Chapter Five

K eaton listened to Brecken and Timmy explain their homework. Timmy had a better grasp of his assignment. Brecken needed better study habits. The start of school was a challenging time for freshmen under the best of circumstances.

"You keep looking at the counter." Timmy closed his textbook. "If you want another latte, I'll get it for you."

"I don't, thanks." Keaton had wanted to see if the line had died down so he could talk to Raine. It hadn't. Not that he knew what he wanted to say.

Keaton had apologized.

Just words.

That was the problem.

How could Keaton show her that he was sorry for acting like a snobby jerk?

The question remained on his mind as he sat at Margot's dining room table. If he'd come across as unapproachable with colleagues, it had been unintentional. He didn't want to leave that impression in Silver Falls, especially not with Raine. He also couldn't erase her look of relief when Timmy offered to help.

"Keaton."

He jolted. "What?"

The five others at the table stared at him. Even Angus and Sadie, who sat close by, waiting to devour anything that dropped to the floor, had their eyes on Keaton.

He took a sip of wine to gather himself.

So what if he was daydreaming?

His family thought he lived too much in his head. Something he'd never denied. Margot, Brandt, and Taryn would figure that out soon enough if they hadn't already.

Callie's gaze narrowed. "You're distracted tonight."

He placed his glass on the table. "Something happened when I was working on my book at the coffee shop. It's been on my mind."

Brandt snickered. "If that's the first place you went in town, you must have missed Raine's Americanos?"

"It was the second place. I got a cookie from the bakery first." Keaton's words had Taryn shimmying her shoulders. "And I drank two pumpkin spice lattes, not an Americano."

His siblings gasped.

"What?" he asked.

Garrett's gaze narrowed. "You always get the same thing."

"Always," Callie echoed. "You're like the sun rising in consistency."

Keaton had been, but… "Not today."

Margot stared over her wineglass at him. Her blue eyes twinkling brighter than ever. "Change is good for the soul."

"Brecken showed up. Timmy too." Keaton didn't want Callie or Garrett to harp on the change in coffee drinks. "I helped them with homework."

Garrett laughed. "Always the professor."

"It's great to have one in the family. Thank you for helping, Keaton. Brecken's trying so hard, but having dyslexia makes studying difficult for him. He's getting assistance from the school, but I don't know if it's enough." Taryn smiled at him. "Up for more tutoring while you're here?"

Keaton had enjoyed helping the two young men today. "Sure. Especially if that means unlimited baked goods."

Taryn's face brightened. "Happy to work something out with you. And please let me know if Brecken should cut back his work schedule. I want him to succeed."

"Brecken will, sweetheart." Garrett kissed Taryn's cheek. "Because he has you, his family, and all of us on his side."

Margot nearly sighed. Keaton had to admit they were sweet together. He never thought Garrett would ever be so relaxed and not focused on a case 24/7. Taryn brought out the best in him. And who wouldn't want an amazing pastry chef in the family?

"You're right." Taryn scooted closer to Garrett. "Brecken told me Flynn paid for his books."

Callie raised her glass as if making a toast. "That's our big brother. The arrogant surgeon is as generous as he is grumpy."

Keaton and Garrett both laughed. It was true.

"Sam's attending Summit Ridge full-time this semester, but he hasn't cut back his hours yet." Callie lowered her glass and reached for another slice of bread Taryn had brought. "He seems to be handling it well. I'm sure Brecken will figure out college."

"He will. But Taryn, suggest he talk to Sam. Timmy, too, Raine." Brandt passed the butter to Callie without her asking, and she rewarded him with a huge grin. "Sam's smart and has excellent time-management skills. He might be able to help them navigate being full-time students better."

The warmth flowing through Keaton's veins had nothing to do with the delicious roast beef dinner or red wine. Brandt and Taryn fit perfectly into their family. They wanted to help, aka stick their noses in everyone's business, as much as Keaton's parents and siblings. Keaton took another sip of wine.

"I'm thrilled Timmy finally finished his AA degree. He's talked about transferring to the university for years. I only wish Raine had more help." Margot tossed pieces of roast beef to each of her dogs, who gobbled down the meat. "I'm worried about her."

At least Keaton wasn't the only one concerned about Raine. "She's rundown."

"Exhausted." Taryn's smile disappeared. She stared at her plate. "I feel awful I didn't remember she organized the Valentine dance. It seems like so long ago."

"It was right after Emmett left town," Margot said.

Taryn nodded. "Raine didn't want to celebrate the holiday, but that didn't stop her from throwing herself into the event."

Callie sighed. "I should have remembered, too. Raine wasn't in the mood for hearts and love, but the Valentine's dance was so lovely and romantic."

Garrett kissed the top of Taryn's hand. "Sorry I wasn't here for it."

"Next year." Margot's eyes darkened. "All of us should have remembered, but no one wanted to be in charge of the Boo Bash, and she wasn't at the meeting."

"Doesn't make it right." Taryn's tone was harsher than Keaton had ever heard it.

Garrett shot a surprised glance at his wife.

Margot sighed. "You know the rules."

"No backing out." The other two women said at the same time, sounding unhappy.

"That's a stupid rule." Garrett refilled his water glass from the pitcher. "If Raine ends up in the hospital from exhaustion, you won't have a Boo Bash."

Lines creased Margot's forehead. "No one has ended up in the hospital from running an event."

"Have you seen Raine?" Keaton didn't want to be rude to Margot, but he understood why Taryn was upset. "Timmy told me he's worried Raine will collapse completely. She hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday. He took over the counter long enough for Raine to take a break and eat."

Callie shook her head. "She can't keep up that pace."

"Nope, and I told her that." Taryn ran her fingertips along the stem of her wineglass. "Raine ending up in the hospital might be the only thing to make the association change their rule."

Margot's chin jutted forward. Her eyes darkened to a steely blue. "The rule's in place for a reason. We can't have people walk away from their responsibilities. Trust me, they will. It happened in the past. Then there's a last-minute scramble to put on the event."

Callie stared at Margot. "Do you really think Raine can organize a decent event while working twelve-plus-hour days, seven days a week?"

Margot flinched. "Raine mentioned being short-staffed…"

"It's not just that," Taryn explained. "Even if she hires people, they need to be trained and supervised. She can leave Timmy alone, but not Heather. The woman's too unreliable. So even if Heather shows up, Raine needs to be there."

Callie wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I wasn't a huge fan of Emmett, but at least the guy worked hard and helped out."

"Speaking of Emmett. He texted me this morning to find out if Raine was dating anyone," Brandt said.

Callie's lips parted. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Sorry. I got busy working on an app and forgot," Brandt admitted. "But I'm telling you now."

She nodded. "Next time text me right away."

"I will." Brandt kissed her forehead. "Promise."

Keaton hadn't gotten to know Brandt all that well, but Rex loved the guy, as did Angus and Sadie, so the dogs' approval was a good sign.

"I don't understand. Emmett is dating a woman in Seattle." Margot scratched her chin. "Why would he ask about Raine?"

"New doesn't always mean better." As Garrett looked at Taryn his expression softened. "Maybe Emmett realizes what he lost and wants to get back together with Raine."

"They tried dating long distance. Twice." Taryn swirled her glass of wine. "It didn't work. Raine said she wouldn't do that again."

"Long distance isn't the only option," Garrett said. "I ended up here."

Brandt nodded. "And I moved back."

"Emmett told his mother he'll never return to Silver Falls. And we all know Raine would never sell." Margot spoke with authority. "She's built her coffee shop from the ground up."

"A month ago, I would have agreed with you." Callie bit her lip. "But being understaffed and now having to plan the Boo Bash might push her over the edge, so she wants out."

Garrett nodded. "No one would blame her."

Margot's expression scrunched as if she'd drunk a shot of vinegar. "You make it sound like the Boo Bash is the problem. Callie, you've only lived in Silver Falls for three and a half years, but Taryn's been here her entire life. The First Avenue Business Association has rules for a reason."

"This one is unreasonable. Always has been," Taryn countered, not backing down. "There's no reason it can't be changed. Especially when Raine should never have been put up for a vote in the first place. If this keeps up, businesses will choose not to join the association."

Keaton hadn't known his sister-in-law for long, but his respect for Taryn grew. She must keep Garrett on his toes, which was exactly what the former workaholic needed.

Margot harrumphed. "Businesses ask to join the association."

Callie glanced at Brandt. Keaton could see his sister was holding back from the way she bit her lip.

The reason?

Margot was Brandt's aunt.

"Well, this isn't what you want to hear, Margot, but what's happened to Raine is enough to make me reconsider being a member," Callie admitted. "I've been discussing it with Anna, Sam, and Mary Jo."

Margot gasped. "You can't be serious."

"I don't know if the bakery will renew next year. I love the events, especially the Christmas window decorating contest, but many of the rules and fines are unreasonable. Especially now that I have a life outside the bakery." Taryn smiled complete with heart-eyes at Garrett. "We don't have kids yet, but if we do…"

Callie nodded. "I'm sorry, Margot. We're not the only ones thinking that way. Pippa's ready to pull out too. I know the association counts on the flower baskets she makes come springtime."

"That's…" Margot struggled for what to say next. "When I was your age, I ran the quilt shop on my own. I didn't have a manager and only a part-time employee. Even after the association began, the rules were never a burden."

"You founded the association, Aunt Margot. There used to be only a couple events centered around Christmas. Now, the association puts on something every couple of months." Brandt's affection for his aunt was evident in his kind tone. "That's a lot to ask of business owners. You have a full staff now. Callie and Taryn too. But if it's a burden on them, what do you think it's like for Pippa, who only has one assistant at her flower shop, and Raine with only two part-time employees?"

Keaton didn't know much about the First Avenue Business Association, but the gap between the younger generation of business owners and the founders appeared to be widening.

Garrett stared over his water glass. "Does the association have a backup plan if the committee head can't continue?"

"No one has quit since we implemented the rule." Margot's tone was firm, but she fiddled with her napkin.

Keaton must be missing something. "People must take rules seriously in Silver Falls."

"There's also a fine if you quit," Callie clarified. "A significant one."

A monetary penalty. No wonder why Raine felt forced. No one should be put in that position.

"Everyone's overlooking something more important than the Boo Bash or any of the other annual events the association puts on." Taryn's voice sharpened. "If Raine burns out and sells Tea Leaves and Coffee Beans, it'll be a huge loss to Silver Falls. I sell coffee, but it's nothing like hers. That means hoping someone else takes over or coffee lovers will have to drive to Summit Ridge."

"A loss to the town, yes. But Raine's a master barista," Callie said, which surprised Keaton. "She can find a job anywhere and not have to deal with staffing issues or the association."

Margot cleared her throat. "We'll bring this up at the October association meeting."

Surprise flashed on Taryn and Callie's faces. Even Brandt's eyes widened.

"In the meantime, Raine needs help," Margot continued.

Taryn nodded. "None of us have time."

"One of us has a little more time." The way Margot's gaze zeroed in on Keaton made him gulp. "Keaton's here for an extended stay. I propose he helps Raine with the Boo Bash."

All eyes at the table shot to him.

The reasons he should say no—looking for a job, working on his book—ran through his head, crashing into one another until his thoughts were a jumbled mess. No sat on the tip of his tongue ready to launch into the world.

Keaton glanced at Callie.

Big mistake.

The hope in his baby sis's gaze nearly knocked him out of his chair. She wanted him to help her friend. He'd never been good at saying no to Callie. Not when they'd been kids and not now as adults.

That meant one thing.

He swallowed. "So…what exactly is the Boo Bash?"