7

At the loud rapping, Chloe looked up from the book of recipes. Who would drop by unannounced on a Sunday afternoon? Maybe Aidan wanted to borrow a cup of sugar. Did she have any sugar? Her heart rattled against her ribcage. She set the book aside, wishing she was dressed in something other than old jeans and a sweatshirt. She smoothed her hair down, wet her lips, and opened the door. “Nick. What are you doing here?”

Her cousin’s normally cheery disposition was eclipsed by his glare. “I need to talk to you, Chloe. If you’re not too busy.” The last words dripped with sarcasm. Was he mad at her?

“I’m never too busy for you. Come in.” Her mind raced over any possible offences. Had she not been nice enough to the new nanny? No, she and Mrs. Smythe had got on just fine when they met. Chloe couldn’t think of a thing she’d done to deserve Nick’s displeasure.

Then realization dawned. It was Sunday, and she hadn’t attended church service. Again. Her cousin, the minister, would expect her to be there. She led him to the living room with a guilty heart. “Can I get you something to drink? A snack?”

“No, thank you.” He perched on the edge of the large, green armchair and gestured for her to take a seat.

Maybe if she dove right in, she could diffuse the situation. “So how was church today?”

“Fine. Not that you’d know, since you haven’t bothered to attend one service since you’ve been home.” His blond brows cinched together. “This isn’t like you, Chloe. You never used to miss church on Sunday. Has New York changed you that much?”

How could she tell him she didn’t feel worthy to step into the Lord’s house? “Sorry. I—I overslept.”

“Stop it.”

Her head jerked up at the harshness of his words. Suddenly, she was fifteen again, facing Nick’s wrath over her rebellious actions. When Chloe’s father died, Nick had stepped in to take over as the man of the household. She hadn’t always appreciated his interference. Like now.

“I want to know what’s happened to you. Why you’re acting so different since you’ve come home. And why you’re working at the high school. What happened to your job in New York?” The worry in his eyes masked the anger.

Apparently Lily hadn’t shared her concerns with Nick about Chloe’s lack of employment.

“I left Oliver’s.” She crossed to the fireplace to fiddle with a picture frame on the mantel.

“Why would you do that? I thought it was your dream job.”

“A difference of opinion got…out of hand. Anyway, I’m home, so it all turned out for the best.”

“Not good enough.” Nick turned her to face him. “I want to know what Richard did to you. And don’t tell me this isn’t about him, because I’m not buying it.”

Blazing eyes bored into hers. Love fueled his anger, she knew. A love she cherished all the more now that Nick and Lily were her only family.

“If I tell you, you’ll want to hurt him, so I think it’s best you don’t know the details.” Coward. It was better for her if he didn’t know the details.

“Did he hit you?”

“No.”

“He cheated on you, didn’t he?”

Unable to bear his scrutiny, she moved to the window where a soft breeze lifted the lace curtain. “Not in the way you think.”

“How then?”

She braced for his reaction. “I found out Richard is married.”

Nick’s brows shot skyward. “Married? You mean separated?”

“Not exactly.” Chloe hugged her arms. “But he swore he was planning to leave his wife when the time was right.”

“Isn’t that a convenient answer?” A nerve pulsed in Nick’s jaw. “So he used you, had a good time at your expense, then cast you aside when he got bored?”

“It wasn’t like that.” How could she explain it when even she didn’t understand? Chloe searched for something to say. “Look, I’m not the first person to get mixed up in a bad relationship. It’s over now, and I need some time to recover.” She tried the same pleading look she’d used on him as a teenager when he’d caught her doing something wrong. Maybe it would still work.

He blew out an exasperated breath. “You’re asking for space?”

“That would be helpful, yes.”

He paced as though gathering his thoughts, and then finally looked at her. “What are you going to do now? For work, I mean.”

“I’m thinking of starting my own business.” As she explained, the lines in his face gradually relaxed.

“I don’t know how much call there is for a bakery in town, but if anyone can make a go of it, you can.” He smiled. “I’m sorry about everything that’s happened, but I’m very glad you’re home to stay.” He opened his arms.

Chloe stepped into his warm embrace, relief spilling through her tense muscles. The great thing about Nick was he didn’t stay mad long.

When she pulled away, he held her by the shoulders. “Remember, Chloe, in times of crisis, it’s best to bring your problems to God, not hide from Him. I expect to see you in church next Sunday.”

Her momentary relief faded. “I’ll do my best.”

****

“Good job, everyone. Cleanup starts now.” Chloe stuffed her hands into the pocket of her white apron.

The eating portion of the class was over, and now the dreaded dish duty began. They had made an excellent beef stroganoff, complete with salad and dessert, and had just finished enjoying the fruits of their labor. The eager students, ones like Lindsay, Ellen and Daphne, jumped up to clear the dishes.

Tommy, a lanky redhead, patted his stomach. “This class was the best idea ever.”

Chloe chuckled. “Glad you’re enjoying it, Tommy. If you work as hard at washing the dishes as you did eating the food, you’ll be on your way to an A, I’m sure.”

Tommy made an exaggerated leap for the sinks.

Chloe started to stack the plates and caught herself humming. After two weeks in Mrs. Merriweather’s class, Chloe could honestly say she’d never felt this content. Working at Oliver’s had been exciting, but catering to the clientele every night got tiresome. And the stress eventually caught up to everyone. Here, the immense satisfaction she gained from watching the kids master a skill was a surprise to her. She even had a few star chefs in the making.

Lindsay Brown was one of them.

Chloe’s gaze strayed to her pet student as Lindsay loaded the industrial-sized dishwasher. Dylan Moore stood right beside her, close enough that his hand strayed to her hip. A telltale pink tinged Lindsay’s cheeks as she cast a shy smile over her shoulder.

Warning bells rang in Chloe’s head. Visions of Richard doing the same thing to her when he first started hanging around the kitchen at Oliver’s flooded her brain.

“Mr. Moore, I’m sure Lindsay can load the dishes by herself. Why don’t you get a towel and dry those pots?” She folded her arms and waited.

He glared, whispered something to Lindsay, and then grudgingly moved toward the sink.

Lindsay darted a quick look at Chloe before returning to her task.

When the kitchen had been returned to its normal state, Chloe turned her attention to Lindsay, thankful to find her alone. Chloe wanted to get the girl’s mind on something else besides a certain boy. “Lindsay, have you ever heard of the Junior Chef Challenge?”

The girl wrung out the rag over the sink. “I don’t think so.”

“It’s a cooking contest, held once a year. Students compete for a scholarship to a leading culinary school. From what I’ve seen of your skills, I think you’d have a good chance of winning.”

The girl’s eyes widened. A glimpse of joy bloomed before her expression darkened. “There’s no point in entering, Miss Martin. Even if I won, I couldn’t leave home.” She scrubbed the counter with more vigor than necessary.

“I’m sure your mother wants you to get a good education. To follow your passion.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t abandon my brother that way. My mother works two jobs, and without me around, Matt would get into trouble for sure.”

Chloe put a gentle hand on Lindsay’s shoulder. “Are you willing to sacrifice your dreams for your brother?” she asked softly.

Lindsay lifted her chin. “If that’s what it takes, then yes.”

Lindsay hung up her apron and walked into the hallway where Dylan stood waiting. The boy took her hand as they left.

Chloe sighed. The girl’s decision not to attend college might have more to do with a certain shaggy-haired senior than her brother.