Lost and Found

Chapter 2

2

Cari awoke to the sound of chainsaws buzzing in the backyard. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a lavender T-shirt before wandering barefoot into the kitchen. She glanced out the back window but didn’t see Shane in the hubbub. With a cup of her secret blend of coffee in hand, she sat down to enjoy a few minutes of relative calm before heading down to her shop, What’s Perkin’. Kate would have muffins and scones baking, filling the shop with tantalizing aromas that made them irresistible to customers.

Cari smiled to herself, thinking about how life had changed over the last few years. Kate had become an unexpected asset to the business. Initially, she moved back to Loudon after college. She planned to save some money and move to Boston, but Donovan Price, now her husband, followed Kate to Loudon.

Kate had graduated top of her class from Johnson and Wales University with a degree in culinary arts, which allowed Cari to relinquish full control of the kitchen to her creative daughter. She was happy at What’s Perkin’ and currently developing an expansion plan. Kate had always been the quiet child, and, at times after Ben died, it seemed she had been short-changed. Shane grew up overnight and assumed his father’s role as man of the family. Ellie was so young that she needed extra attention from Cari. Kate had quietly gone about her young life, helping her mother when needed and retreating into books every other spare moment.

Cari drifted back to the last morning when she kissed Ben goodbye. It was like any other day except he never came home. The doctor assured Cari that he hadn’t suffered when the aneurysm struck him down. It was quick, and in all likelihood, he never knew what happened. But she and the kids felt the pain.

Cari had stumbled through the first few weeks in a haze. Thank heavens for the kids. They were her anchor and reason for getting out of bed in the morning. Throughout their marriage, Ben had been her rock and best friend. With Ben by her side, Cari felt she could conquer anything. After several months had passed, she started to feel that Ben was still with her. She began talking to him. Her parents, Dave and Susan, knew about the conversations and weren’t concerned. It helped Cari deal with her grief.

When the kids were small, Cari dreamed of opening a bakery. For years, Ben encouraged her to take the leap, and together they developed a solid business plan. Ben believed Loudon needed a place where locals and weekenders could get a good cup of coffee or tea and enjoy homemade baked goods. It would be the perfect business for Cari. But she had one excuse after another and didn’t make the time to open a shop until the bottom dropped out of her world. After the overwhelming grief began to subside, Cari had to show the kids that life would go on and together, they’d get through the tragedy.

Almost a year had passed before What’s Perkin’ opened. It had been a difficult decision, but Cari needed to have something to occupy her time while the children were at school. In the early days, people stopped in to lend their support, but after a while, the food became the focus, and most of the townies became regulars. Cari catered to the local community, running specials for the workweek and holidays. As the years flew by, the business thrived. The McKenna family held events to support the local soup kitchen and food pantry. It was important to Cari that she continued to repay the kindness her family was given during their darkest days.

Silence jarred Cari back to the present. Shane’s guys had finished. Glancing at the kitchen clock, she realized Kate had been single-handedly taking care of the shop for more than an hour and would need help. Cari grabbed her shoulder bag and hustled to the garage for the short two-mile drive to her home away from home.

The bell on the door rang, causing Kate to pause and look up, hoping this time it was her mother. Usually, Mom was the first one to arrive in the morning. Kate received a call from Shane the night before to update her and Don about the lightning strike. It was understandable that her mom was running late. Kate was worried about Mom’s state of mind. Nothing had changed at the house since her dad passed away years ago.

She was waiting behind the long wooden counter when the door opened. A smile slid over her face to greet Mom. Relief flooded over her. She tossed her long dark braid over her shoulder.

“Hi, I was beginning to think I would be flying solo today. Thank goodness it’s been slow,” Kate teased.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Mom hastily pulled the door shut behind her to keep the cool air inside. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got distracted. Shane’s guys made short work of the cleanup. I’m sure the neighbors weren’t happy they started so early. But it’s done. Later today, Ray’s going to stop at the house and give me an estimate.”

Kate couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Mom, are you going to take a breath this morning or talk nonstop? How about I fix you something to eat? I am assuming you had coffee but skipped breakfast.”

“Hmmm, an egg sandwich would be tasty with cheese and ketchup?” Suddenly ravenous, Cari’s mouth watered. Dinner never crossed her mind in the craziness of the previous evening.

Kate stepped into the spacious, well-designed kitchen. The oversized center work area had easy access to essential equipment stored below, a commercial range, and baking ovens lining one end, and cooling racks standing next to them. A large walk-in refrigerator flanked the opposite wall beyond the center island, sinks and the dishwashing area were to the left. A partial wall was open, down to counter height, separating the kitchen from the shop.

Baked items were cooling on the counter, ready for the display case. Her mom had taken the construction of the kitchen seriously and hired Ray to customize the workspace. The kitchen had taken months to complete, and it was worth the effort—the workflow was flawless.

While she waited, Mom tidied up the front counter. She was restocking the display cases with fresh muffins and biscuits and started a fresh pot of coffee as the door opened. Cari greeted Ray with a sunny smile.

“Hello there, neighbor! I hope the chainsaws didn’t bother you this morning. Shane’s guys got to my house pretty early.”

“Nope, I didn’t hear anything, and even if I had, I’m always up early.”

Laughing, he said, “I have to make hay while the sun shines. Before we know it, the days will grow short, and we’ll be indoors, trying to stay warm and dreaming of spring.”

Conversation between the old friends flowed effortlessly. Kate enjoyed watching the two of them each morning go through the subtle flirtation.

She suspected for Ray, the high point of every day was stopping in to visit with Cari before he started his day. This morning, in her jeans and ponytail, she looked more like a teenager than the mother of three grown children.

“You look nice today.”

A flush rose in her cheeks. “Thank you. What would you like? Coffee and a freshly baked muffin? They’re straight from the oven.” Mom gestured to the plate in the front case.

“A blueberry muffin, please. No, make that two, they smell amazing. Can you throw a couple of extra pats of butter into the bag? And a large coffee with cream and sugar. That should hold me temporarily.”

Mom chuckled as she filled a bag. “Mr. Davis, you’re going to turn blue with as many as you’ve eaten this summer. You order the same thing every day. Maybe tomorrow you can try something else, an apple turnover or a coffee cake muffin?” she teased.

Ray broke out in a belly laugh. “Well, it’s your fault. You have them every day, so how can I resist? They’re my favorite. But maybe I’ll change my order if Kate takes requests from humble carpenters. How about blueberry scones? I’m sure she’s made them before, but I’m happy to be the official taste tester.”

Kate softly laughed. Ray’s weakness wasn’t blueberry muffins.

“I’ll check with the chef and see what we can do about adding some variety to your routine. We’re always happy to take care of our loyal customers.”

“I’ll give you a call after I swing by your house and assess the damage. Then I should be able to give you a realistic estimate and a list of contractors for you to call for comparisons.”

Mom nodded. “Alright, I should be home about five. Why don’t you stop by and you can help me figure out what I need to do next?”

He started to agree, but before he could get a word in, she kept on talking.

“You’re a great carpenter and in high demand. I won’t pull you away from the new kitchen remodel you got over in Litchfield or any other jobs you have lined up, just to help me out.”

“Cari, we’re friends, and if I have time to help, then I will. I’ll be over later.” Ray was out the door before she could protest. He could be heard whistling as the door slammed behind him.

Jamming her hands into the pockets of her apron, Cari wondered what had just happened. The hole in her house wasn’t his problem, but he was determined to help. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to anyone, especially Ray.

Cari’s thoughts drifted back to when she met Ben. One winter day, he was crossing the college campus and saw Cari from a distance. Her laughter reached him, and he had to meet her. It didn’t take long for the couple to fall in love. When their relationship evolved to marriage, it didn’t take much to convince Ben that Loudon was the best place to raise a family. He said he would follow her anywhere. Small-town life had been good to them. They had been deliriously happy for thirteen short years.

Leaning on the counter while absently staring out the door, Cari caught a glimpse of her best friend, Grace Bell. She was making a beeline for the bakery. Grace was tall and thin with bouncy blonde curls and huge, soft brown eyes. The two girls had met while working in a diner and instantly had become best friends. Cari wondered how she would have gotten through the tough days without Grace and her husband, Charlie.

“Hey, Cari, did I just see Ray leaving? He was looking pretty hot this morning. I think he’s here more than I am!” Grace snickered.

“He lives alone, and I don’t think he can cook to save his soul. You always said I made the best coffee, so it makes sense! Besides, just because you’re my oldest friend doesn’t give you the right to irritate me this morning!”

Grace grinned and chuckled. “GF, for a girl who is so tuned into the universe, sometimes you can be clueless.”

Before Cari got the chance to ask what Grace meant, several high school students came into the shop.

While Cari was occupied, Grace filled her travel mug at the self-service area, dropped a couple of bucks on the counter, and waved good-bye. Cari gave a quick wave, knowing Grace would be back later.

Kate had kept busy in the kitchen but could hear the conversations between her mother and the customers. She was pretty sure she knew what was going on with her mother and Ray. It was time she and Grace compared notes.

Kate thought about the recent conversation she had with Shane and Ellie. They all worried Mom spent too much time alone. Every night and weekend, she puttered around the house and garden. They wanted Cari to have a full life, just as she had encouraged them to have.

Shane and Kate lived within a few miles of Mom, but with enough distance to have independence. Ellie was on an accelerated pace with college. She was planning on early graduation and had been taking extra classes each semester. Technically, she lived at home but rarely spent much time there, using it as a pit stop for clean clothes and a quick meal. She crashed with friends at school to maximize her study time. When she had free time, Ellie helped out at the shop. She loved the bakery, but her passion was for art and photography. Kate was confident Ellie would figure out how to combine what she loved into a career. Maybe the tree falling on the house was the best thing that could have happened for all of them, she mused. It had certainly shaken things up with her mother and Ray. If things went the way Kate hoped, Ray and Mom would be spending a lot more time together.

Kate walked through the swinging doors. “Mom, ready to eat?” She grabbed two mugs of coffee and sat down at a small wooden bistro table. “It’s quiet for the moment, so you don’t need to inhale your breakfast. If we get any customers, I’ll take care of them. You relax and enjoy.”

Protesting, Mom said, “You have too much to do in the kitchen to take care of the front, too.”

“I have plenty of time before I need to start baking the next batch of…”

Mom interrupted her. “That reminds me, Kate. This morning, I was teasing Ray about his choice of breakfast foods. He put in a request for blueberry scones.”

“Sure, I’ll make scones and whip up something else with blueberries that will be tasty.” She casually asked, “Did I hear him say he’s going to the house later?”

“Yes, he’s going to check the structure. He’s also offered to help me find a good contractor. I had wanted some new shelves, so I’m thinking I can add them to the plans. I don’t think they will be much of an issue.” With a nonchalant shrug she said, “There are certainly a few other issues at my house. “

Mom munched on her breakfast sandwich, noticing half of the plate was sliced fruit. “You think you’re pretty clever, slipping fruits and vegetables onto my plate whenever you can.” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You’re very thoughtful.” She took a big bite and chewed. “This is delicious.”

Kate loved What’s Perkin’ as much as her mom did. She was proud of the menu and how the business had flourished over the past fifteen years. During the last year, Kate added a small selection of specialty items, including a tiered cupcake display that tasted as good as it looked and had been used as a wedding cake. Cupcakes were becoming the most requested item, and Kate provided an abundance of unique combinations of cake flavors and fillings to match demand.

She found herself watching the buzz of activity on Main Street; one would stop short of calling it traffic. There were several tree companies and power trucks lumbering past, including McKenna trucks. Her brother and husband pulled up in front of the shop in Shane’s pickup. She figured they were stopping for a quick lunch before heading to the next job.

Donovan Price was the perfect complement to his bride. At six-foot-four, he was powerfully built. His biceps were like tree trunks, and his legs were solid muscle. His dark brown eyes were like molten chocolate and permanently crinkled at the corners from spending most days outdoors. His closely-cropped blond hair was bleached white and often covered with a tattered baseball cap. Kate grew weak in the knees every time she saw him. He was the love of her life.

“Hello, handsome!” Kate leaned in and bussed Don’s mouth tenderly. “You’re running late today. I thought you might skip lunch,” she teased. “Usually, I can set my watch by you.”

Shane tweaked her nose. “Sis, we had to fit Mom’s house in, so we’re running a tad behind. So, how about you hand over some of those fresh baked cookies and our lunch and we’ll get going. We have trees to cut up and yards to clear. We are busy, hungry men.”

Brother and sister enjoyed their playful banter. Losing their dad had created a tightly knit family unit.

At first, Kate had worried about the close proximity of her family when she and Don got married. He came from a family of eight, who worked and lived together at the family home and they were happy to give opinions about life choices. Over the years as his siblings matured that stopped, but it had still concerned her. After visiting a few times, he discovered the McKenna’s were respectful of personal space but jumped in when necessary.

Don often said he counted his lucky stars the day he literally bumped into Kate. He had been coming out of an Italian bakery on Fed Hill in Providence. He was more interested in munching on a cannoli than watching where he was going. Kate was strolling down the sidewalk, sipping an iced tea, when she was knocked off her feet, drenching her pristine chef’s coat. Don started to laugh and tried, clumsily, to pat her dry. The harder he laughed, the madder she got. Furious she had stormed off down the street, and he ran after her, pleading for her to stop and begging for her phone number.

She called him a jerk before she disappeared into the throng of people on the crowded sidewalk. She didn’t want to go out with a clod that couldn’t walk down a sidewalk without knocking innocent people over!

Weeks went by when on a warm fall day, Don found her sitting on a bench in Fountain Square. Cautiously, he approached, hoping to get her name and number. Don came to a halt in front of her, blocking the sun that was warming her face. Before she had the chance to say anything, he dropped on the bench next to her and apologized profusely for literally running into her the last time they met. She looked at him through squinted eyes and slid over to give him more room on the bench. It was the first time she believed in love at first sight.

Kate finished packing a hearty lunch and added bottled water from the cooler. “Boys, I packed plenty of water; make sure to drink enough. It’s brutally hot today. I know you’ll work hard to get done, but try to avoid heat exhaustion, please.” She lightly kissed her husband, patted her brother’s cheek, and shooed them out the door at the end of a snapping towel. “Now, I’ve got work to do so stop hanging around in the air conditioning and get moving.” What a pair, she thought, brothers from different mothers, and she was a lucky girl.