Page 50 of Seaside Bonds

“Not much. Still gathering recipes for fall.” Claire snugged her aqua hoodie with the Sandcastles bakery logo on it a little tighter. “Rob has the pumpkin bread market cornered, but I figured I could do the usual pumpkin cream cheese muffins. I also want to try something different, though.”

“Like what?” Just the mention of Claire’s pumpkin cream cheese muffins had Maxi’s mouth watering, even though she’d already gobbled down her corn muffin.

“I’m not really sure. Maybe something like pumpkin spice cream horns or sweet potato danish.”

“Hmm…” Maxi took a sip of coffee. Neither of those sounded particularly appetizing, but she didn’t want to say that to Claire.

“Jane was thinking of having an event at the inn for Oktoberfest to bring more people there, and I was thinking I could whip up something really unusual that she could offer them.”

Jane liked to order desserts from Claire’s bakery and breads from Rob’s bread store to serve to guests at the inn. It was one of the nice ways that people in Lobster Bay worked together.

Thoughts of October made Maxi frown. It was still a ways off, but she didn’t relish the colder temperatures or the leaves falling from the trees. But those bleak late fall days would turn to winter soon enough, and she’d be cozied up in front of her fireplace while the snow fell outside and her Christmas tree twinkled in the corner. That was something she could look forward to.

“I hope Jane finds some help at the inn before then. She works too much,” Maxi said.

“She needs to slow down. Maybe we all do,” Claire said, shrugging. “But I love work, and Jane probably feels the same way.”

“Probably. I think she’s worried about Mike being put off that she doesn’t have a lot of time for him, but it seems like he doesn’t mind.”

“She’s making too much of it. I think she’s still a little afraid to accept that things are going great for her in the romance department.” Claire tapped Maxi’s hand. “And I see things are going great for you and James too.”

Maxi smiled. “They are. And you and Rob have settled into being amicable competitors.”

Claire laughed. “I guess I was a little overly suspicious of him at first. But things are great now. In fact, things seem great with everyone. Life is nearly perfect.”

“Yep.” Maxi’s gaze slid to the easel again. “Everything isnearlyperfect.”

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