EPILOGUE
The late summer heat was brutal. The sun beat down on the tar roof of the Sunshine Café, making it feel like the entire kitchen was an oven. Dani regretted having to turn the ovens on at all, but she needed to fill her freezers before she took off next weekend for a Girls’ Night Out event. Nick and Jimmy had assured her that the place would not burn down without her. Given the current heat in the kitchen, she wasn’t optimistic. She whisked the eggs with the cheddar cheese and milk, before adding cubed ham and broccoli. The massive bowl would fill two full trays. She’d already done 4 double batches. This was the last one. She poured the mixture into the two greased pans and popped them in the ovens with a groan as more heat blasted into the room.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her apron, and chugged water from a now lukewarm bottle of spring water. As soon as these crustless quiche were done, she could shut down the kitchen for a bit and put her feet up. Since they’d expanded their hours to weekend mornings, she’d been run off her feet. Jimmy was proving to be a godsend, but she didn’t want to overload him. Once they’d worked out a tentative truce, he’d taken Nick up on his offer to tag along to counseling sessions. He was a new man. Dani didn’t want to do anything to threaten his hard won growth. She needed to hire more help, and soon. She made a note to ask Nick to ask around at the VA if anyone had kitchen experience.
Tugging her frizzing hair back into a fresh ponytail, she washed her hands and went out front to see what needed clearing. Something always needed clearing.
“Stella? Olivia? Jamie? What are you doing here? Did I get the weekend wrong? Oh my God! I’ll run home and pack right now. I’m so sorry.”
“No, no, Dani, relax. We just came by for a meal. Everything is set for next weekend. You’re still coming, right?”
“Yes, Nick and Jimmy are kicking me out. Are you all going to be there?”
“Sadly, I can’t make it. I got booked to do a series of ‘real life’ makeovers on Ellen and they need to film them as soon as possible.” Jamie’s shoulders dropped. “But you guys go and have a great time. I promise I’ll make the next one.”
“I’m already packed and ready to go.” Olivia grinned from ear to ear.
“Of course you are. I will pack ten minutes before I have to leave, and we will still get there on time.” Stella teased her new friend. “Come on, let’s go find a seat.”
“I’ll be right out to get your drink orders.” Dani dashed back into the kitchen, to prep their plates, and ran into Nick, Seth, and Whiskey coming in the back door, with Bella hot on their heels.
“Hi guys!” She gave Nick a quick kiss hello. “This is quite a surprise. The girls are out front. If you’re here for lunch, I’ll get you set up in just a minute.”
“We’ll just go on out and grab seats.” Whiskey took Seth by the arm and Bella by the leash and pulled them both into the dining room.
“Hey. Did you drink enough water? You look flushed.” Nick took her face in his hands, a move that never failed to make her heart stutter. “You need to take better care of the woman I love.”
“I was just getting to that when everyone showed up. Will it make you happy if I take a lunch break and eat with our friends?”
“Dani, you make me happy. Period.” He pulled her in for a kiss that made the warm kitchen behind her feel like the Arctic in comparison. When he stepped back, the room spun and Dani wondered if she was dehydrated or demented from the power of that kiss. “Why don’t you go out front and sit down now? I can prep the plates.” And with a push he nudged her back out towards the front of the café.
She looked up as she cleared the counter to see she had a full house! They were going to be slammed when the noon counseling meeting let out. Looking closer, she realized it was all family. Her friends and Nick’s had taken one of the round tables. Mrs. B., the Colonel, Jack, Joe, and Patty had gathered around another, and were joined by Antonio and Elena Valenti. The biggest surprise was finding her mom and dad, sister and brother-in-law, and their three girls arranged around the long rectangle table! They’d come down from Seattle! It wasn’t her birthday, was it?
“Come here, honey. Sit with us.” Her mom patted the empty chair next to her and Dani automatically obeyed. How did moms do that?
“I can’t believe you’re really here. Welcome to the Sunshine Café.”
“We’re sorry we couldn’t make it for your opening, but we are here now. It’s lovely, Dani. We are so proud of you.” Her dad pulled her into a hug, and she didn’t even mind how sweaty she was. His bear hugs were one of the things she missed most, and she’d take as many as she could get while they were in town.
“Why is everyone here? What’s going on?”
“We were invited.” With a smirk, her sister Jen refused to say more. Brat.
Before she could pester her any further, Nick cleared his throat. He and Jimmy stood backs to the counter, with two huge trays of chocolate chip cookies.
“Dani, the last time I did this, I was rushed and ill prepared, not to mention terrified.” Bella came and sat by his leg with a gentle lean, supporting him as his voice wavered. “I’m hoping I can do better.” He moved forward to set the trays of cookies down for everyone to enjoy, removing one from the top before continuing. He held the cookie up to her.
“Dani, you stole my heart with your smile and your chocolate chip cookies. I am hoping I can do the same. You are the light in my life. When I was lost in the dark, when I couldn’t see that I was worth fighting for, you showed me a reason to fight. You brought me into your life, and gave me more family than I ever expected to have. Everyone in this room has felt the shelter of your love and compassion. We are better people for knowing you. None more so than me. I love you Dani, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you, in word and deed.” He handed her the cookie. “Will you marry me?”
Dani looked down at the cookie, but couldn’t see it through the tears in her eyes. She blinked frantically, and realized that pressed into the top of the cookie, was a diamond solitaire ring. She looked up at Nick, eyes wide. The poor man looked like he was about to burst from nerves, but she couldn’t find her words. They were trapped in her chest beneath the heart that had swollen so suddenly from the unexpected outpouring of love. The best she could do was nod and leap into his arms. It was clear enough.
Everyone that she loved most in the world was in that room, cheering for their happily ever after. She couldn’t believe he’d pulled this off.
Nick took the ring out of the cookie and slid it on her finger.
“It was my mom’s. It took me awhile to get it out of storage.” Dani admired the way it sparkled on her third finger, a symbol of their love and trust.
“I love it, and I love you, Nick. But the next time you want to surprise me in front of everyone we know, could you let me at least take off my apron? I’m a mess.” His belly laugh filled her soul with happiness. She could spend a lifetime teasing that joy from him. In fact, that sounded like a pretty good plan.
“You’re perfect, sexy dress, hot mess, just the way you are, Dani, apron and all.” And he kissed her in front of their family to more applause. “Now, ‘Get Lucky Cookies’ for everyone.”
She looked around the room again at all the loving faces surrounding her and felt very special indeed.
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