“Oh?”
I turned my head and met her gaze briefly. “He thinks I should build a library and community center. A place where kids could hang out after school, have access to computers, maybe someone to talk to if they need it.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“My father would have hated it. He never wanted to help kids. Not those less fortunate, anyway,” I added. “In fact, no one else less fortunate, regardless of their age. He thought it was his place, his right, to keep them down, not help them up.”
“That’s where you’re so different.”
I ignored her remark.
“The library in town is pretty small. I could triple its size. The whole top floor could be the library. The main floor, a place for kids to hang out. Play games, do their homework.” I thought of how often I went home to an empty house and hated it. “Have other people around.”
“That would be awesome. It would benefit someone like Michael. He’s always juggling to make sure his kids have a place to go to after school—even in a small town like ours.”
I warmed to the idea. “We’d have a shuttle bus. I bet I could get Gerry to help plan it. He knows kids and what they need. Maybe Cindy would want to hold some baking lessons. We could add a kitchen at the back.”
Sunny sealed the idea for me. “You could call it the Amanda Webber Community Center after your mother. Have her picture on the wall when you walk in. It would be hers then, not your father’s.”
My heart warmed at her words.
“Perfect.”20LincI dropped Sunny off in front of the bakery, then parked the car. I used the key she gave me and carried our bags upstairs. I took them to her place—there was no point in pretending I would stay next door. Wherever Sunny was, I would be as well.
I went downstairs, wandering through the kitchen and wondering why there was no one baking or cooking. That seemed unusual. I pushed open the door to the shop, freezing when I heard Sunny’s distressed voice. “I don’t understand. None of this makes sense.”
I hurried forward. All the staff, including Abby were gathered around a table. Sunny was standing, holding an official-looking document. Everyone turned as I walked in, and from the look on Sunny’s face, I knew it was bad. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close.
“Let me see.”
I scanned the document, my frown growing as I read it. “What the hell is this bullshit?” I muttered. “Health violations?” I looked around in shock. I had never seen a shop or a kitchen in a business as meticulous as Sunny’s. “When the hell did this show up?”
“About two hours ago,” Shannon offered. “We knew Sunny was on her way home, and we didn’t want her upset.”
“When were they here?”
“Shannon said they were here yesterday,” Sunny said, her voice shaking. “You never know when they’re going to show up.”
“Did they say anything? Act strangely?”
Shannon shook her head. Mack spoke up. “I followed him around, and Abby was there. He was really thorough. But he didn’t say anything and only asked the basic questions about our routine.” He met Sunny’s eyes. “I was certain we’d pass with flying colors. We always do. So I didn’t even think to call you.”
“No, it’s fine,” Sunny murmured. She was shaking, and I knew she was feeling anything but fine. Gently, I pushed her down into a chair and read the list of violations.
“Mack, come with me.”
We went into the kitchen—I knew nothing about kitchen equipment, so I had him point out each infraction, my anger growing as the moments passed.
Frayed wires—fire hazard.One plug had a piece of electrician’s tape on it. “I put that on the plug so I knew which one it was. There isn’t anything wrong with it,” Mack stated.
Inadequate hand-washing stations.“We meet code,” Mack insisted. “In fact, we exceed it.”
Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles, and food contact surfaces are not properly constructed or sanitized.The kitchen was spotless. I frowned and looked at Mack. He shook his head.
“We were baking when he showed up. Of course, it was messy—but not unclean. Never in this kitchen. Sunny is very particular. So am I.”
Maintain and arrange appliances to permit a clean and sanitary condition.“Our arrangement has passed every other time. The interiors are impeccable,” Mack insisted.
The list went on in the kitchen and included the temperature of the display cases and the cleanliness of the washrooms.
All of it bogus.
I growled under my breath. I already knew who was responsible for this. I pissed off Martha, and this was retribution. She saw Sunny and me kissing. She knew how my father had felt about our relationship. She was doing this to get back at me. This was my fault.
I glanced at the list. Every “violation” was ridiculous.