An Unexpected Family. Jenna Mindel

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СКАЧАТЬ “We came too early.”

      “Not at all.” Rose had finished wiping down the tables and chairs while Cam cleaned up the prep station and last bit of the kitchen.

      Her father tapped at the front door.

      Rose waved him in and gave him a hug. “Thanks for coming.”

      Her father gave her an extra squeeze before letting go. “We had to see where you were and this is quite a place you’ve got here.”

      “Grandpa!” Greg charged straight for him.

      “Heyyyyy.” Her father enveloped her son in a bear hug.

      Watching them, Rose swallowed the lump lodged in her throat and turned to lock the front door. She and Greg hadn’t been here a month, yet it seemed much longer. Maybe accepting the Deans’ offer would give her enough for Greg’s college fund if she put it all away. Maybe she should play it safe and not risk her son’s future. Greg might be better off near her dad facing the high school years.

      Maybe her dreams should wait.

      “Rose, I’m taking off.” Cam stood in the kitchen doorway.

      Thoughts scattered and she momentarily stared. “Yeah, okay.”

      Cam stared back. “I’ll see you Monday.”

      His tousled hair curled from the steam of washing the remaining dishes. The front of his shirt showed water spots, as well. Why did he have to look so good? “Thanks for everything.”

      Her mother stepped forward. “You’re the cook?”

      “That’s Cam,” Greg volunteered. “He took over after Chuck quit right in the middle of lunchtime.”

      Too late, Rose couldn’t shush her son from letting that news out of the bag.

      Her mom cast her a worried frown before extending her hand toward Cam. “I’m Louise, but my friends call me Lou. And this is my husband, Frank.”

      “My parents.” Rose pointed out the obvious.

      Cam shook first her mother’s hand and then her father’s, giving them that gleaming smile of his. “Nice to meet you both.”

      “So, what happened?”

      “Mom, I’ll tell you later. I’m sure Cam wants to leave.” She gave him a pointed look. She didn’t need her folks knowing anything but the positive stuff.

      “Right, okay then.” Cam hesitated.

      Her mom’s gaze swung from Cam back to her.

      Greg kept going. “Chuck got mad at Mom and quit. Cam was in here eating lunch and he just started cooking. It was great.”

      “I’m filling in until Rose finds someone permanent.”

      “I see.” Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “Thank you for helping Rose.”

      “He makes the best cheeseburgers,” Greg said. “Way better than Chuck.”

      “Not better than mine.” Her dad ruffled her son’s hair.

      “I don’t know, Gramps. They’re pretty good.”

      “Thanks, buddy.” Cam fist-bumped her son’s ready hand. “I really do need to leave, though. Very nice to meet you both.”

      “See ya, Cam.” Greg grinned.

      They watched him leave, and Rose braced for the inevitable questions.

      “Is that true? He just got up and helped out? Who is this guy?” Her father beat out her mom.

      “His name is Cam Zelinsky. He grew up here and he’s got restaurant experience.”

      “Doesn’t he have another job?” her mom added.

      Rose sighed. She didn’t know exactly. She was placing the future of her diner in a stranger’s hands reviewing those tax returns. “He owns his own business, but I’m not sure what. I’ll find out more next week.”

      “Hmm.”

      Rose could see the gears turning inside her mother’s head. “Come up and see the apartment. I’ll change and then we can go for a walk around town.”

      Her mom kept pace with her while Greg and her father dawdled, looking over the diner more closely.

      Rose paused, in case there was something on his mind, but her father was looking at a grouping of framed vintage postcards that depicted Maple Springs around the turn of the century. Even then, this area had lured folks from downstate for the pristine summer months.

      “Greg sure seems to like this Cam fellow,” her mom whispered.

      “Mom...” Rose knew where this was headed and slammed on the brakes. “We met him today. Please, don’t even go there.”

      “What?” Her mother tipped her head. “Why not?”

      “Because.” Rose kept walking.

      Her mother knew better than anyone the heartache she’d gone through when Greg had turned four. That’s when Kurt had served her divorce papers and Rose had been a mess. Her mom had urged Rose to move back home, so she did. Her mother had watched Greg while Rose worked erratic restaurant hours waitressing. In time, she’d been promoted to waitstaff supervisor and then finally she’d landed an events manager position. Her parents had been the anchor she’d needed after being set adrift by her husband.

      The sad thing was that even after a failed marriage and her last dating disaster, her mother still wanted to see her only daughter walk down the aisle. Rose had robbed her parents of a wedding day when she’d eloped with Kurt. They’d been disappointed for sure, but adamant that she stay in college. She’d let them down on that one, too.

      Rose sighed.

      “Tired, honey?” Her mom followed her up the steps that led to the apartment over the diner.

      Her father and Greg had caught up to them and four sets of feet stomped up the narrow wooden stairwell.

      “A little.” Rose was more scared than weary.

      Aside from a few months of college, she was truly on her own for the first time in her life. Part of her wanted to run back to the comfort of living with her parents, but God had given her this opportunity.

      Linda’s sons had thrown her off balance today with their threat to take her inheritance away. Linda’s will had been so clear; at least that’s the way it had sounded from the packet she’d received.

      Once Rose understood those financials, she’d have a better reference point to consider whether the Deans’ offer was a good one. After all, knowledge was power. She hoped Cam knew what he was doing and she prayed he wasn’t playing her.

      * * *

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