Page 105 of True North

Harry. Eat, my love.

I’ll be home as soon as I can.

L xx

P.S. Heat it up in the oven, 10 mins (preheat to medium heat).

I rip the lid from the container, and the smell of the tender vegetables and marinated meat hits me. My mouth waters from the smell of it cold. I can only imagine what it tastes like hot.

I move to the oven and set it like she said. Deciding to shower while I wait for it to preheat, I make short work of washing the day’s disaster off. I slide old sweatpants on and forgo the shirt, still hot from the shower. The oven is ready when I head back into the kitchen, and I set the casserole dish onto its middle shelf.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m blowing on the spoon I chose to shovel the food down fast. It smells divine. Tastes even better. Before I know it, I’m swiping a finger down the side of the bowl to get the last of the sauce.

“God above, this is good,” I mumble, slipping my finger into my mouth.

An amused huff comes from the doorway.

“Good to know you like it.”

ChapterTwenty-Seven

LOUISA

Harry spins around, spoon in hand, finger between his lips. He looks like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and I have never loved him more. It is always a pleasure to see people enjoy my food, but this is next-level satisfying. Seeing him this besotted with my go-to, no-time-to-do-anything-fancy casserole is overwhelming. It almost makes me want to stay in this kitchen for the rest of my days, barefoot and cooking just for him.

Almost.

“You’re back early,” he says, standing.

His hair is damp from a shower, and he’s shirtless.

It’s more than I can take. I drop everything, not bothering to shut the door to keep out the cold, and am in his arms a beat later.

“Is everything alright, Lou?” he mumbles into my hair.

“It is now.” I slide my arms around him, sinking my face into his chest and breathing him in. The last few hours were stressful, to say the least. The diner was my sure thing. But after this week, I have been let go. Darla got wind of me buying out the Mancinis and took it to heart, and not in a good way.

“I lost my job today, Harry.” The words are muffled.

He simply hugs me tighter. Warm strength envelops me, holding steady. I can’t think about what it means for my chances of scraping together the rest of the money to hand over to Mama when it’s due. I can’t see past the hurt in Darla’s eyes as she sat me down after the lunch rush to hear the words from the horse’s mouth.

“What’s this I’m hearin’ bout you buyin’ Mama’s Place?” Darla’s eyes tighten, brows dropping. Worry mixes with hurt as she stares at me from her seat on the other side of the booth table.

I shift on my seat. I’d forgotten how small towns operate. God, I’m an idiot. Of course I should have considered her before making the offer. How this would impact my job.

I’m operating on Cali standards, logic and opportunistic thinking surpassing the village mentality that still runs strong and true through this little town.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t even think. I’m used to people not caring either way. In Cali?—”

“This is Lewistown, Montana, Louisa. We’re all like family. You don’t pull the rug out from under family. I guess you’ll be wanting to open for lunch now, seein’ as you have all that stored-up talent and nowhere to put it?”

The words sting. They may sound like a compliment, but they are the furthest thing from one.

“That’s not how this is, Darla. I swear. I have no lunch plans. I mean—no plans to run a lunch service. All this is so new to me, but I needed some place to work and call my own. I’m stayin’, and Mama’s Place affords me that.”

“I see.” She leans back in the chair, folding her arms. She may as well have called it. The end of this conversation. The animosity is practically pouring off her peach uniform in unchecked waves.

“Mama’s Place will maintain the same operating hours it has now. You can’t possibly see this as a threat. Your diner is the best on Main Street.”

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