeous boyfriend. I saw the pics of the boyfriend and he was definitely gorgeous.

It was such a small thing to do, but I was glad to help them all.

“I don’t know how to thank you for helping out on the floor tonight, Bethany,” Jamie said to me with a grateful smile. “This place was a madhouse. Good to see you haven’t lost your touch with the dinner crowd. Charmer.”

I huffed out a laugh and stretched my tired arms. “It felt good to get back to the grind. I loved it! I’ve missed this even more than I realized.”

“We’ll see how much you’ve really missed it when you’re sore in the morning. Those arms don’t look like you’ve been lifting any trays or bussing tables. I wasn’t sure if you even remembered how to push a broom or mop a floor, city slicker,” he teased me with a hearty belly laugh.

I turned around and stuck out my tongue at him, flipping him the bird. “Fuck you, Jamie. This was like riding a bike. I didn’t dump plates on anyone at least.” I picked up a towel I was using and threw it at him with a laugh of my own.

He ducked before the towel hit him and bent to pick it up. “Thanks for that, by the way.” His look quickly sobered though. “I’m pretty sure that a few people are going to know that you are back in Savannah very soon. You weren’t shying away from taking those selfies when you were asked. You should expect visitors. If you were hoping to hide your face for a while, you kinda messed up your plan.”

When there was a lull in business, Jamie had asked what really had brought me back to Savannah. I gave him the shortened version, the main reason being Clara’s party and that I was catering the food. I didn’t lie about being burnt out and needing to find my center again. I didn’t want to tell him too much, though, especially about the mess with my boss. I had to tread lightly there. But Jamie knew Gideon better than anyone else… they were best friends and ran the restaurant together. So I told him the truth: I was still in love with Gideon and I wanted a chance to win him back. I came home to escape the madness, but I wanted to return to New York City knowing that Gideon and I at least could have an opportunity to try again, to fix everything that had gone so wrong. But now that I knew about everything, I wasn’t sure how I would convince him to give us a second chance.

He seemed to like my plan but I could also see the hesitation and concern on his face and in his body language. I believed there was more he wanted to tell me and I was sure it had everything to do with this Aveline I kept hearing about from time to time on the floor.  

Hell. I shouldn’t think about her right now. But I couldn’t help but wonder if I was too late. The way he looked at me said I wasn’t. I was going to hold onto that.

I picked up the broom I had been using to finish off the last of my cleaning. I could almost guarantee that by tomorrow morning my mother would most definitely know that I was back in Savannah. She knew too many people for word not to get back to her. As much as Aunt Rosemary wanted it, I refused to see the woman who birthed me. I hated to disappoint my aunt, but Anna Thorne embodied everything I’d been trying to avoid. For my own peace of mind, I had to keep doing what I’d been doing for the last few years—staying the hell away from her at all costs.

Even still, I was feeling great and flying so high on the rush of the evening. I chose to stay focused on the positives, and my thoughts ran to the rest of my stay in Savannah. What I truly hoped was that I would get to see Gideon tomorrow.  I wanted to sit and talk to him, find out how he was coping with everything. He had so much on his shoulders to carry alone. I should have been by his side, and I was determined to stay by his side from now on. 

I headed over to the next table in the section, moving the chairs so I wouldn’t miss anything. As I went through my mental to do list, my dad’s smiling face popped up and my own smile grew. I was definitely heading out to the farm in the morning and staying around for a while to catch on everything I had missed with him. I knew he would be in his element and that meant he would be tending his prized gardens. Since I planned to use some of his fruits and vegetables for Clara’s party I wanted to pick the best of the crop. I really wanted him to come out to the party and celebrate with all of us, but I know my dad.  He was happier on his farm than anywhere else, especially after a divorce filled with public scrutiny and never ending gossip from Savannah high society.

Finally I reflected on the plans for tomorrow night. When I was leaving tonight, Sheridan had arrived at the cottage. She and Clara were making the final touches to the menu. The only issue was dessert because I definitely was no pastry chef. Aunt Rosemary had insisted that she would take care of the sweet portion of the evening. So, barring no other surprises, the night was set to be a huge success. It felt amazing to be cooking again just for the joy of it.  

I shook my head lightly, pushing away my thoughts for right now. I finished sweeping under the tables in my section and went to grab a mop. I glanced over at Jamie. I had laid a lot at his feet tonight. He was worried, if the expression on his face was any indication. “It’s okay, troublemaker. If those posts get some people through those doors and in the seats, it’ll all be worth it!”

Sure, there was bound to be the utter chaos after tonight, but it wasn’t going to be anything I couldn’t handle. Savannah drama was much easier to deal with than the mess I left in New York for the weekend. Without a doubt.

“I love the business, but man, no more crazy nights like this one!” Jamie pleaded as he lifted his head to the ceiling. “I do believe that Simmer will be really popular for a few days, though. I’m sure the tourists are going to pray for another Bethany sighting. Sounds like the old days.”

I lifted my eyebrows at him and twisted my lips. He laughed and headed back toward the office to finish the night’s paperwork. I wrung out the mop and got to work doing the part of food service that wasn’t so glamorous, but I did it with cheeks that hurt from smiling so much.

With the front of the house clean and all the supplies restocked, I peeked into the kitchen to see if the guys needed any help. They assured me that things were under control and almost done. It was habit to run the old inspection that became part of my nightly routine here. The counters were clean and the smell of detergent and sanitizer had replaced the smell of grease, the floors were being scrubbed, and dishes were being put away for the next shift. Every chrome surface was gleaming. I did a fist bump with the fellas on my way out and handed over my dirty apron. Still the best kitchen crew in the world.

Jamie had come back to the front as I took one last look around. “Okay, Jamie. You all good here? I’m going to head out if you’ve got this under control.”

“Get out of here. Thanks again, Bethany. It was good to have you back, even if it was one night only.” He gave me a grateful hug and I pinched his cheek as I left his embrace.

I gathered up my purse, took out my keys, and made for the door. “I wouldn’t say that, James Christopher. I may come around again for a few more shifts.”

I unlocked the door so I could leave, and glanced over my shoulder. “Make sure you lock up behind me.”

With a wink and a grin, I headed to my car.