Page 27 of Love's Cure

Crystal let out a long sigh, acknowledging the truth. They both needed friendship until the right person came along for something deeper. “I won’t let this stop us from being friends. But that’s as far as it goes. I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t tell me the truth. Someday I’d like to hear it. All of it.”

“Deal,” Emmett said. He held out his hand and Crystal took it, telling herself the shot of electricity his clasp gave her was nothing more than her overactive imagination.

“Where’s your mother now?” Crystal asked.

“She’s staying at the Lilac Lake Inn, then she and Aunt Margaret are heading back to Mt. Desert tomorrow.”

Crystal knew Mt. Desert was an island off the coast of Maine that was, for the most part, an enclave for privileged families of wealth.

“No need to worry. I don’t think she’ll be spending more time in Lilac Lake. I told her that if she bothered you again, she’d be sorry, that I knew a few newspeople to contact should it become necessary.” Emmett shook his head. “It would be bad press for her, and she and my father won’t tolerate that.”

“I’m sorry I made the accident worse for you by bringing in family issues. You’re embarrassed by them for different reasons than I had with my mother. Still, I know it hurts.”

Emmett cupped her cheek in his hand. “Thank you. You’re such a treasure, Crystal.”

She looked away from him, suddenly shy.

“And don’t change your hair color. It suits you,” he said before lowering his hand. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Of course. You know where to find me.”

“I’ll come for coffee before the office opens. I want to make sure everyone understands that my mother’s visit changes nothing.”

“Okay,” she said, walking him to the door, and stepping back.

He gave her a wave and left.

Still not hungry, Crystal switched off the lights and headed to her bedroom.

CHAPTER TEN

The next morning, trueto his word, Emmett showed up in the Café as Crystal was chatting with Rich Robinson, a local dentist. His nephew, Dirk McArthur, was arriving in the next day or two to help him with the practice after graduating from dental school.

Crystal introduced Emmett to him and while they chatted, she welcomed a gathering of customers to the Café. It was easy to tell who the new people in town were by the way they paused at the entryway or stared at her hair. After the last couple in the group was seated, Crystal returned to the kitchen to help with the sudden rush.

Crystal had hired a hard-working, reliable kitchen staff by offering flexible hours, and an opportunity for mothers who had to see their children off to school before handling prep work for the lunch shift. Now, in summer, it took a little more juggling, but everyone on the staff cooperated knowing how hard it was for some to handle mom duties as well as work. Still, there were plenty of times she was needed in the kitchen.

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