Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Hey! Welcome back!” Sunshine called from her post at the drive-thru window.
“What are you all doing here?” CC asked the officers who gathered around her.
“Wyatt knew you’d be worried. We’ve stopped by to help however we could,” one explained.
“Thank you all,” she said, trying to blink away the tears gathering in her eyes.
Quickly, she gave everyone a hug and tried to lighten the moment with a promise, “You know you have free coffee whenever you want. You had that before, of course.” Her deceased husband had worked alongside these amazing men. Darren would have still been part of the bonded crew if a criminal hadn’t shot him while he was on duty. Being a police officer had been in his blood.
“And kittens. About half of us have a new furry friend at home,” one joked. “I’m going to have to go through the drive-thru window from now on.”
“How’s the hand?” Wyatt asked, appearing behind her.
“You! You organized all this, didn’t you?” CC asked, hugging him as well.
“I might have made a few calls. Everyone wanted to help. Not that your staff needed us. That Sunshine! She’s a dynamo,” Wyatt complimented.
“I know!” CC agreed.
When Wyatt gestured at her hand to remind her of his question, she smiled. “I didn’t think they’d ever let me out, but it turns out Dr. Okino is a miracle worker. The swelling is starting to go down. I still have to get an IV dose of medicine at an infusion center every day for a couple of weeks but then I should be fine.”
“That’s the best news ever,” Sunshine chirped from behind one officer in the ring around CC. Immediately, they shifted to bring her into the gathering.
Was Detective Phillips staring at Sunshine? CC could feel the sparks flying between them from where she stood. She smiled, loving that her absence had at least helped match a couple.
“Go on now! Fuel up with a cup of coffee and a treat and get out of here. You’ve got families and cats to take care of,” she ordered.
With reluctant grumbles, the officers grabbed to-go cups of coffee and cupcakes before heading out. Immediately, CC checked methodically to make sure everything was stocked and in good shape. She whistled at the shining fixtures and floor in the bathrooms. Even the cat-food bins were filled.
“CC, would you order us some more dark roast coffee? I started a list of what we were low on and put it on your desk,” Sunshine called.
“You’re an angel. Thank you for keeping everything going while I was out. When you have a moment, come chat with me in the office. I’m going to set up permissions on the vendor sites for you to order supplies and I’d like to talk to you about officially becoming my assistant manager if you’d be interested?” CC asked.
“Really? Neat. I don’t know what that entails but if you think I’ll be competent to handle it, I’d love to discuss the job,” Sunshine answered with a grin that clued CC in to how excited the younger woman was.
“Competent? Are you kidding? I think you did better without me,” CC assured her.
“No way, boss. You have your thumb on the whole operation. I just had to keep everything going.” A ding signaled a new customer pulling up to the window. Sunshine jogged over to take their order.
In the office, CC found stuffed envelopes labeled carefully with each day she had been gone and the printouts of the day’s business. CC looked up at the ceiling as she counted her blessings. She knew Wyatt and Lark had stopped by frequently, but one looked like Ellie’s handwriting from Little Cakes. And there was one with a Daisy doodle; the sweet florist must have stopped in to help as well. In addition, she’d obviously sent or dropped off flowers.
CC tried not to cry but felt big fat tears rolling down her cheeks as she dropped into her chair, setting the envelopes on her desk. How was she so lucky to have such great friends? She looked at the picture hanging prominently on her wall and talked to her husband.
“Darren, did you see all this going on? I can’t believe it. Your friends have never forgotten you and they still come to my rescue. I miss you so much. Events like now make me want my Daddy back so much.” She whispered that last statement.
A knock at the door made her jump. Dr. Hunter Warren stood in her doorway wearing a weathered blue polo that matched his light blue eyes and a pair of blue jeans low on his hips. She cupped her chin in her hand as she stared at him. For all that’s positive in this world, don’t let me drool.
“Talking to your husband?”
“Sorry. I know it must look like I’m crazy,” CC said quickly. “Why are you here?”