Home For Keeps. Lynn Patrick

the whole town had turned out except for Caleb Blackthorne.

      As they sat down, Heather began introducing her to the people around them, and if they owned or operated a business, she included that information, as well. Grace tried to mentally keep track of everything Heather told her, but she feared she’d already forgotten half of what she’d been told. Then Heather realized they’d forgotten drinks and got up to fetch glasses of milk for the girls and two cups of coffee for themselves.

      Taylor dug into her food hungrily. She’d gotten a cup of soft-serve ice cream, which she dumped on top of her pancakes. Addison cut her plain pancakes into dainty pieces and chewed equally daintily. Grace wondered how two sisters born at the same time could be so different.

      “Slow down,” Heather told Taylor, “or you might end up with a tummy ache.”

      Grace spread fresh creamery butter on her pancakes and laced them with syrup. “Yum. I can see why so many people turn out for Pancake Day.”

      Heather bit into a piece of crisp bacon. “It’s not just the food, it’s the sense of community, of everyone taking a short break from work to celebrate spring with friends and family and catch up with people they don’t often get to talk to.”

      Looking around, Grace saw so many smiles, heard so much laughter, that she couldn’t help but grin. Never having experienced anything like this in Milwaukee, where neighbors didn’t necessarily even know each other—Grace was acquainted with only one other woman in her condo building—she responded to the positive energy in the room. There were a lot of things she liked about Sparrow Lake, and the feeling of community just went to the top of her list. She imagined that even if you lived alone, you would never have to be lonely in a friendly town like this.

      Heather had been right about her coming to the event. Several people wanted to know how the green community was faring, and others asked what her plans for the future might be. Lots of interested questions from potential residents or simply people who might help spread the word to friends in nearby towns. People came and went, but the twins went back for second helpings, so, content to stay awhile longer, Grace fetched another cup of coffee.

      Just as she brought it back to the table, she looked up to see a familiar face. Three familiar faces, in fact. Caleb had arrived with Angela and Kiki. They had just filled their plates with food and were looking around for a place to sit. As if he knew she was staring at him, Caleb turned in her direction. Their gazes met and her stomach did a little flip when his lips turned up in a big smile aimed her way. She waved. Then Angela saw her, and the girl’s lips tightened.

      “C’mon,” Grace heard Caleb say to his daughter and her friend. “There’s room over there.”

      Over there was across from her and Heather and the twins. Grace sent him a welcoming smile. “Hi, Caleb.”

      “Grace, Heather...good to see you, both,” he said as he set down his food.

      “You, too, Caleb,” Heather said.

      Grace’s pulse thrummed. “I was hoping we might run into each other.”

      Caleb took the seat directly across from Grace, Angela and Kiki reluctantly joining him. Caleb introduced the women to the girls. Angela didn’t say anything, simply slapped down her plate and threw herself into her chair. Kiki avoided looking at anyone.

      Oh, great. Talk about awkward. Grace figured the teenagers recognized her from the mural incident.

      As if he didn’t notice his daughter’s attitude, Caleb gave her cup of coffee and empty plate a quick look. “I take it you already ate.”

      “More like overate,” Grace said. “But it was delicious, worth every calorie.”

      He eyed her more thoroughly. “Not that you need to worry about it.”

      Grace started to laugh until she noted Kiki’s sour expression. Definitely aimed her way.

      A loud bam startled them all, and Grace turned to see the twins near a food table, an entire bowl of butter turned upside down at their feet.

      “Oh, no,” Heather groaned, pushing herself away from the table. “I knew something had to happen. Things were too peaceful.”

      Grace laughed. “It’s probably an accident. They didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

      But then she noticed Addison stooping to pick up a glob of butter with one finger and promptly flinging it at her sister. Heather bore down upon the pair and Grace turned back to her food, not wanting to watch the twins get reprimanded. Even an angelic-looking child could be naughty, she guessed.

      Caleb grinned and gave his daughter a penetrating look. “They can get into trouble no matter the age.”

      At which point Angela turned her back on him and went forehead to forehead with Kiki, whispering. Caleb merely rolled his eyes and continued smiling at Grace, who felt a sudden attack of butterflies whirl through her stomach.

      She said, “I understand Pancake Day is a tradition.”

      “I’ve been here every year since I moved into town.”

      “I can understand why. It’s a lot of fun, and you get to see people you probably don’t see often.” Like him. She was definitely glad she’d run into Caleb. She hadn’t met a man who interested her this much in ages. “Are there other community events like this?”