Tripp met with the family for breakfast, an old Valdez family tradition which was more important today than ever. The news played against the far wall, turned down unless a breaking announcement interrupted. Their phones rang almost constantly as the different areas of the island called in their reports. The damage was widespread. The storm had gained sudden strength just off their shores and turned at the last moment to hit them head on. No one was expecting the strength of what battered into their homes. Luckily, many had taken the time to board up and prepare. Living on an island, the citizens were accustomed to preliminary precautions. But even those precautions could not protect some areas.

“More flooding on the south side.” Jo’s face pinched in worry as she scrambled to take notes. “Ten injured. No deaths.”

They all breathed out in relief. With each phone call, they dreaded the moment they would hear someone had died during the night. Tripp worried for the villagers of Grevena. The Mayor had not yet contacted them.

Seraphina called out. “Jenneca, come in.”

Tripp raised his eyebrows in surprise and then smiled at her, motioning she take the seat beside him. He was finishing a conversation. Jenneca looked composed, but not pleased. He cringed at the memory of their awkward conversation last night.

Phina helped Jenneca get her plate and then Tripp finished his call. “Good morning Jenneca. Have some breakfast.”

“Thank you.” She sat down, subdued.

He turned to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but she wiggled out of the way of his hand. A shard of hurt sliced through him. “Everything ok?”

“Sort of. I’m worried about everyone. The news this morning was one disaster after another. I went searching for all of you until finally a staff member told me where to find you.”

He should have texted. Especially after the way they left things. But he was swamped all morning, up before the sun. And it’s not like she was family. This was a family breakfast. But she didn’t know that. And he would be kidding himself if he tried to think he wasn’t pleased she was here with all his family. “I’m sorry. I should have texted you this morning. Or last night.” He tried to show his sincerity with his eyes.

She glanced at him, nodded and lifted her fork. “Any news from Grevena?

“No, the mayor has yet to call. I’m considering driving down there to take a look around after breakfast.”

“Oh yes, we should.” She blazed red. “If I might come?”

“I’d love the company. And I’m happy to give you a ride to see your store.”

She nodded. “Would it be all right if mother stayed here for the time being? I hate to move her…”

Tripp’s mother rested her cup on the table. “She must stay with us as long as she would like. The wife of Stefano is a celebrity as far as the Valdez family is concerned. We would be pleased to have her.”

Jenneca’s features softened and a few of the worry lines eased. “Thank you. My mother always said all of the Valdez family were as kind as the oven was hot.”

They chuckled. Then the phone rang. Tripp’s phone. It was the mayor’s line. “Hello? Mayor Tenney?”

“No. I’m sorry your highness.” A small female voice answered. “The mayor was injured last night. He went straight to the hospital. I wanted you to know. The deputy mayor is taking over.”

Tripp cleared his throat, stunned by the news. “Will he be all right?”

“They are uncertain. I know he was in critical condition. A section of a house fell on him while he was trying to clear debris.”

Tripp shook his head. “OK. We will be right over.”

“Thank you, your highness.”

He looked at the group and shared the news.

Jenneca gasped beside him. “Oh dear. Might we…” She looked uncertain. “This is so difficult to not be able to function on my own.”

Tripp felt for her. He started to reach for her hand but she slid it away. Lucan lifted an eyebrow but Tripp ignored him. “I was thinking of paying him a visit. Would you like to come?”

She nodded, the gratitude in her eyes warming him.

“And call this number for a car to take you anywhere you need.” He slid a card across the table to her.

“Thank you.”

They cleaned up their notes from breakfast and everyone made plans to separate to their various assigned parts of the island. Luckily the palace remained unscathed. Thanks to their emergency procedures, the strength and support in their buildings, they were sturdy against most storms.

Tripp agreed to meet Jenneca down by the cars. For the first time that morning he had time to think about last night. He was frustrated about what had happened. For one quick moment, when Jenneca had leaned into him, he saw Jorge sitting just as close to her in Austria, and then he doubted her. The last he’d seen of them together, Jorge had her hand and she had let Tripp walk away. The two of them seemed pretty tight. And then for her to come on to him like she was, he wondered about her intentions. He didn’t want a short term thing, nor did he want her to feel obligated towards him.

And then he’d felt ashamed, showing her so much attention right after she had been through something traumatic, doing all these things for her family, rescuing her store and then inviting her to sit in a hot tub. It was as if he were trying to take advantage of her. He didn’t want her to think he’d expected anything at all in return for his gesture. He wanted to show he cared. And he did care. He cared for her, but he also cared for the village. And the bakery. He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t know how to get out of the awkward mess they were now in.

And they had too much to do to spend much time on it.

Their driver pulled up in one of the tougher SUVs. Good thinking. Who knows what kind of debris they would encounter. The four wheel drive could come in handy. He leaned back against the door, waiting for Jenneca. Perhaps they could just behave normally. He could pretend she was any other woman he knew, doing important work together.

She approached through the front door, down the stairs and out onto the circular drive in front of the palace. His mother watched through an upper window. He nodded to her when she smiled and waved at him. Then his eyes found Jenneca again. He couldn’t look away if he tried. Her fabulous curls blew around her in the still windy day, framing the round lines on her face, her pert nose, the lovely dip on her upper lip. She was something special and he didn’t want to lose what small strides they had made.

She approached and nodded to him, her air of professionalism shutting down any ideas he had about being something other than distant. But he still wanted to try. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you.” Her small smile looked patient more than anything.

His responding inner sigh would have echoed across the courtyard were he to let the sigh be audible at all. He held the door open for her and she climbed in. Then he stepped around to his side. By time he had joined her in the backseat, she was giving instructions to the driver.

They were headed to the hospital first, both worried for the Mayor and wanting to do something. After, they would visit the Mayor’s family in town and then the village members who had sustained damage.

The Mayor was in severe condition. He was barely conscious when they went in to talk to him. Jenneca ran to him, clasping his hand in her own and kissing his forehead. Before Tripp could say anything, his voice caught in his throat.

“Be well.” Her whisper carried to Tripp and he decided again, he wanted Jenneca in his life. He wanted her lips on his forehead. He wanted her to yearn for his wellbeing. He shook his head. Today was not about him. But Jenneca did things to his desires and hopes he was not used to.

He quietly reassured the Mayor that they would take care of Grevena and wished him well.

On the drive to the village, Jenneca stared out the window. He couldn’t stand the formality she insisted remain between them. “Jenneca.”

Her eyes flashed to his, and he was struck by their brilliance and by the sadness clouding their depths. He moved to her side immediately. “Oh Jenneca.” He dropped an arm around her back and she didn’t stiffen or resist so he pulled her to him. “I’m so sorry.”

“The mayor is a good friend. All the people of the village are, like family, you know.”

Tripp felt envious of such a close knit relationship, of the community. “We will do all we can. I sit on the board for Grevena, and the palace is committed to support all the efforts to keep it thriving and repaired.”

She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s hard for me to hold it together through all of this.”

“You don’t have to hold it together. Jenneca, lean on me a little. I would love to be of some assistance to you.”

She pulled away. “I appreciate all you are doing. We don’t have any other option than to accept your help. I wish things were different, but thank you. My father would be so pleased.”

“Stefano himself. From a long line of superb Stefanos.” Tripp grinned with pride. “I’ve been reading up. Your bakery served the first donut in all of Torren.”

She grinned and Tripp was so relieved to see her smile he almost laughed out loud. She held up a finger. “Then the rest of the island, the world even, took over the making of donuts and now Stefano’s would never make something as common as a donut.” She shook her head. “The Faluna pride.” Her eyes flit to his, their shyness pulling him even closer.

“Jenneca, let’s talk about the other night.”

Her face clouded and she scooted away. “No, Tripp. That was so embarrassing. I would never, could never…”

“Never?” He tilted his head, trying to show the sincerity of his question.

“Well, no, I mean, Tripp, what do you want from me? Let’s just get this place cleaned up and get back to our lives.” She gestured out the window, and Tripp gasped at the mess surrounding them.

They climbed out of the car to branches everywhere. Many shop windows broken, debris scattered in the streets. They made their way on foot to the bakery.

Tripp breathed out in relief. At least it had been boarded up, the fire out, and the inside protected from the elements. He reached for Jenneca’s hand but she burst ahead. “My brothers are here.”

“What?” He hurried after her.

She burst through the front door. The place smelled of delicious baked goods and Tripp was amazed such a thing could be possible. The shelves were lined with bread.

Alonzo and Stefano stood side by side. The first stepped out from the back, wiping flour down the front of his apron. Tripp smiled. It was the Faluna way. Flour over everything.

“It smells delicious. Alonzo.” Jenneca ran into his arms. Her brother cradled her with tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry sis. I should have been here. Long before now.” Alonzo lifted his eyes and then held out his hand. “Your highness.”

Tripp gripped his hand in his own, liking this brother immediately. “We came upon them right after it happened.”

“I heard Mother is at the palace. We owe you a great debt of gratitude.”

“No thanks necessary. I was happy to help. We will do our best to aid in the rebuild, to help the whole village.”

Alonzo nodded, but Tripp saw the same stubborn streak cross the brother’s features he had seen in Jenneca.

The shop door dinged behind them. In walked Henry and Charlie Baldeez, and behind them several members of Jenneca’s ski team, and behind them, Jorge.