Page 3 of A New Chapter in Rosewood Beach

Julia chuckled. “You know, meal trains normally start after pregnancy. I’m pretty sure Alexis is already swimming in food offerings from you. Didn’t you just make them two casseroles two days ago?”

Vivian grinned. “I can’t help myself. It’s what being a mom is all about. I want to take care of her, she needs to rest and have enough to eat, and goodness knows Grayson has a lot on his plate right now too. It works out beautifully for all of us.”

“Okay.” Julia laughed. “You go have fun. I’m sure she appreciates it. I know she said she’s feeling extra sleepy right now.”

“My mother cooked for me a lot when I was pregnant with you,” Vivian said, remembering that time with extreme fondness. “It wasn’t as much about the food as it was about her wanting to let me know she had my back. It meant so much to me.”

Julia nodded, and for a moment she and her mother shared a smile.

“Any idea what she’s craving these days?” Julia said with a grin. “Maybe you can incorporate it into the meal.”

Vivian laughed. “I am planning on making a deep-dish pizza because she was craving pepperoni the other day. Then I’m making a chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert.” For a while, Alexis’s cravings had been extreme and all over the place, and they had all done their best to help her figure out what it was she desperately wanted to eat. More times than not, she’d eaten something she’d thought she was craving only to find that it wasn’t quite right. Peanut butter, however, had been a constant for her, and her family still liked to tease her about it.

“Perfect.” Julia shook her head, amused. “That girl has consumed so much peanut butter this year I can’t even believe it. I think her body is trying to make up for all the years she hated it.”

“Maybe.” Vivian chuckled. “Good thing Grayson likes it too.”

“No, not good.” Julia laughed. “She eats all their peanut butter and then there’s none left for him.”

Vivian was amused by the way her daughter seemed delighted by Alexis and Grayson’s predicament. She felt happy that Alexis and Grayson had such a wonderful, affectionate marriage, and she was excited that Julia was on her way to having a marriage like that as well. “Grayson is a good guy. He’s been so patient with her, helping her with all of her cravings. Someday Cooper will do those things for you, when you’re pregnant.”

Julia’s eyes lit up when she heard the words. Vivian knew that her daughter was looking forward to being a mother—something that she would be the moment she and Cooper got married, and something she essentially was already. Cooper already had an adorable toddler named Macey, who his first wife had given birth to before passing away.

“One thing at a time, Mom.” Julia laughed. “I don’t have time to think about that right now! I’m still up to my ears in wedding planning.”

“Speaking of, don’t forget the flowers!” Vivian kissed her daughter on the head before leaving the office. “And before I go home, I’ll take a look at those tablecloths for you like we talked about.”

“I won’t! Thanks, Mom, you’re the best.”

Vivian sighed happily to herself as she made her way to the back parking lot of the pub, where her car was parked.

Yes,she thought with a bittersweet smile on her face.This season of life is surely meant for me to focus on the thriving lives of my children as they step into new experiences and new seasons.

CHAPTER TWO

Terrence Rawlins stepped outside Seaside Sweets Bakery, his clipboard tucked squarely under his arm. He took a deep breath of the tangy seaside air, enjoying the feel of the wind on his face. It was a warm and sunny June day, and the brightness of the day seemed to fill him with a renewed energy.

It’s a beautiful afternoon,he thought contentedly.I love a smooth health inspection like that. Seaside Sweets is as much on top of their game as ever.

Terrence was the local health inspector, and he had a quick eye for anything that went against code. He was strict about rules and regulations, but he cared about them because he cared about people. He took safety seriously, and underneath his somewhat gruff exterior, he had a big heart.

He glanced at his watch, noting that it was getting late in the afternoon. He found his footsteps leading him toward his favorite restaurant, The Lighthouse Grill.

He’d already eaten lunch, and it was still too early for dinner, but he told himself that he could stop by the pub for a cup of coffee. Of course, he could have gotten a cup of coffee at Seaside Sweets Bakery, but he ignored the part of his brain that reminded him of that.

It was also true that he didn’t need coffee that late in the afternoon. He’d just finished his work for the day, and he didn’t usually like to have a lot of caffeine later in the day because it sometimes disrupted his sleep cycle.

He didn’t quite admit it to himself, but the reason why he wanted to stop by The Lighthouse Grill was not really to get coffee, but to have a chance to say hello to Vivian. The two of them had struck up an unlikely friendship around Christmas time, after he’d insisted they do repair work at the pub just before their big Christmas event. At first, Vivian had seen him as fussy and unreasonable, and she’d been stressed about having to get the heat vents replaced while she and her family were busy preparing for a Christmas party for Rosewood Beach. In the end, however, they’d bonded over the experience one night when Jacob Dorsey, who was now dating Vivian’s daughter Hazel, had been there late working on an unexpected problem and Vivian and Terrence had come to the pub to make sure everything turned out all right.

Vivian had a way about her, that was for sure. He smiled quietly to himself as he walked down the sidewalk, remembering the way she’d worked her way into his heart without even trying. Normally, he was a gruff and disgruntled older man who never thought twice about writing up an establishment that wasn’t following every health code to the last detail. But Vivian had brought out his softer, tenderer side. He wanted to be kind when he was around her, because he wanted to be kind to her. She’d shown him that he could be both detail-oriented and understanding.

He found himself sighing. He’d done his best to pursue her romantically for a while, but circumstances had gotten in the way, and lately he’d been content with simply being one of her good friends. She’d even invited him to some of the Owens family dinner nights, which was an honor he never took lightly.

I know we’re just friends,he thought,but I don’t think I’ve been imagining the way her eyes light up when she sees me. Is it possible she’s ready to be pursued?

He pressed his lips together, slowing in his walking. He found the thought unlikely, as much as he wanted it to be true. Although Vivian was a kind and fun friend, something about their interactions had led him to be extremely cautious when it came to flirting or anything like that. She didn’t seem to be fully ready to be pursued romantically, and he didn’t want to botch his chances by making a move before the time was right.

He reminded himself to be patient. He was fine with just being friends with Vivian, since he was happy to simply be able to spend time with her. She always brightened his day with her sassy attitude and twinkling eyes. She made him feel light-hearted and alive, and he valued their friendship a great deal.

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