One Christmas Wish by Brenda Jackson
CHAPTER SEVEN
“SO, I HEARD you had breakfast with Vaughn Miller this morning.”
Sierra glanced over her shoulder at Emma as she opened the refrigerator to pull out the huge pot of soup she had made that morning. “Boy, news travels fast around here.”
Emma chuckled. “In Catalina Cove, it always does and always will. But I only heard good things. Both you and Vaughn are well-liked, so of course everyone is wishing you the best.”
Sierra shook her head as she set the pot on the kitchen counter. “I hate to disappoint everyone, but it’s not like that.”
“Then how is it, really?” Emma asked, turning from the sink.
Sierra paused. She honestly didn’t know. What she did know was that they were attracted to each other. She also knew that she missed seeing him whenever he didn’t come into her restaurant on a regular basis...like the week he was out of town on business. She also knew she thought about him at night and even went to sleep with his features etched in her mind.
“Sierra?”
Hearing Emma, Sierra realized that she’d just been standing there and staring into space. She looked over at Emma. “I think he’s a nice guy.”
“I think so, too. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you and I’ve also seen the way you look at him.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“I’m not imagining the fact that you’re the only woman in town he seems to want to spend time with.”
“He’s not actually spending time with me,” Sierra pointed out. “I haven’t even shared a meal with Vaughn. I’ve merely kept him company while he ate. And I don’t consider this morning at the Witherspoon Café a real meal.”
“Like I said, that’s more than any of the other women in town have done. Since returning he’s made a point to be a loner. Heck, he didn’t ever dine inside any restaurant. He always did takeout and went home and ate alone. I figured he didn’t want people asking him questions about the time he was in jail. But now it was announced he is an innocent man, and that’s a good thing.”
“Yes, that is a good thing,” Sierra agreed.
“Well, just so you know, rumor has it that Laura Crawford is interested in him. I understand she had a thing for him in high school.”
Sierra wouldn’t be surprised that Laura had had a thing for Vaughn years ago. She didn’t know Laura that well; however, she was aware that the woman’s family still owned several businesses in town, and she was a divorcée. She’d also heard that because of her family’s wealth, Laura liked having things her way, and to keep the peace, people usually gave in to anything she wanted.
“Well, if Laura is interested in him I’m sure she will let him know it sooner or later. She might be more to his liking and the woman he wants,” she said, breaking eye contact with Emma.
“I doubt he cares that she’s interested, especially now. She could have made a move when he first came to town and didn’t because she probably believed he was guilty of whatever he’d gone to jail for. Now that his name has been cleared, she wants him. I believe Vaughn Miller is smart enough to see through that BS.”
Wanting to change the subject, she said, “I’m hoping Jacquelyn will be able to keep Teryn tomorrow night. There’s a Christmas committee meeting. It’s the first one and I really want to attend.”
“I’m sure my granddaughter will be available tomorrow. I will call her when school is out.”
By the time the Green Fig opened for lunch, Sierra wished she could say she’d been too busy to think about what Emma had told her about Laura Crawford’s interest in Vaughn. But she hadn’t. It would be just like the woman to want him now that he’d been exonerated. That was so sad.
Sierra recalled a few years ago when Rhonda had approached her about being a pen pal for prison inmates through a program her best friend had gotten involved with. At first Sierra had declined, but Rhonda had finally worn her down. Although letter writers were assigned to someone who was incarcerated, they never got to know them personally. The letters sent to the prisoners and their replies were brief and contained no identifying information and were screened through the agency that required you used a fake name. So she had used her middle name.
Sierra never knew the name of the person she wrote to, didn’t even know if the person was male or female, the reason they’d been locked up, how long or at what facility. All they needed were words of encouragement. Because internet access was sometimes restricted, all the letters had to be handwritten.
The restaurant had a steady flow of customers for lunch and they only got a small break before it was time for the dinner crowd to arrive. When they parted that morning, Vaughn had mentioned he would be dropping by later. Although she was trying hard to downplay it, she was looking forward to seeing him again.
VAUGHNLEANEDBACKin his chair while seated at the conference table. He’d been invited to attend the business meeting between Reid Lacroix and Ray Sullivan, another resident of the cove. If Reid was the wealthiest man in the cove then Ray Sullivan was probably the second wealthiest. However, few people knew that.
About six years ago Ray had moved to the cove after losing his memory to retrograde amnesia. The only thing Ray had remembered was his love of boats and being out on the water. So, it made perfect sense for him to be hired by Kaegan Chambray’s seafood shipping company, and the two became the best of friends.
A year later, Ray had saved up enough money to buy a sightseeing boat business that now included deep-sea fishing. A few years ago, Ray had gotten his memory back, remarried his wife, Ashley, and the couple had two-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.
What was so amazing was that in his former life—before the memory loss—the jeans-and-T-shirt-wearing, bearded ship captain Ray Sullivan had been Devon Ryan, a Harvard-educated, business-suit-wearing, suave, wealthy tycoon.
Although one and the same, Devon Ryan was the total opposite of Ray and even though his memory had returned, he preferred being called Ray.
Ray still had a knack for knowing how to make money. A couple of years ago, he had come up with an idea for a water-taxi service from Catalina Cove to New Orleans. Now, everything was set to go, with the official opening of the water-taxi service in the spring next year. When Ray had suggested the venture, Reid had immediately bought into the idea. So had Kaegan and Sawyer. Vaughn appreciated that he was able to buy stock in the company as well. He definitely saw it as something the cove needed. It would mean fewer cars on the road commuting to and from New Orleans, and traffic jams would be eliminated. The water taxi to New Orleans would take half as long as driving, and it would be a relaxing trip that would remove the stress of driving.
“Are there any questions?” Ray asked. In attendance were Reid, the mayor, Sawyer and several other local businessmen, including Kaegan and Chester Witherspoon.
Another benefit of the water taxi was a complimentary breakfast from the Witherspoon Café, something simple like their famous blueberry muffins and coffee. That would increase revenue for the Witherspoons as well as for blueberries produced by Reid’s plant.
The mayor had questioned the possibility of adding additional taxis whenever Catalina Cove held their annual festivals. Ray assured everyone that would not be a problem. After a few more questions the meeting ended.
Vaughn looked at his watch. It was later than he’d thought, and he had told Sierra he would be by tonight. He knew her restaurant closed at eight and it was close to that time. If he left now, he could make it, although he would have to order takeout. He wouldn’t have time to sit and eat there and talk to her like he would have liked, but at least he would see her again. He refused to question why that was important to him. He stood and closed his briefcase and after bidding everyone goodbye, he quickly headed for the door.
“Rushing to a fire, Vaughn?” he heard Kaegan ask.
“No, I’m trying to make it to the Green Fig before they close.”
“You like their soup that much?” Sawyer asked, grinning.
Over his shoulder, he gave his friend a scolding glance. Sawyer knew why he was in a hurry to get there.
“I guess you can say that, Sheriff.”
“Just don’t speed on the way there,” Sawyer said.
Vaughn ignored Sawyer’s laughter as he left the room.
ALTHOUGHDINNERTIMEHAD been practically nonstop, the last hour of the evening had become rather slow. In a way Sierra was glad that she and her staff had been able to take a breather. The closer it got to closing time the more disappointed she felt that Vaughn had not come by.
When the pot of the special for today got low, she had asked Emma to put enough aside for both her and Vaughn. She had been certain he would come and figured she would share a bowl of soup with him when he did.
She had fed Teryn, read her a story before putting her to bed. She had gone back downstairs hoping Vaughn would be sitting at one of the booths. He wasn’t.
Sierra began thinking of a number of reasons he hadn’t come by and for some reason Laura Crawford’s name headed the list. In a way she wished Emma hadn’t told her of Laura’s interest in Vaughn. From the conversations Sierra had overheard since returning to the cove, the woman hadn’t changed. She felt entitled to any man she was interested in.
She looked over at her staff. “You can all leave now since you’ve finished straightening up already. With just a couple of minutes before closing, I doubt anyone will be coming in this late.”
No sooner had she said the words than the bell above the door chimed. She looked over her shoulder and met Vaughn’s gaze.
“Sorry, I know you’re about to close but my business meeting ran late. I’ll be happy for takeout if it’s available,” he said.
She turned to her three waitresses. “I’ll take care of his order. It’s closing time so you can leave.”
Giving her appreciative smiles they rushed toward the door. Sierra smiled at Vaughn. “I’ll let my cook know to prepare you a bowl of today’s special. I was just about to sit down and eat a bowl myself, so unless you’re in a hurry, you can join me.”
She saw the huge smile that appeared on his face that made that dimple in his chin stand out. “No, I’m not in a hurry, and I would love to join you,” he replied.
“Okay, grab us a booth. Do you want brown ale as usual?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
She nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
As Sierra headed toward the kitchen, she figured there just might be some truth to the saying, good things happen when you least expect it. She honestly hadn’t expected Vaughn to come tonight when it got close to eight. She figured he had changed his mind, had eaten somewhere else or was with Laura. She had no reason to be jealous of the woman or any amount of time Vaughn spent with her...if he ever did. She had no dibs on him and he didn’t have any on her. In fact, she’d told him just that morning she was not interested in being pursued.
“Emma, Vaughn just walked in after getting detained at a business meeting. Tell me where the soup is, and I’ll warm it up.” Sierra was glad she had told Emma to put some aside when they were about to run out.
The older woman checked her watch. “The restaurant is closed. He’s not doing takeout?”
“No,” Sierra said, then walked over to the beer dispenser to pump Vaughn’s ale into a glass.
She knew Emma’s eyes were on her. “Sierra?”
She turned to the older woman. “Yes?”
“Earlier today you gave me the impression that what’s going on between you and Vaughn Miller was not that serious. When you decide it’s getting serious, please be sure to let me know. Nowadays, I prepare for weddings at least two years in advance.”
Sierra rolled her eyes as she finished pouring Vaughn’s ale and took it out to him. He turned when he heard her and the look in his eyes nearly made her miss a step. A part of her felt she shouldn’t have suggested he join her. She should have prepared his takeout and sent him on his way. But the truth of the matter was that she enjoyed conversing with him whenever she could. Compared to how Nathan had been, Vaughn had such a calming presence.
Placing the drink in front of him, she said, “I’ll be right back with our meal.”
“Thanks.”
She turned to walk off while feeling the heat of his gaze on her. When she reached the kitchen, Mrs. Emma was taking off her apron.
“That’s it for me today,” she said. “I’m certain you can handle things from here. I parked my car out back, so come let me out and lock the door behind me.”
Sierra watched to make sure Emma was in her car and was driving away before she closed the back door and locked it. She then collected the soup bowls and arranged them on the serving tray along with the tea Emma had prepared for her.
It was a short walk from the kitchen to where Vaughn was sitting, but with his eyes on her the entire time it seemed to take forever for her to reach him, and she’d done so on shaky knees. He had a way of looking at her that made her body throb in unusual places. Like the nipples pressing through her bra and against her blouse.
Pulling herself together, she placed the soup and her tea on the table. “Sorry if I took so long.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m the one who should be apologizing for even coming here late.”
“We hadn’t closed yet.”
“No, but with only two minutes before closing I’m sure your employees were anxious to leave.” He scanned around. “Everybody’s left except your kitchen staff.”
“Everybody’s gone. Emma is my cook and I let her out a few minutes ago. She parked out back. Levi, my assistant manager, is off on Wednesdays.”
She suspected she didn’t have to come out and tell him they were alone, he probably had figured it out. But then they weren’t really alone. Teryn was asleep upstairs. “Sounds like you had a busy day today,” she said, after they’d said grace.
“Wednesdays normally are. They’re our meetings day. We get together in person, by Zoom or telephone conferencing. We had all three types today.”
He then told her about the water-taxi service. She had heard about it when she first came to town, but she figured it was sort of like a pipe dream and was surprised it was really happening.
“What about you? Did you have a busy day? And how is Teryn?” he asked.
She thought it was kind of him to ask about Teryn and told him she was okay and upstairs sleeping and thanked him for asking. “I would admit it seemed today was busier than usual, but I won’t complain when business is good. Just so you know, when I saw we were about to run out of today’s special, I had Emma put some aside for you.”
“I appreciate that. I love this stuff.”
She grinned. “I can tell.” Their bowls had had the same amount of soup in them and already he’d eaten half of his.
They chatted for a good half hour while eating their soup and sandwiches. He told her about his plans to join his sister for Thanksgiving in Massachusetts this year and how she hated cold winters there.
“How long has she lived there?”
“Since college. She lives in Newton, which is less than ten minutes from downtown Boston. She owns a slew of shopping boutiques in Boston, New Hampshire and Vermont. I figure sooner or later she’ll get tired of the cold and move back to the cove like I did.”
She could hear the fondness in his voice when he talked about his sister. “Although my sister, Dani, comes back here to visit often enough, she’s satisfied with making Atlanta her home with her husband and kids.”
“How many kids does she have?”
“Three. Twin boys and a girl. Her daughter and Teryn are the same age so that’s good whenever we visit them or they visit here. We spent Christmas with them last year and it was a good thing. We’d lost Rhonda a year earlier, and I figured Teryn and I didn’t need to spend the holidays alone. There’s never a dull moment in Dani’s household.”
He took a sip of his ale and said, “For the last few Christmases, Zara has come back to the cove to spend the holidays with me. This year she has informed me she plans to spend the holidays in Paris with friends.”
They had finished eating when he said, “There’s something I’d like to ask you, Sierra.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Actually, there are three questions.”
“Okay, what are they?”
He met her gaze. “Are you going to the New Year’s Eve Ball? If so, do you already have a date? If you don’t already have a date, would you go with me?”