By the time they’d had a cup of tea, she’d laid out her plan. She’d reminded him that everyone who tasted his trail dishes had said they were even better than before he went to school.
“Katie would love that,” he said as he listened.
“And if that many people came to the ranch and loved your food, they’ll be eager to come to the restaurant as well, right?”
“Well, I suppose so,” he said slowly.
“And what if we still had the menu we have now every Sunday night, for those people who love that, too? We could surely fill the house several times with those people if they’re all coming on the same evening,” she said triumphantly, sure he’d agree.
And, sure enough, he did.
He agreed to try it, that is. She decided that that was better than a flat-out refusal, and she set to work.
At the kitchen table, Sadie hastily made up a list of the things people seemed most interested in, writing the last item with a flourish and handing it to him with a smile.
He reached for it, his expression not nearly as happy as hers.
“Are you sure we should do this?”
“Tripp, you did the figures yourself. It’s our only option. To try something different or lose the restaurant. I certainly don’t want that to happen and I’m positive you don’t, either.”
She walked around the table behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders.
He rested his hands on hers and squeezed. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to find a partner who actually cares about this business—and me.”
She rested her chin on his head and hugged him, saying, “I’m glad you think so. I feel pretty lucky myself. It must be my lucky apron.”
His head popped up as he smiled. “You said you’d tell me about that if I told you about the trail,” he said.
“Ah, that I did.”
She sat down on the stool and cleared her throat. “I imagine that Suzanne told you about our parents dying. In an accident, too, just like yours. But I was much older.”
“I did hear about that, Sadie. I am very sorry. And then you lost the bakery?
She looked up at him, fiddling with the hem of her robe. “I didn’t lose it, exactly.”
His eyebrows rose as he studied her. “But I thought—”
“You remember that James and Suzanne offered to loan you the money for the restaurant?”
She leaned against the counter, her hands folded in front of her.
“Well, yes. I wonder why they didn’t offer the same to you? I guess I hadn’t really thought about that.”
She smiled as she let out a sigh. “They did.”
Tripp plopped down on the stool, rubbing his forehead. “I’m confused, Sadie. I thought you loved the bakery.”
“I did, Tripp. But with the bank at my back, working that hard, not having much of a life—well, I declined. In the same letter I received from Suzanne offering the loan, she also said someone here needed a wife…and a partner. I made my choice right then and there.”
He stood and walked to her, taking her hands in his.
“Are you telling me that you…wanted to come? You didn’t have to, but you wanted to?”
She looked down at their hands, loving the feel of his.
“Suzanne said that she felt this was something that I needed to do. You know about the twin connection—I just trusted her. And wanted an adventure.”
“And you’re not sorry?” he said, pulling her chin up so their eyes met.
Without hesitation, she said, “Not one little bit, Tripp Morgan. This has been an adventure, and I could never have imagined what an exciting one it would be.”
“I had no idea either, Sadie,” he said, not taking his eyes from hers.
She pulled her hands back, although she couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather be. She’d just confessed her feelings for him, and wasn’t at all sure still how he felt about her.
Just as she opened her mouth to say it was time for bed, he said, “That still doesn’t explain the apron, though.”
She stepped around him, reaching for her cup of tea. “At the end of our last day at the bakery, where we’d given all of the pastries, bread—everything—away for free, I felt incredibly free. But my assistant, Clara, had been my lifelong friend and had worked in the bakery almost as long as I had.”
He sat back down as she continued.
“At the end of the last day, as we were saying our goodbyes, she untied her apron, lifted it over her head and told me how envious she was of me, for choosing a new life. And that I needed to wear the apron forever, so she could watch over me.”
She walked over to where the apron hung and lifted the blue fabric. “It’s been with me every day since.”
He laughed, and said, “Yes, I’ve noticed.”
She smiled as she turned back toward him. “And it’s proven to be pretty lucky after all, don’t you think?”
“I sure do. Thank you for telling me, Sadie. I’m sorry that I got upset earlier. And thank you for one last ditch effort,” he said, standing and turning toward her. “And I’m awfully sorry for what I said earlier. I behaved badly, and I hope you can forgive me.”
He opened his arms to her, and she stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
He pulled back, staring at her intently, as if he was seeing her for the first time. She didn’t quite know what to say as he reached up and put a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen your hair down before, Mrs. Morgan. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”
Heat crept into her cheeks as she pulled away, her hand reaching to her hair. “Well, thank you, Mr. Morgan,” she said with a smile as she changed the subject. “And thank you for agreeing to try this. I really think it’s going to be wonderful.”
She started toward the door.
“One thing, Sadie. If we do this tomorrow, is there enough time to get the word out? Won’t people be expecting the regular menu?”
The corners of her lips turned up as she winked at him. As she headed to the stairs to rest up for tomorrow’s event, she said, “You leave that part to me.”