Page 21 of The Coffee Bar on Camellia Court

"Welcome to Juno's," she said, giving them a warm smile. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

"Give us a minute, please," the man said, returning her smile. "You have so many great options."

Just then, the phone rang. "Juno's Coffee Bar. I'm with another patron right now. Can I call you back or would you like to hold?"

"Hey Juno." Penny Anderson's pretty voice sounded on the other end of the line. "Call me back when you can take our lunch order."

"Will do, Penny."

Claire was carefully sweeping a few crumbs up into a napkin. "What's Penny calling about?"

"They need to place a lunch order; they've got a whole crew over there this week trying to get the kitchen knocked out before the end of the month. They're missing Alex since he's been out of commission the last few days, but he was on his way over there with Mrs. Becker, so hopefully, he's able to help them just by being there with his experience, even if he can't do a lot of the heavy lifting."

Claire gave her a sideways look. "Are you going to deliver it?"

Juno rolled her eyes. "Nope. I'll send Poppy. She'll be ecstatic at the chance to check up on Alex."

"You wouldn't do that to him," Claire chided.

"Alex is a big boy," Juno shot back.

"You know, understanding why someone hurt you and even forgiving them doesn't mean you have to act like it never happened. But it might help you stop letting that hurt control your choices."

"I'm not—" Juno stopped herself. "This isn't about that. Lunch is our busiest time, and I don't like leaving during the rush." She glanced over at the three customers at the counter, but they were still discussing the menu options. Juno came out from behind the counter and gave Claire a hug.

She gently patted Juno's cheek. "You know," she said casually, "both of you were just kids when all this happened. Maybe neither of you had the tools to handle what came your way."

"Maybe." Juno followed her to the door, keeping an eye on the three still at the counter. "But we're not kids anymore."

Claire paused on the threshold, then said, "Exactly my point."

The door closed behind her, leaving Juno alone with those words echoing in her head. She wasn't acting like a child. She was protecting herself. There was a difference.

Wasn't there?

Understanding would certainly help lead to forgiveness, sure. But forgiveness didn't mean she had to invite him back into her life.

11

Alex

Alexsatdownonthe chair Ward had set out for him. "Yes, please help," he'd agreed wholeheartedly. "But do everything you can from that seat with your weight off that foot."

Alex now stared at the cabinet door he'd just installed. His eyes felt like they'd been rubbed with sandpaper, and no matter how many times he blinked, his vision stayed fuzzy. Was it straight? It wasn't straight. But the level he was using told him it hung perfectly aligned, and it opened and closed like butter, the magnetic touch latch matching up just right. He scooted back to get a broader perspective and squinted.

He'd been working since shortly after leaving Juno's place, fueled by her strong coffee and his desperate need to keep moving, to avoid thinking about how she'd looked at him this morning – wary and defensive, like he was some kind of threat.

"You planning on having a staring contest with that cabinet all morning?" Ward's voice cut through his fog. He leaned against the doorframe of what would soon be the Garden Gate's newly renovated kitchen. "Because I'm pretty sure it's going to win."

Alex summoned up his trademark grin, the one that usually deflected questions and concern. "Just admiring my handiwork. Love this hickory, man. It's gorgeous." He ran a hand over the smooth surface, buying time to collect himself. "Your bride-to-be is going to love you when she sees this."

"My bride-to-be already loves me," Ward said with the confidence of a man who knows what he's worth. "But yeah, she's going to be wowed, that's for sure. She might have picked it out, but there's nothing like seeing it all put together." Penny had been kicked out of the kitchen yesterday when they'd started on the project, because Ward wanted her to be blown away by the end result.

"Where are the ladies today?" Alex asked, hoping Ward would start talking about his fiancé instead of drilling Alex on how he was doing. His friend had been shooting him assessing looks more and more often these days, and although he didn't come right out and ask, Alex got the feeling the questions were coming. Things were always tough for him around the anniversary of Jason's death, but there were other circumstances pressing down on him, and Alex wasn't coping as well as he usually did, and he was well aware that it showed.

Ward eyed Alex quizzically. "You don't know?"

Had Ward already told him and he'd just forgotten? Sheesh. He chuckled and shook his head. "It's your womenfolk, Ward. Why would I know where they are?"

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