Chapter 6

Skye

Travis and Gramps help finish putting up the gazebo while Gran and I do a quick mingle through the nearby stalls. I can see someone madly waving over at us from across the way. Gran quickly explains it’s Georgia-Blue Bassett. We walk over to the far side of the square to say hello.

She walks briskly over and gives my gran a big hug.

“Dot, it’s so nice to see you!” She stands back to look at Gran, all smiles.

“It’s nice to see you too, darling girl,” Gran says. “This is my granddaughter, Skye.”

Georgia squeals and leaps into my arms. “Finally!” She gives me a hug the same way she did to gran. “I’m Georgia, the youngest Bassett. I’m not even sure I was born when you guys lived here!”

I laugh. “Probably not, but it’s lovely to meet you.”

“Lovely to meet you, too.”

“You’re looking very well, Georgia,” Gran says.

“Am I?” she chuckles. “We had an all afternoon and night bake-a-thon at Mom’s yesterday, so I thought I’d have enough bags under my eyes to go to Europe by this morning.”

Gran laughs.

“You look great,” I add. “Especially if you pulled an all-nighter.”

“Yeah, I supervised the cupcakes. We went all out.”

I laugh, too. “Sounds like our place. Gran and I made moon cakes and some rocky road.”

“Don’t forget the lemon meringue cupcakes,” Gran adds as she walks over to say hello to the other ladies at Georgia’s stall.

“Come and meet the family.” Georgia waves her arm behind her. “I heard Gabe sent you a message at least. You’re meeting him on Monday?”

News sure travels fast around here. “Yep. Ten o’clock sharp.”

“Dang it. He was just here a few minutes ago. I could’ve introduced you. I’m guessing you were too young when you moved to remember him?”

“Yeah, I was only around four,” I say. I don’t mention that I know who he is from the cafe, and I sure like what I saw, even if he did complain about the coffee. “But it feels good to be here. I have so many great memories of Stoney Creek when I’d come back to see my grandparents over the years on vacation.”

Georgia claps her hands together. “That’s exactly what I love to hear!”

We check out their stall and I see every cupcake known to man; along with some Bassett Brothers Bourbon merchandise being put out on display. I love the logo with the bullhorns; it looks fantastic.

“Won’t you meet my mom, Gayle,” Georgia says, gesturing towards a tiny woman with dark shoulder-length hair and the signature blue eyes. Georgia is small too, unlike her brothers, who seem well over six feet.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Georgia’s mom gives me a big hug. “So lovely to meet you finally.”

“You too.” I smile.

“And I’m Patti; Trudy and Callan’s Mom.” Patti is quite tall like the others, with shoulder length buttery blonde hair.

“Nice to meet you,” I say to Patti. I can’t help but think how everyone is friendly around here. Then I meet Trudy and Celeste; they both give me warm smiles like I’ve known them forever.

“I’d love to compare notes later on the baking stakes,” I say to the ladies. “You guys have done a great job.”

“All in a night’s work,” Celeste laughs. “It took forever, but it’ll be so worth it. The masses have started to arrive.”

I turn to see crowds of people eagerly piling in through the entry. Hartley comes running up to the table. “Hey, what did I miss?”

“Afternoon, Hartley.” Georgia chuckles. “Did my brother keep you up late again?”

“Georgia-Blue!” her mom scolds, giving her a stern look.

Georgia laughs her head off. “What, Mom? They’re so loved up, it’s kinda sickening for the rest of us.”

Hartley laughs sheepishly. “My alarm didn’t go off,” she explains. “I had a pretty crazy week at the office. Let’s just say I’m glad it’s the weekend.”

“Hey, you don’t have to explain to us.” Georgia holds her palms up. “Where the hell is Gabe?” She looks around, trying to find him.

“He went to the truck with Brook.” An auburn-haired lady says, with a little dog asleep in a pouch across her body. “I’m Eden,” she says, giving me a one-armed hug, trying not to squash the dog. “That’s Noodle. And this is my daughter Blake, and Trinity here is Gabe’s daughter.”

“I’m Skye,” I say, smiling and looking down at the little girl named Trinity. She’s a chip off the old block with a flock of dark hair like her father, and those Bassett blue eyes that run in the family.

“Skye is such a pretty name,” Blake says.

“Thank you.” I smile.“So is yours, honey.”

“This is Bunnykins,” Trinity says, holding up her floppy rabbit and waving it at me.

“Oh, wow. Nice to meet you Bunnykins.” I shake one of her bunny’s paws, and Trinity giggles with excitement.

“I think he likes you,” she whispers.

“He does? Oh, I hope so.”

“We’re getting a puppy!” she declares. “Daddy said so.”

“Oh, that’s exciting. I love dogs.”

“What are you going to call the new puppy, Trin?” Gayle joins in as she and Gran finish perusing the cupcake stall.

“I’m not sure yet.” She’s as cute as a button as she screws her nose up. “Maybe Spot? Or Peanuts.”

“Peanuts!” I laugh. “That’s a cute name.”

“How her father is going to find the time to train and walk a puppy is beyond me,” Gayle sighs. “But that’s all Trinity has been talking about since he okayed it.”

I roll my lips, trying not to laugh.

“Tell Skye what your friend’s dog is called.” Blake gives little Trinity a nudge.

“Gizmo!”

Oh, this kid is so darn cute. I really hope I pass the interview on Monday. I can’t wait to see the look on Gabe’s face when he figures out I’m the girl from the coffee shop who supposedly didn’t make his coffee right.

“That’s very sweet,” I laugh. “What kind of dog is Gizmo?”

“I’m not sure.” She thinks hard.

“I thought you said he was a chihuahua?” Blake interjects. “You could get a chihuahua too, Trin? They could be friends.”

“Yes, I want a cheewowa; a friend for Gizmo.”

Everyone laughs again. Could this kid get any more adorable?

“Well, Gran and I better get back,” I say. “But you’re welcome to come and have a look at our stall. There might be some rocky road for you girls if your parents say it’s okay?” I smile, looking at Blake and Trinity.

“Yesss!” They both yell excitedly at the same time, then high five.

“You two are certainly a draw card to the Bassett cupcake stall. Adorable little things.” Gran beams at the two excited children.

“Well, we’re way over there.” I point to the stall on the other side of the square. It looks like Gramps and Travis stopped wrestling with the gazebo.

“See you later!” Georgia choruses, as everyone else follows suit. Then she adds in a lower voice, “I’ve already put a good word in for you with my brother.”

I laugh. “I might need it.”

“He may seem a little harsh on the outside, but he’s mush on the inside, believe me. In fact, he’s probably just a little frustrated… if you get my drift.”

I know she’s giving me TMI, but I find it a little hard to believe that Gabriel Bassett couldn’t have any woman he wanted. He’s gorgeous. He may be an ass, but I still have eyes in my head that work. But, this is also a small town where the ratio of men to women is three to one, so I guess that could explain it.

“See, it pays to know these things. That way I can have an advantage at the interview and not annoy him unnecessarily.”

“Oh, it does. Let’s exchange cupcakes later, and I can tell you all about it,” Georgia promises.

I’ve no idea what I’ve got myself in for when I say, “Sounds good to me!” A bit of intel before Monday might just be the trick, though?

I’ve already met his adorable daughter, so I can see there’s going to be no problems there. But when he sees it’s me — the woman who ruined his coffee — he might think otherwise.

Gran and I walk back to the table. Verne, the lady I just met from the local bakery, is next to us with all kinds of beautiful sweet treats, including her famous vanilla cream donuts and lemon bar croissants.

“I think we’re going to have to exchange some goods,” Verne chuckles when our rocky road comes out on display.

“We would love to!” Gran smiles. “I don’t think there’s going to be much left by the end of today, though. They’re coming in droves.”

Gran told me the annual fundraiser was for the kids’ camp at the local high school, which is something that really interests me. I wouldn’t mind doing something similar for the school when I get back to North Carolina. It’s such a fun day and all for a good cause. It isn’t like any schools aren’t in need of funding for something or other.

“How lovely of your granddaughter to get behind the event,” Verne goes on when we quickly exchange some of our goods for hers before a crowd starts heading our way.

“I love to get in on a good cause,” I say. “And meeting new people since I’m new in town.”

“You better believe it.” Travis grins from ear to ear, making his first purchase at Verne’s stall, even though she just gave us some freebies. “These are for later.” He winks.

I can’t help but smile. That’s Travis through and through. He always did have a sweet tooth.

“Everyone sure is friendly here,” I say to Gran as Gramps and Travis take a seat and pour some tea and coffee for us from the flasks they prepared earlier.

“They sure are. Gran links her arm through mine. “Not thinking of staying a little longer, are you, honey?”

“You know I’d love to, Gran. It’s so lovely here. It’s the first time in forever I’ve been able to just think without a million interruptions.”

“Well, you have a lot to consider over the next couple of months. Are you excited about your new job back home?”

Gran knows how hard I’ve worked to become a teacher’s aide. There’s a part of me that would one day maybe like to go back to school again and become a teacher. But the larger part of me is happy with what I’ve achieved for now, and as long as it gets me out in the field working with kids, I’m more than happy.

“I’m excited, but a little apprehensive, too.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about. We’re all so proud of you, you know that, right?”

“Gran! Are you going and getting all sappy on me?”

“Yes. Someone has to!” She wipes her eyes with a tissue and I squeeze her to my side.

I love my grandparents so much. Travis and I are both so lucky to have had a happy and loving upbringing.

I cast my eyes over to the Bassett stall in the distance, and it’s then that I see Gabe. He’s pulling a trolley along and another guy in a cowboy hat. That has to be Brooklyn. Travis gave me a rundown, and it’s not like you can’t miss a cowboy.

I smile to myself.

I can’t wait for Monday to come around.

What Gabriel doesn’t know for now won’t hurt him.

* * *

The bake sale goes very well. We’re all cleaned out of produce within two hours.

Trinity and Blake came over for some rocky road before we sold out. And a part of me wished Gabriel had come over too but they looked pretty busy like everyone else.

The vibe around the town square is epic.

I’ve never felt this close to a community before. While I take part in some events back home, none of them have the close community feeling that this does.

It adds that bit of sparkle that seems to be lacking these days.

“I think the kids are going to be happy with the proceeds this year,” Gramps says when we’re packing everything away again.

I heard Georgia-Blue is on the town committee, so I figure we’ll hand in our proceeds to her directly.

“This has been so much fun,” I say to Gran. I love the fact that we’re spending some quality time together. And now that Travis is here for good, he can keep his eye on them both.

“It always is,” Gran agrees.

“And you do this every year?”

“Without fail.”

“It’s so nice the community gets together like this to help the kids.”

“I think so too. And it all goes to such a wonderful cause.”

“Trinity Bassett seems lovely.” She knows I’ve got an interview lined up for Monday in case things don’t go as planned at the cafe.

“She is just divine,” Gran says. “They’ve been through so much too, the pair of them.”

“Oh?”

Gran lowers her tone. “Gabriel’s wife left them both early on. Trinity was just a baby. That poor man had to raise that child all by himself.”

“Oh, my God.” To say I’m shocked to hear that is no understatement. “I can’t believe it.”

“She’s some high-flying surgeon over in Seattle now.”

I swallow hard. “She left them?”

“Rumor has it she didn’t want to be a wife and a mom anymore.”

“Gran, that’s awful.”

“Yes,” she tuts. “Poor kid. And Gabriel, I don’t know how he survived it. I really don’t.”

“That must’ve been tough.”

“Yes, he never remarried. Well, so far anyway. Luckily, he had the help of his family, namely his mother and his sister, to help. I think Blake’s dad, Brooklyn, also helped quite a lot.”

“They really do know how to stick together.”

“Through thick and thin, that’s just how it should be if you ask me.”

Wow. So Gabriel Bassett is definitely a dark horse. I never would have picked him for being a single dad, much less thrown into it by his wife leaving.

“Well, it looks like he’s done a great job.” A newfound respect overcomes me for this man I know barely anything about.

He brought his daughter up single-handedly? I wonder why on earth his wife left them both so early on.

“He has. To come out at the other end and have a beautiful little girl, it’s commendable. He’s done a stellar job with her. She’s just the most adorable thing,” Gran continues. “Anyway, I’m sure you’ll get to know all about it if you start working for him. I know he can be a little hot-headed, but not where little Trinity is concerned.”

Yes. Georgia-Blue mentioned something similar about him being mush underneath.

That part remains to be seen.

“I might pop on over and say goodbye before we head out,” I say to Gran when Trav and Gramps come back to take everything down. They ditched us after the sale started and came back after the crowd dispersed.

Everyone is certainly interested in Trav being the new sheriff in town.

“Sure thing, honey.”

I wander over — not just to get a gander at Gabriel, nor to toy with him a little since he doesn’t know he’s been texting me about the nanny position. But then, Georgia might introduce us and that might throw my little surprise out of the window for Monday.

Still, I notice as I get closer he isn’t even there, anyway. He must’ve left. Trinity isn’t running around with Bunnykins either.

“Hey, how did it go?” Hartley asks as she sees me approaching.

It’s so nice to see all the women helping each other at the large stall they set up.

“It went well, sold out pretty quick,” I say. “How about you guys?”

“Everything got wiped out!” Trudy says just as Georgia spots me and reaches into the cooler behind the stall.

“Except for these. I saved two red velvet cupcakes for you and Dot.” Georgia winks.

“That’s so sweet, thank you!”

I notice Blake and her mom have left as well.

“Don’t mention it.” She waves it off.

“You were a hit with little Trinity, especially after that rocky road.”

“I hope Gabriel didn’t mind about that?’

“Not a chance. He was too distracted by work calls. He didn’t stay too long. I think he had to get back to the distillery.”

“He sounds like a workaholic.”

“He is, but we’re hoping one day he’ll make the time for someone special.” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.

There’s no way I’m going to admit to her that I think her brother is cute. That’s called adding fuel to the fire. Anyway, he’s a douchebag — then I remember what Gran said about him raising Trinity by himself, and he became a little less of a douchebag instantly.

“I keep saying the right girl is going to come along any moment now,” Gayle adds, overhearing our conversation. “The trouble is some of my boys can be a little headstrong.”

Yes, it does already seem that way and I don’t even know them.

Though, my heart goes out to them knowing what I know now. It brings me back to the fact that you just never know what people have been through, or what they’re going through. And Gran is right. From what I’ve seen and heard, he’s done an amazing job of raising his daughter. They all have.

“A little is way ahead of the curve.” Georgia gives me an eye roll.

I laugh to myself. “Well, thanks for the goodies. I thought I’d just say goodbye before we head off.”

“So nice to see you,” Georgia says. “And good luck for Monday.”

I like Georgia. She isn’t backward in going forward, and I appreciate people who speak their mind. What you see is what you get, and I wonder if her brother is the same.

I’ve been raised to always be polite, no matter what. I guess that’s why I have a hard time sometimes saying no. It’s a personality trait.

“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.” I smile and leave, wishing Monday was one day closer.