“Yeah, sure.”
She poured a big mug of it. “Sugar? Cream? Milk?”
“No,” Carter said. “Black.”
The crowded restaurant was quiet as Danni took the mug of coffee and set it on the table beside the man.
He took a sip.
“Good, huh?” Danni asked.
“The coffee or the pies?” Lewis asked.
“Both.”
He took his time in replying. “Not bad.” As he stood up, he didn’t say which one he meant, but he’d tasted each of the pastries.
The whole restaurant was silent as Lewis Tree-borne walked to the front door. He didn’t look at any of them, but paused, his back to all of them. “Eight tonight,” he said loudly. He opened the door. “Both of you.” He left the restaurant.
It took a moment for everyone to release their breaths and start talking at once. Roan, used to crowds, tried to answer the questions shot at them, while Carter, Kelli, and Sophie went back to work. But the three of them exchanged looks that were full of hope—and questions.
“Where will the meeting be?” Kelli asked.
“Williamsburg Inn,” Carter and Sophie said in unison. It was the best in the area. Old World elegance.
“You have to go with us,” Kelli said to Sophie, then looked at Carter. “But then, maybe your dad meant Sophie when he said ‘both of you.’ ”
Carter and Sophie looked at each other.
“No,” Sophie said. “I’m of no use to him.”
“She’s right,” Carter said. “He wants you and your magic hands.”
Sophie stepped away from the two of them. The looks they were giving each other said everything. As she went to clear a table she couldn’t help looking at the two couples. Carter and Kelli had their heads together, whispering and planning. She heard them talking about what Kelli could cook to take with them that night. At the other end of the store Roan and Danni were quietly talking and working in such unison that it seemed they’d always known each other.
Sophie had to look away. She envied them very much!
Just before closing, as she thought he’d do, Henry came in. He had a big manila envelope with him and she knew what it contained: his proposal. The others took over while Sophie sat down with him.
“I thought I’d bring this by now and not interrupt your Christmas.” He pushed the envelope across the table toward her.
She didn’t open it.
“It’s all in there,” he said. “It’s a job offer and I think it’s a good one. The studio will be done by April and you can start then. Sophie, you can do whatever you want. You can teach classes or you can work on your own projects. The salary is enough to live on, and you can supplement it with sales of your own work. Does that sound good?”
“Perfect,” she said but she didn’t smile.
Henry frowned a bit as he continued. “And there are benefits, health and dental. If you should marry, the plan extends to your husband. And Sophie—”
“Yes?”
“The plan will cover him wherever he is in the world. I saw to that. If he needs to be airlifted out of some godforsaken place, that’s covered too.”
“Good,” she said and managed a weak smile. “What about funding for Reede?”
“It’s all in there. I have several men ready to help with this. If your young doctor wants a fully equipped medical ship, he can have it. If he wants mobile clinics or to open a hospital somewhere, he can have that too.”
Henry put his hand on hers and squeezed. “Anything he wants I will do my best to get it for him.”