Page 54 of Sea Glass Serenade

She smiled to herself, wondering what the future was going to hold for her. She wondered if she would end up with a relationship as sweet and fun as the relationship that Julia and Cooper had. She hoped that things continued to get better and better for them, and that Alexis and Grayson’s relationship continued to heal as well.

She started to hum again, thinking to herself that Dean was next on the list. She was on board with Alexis’s matchmaking schemes, hoping that her brother would soon find someone who brightened up his world. She felt strongly that he deserved that kind of love and care in his life, especially now that things were more difficult for him than they used to be.

She began to scoop balls of dough onto a cookie sheet, being careful to make them all the same size. She’d added generous amounts of peanut butter chips and chocolate chips to the dough, and she grinned, knowing that Dean was going to love the cookies she was making for him.

Once she’d placed the cookie sheet in the oven, she went upstairs to change into a nicer shirt and brush her teeth. By the time she got back downstairs, the cookies were done. She tidied up while they cooled on a rack, and then she placed them into a brightly colored Tupperware dish. She wanted to give them to Dean while they were still a little warm.

She grabbed her purse and hurried outside to her car, which she drove to Dean’s auto repair shop. She parked on the street outside and stepped into the lobby, which smelled strongly of oil and grease and the rubber of tires. She wrinkled her nose, never having liked the smell, although Dean had always loved it because of how much he liked cars.

There was no one at the reception desk, but Dean saw her in the next moment through the glass that looked out into the garage. He waved, grinning eagerly, and hurried toward her.

“Hey, twin.” He stepped into the waiting room and pulled her into a bear hug before releasing her. “What’s the occasion?”

“I brought you cookies,” she said, “since I promised to bake you cookies once a week.”

He laughed. “No, that was a joke! But I’ll take it.” He accepted the Tupperware she handed him eagerly. “What kind are they?”

“Chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. I know you love that kind.”

His jaw dropped into a goofy grin. “I absolutely do. Thank you! That’s so sweet of you. Pun intended.”

She shook her head, chuckling. “Well, I wanted to do something to show you that I have your back. Now and forever.”

He hugged her again. “I know you do. And I’ve got your back too. And just to prove it—” He opened the Tupperware and handed her a cookie. “Eat this.”

She laughed and took a bite out of the soft, warm cookie. “Okay, wow, I make a mean cookie. That’s amazing.”

“It is,” he said, nodding through his own mouthful of cookie. “You mind if I share these with the guys? None of them have a peanut allergy.”

“They’re your cookies, you can do whatever you like with them. I’m sure the guys will appreciate them. I know being a mechanic is hard work.”

“It sure is. And speaking of that, I was just about to take a break when you arrived. You want to come sit in the office with me for a little while?”

“I’d love to.”

They went into the office together, and she sat down in a chair placed against the wall near the desk. She thought to herself that Dean’s office was tidy but fairly dirty, and she made a mental note to come by sometime and clean it for him.

“I’m proud of you for taking a break,” she told him. “That’s good that you’re taking it easier.”

He smiled. “Yeah, it’s what the doctor suggested, and it seems to be helping. As long as I don’t push myself, my symptoms don’t get bad at all. I had to hire on a new guy to take on some of the workload, but business is always great so I can afford it. It’s been much easier to get everything done now.” He chuckled.

“I’m so glad to hear that, Dean.” She smiled at him, feeling relieved that things were getting so much better for him. “You can still have a very full life.”

He nodded. “I realize that now, and I’m looking forward to it. I just might take Alexis up on that matchmaking scheme of hers. Maybe I’ll go out on a date with one of the girls on her list.”

She grinned at her brother. “You should! She mentioned a few of the girls that are on that list, and there’s some really lovely people on it. You should absolutely give it a shot.”

He shrugged. “I’ve never really been one for dating, but I guess I’ll give it a try. Alexis and Julia make it all look worth it, don’t they? With their relationships?”

“They sure do.” She smiled. “We all deserve to be hopeful.”

“You too.” He nodded at her. “Even after your disappointment.”

She sighed briefly at the reminder, and then smiled bravely. “Yes. And I am hopeful. I know that whatever’s coming next forme will be good. I may not know what that is, but I believe it.” She laughed. “I’m not going to let myself get downhearted.”

“I won’t either.” He leaned over and shook her hand, making their words a promise. She chuckled and squeezed his hand affectionately.

They both had another cookie and continued to talk for a while, discussing how happy they were for their siblings and the fact that The Lighthouse Grill was doing very well financially. Finally, Dean glanced at the clock and said that he’d taken long enough of a break.

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