Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Hope looked contrite when I finally caught up with her. “I wish I’d thought of taking you off dinner service. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Her simple question struck me dumb. Why hadn’t I mentioned it? I was comfortable with Hope. I considered her a friend, not just my employer. So why hadn’t I asked? The truth was a barb under my skin. Slowly, I said, “I think Finn was right. I don’t like admitting when my plate is too full. I like to think I can do everything.”
Hope laughed and reached out to give my shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “I should probably scold you for not knowing your limits, but not knowing your limits is how you work miracles. And I know you thrive on challenges. But don’t forget to take care of yourself while you’re taking care of the rest of us.”
“I’m working on it,” I said, knowing it was a lie. I was great at taking care of everyone else. Myself? Not so much. But that was my problem, not Hope’s. I snuck a look at her face and knew she’d caught my lie. She let me get away with it, but I had a feeling she was storing it away for later.
“Are you going to survive with Finn in the kitchens?”
“Survive?” I looked up at the ceiling, trying to decide between honesty and diplomacy. This was Hope, so I went with honesty. “One of us will survive. Not sure which one it’ll be.”
Hope laughed. “At least the cottage will be ready in a few weeks. That’ll give you some space. And we’ll all be eating better, so that’s something.”
“Mrs. Bailey’s food wasn’t that bad,” I protested.
“It wasn’t,” Hope agreed. “But it wasn’t Finn’s cooking. That chili he made last week? It was worth the acid reflux. Oh my god, it was so good.”
I harrumphed, but Hope was right. It had been amazing. Hope had been suffering from acid reflux her entire pregnancy, even after the morning sickness backed off. Chili would not normally be on her menu. But we’d woken one day the week before to find an ancient crock pot full of chili on the kitchen island set to warm, a basket of freshly baked rolls beside it. Even Mrs. Bailey had eaten a bowl. Good didn’t describe that chili. Divine. Life changing. And that didn’t get to his baking.
“So, Halloween?” Hope asked.
“How crazy do you want to get? I found boxes of old decorations in the attic. I thought I’d go through them and use what I can. Then we can take a look, and you can decide if you want more.”
“Sounds perfect. Thanks, Savannah.”
“Anytime,” I answered and headed off to unpack the boxes of decorations in the attic. I remembered some of these decorations from my childhood. Fake stuffed ravens with bendable claws. Garlands of black ivy run through with fairy lights. Gauzy ghosts hung from fishing line. Paper maché pumpkins I thought the Sawyer kids might have made in school ages ago.
I was almost finished decorating the front hall when it was time for dinner. I’d avoided the kitchens almost all day. My mother was down there. She’d shown up with the kids mid-afternoon and disappeared downstairs with them for a snack.
Nicky had been so excited to see her, I’d barely rated a hug. That was okay. My mom was one reason I’d come home after Oliver died. The job market wasn’t great compared to Richmond, but I needed my mom, and Nicky needed his grandma. Those two had always been tight.
April had volunteered to handle the dinner service. With a cheeky grin, she said she had her eye on a new pair of earrings she’d seen in town and could use the extra cash right away. I arrived in the kitchens for dinner, not sure what to expect. Standing in the open doorway to the main kitchen, I stared, jaw dropped.
How had Finn managed so much in one afternoon?
Chapter Six
SAVANNAH
“It looks great, doesn’t it?” my mother asked, beaming at Finn. She’d always liked him, the traitor. I inspected the room and gave a grudging nod, not quite meeting Finn’s eyes.
“It does look good,” I agreed before lifting my wrist to make a point of checking my watch. “Dinner should be heading up in two minutes.”
Finn had plates set up along the length of the island, silver covers sitting behind them. There was no food in sight, but the kitchen smelled heavenly. Cheese and meat and spicy tomato. Lasagna? My mouth watered.
With a smug grin, Finn said, “It’s under control, boss. Salads went up just before you walked in. When April gives me the signal, I’ll start plating the main course. Then we’ll have dinner in here.”
We’ll have dinner in here? We?
Crap. I hadn’t thought about eating dinner together. Every night? Of course, every night. Where was Finn supposed to eat if he wasn’t in the dining room with the family? Here, in the kitchen with the rest of us. My mother looked thrilled. I was not. Trying not to slouch into my chair like a sulky teenager, I took a seat beside my mother. “Nicky and August?”