Chapter Six

Bonnie Grace waited for her husband in a quiet corner of the Rise and Shine Bakery. The owner, Beth Fortier and her niece Gemma were in the kitchen working, leaving the dining area of the small shop empty.

The place was cozy, with starched eyelet lace curtains and crisp white tablecloths. As an homage to the past, the walls were decorated with antique quilts, cooking gadgets and old, sepia- toned photos in ornate frames.

This bakery had been here since before Bonnie had married into the Grace family over thirty years ago, and every time she ate here, it reminded her of those first few dates with Doug in the early days of their romance.

It had been a long time since she'd been that carefree girl with more dreams than sense, but she was constantly grateful that she'd been smart enough to snag such a good man.

Doug was her everything, and even after all these years, her heart still beat faster knowing she was going to get to see him.

He strode into the bakery with a tinkle of brass bells on the glass door. Sunlight outlined his tall, sturdy frame, and even though she couldn't see his shadowed face, she could tell by the line of his broad shoulders that he was smiling at her.

Gemma—their son Saxon's girlfriend—poked her head out of the kitchen to see who'd arrived. Her hands were covered in suds. The apron she wore was damp and smudged with some kind of berries. She was beautiful in a classic way, both inside and out.

When she saw it was Doug who'd arrived and not a customer in need of assistance, she waved a soapy hand, added a cheery hello, and ducked back into the kitchen to let them eat their lunch in privacy.

Doug leaned down and kissed Bonnie's upturned cheek in greeting.

Her pulse fluttered in the hollow of her throat and warmth suffused her skin.

She was such a lucky woman.

He sat down across from her, in front of the chicken salad sandwich she'd ordered for him. As the napkin when over his lap, he said, "That girl is going to be our daughter one day."

Bonnie smiled at the idea. "The sooner, the better. Saxon found a good one and he should pin her down before she decides to go back to the big city."

"I know you're eager for grandbabies, but let the kids find their own way, in their own time."

"I'm fine with that as long as they hurry," Bonnie said.

Doug chuckled and covered Bonnie's hand with his much bigger, much stronger one.

She loved his hands, all tan and capable. Sure, they were more wrinkled than they used to be, and yes, he had a few age spots just starting to darken, but she didn't care. Those were the hands that had held hers as a girl, they'd built their house and countless others, they'd cuddled all four of their babies, and would one day do the same with their grandchildren.

He pulled out his phone, powered it off as he always did for their brief lunches, and then picked up his sandwich.

She sipped her iced tea. "Unfortunately, I don't have much time today. Lots of patients scheduled for this afternoon. We'll have to make this quick."

Doug nodded as he chewed. "Let's start at the top and work our way down."

"Sounds good," she agreed.

As was their habit, they spent their lunches together dealing with family issues. From their parents to their children, they would touch on each one and make sure they were both informed of the latest developments, news and needs. As a doctor with a thriving medical practice and four children, and Doug an owner of a construction company, the two had adopted this ritual when the kids were still in diapers. It had served them well for years, and neither one seemed inclined to change it.

"How are your parents?" he asked.

"Mom's good. Fussing over Dad a lot."

"Is he still having issues with his back?"

She nodded as she took a bite of her quiche Loraine.

Devine. Gemma Fortier certainly did know her way around an egg pie.

"He is, but the physical therapy seems to be helping," Bonnie said. "As soon as he's done, they'd like to come for a visit."

Doug flashed her an indulgent grin. "They're always welcome. I'll make sure to stock up on that cheese they like the next time I roll through Springfield."

"Thank you. How is Alistair?"

Doug's father was alone now, and while it had been a few years since his wife had died, he still seemed uninterested in making many changes. The house still looked the same as it had when she'd been alive, almost as if he believed she might be back any day.

Doug toyed with a carrot stick. "He needs to stay busy, that's all."

"Are you taking him fishing again this afternoon?"

"Tomorrow. Now that Saxon is doing most of the day-to-day for Grace Construction, I have more free time. And since I can't spend it with my wife…."

She rolled her eyes and grinned. "Your wife is busy helping the members of this community stay healthy. You'll just have to keep yourself occupied without me."

"Dad is a poor substitute, but we are having a good time together. I want to enjoy him while I still can."

Bonnie nodded, trying to keep the sadness from showing on her face. It was hard watching your parents age, hard having the certain knowledge that they wouldn't always be around. When she was younger, she never worried that her folks would die, but with age came wisdom, and that specific wisdom was darker than most.

"I think you two should drive down to the Gulf Coast and get some deep-sea fishing in."

"He'd love that. I'll see what I can arrange."

"Next?" she asked.

"Mason is my biggest concern."

Their oldest son was in a bad place. His girlfriend of more than two years had been cheating on him, with a woman. And she'd stolen over forty thousand dollars from his fledgling company in the past year alone. Mason had kept all of this to himself, but the news leaked, as all news eventually did in a small town like this one.

Bonnie nodded. "He's not returning my calls."

"Or mine. Saxon said he checks in on him every few days, but that nothing has changed. He still wants his space."

Bonnie's tone was sharp. "A mother can only tolerate giving her son so much space when she knows he's in pain. I need to make it better."

"He's a grown man, honey. He doesn't want his mama fixing things."

"You can't tell me that you weren't over there just this morning, looking for a way to do your own fixing."

Doug blushed and look chagrined. "I'm a natural fixer. Besides, a son will tell his father things he won't tell his mother."

"Are you saying you actually had a conversation with him?" she asked.

"No," he admitted. "He wouldn't answer his door or his phone, but I'll keep trying. Until then, all we can do is be here for him when he's finally ready to talk."

"Will he show up to your Dad's birthday party?"

"I hope so. He loves his grandad enough that it might get him to surface."

Bonnie covered Doug's hand. "We can't stop trying. Even if Mason doesn't want us around right now, one day he will. Until then, I fully intend to meddle as much as I see fit."

"The kids would expect no less."

"Okay. We'll table Mason. Saxon's next."

Doug lowered his voice so as not to be heard by their son's girlfriend working just behind the wall. "I think we're good there. My guess is that Saxon is just about ready."

"To propose?" Bonnie whispered, squirming with excitement.

Doug nodded. "He's dead set on keeping that girl, and I honestly couldn't be happier."

"Agreed. We'll finally get those grandbabies we've been wanting."

He laughed at her. "You and your grandbabies. Please tell me you'll let them decide when it's right for them to start a family."

"A mother is entitled to her opinions. Besides, we didn't wait for kids, and all four of ours have all turned out fantastic."

"That they have." He finished off his sandwich and washed it down with iced tea. "That brings us to Nate. I'm worried about the direction of his business ventures."

Bonnie sighed. "You know how you feel about me meddling in our children's procreation? That's how I feel about you meddling in our children's work. I know you love new construction, but Nate just doesn't have that same fire in his belly for it that you, Mason and Saxon do. He's always loved history and saving things that look past all hope. You can't fault him for pursuing his passions."

"But there's so little profit in restoration. The time and money it takes him to restore an old house is far more than what it would cost him to build something new."

"Yes, but he doesn't care about money. He never has. Besides, has he asked you for a dime?"

"No." There was something in the way he said that single word that spoke volumes.

"You offered him money, didn't you?" she asked.

"I told him I'd fund a new project for him, but he had to give up on the Yellow Rose."

Bonnie sighed. "That house is beautiful. I can't wait to see what he does with it."

"It should be bulldozed. There's enough land there to build at least six houses."

"For whom? There aren't exactly a line of people waiting to move to Whisper Lake, unless the house is waterfront. Which that one isn't."

"He'll never find a buyer for it—not one willing to pay what he'll have in it once it's all said and done."

"Let the boy be, Doug. He's got the motel as an income stream and he's happy. Isn't that enough?"

"It should be, but he's got so much talent, I hate to see him squander it."

"I'd say he's doing just the opposite. It's far harder to fix an old house than it is to build a new one—you've always said that. How is doing the hard thing with one's talent squandering it?"

Doug sighed. "I suppose you're right."

"Flora says he hired that woman he found on the side of the road last night. She's out at the Yellow Rose right now, picking up trash."

"I'm glad someone's cleaning up that eyesore."

Bonnie shook her head. "You don't get it. Flora says this girl is Nate's new project."

Doug groaned. "Not again. That kid never seems to learn his lesson, does he?"

"He's got a big heart. And he's not a kid anymore, Doug. He's twenty-eight, runs a solid business, and helps out in his community. Maybe it's time we extend him the courtesy of trusting his judgment. It's not like he's hung on to any of the women he's rescued."

"No, but I hate to see him wasting his time, money and effort on a lost cause."

Bonnie squeezed Doug's hand, offering him comfort. "People are never lost causes. That girl is someone's daughter. If she needs a job, then I applaud Nate for giving her one."

"A job is fine. Let's hope that's all this is."

"You're going to talk to him, aren't you?" she asked.

"Absolutely. We may not see eye-to-eye on real estate investments, but he's still my son. I'm not going to stand by with my hands in my pockets while he makes a mistake he can't take back."

"Now who's meddling?" she asked, teasing.

"Sweetheart, I could spend all day, every day, putting my nose firmly into our children's business and I still couldn't come close to your champion skills."

She laughed. "That's the sweetest thing you've said all week."

He winked at her. "They're lucky to have you as their mom."

"I'm not sure they'd agree, but it's nice of you to think so."

He took a deep breath. "Okay. Last but not least is Flora."

Bonnie shrugged. "I think she's good. She's worried about her brothers, and she works too much, but the diner is going well and she's happy. I mean, I wish she was pregnant with twins, but other than that, she's doing great."

Doug shook his head, but he was grinning. "You and your imaginary grandkids. I swear you have a one-track mind. How about you let the girl find a husband before you impregnate her."

"Spoilsport."