A Recipe For Reunion. Vicki Essex

my left hand.” She flexed it, just barely, and he frowned. “The physical therapist will decide whether or not I need to work on it.”

      “Of course you need to work on it. I’ll make sure they give you something.”

      She tucked her hand beneath the table. “Aaron, really, I’m fine. You didn’t have to pick up your life and move back here.”

      “I wanted to. And I couldn’t let you be on your own.”

      She waved a hand, but not as vigorously as her protest might have warranted. “I just don’t want you worrying over me. You have a life in Boston.”

      “It was time for a change.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Besides, it’s worth coming home for your baking.” He grinned as he broke the bran muffin and bit into the warm, moist pastry. People had laughed when at ten years old he’d declared bran muffins were his favorite thing Gran made. He hadn’t been into sugary treats, which apparently was heresy for the grandson of a baker.

      Gran had understood. Aaron was simply more practical when it came to his diet. He was practical when it came to everything, and moving home to take care of Georgette was the best and most practical solution to her long-term care. He would never abandon her to a facility full of strangers. She’d taken him in and raised him after his parents’ deaths. He owed her, and he was happy to do whatever necessary to make her happy and comfortable.

      For however long she had.

      He washed the suddenly dry bite of muffin down with a sip of coffee. “So how’s the bakery doing?” he asked, bracing for a fight. Gran had lived and breathed that bakery for years. She and Grandpa had opened it right after they’d married, and she’d kept it running since his death more than twenty-five years ago.

      “The bakery’s fine,” Georgette replied. “I have help these days, and I’m delegating more responsibility. Otherwise, I’d be there right now.”

      Gran had always been a bit of a control freak and workaholic. For her to give up any part of the business was major. Aaron put down his mug and leaned forward. “Financially speaking, how are you doing?”

      His grandmother’s eyes flicked around the room like a trapped bird searching for an escape. It was a moment before she responded. “We had a good Christmas season. Valentine’s was a little slower this year, but...” She shrugged.

      Aaron sighed. He would have to look at the books himself. Gran rarely shared her problems with him. He hadn’t realized until high school how tight things had been, and then he’d done whatever he’d been able to help get the business out of the red. After he’d finished college he’d learned the reason for all that debt had been that his grandmother had been putting aside everything she could for tuition.

      “Really, I am happy to see you.” Georgette touched his arm. “But I feel terribly guilty for taking you away from your life. What are you going to do for a job in Everville? I’m not sure there’s much call for real-estate lawyers here.”

      “Well, I did say I was ready for a change.” Which wasn’t far from the truth. He was good at what he did, and probably would’ve slaved away at his firm for the rest of his life had that phone call from the hospital not come. But the moment it had, he’d been prepared. Part of him had always been prepared with a plan B, an exit strategy.

      Things happened all the time. You had to be ready for them. That was how he’d known what he would do the moment he had to return to Everville.

      He set his coffee down. “I’m thinking of opening a bookstore.”

      Georgette blinked. “Really? Here?”

      “I’ve always wanted to. A well-stocked bookshop is exactly what the town needs, and attaching it to the bakery will make it a destination. See, I was thinking of renovating the bakeshop’s dining room. It hardly gets used, and it’s such a big space. We could minimize the eating area with just a few café tables, then add a patio for the warmer months. Most of your eat-in business comes in during the summer anyhow.”

      “So...you’re staying in Everville?”

      “Of course I am. How will I take care of you otherwise?” He didn’t see why Gran should be so astonished. “I’ve been thinking about this for years. Did all my research and everything.” He had a binder in the truck with all the information he needed to put his plan into action. He’d started it the day he’d realized Gran was getting older. “I was just waiting for the right opportunity to jump in.”

      Georgette’s eyes grew wet, and her smile crimped in at the edges. She squeezed his arm. “You didn’t go to school so you could stay here. You always wanted to get away.”

      True. But that had only been for a handful of reasons, and those reasons were gone now. “Things change. I want to be here. With you.” A sudden thought occurred to him. “I mean, if you want to keep the dining room at the bakery, I can work something else out, and I can get my own place if you want your privacy, but I can’t take care of you if—”

      “Nonsense. You’ll stay here, of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She leaned forward. “Now, about this bookshop.”

      He outlined his business plan for her, with his vision for the store itself. He had his own seed money, but he’d also be taking out a small loan to do the renovations. The more he talked about it, the more excited he became.

      He was about to get the binder with his notes from the truck when the doorbell rang.

      “That will be the moving team,” Georgette said, rising slowly.

      “Take it easy, Gran. I’ll get it.” He put on a smile for whoever had volunteered to help with his move, excited to also tell them about the bookstore and get some momentum going.

      He opened the door.

      And came face-to-face with the second-to-last person he wanted to see.

       CHAPTER TWO

      “HI, AARON.” STEPHANIE’S voice sounded brighter than she’d intended. Aaron Caruthers had grown up quite a lot and... Well, wow. “Remember me?”

      His expression shuttered so quickly, she swore she heard doors slamming. “You’re still here.” His tone was flat, almost angry.

      That wasn’t exactly the response she’d been expecting from a guy who used to have a crush on her. “Yup. Still here. And I brought friends.” He stiffened as she introduced the burly men behind her. “This is Devon and Manny. Devon runs the computer shop on Main, and Manny—well, he does everything. They owe me and Georgette a few favors.”

      “But we came for the pie,” Manny said, rubbing his hands.

      “Is Georgette around?” Steph tried to peer past Aaron.

      “I’m right here. Thank you so much for coming.” The elderly woman stood in the kitchen entryway clutching the door frame.

      Steph went straight to her, taking her hands. “How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?” She started to lead her toward the sofa.

      “No need to fuss around me in my own home, dear. Just tell me, how have things been at the bakery?”

      “Everything’s going smoothly. The new girl, Kira, is working out great.”

      “And you’re handling the orders fine?”

      “Piece of cake.” She winked. “How are you?”

      “Bored.” She sighed. “And I miss all my grandchildren.”

      Steph smiled. Georgette called everyone under the age of forty her grandchildren. She’d been Everville’s self-appointed grandmother since before Steph was born.

      “She works for you?” Aaron’s strident tone made Steph’s hackles rise.

      “Stephanie’s