Page 9 of Ever After All

“Seriously?” My brother crossed over and tapped it lightly with his hand. He did all the things, unplugging it, and then plugging it back in. After a few tries to get it to turn on, he glanced back at my dad. “It died.”

My dad chuckled. “That’s what I thought. Should we go get coffee in town together?”

“I’ll take you to town, Dad,” I said, just as my brother replied, “I actually have to get into work. Kenan Cannon told me to be there today at eight sharp. I’ll see you guys around.”

Without another word, my brother was gone. I didn’t miss the detail that his eyes dodged mine. Aside from the usual life of a twenty-two-year-old—working, hanging out with his friends, and being out later than I preferred—something was going on. But I had enough to worry about. I couldn’t fix it until I knew what it was, so the worry and anxiety just churned along inside.

Ever since my dad came home with my little baby brother after I said goodbye to my mom at the hospital, I’d lived with anxiety. I swallowed through the tightness in my chest and throat and went out to start my car. During the years after my mom had died, my dad had made some strategic decisions, including building the small rental house on his property where I lived. He stayed in the main house, where my brother recently moved in with him. Sometimes I felt like they were constantly rubbing each other the wrong way, creating static electricity in the air between them. Blessedly, my dad was less worried than I was about my brother.

A short drive later, my father held the door for me at Spill the Beans Café. This coffee shop was the town’s nerve center. Beyond the best coffee to be found, delicious baked goods, sandwiches, and more, the two owners, Hazel and Phyllis, were longtime best friends. They knew everything about any gossip in town. I didn’t remember a time when the café wasn’t here. It had opened sometime during my childhood. During the cold winter days and long nights, the sign, soft pink with coffee beans spilled underneath, was a beacon for local residents.

As soon as we stepped inside and the door swung shut behind us with a cheery little chime announcing our arrival, my dad smiled. “They made the dark chocolate and almond croissants.”

“You sure about that?” I teased.

“I can smell them, and I’m getting one. What about you?”

We walked together to get in the back of the line. “I’m in the mood for something more savory,” I replied.

My father didn’t even hear my answer as he was already chatting with Derek, Jack Hamilton's brother. If Jack was here, that likely meant McKenna was. A quick glance around and I found McKenna with Tessa and Quinn, some of my closest friends. I waved over at them.

When we got to the counter, my father spoke again, “I’ll cover your coffee. I’m sitting with Derek, though. He’s taking me home.”

I smiled at Derek. “You sure about that?”

Derek’s eyes twinkled with his smile. “Sure thing. Your dad and I have bonded. Although he doesn’t have cancer, he goes to the same clinic as me for his rehab. We hang out in the waiting room together.”

“So I’ve heard. I’m glad you two can keep each other company.” I nudged my dad lightly with my shoulder. Just as I contemplated whether to ask Derek about how his cancer treatment was going, my dad offered, “He’s kicking cancer’s ass.”

“Good to hear,” I replied.

Derek waggled his brows. “I’ve even gained some weight. Ten whole pounds.”

Considering that Derek was painfully thin, that was good news. We ordered, and my dad gestured toward my friends as he walked to a table with Derek. I crossed the café, stopping beside the table where my friends were seated. “Mind if I sit with you all?”

“As if you need to ask,” McKenna said as she smiled up at me. “Quinn already stole you a chair from another table.”

I slipped into the chair Quinn patted, dropping my purse on the ground and hanging my jacket over the back. Once I was seated, I took a swallow of coffee. “So how are we this morning?” I asked the table at large.

“You have to see this.” McKenna pulled her phone up, tapping on her screen, and showing me a picture of her cat, Snowy. In the photo, Jack had Snowy tucked into his jacket. “He walks around the house with her like that. It’s ridiculous.”

“It’s adorable,” I replied. “So how is married life?”

McKenna let out a contented sigh. “It’s really great.”

“Marriage turns out to be pretty sweet,” Tessa chimed in.

Quinn laughed as she glanced around the table. “And you two were so opposed to marriage once upon a time.”

All eyes turned to me. “What?” I took a quick bite of my spinach-and-feta-stuffed pastry. Chewing was an excellent reason not to talk.

Of course, the bite I took was too big, and I almost choked, resulting in Quinn patting me between the shoulder blades. “Are you okay?” she asked.

After I managed to swallow and clear my throat, I nodded. “I’m fine.”

I was relieved when Hazel stopped by our table to check on us. “How are we doing, girls?”

She had a small tray in one hand and began picking up a few empty plates at the table.

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