Page 12 of Amaze Me

Mimi snorted. “A, it’s my first week of work there. And B, she will think I just went home to sleep with you.”

I lifted a shoulder, unable to hold back a smirk. “Not an awful idea…”

Her chin lowered as she leveled a censuring look at me.

“Fine,” I grumbled good-naturedly. “Let’s see about lunch. It’s nothing too spicy or anything, but if it’s not going to agree, I can run over to Ella’s and pick up some soup for you. Maybe some toast or extra crackers with it.”

“You’re so sweet. I’ll just go slow, and we can see. The restrooms are functional?”

My brow furrowed. I hated the idea of her being sick. I wanted nothing more than to take her home and care for her until she felt better. And then forever after that. “Yeah.”

“Okay. Good.” She wiggled. “Let me down so I can try out one of the stools you had installed here. I love everything you’ve done so far.”

“I wanted to leave most of the decorating and picking colors to you.” I lifted her off the counter, my body already protesting the separation. In the same move, I settled her onto one of the seats.

“Without a lot of time to consider it, I’m thinking white and sunny yellow. Maybe, some retro-style tiles for the backsplash of the work area. A few vintage coffee prints on the walls, too.”

Pleased that she seemed on board with this project and she was already coming up with ideas, I smiled and nodded while envisioning it. Best of all was my mental image of her in the middle of it, ruling over her java domain. “I like it.”

“I can work on it in the evenings, I guess. There’s a lot to do.”

I looked around. “At this point, not so much. And I’ll help you. The equipment is being delivered toward the end of next week. Sable helped to hook me up with a food supplier, too. You know, for coffee, tea, milks and baking stuff. With what’s left to finish for making this place operational, you could probably open the beginning of next month.”

“I… Wow. I’ll have to let Jill know.”

“I’m sure she already suspects. She already knows about this place. I talked to her about it yesterday, but she’d already heard about the project. Like I said…a lot of people know.”

While Mimi looked around, I set out the fruit, cheese, meats and crackers I’d made for our lunch today. Thankfully, I’d managed to pack something that shouldn’t set off her tummy. I hoped it wouldn’t anyway. I set a bottle of her favorite sweet tea in front of her.

“You’d make someone a good wife,” she teased.

“Ha.”

A small grin on her face, she picked at the food and slowly ate. To my relief, it seemed to settle well with her. My phone rang twice, but I ignored it both times.

Mimi raised her eyebrow. “Okay… Why are you dodging Greta?”

“She’s just being a pain in my rear.”

“She threatened to be an even bigger pain in the rear if you don’t call her.”

“I’ll take care of it,” I promised. “Just not while we’re having lunch. So…you didn’t say. Do you like the shop? It’s all yours to run. However you like.” I grimaced. “With no input from my mom—look, Wilt told me some of what she’s said to you. I’m sorry. I wish… I wish I would have known. That you would have told me.”

“What were you going to do?”

“Tell her to freaking stop, for one thing,” I exclaimed.

“She’s your mom…”

“And you’re my wife! I know you don’t want to push me to take a side, because that’s how you are, but I’m on your side. I will always be on your side.”

Her face scrunched in confusion. Not the reaction I expected from my declaration.

“So you…built me a coffee shop?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No. It was supposed to be an anniversary present. Youhavementioned how cool it would be to have one. You’ve also mentioned not having a job that’s all your own on the farm. I should have gotten a clue from that, huh?”

“This is kinda a…grand gesture for an anniversary gift.”

“Think of it as something for both of us. If you’re happy, I’m happy. Are you happy with it?”

Mimi nodded. “Yeah,” she breathed. “This makes me very happy. Excited. I just wish I had something for you.”

“All I want, all I’ll ever want, is you. You’re my forever and always, Meems.”

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