Weariness weighed on Bea as she trudged down the carpeted steps of her two-story condo dressed in a faded blue sleep shirt. When she’d awakened, she’d hoped last night’s canceled grand opening of the café had just been a bad dream. Unfortunately, it was a nightmare that had actually happened.
After the successful soft opening, she’d felt exhausted but elated and ready to conquer the world. She’d anticipated experiencing the same high with the café’s official launch last night. Not this sense of failure, embarrassment, and utter confusion.
Of all the things that could have happened with the grand opening, the last thing she’d expected was for someone to steal the food. They’d broken in through the back office. Everyone had been so focused on the problem with the electricity they hadn’t noticed the shattered window until after they’d realized the food was missing.
The police had asked if there was someone Bea was aware of who might have a grudge against her or the restaurant. Maybe a current staff member or an applicant she hadn’t hired had decided to get even about something? But she couldn’t think of anyone. Even the managers of the other restaurants in the area had wished her well. And all the workers seemed genuinely upset over the turn of events.
Just as she reached the bottom step heading for the kitchen, the doorbell rang. She took a detour in the opposite direction and answered the door.
It was Esme. Dressed in jeans, an oversized navy sweater, and heels, she looked a little tired but more refreshed than Bea.
On the way in, she gave Bea a tight hug. “You don’t look like you got much sleep. Are you okay?”
Bea hugged her back. “I think I’m still in shock.”
“I am, too.” Esme followed her through the adjoining archway.
In the kitchen, professional-grade stainless-steel appliances and dark granite counters were balanced with whitewashed wood cabinets and lots of natural light from the bay window in the breakfast nook.
Herbs thriving in pots on the windowsill and a bowl of fresh fruit on the table gave the space a homey appeal.
“Coffee?” Bea set up the Keurig on the counter with water and grabbed two coffee pods.
“Please.” Her sister took two mugs from an upper cabinet and handed them to her. “Have you heard anything new from the police?”
“No. Not yet.”
Confusion shadowed Esme’s face as she shook her head. “I was up for most of the night trying to think of anyone who would want to sabotage the grand opening or even carry out the plan as a practical joke gone wrong. It’s so unbelievable.”
Bea took a plate of lemon-coconut muffins she’d made the other day from the refrigerator. “The police did say that there’s a good chance we’ll never know who’s responsible. Without video footage from security cameras or witnesses, they don’t have any leads.”
A short time later, they sat at the kitchen table with full mugs of coffee and the food.
As Esme unwrapped a muffin, she asked, “Are you up for going over what’s happening at the café today, or should we skip it?”
A vision of crawling back into bed and ignoring the world came into Bea’s mind. “As long as it’s not bad news—sure.”
“It’s not.” Her sister sucked crumbs from her finger as she peered at the calendar on her phone. “The technician from the security company will be at the restaurant between ten and one, and the generator is being serviced at eleven. And they’re fixing the window in the office at noon.”
Bea sipped her coffee. If the alarm-system install had happened when it was supposed to occur, they wouldn’t be discussing any of this. Had the cancellation really been a mistake on the security company’s part like they’d all assumed, or had someone actually made that call?
Sighing, she set the questions aside and focused on the present. “Okay. I’ll be there.”
“No. Freya, Tanya, and I will take care of things,” Esme said. “You need a break. And we can handle tomorrow morning’s online staff meeting, too.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you’re getting married next Saturday. You have to get ready for your wedding, and as the boss, I have to be at tomorrow’s meeting.” Bea squared her shoulders. “The staff needs to hear directly from me that they’re getting paid while we’re closed. And I still might stop by the restaurant this afternoon. I can’t just sit around scrolling through social media and watching cute animal videos all day.”
An expression of dread passed over Esme’s face so quickly Bea almost missed it. “Yeah, scrolling through social media today probably isn’t a good idea.”
“Why? Has something been posted about the café?”
As Esme paused to take a sip of coffee, she didn’t meet Bea’s gaze. “Not really. A few comments were made on the Chatelaine Daily News Community Corner, that’s all.”
Oh no... If bitching and moaning were an art, the people who commented there would win a prize.
Before Esme could stop her, Bea snagged her sister’s phone from the table.
“Bea...” she warned. “Seriously, it’s not worth reading what they said.”
“I need to know what I’m up against.” A couple of taps later, Bea pulled up the post about the café. The comments seemed endless.
A complete fail...
This place is permanently off my “must try” list...
The review in the Chatelaine Daily News’s online edition is spot-on...
Her heart thumped hard in her chest. “The restaurant critic posted a review?”
“They did? I haven’t seen anything. What did they say?”
“I’m afraid to look.”
The last time an unfavorable review had been written about a place, it had remained one of the hot topics in town for weeks, and Don’t eat there had practically become the restaurant’s new tagline.
Esme gave her an understanding nod. “Do you want me to read it?”
“No.” Bea took a deep breath. “Whatever it is... I can’t run from it.” She clicked the link, and the review came up on the Chatelaine Daily News Online.
Savory pot pie. Steak with chimichurri sauce. Grilled tilapia with mango salsa. Bourbon-glazed pork chops. Apple fritters topped with ice cream and caramel sauce.
The Cowgirl Café’s menu promised mouthwatering goodness, but after so much hype over the past weeks, all it managed to deliver was disappointment with a failed grand opening featuring no food. Should we give them a second chance?
The last line struck like a knife in her chest. Bea handed the phone to her sister.
As Esme read the review, frustration and empathy shone in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what you’d hoped everyone would say. We could reach out to the paper and explain how the opening was sabotaged—”
“We can’t. One, it will sound like an excuse, and two, a restaurant mentioning sabotage could make people wonder if the food is safe. But maybe the critic has a point. Why should anyone give me a second chance?” A sad chuckle escaped from Bea. “Are you sure you want me in charge of the food for your wedding? I might ruin that, too.”
“First of all, you’re not responsible for what happened. Whoever broke into the restaurant is to blame. And as far as the wedding? Ryder and I couldn’t imagine anyone else catering our reception.” Esme grasped her hand. “And more importantly, you deserve all the chances in the world. Opening the Cowgirl Café is important to you. Don’t let some anonymous restaurant critic crush your dream.”
Hope and determination sparked inside of Bea. “Thank you. I really needed to hear that. But enough about the café. I want to talk about the wedding. You’ve finalized everything, right?”
“Yes. Working with Lily, as you know, has been amazing.” Esme’s cheeks glowed with happiness. “I can’t wait for next weekend to get here so I can see everything we’ve talked about come together.”
Esme and Ryder’s wedding ceremony and reception were being held at the Chatelaine Dude Ranch. It was owned and managed by their brother, Asa, and his wife, Lily.
Lily was organizing the ceremony happening on the lawn behind the spacious event lodge on the property, and the reception taking place afterward inside the lodge.
As Bea listened to Esme gush about all things bridal from dresses to anticipated jitters, a feeling of excitement and joy for her sister made her sit back and smile.
Esme had been there for her with the café. Now was the time to set her own troubles aside and prepare for her little sister’s big day.
“That’s perfect.” The wedding photographer, a brunette dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, snapped candid photos of Esme, Bea, and Lily in the bridal suite located in the lodge at the ranch.
The late afternoon sun shone through a window overlooking a lush green pasture with horses. It gave the cozy bridal suite with a sitting area, makeup table, and curtained-off changing areas a soft glow. It also enhanced Esme’s natural radiance and sparkled in her silver jeweled earrings.
Dressed in a pearl-white lace-and-satin gown with an asymmetrical hemline, she beamed the brightest smile out of all of them.
Memories crept into Bea’s mind about her own wedding day. Like Esme, she’d been happy. But she’d also had a strong sense of doubt.
No. This wasn’t the time for unhappy thoughts.
As Bea pushed the recollection aside, she adjusted the thin shoulder strap on her light coral chiffon knee-length dress. Lily wore the same semiformal attire, and they both had their hair in an artful messy bun.
Lily pretended to fix the white-and-pale-pink flowers adorning Esme’s updo. The slender woman with light brown hair, hazel eyes and freckles beamed a smile. “You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” As Esme smiled back at her sister-in-law, she nervously pressed a hand to her stomach. “I can’t believe the day is finally here. This all feels like a wonderful dream. Someone might need to pinch me.”
As if on cue, Bea and Lily gave Esme’s bare arms gentle pinches. The photographer caught the moment along with them laughing about it. As the three Fortune women stared at their reflections in the floor-length mirror on the wall, their expressions shifted to soft smiles.
In her mind’s eye, Bea easily imagined Andrea standing with them, beaming a smile and lovingly fretting over if Lars was ready to walk Esme down the aisle. Their parents would have loved Ryder and the grandbabies.
Bea met Esme’s gaze in the mirror. From the look on her little sister’s face, she’d probably been thinking almost the same things. As Bea rested a hand on her shoulder, they both blinked back tears.
A tragic plane crash had taken Andrea and Lars from them, along with their Aunt Dolly and Uncle Peter. But the love their parents had for them remained.
“Don’t you dare cry,” Lily warned Esme. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”
“I know.” Esme sucked in a shaky breath as she grasped each of their hands. “But I’m so happy. Thank you for making all this possible.”
“You’re welcome.” Bea held her sister’s hand a little tighter.
“And thank you both for letting me be a part of this,” Lily said.
“You had to be a part of it.” Esme smiled brightly. “We’re all sisters.”
“That’s the perfect toast.” Bea turned to the side table near the couch where three flutes and a bottle of champagne in a metal ice bucket sat on top of it. She filled the glasses, then handed them to Lily and Esme. “To sisters—family forever.”
“Forever,” Lily echoed. “And to Esme and Ryder finding true love.”
They clinked their glasses, then sipped champagne.
Lily set down her glass. “It’s almost time. Bea and I should get out there.” Hurrying to the couch, she picked up the beautiful cascade bouquet adorned with purple-and-white flowers and pale pink roses from a long white box and handed it to Esme. “Asa will be here to get you soon. Are you all set?”
“I’m ready.” Esme’s eyes sparkled.
Bea and Lily each picked up one of the two smaller round bouquets from the box. After a quick hair and makeup check in the mirror, the two women walked to the door.
On the way out, Bea blew Esme a kiss. “Love you. See you soon.”
Moments later, Bea and Lily stood on the lawn a few yards away from a natural jute-burlap aisle runner dividing rows of white wooden chairs in bride’s side/groom’s side configuration.
At the other end sat a white wood gazebo. Pale chiffon and ivy were wound around the columns. Baskets filled with roses, clematis, and hydrangeas in hues mirroring Esme’s bouquet hung near the front facing columns forming an arch.
A guitar, cello, and violin trio sitting in the gazebo played a gentle melody.
As Bea looked out at the friends and family there to witness Esme and Ryder’s union, her mind drifted back to her own wedding day, over a decade ago in Denver. She and her now ex, Jeff, had met, gotten engaged, and married in a span of less than two months. Their small ceremony with the justice of the peace had been a spur-of-the-moment thing.
None of their family had been able to attend on such short notice, and it had felt so wrong not to have the people she cared about surrounding her on such an important day.
But Jeff had insisted on getting married before they’d relocated for his job, and wanting to please him, she’d gone along with it. He’d been the man of her dreams.
Shortly after they’d said I do, the excitement of newlywed bliss had begun to fade and reality had begun to sink in. Communication wasn’t one of Jeff’s strong suits. That coupled with Bea, as well as their relationship, coming last in his list of priorities had made it painfully clear their marriage was in trouble. After two years of trying to make the impossible work, she’d divorced him.
Luckily, Esme had gotten it right with Ryder. As a couple, they were all in on continuing to build a strong relationship and family. And it was good to see so many people supporting them. The only ones missing, aside from their parents, were their cousins Bear and West Fortune.
Esme hadn’t mentioned it, but she was probably disappointed that Bear hadn’t responded to the wedding invite. In fact, no one had heard from him in a long time. Hopefully he was okay and just couldn’t make it. And West...
Bea’s gaze went to West’s former fiancée, Tabitha Buckingham. The young blonde woman in her late twenties sat on the end of a row, tending to her twin babies, Zane and Zach, in their strollers.
West had been a prosecutor. A little over a year and half ago, one of the criminals he had sent to jail had taken West’s life. No one in her family had realized Tabitha and the twins existed until the funeral. Now that she lived in the area, they all tried to keep in touch with her. Over the last few weeks, Bea had been meaning to call and check in on her. Tabitha was raising the twins on her own.
Bea glanced down at her dark-haired nephew Chase asleep in the stroller she gently rocked in front of her. He and his brother, Noah, were dressed in midnight-navy suits with pale blush ties like the groomsmen. They looked absolutely adorable.
But unlike his brother, Noah was wide awake in the stroller behind Bea. He was also becoming a little fussy, and Lily was trying to soothe him with a pacifier.
While adjusting her bouquet tucked under the handle, Bea sent up a silent prayer for Chase to remain peaceful while she walked with him down the aisle.
Freya and a temporary nanny seated up front on the bride’s side would take over the strollers. They would be watching over the little ones during the ceremony and the reception.
As Bea glanced at the lodge behind them, her attention momentarily halted on the large windows. Inside the building, servers in black-and-white uniforms checked over the tables. Some of them were staff members from the Cowgirl Café, and the rest had been hired from a temp service.
Ryder and Esme had chosen a straightforward sit-down menu: Classic romaine Caesar, choice of grilled flat-iron steak with thyme-and-blue-cheese cream or a seared chicken breast. Both were served with herb-roasted green beans and tomatoes, seasoned rice, and homemade biscuits and honey butter.
Aside from the wedding cake, there were also peach, apple, and pecan tartlets to be served with vanilla cream for dessert.
Having gone over the menu so many times with Tanya, Bea could easily imagine what was happening right now in the lodge’s kitchen. All of the food had been safely delivered—she’d double-checked before going to the bridal suite to get dressed for the wedding. By now the cooks should have plated up the salads and prepped their cooking stations.
With this menu, timing was everything, especially with the flat-iron steaks. If they were cooked too long, by the time they were served to the guests, they would be well done and tough. But if they were taken off the grill too soon... What if the cooks couldn’t keep up? Esme had trusted her to come up with a great menu. Maybe she’d been too ambitious and should have gone with roast beef instead.
Anxiety twirled in Bea’s stomach. No. The menu was solid, and Tanya and the cooks from the café adored Esme. They would do everything in their power to make the meal special.
The musical trio paused, and Bea pushed all other thoughts aside as the minister walked in front of the gazebo.
Moments later, Esme’s husband-to-be joined him along with his brother, Brandon, and, Esme and Bea’s cousin, Linc Mahoney Fortune. The blond-haired men made a striking trio.
Dressed impeccably in a tailored midnight-navy suit with a pearl-white tie and shirt, Ryder looked just as amazing as Esme. And by the way he kept smoothing his hand down his low-cut vest, he was also nervous.
Brandon briefly rested a hand on his back and murmured something. All three of the men chuckled and Ryder’s shoulders relaxed as he took a deep breath.
The trio began playing Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”
“That’s our cue,” Lily said.
After a quick glance down at Chase, Bea went down the aisle, and then Lily followed with Noah.
As planned, they handed off the babies to Freya and the nanny, then took their places. Seconds later, the familiar strains of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” floated in the air.
Tall, dark-haired Asa, handsome in a suit, walked Esme down the aisle. As she came closer to the front, Esme’s gaze locked with Ryder’s, and their faces grew luminous as they smiled.
Bea’s heart swelled with joy as she held back tears.
The couple shared special passages from books they loved as part of their vows. As they exchanged rings, Chase released a short squeal as if voicing his approval, and everyone laughed.
Their first kiss as husband and wife inspired applause from the guests. On impulse, they scooped up their sons from their strollers. Smiling happily, they walked back down the aisle along with the bridal party to Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.”
Following the ceremony, the bridal party greeted the guests on the lawn.
After what seemed like endless hugs and kisses, the line dwindled to the final few.
Devin Street was the last person to congratulate the happy couple. Dressed in a gray suit with a blue tie, he looked scrumptious as usual.
As he chatted with Ryder and Esme, his gaze briefly connected with Bea’s. Just like the day of the grand opening, he caught her staring at him and a puzzled look briefly crossed his face. He smiled at her.
Bea glanced down at the bouquet in her hands. She could only imagine what he thought. Either her attraction to him was that obvious or he was thinking about the critic’s review of the Cowgirl Café. He was probably trying to figure out how her answer of Absolutely when he’d asked if she was ready had been so horribly off the mark.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Bea’s palms started to sweat. She couldn’t face him. Slipping out of line, she spoke to Lily as she handed over her bouquet. “I should go check on the food.”
Bea headed for the lodge, certain the tingling along her spine was from Devin watching her as she hurried away.