Flynn(27)

Shane walked into the door.

“Any chance of getting some cookies for my afternoon snack?”

“I think we can find you some, although I warn you they won’t be as good as your mother’s,” said Natalie.

“I’ll take my chances. Oh and Natalie, speaking of my mother, she asked if you could go visit her at the hospital this afternoon. She wants to talk to you about something. Watch out because she might want you to take over running this place on a long term basis, and she has this strange way of making people do whatever she asks.”

Would she? Would this be her perfect opportunity to stay in Timber Creek indefinitely? Give up her law career in Orlando to run a café in the middle of nowhere in Montana? Flynn and Emily were here so it sounded like something she’d do without having to give it much thought.

“I hope word hasn’t got back to her that I burned the bacon on someone’s order this morning,” said Natalie.

Shane took a bite of the one of the oatmeal cookies Lacey had given him. “Could be because news travels very fast in Timber Creek.”

****

Natalie opened the door to Marie’s hospital room and peeked in to make sure she wasn’t asleep and therefore disturbing her. She was wide awake and watching TV.

“Hi Natalie, come in and pull up a chair.”

“I brought you some of the scones Lacey and I made this morning.” She put down a basket on the table by the bed.

“They look wonderful. So how are things going?”

“Good, well, not as good when you’re running things. But you’ll soon be back.”

“Well, it looks like I might need some surgery, but after that I’ll be as good as new.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“And I have you to thank. They said you being there and calling 911 so quickly helped me a lot.”

“I only wish I could have done more.”

“You can right now honey.” She reached out for Natalie’s hand and held it between her two palms. “It’s the reason I asked you to come see me. Just the two of us girls together. I have a huge favor to ask you.”

Shane was probably right. She wants me to take over the running of the café. And I’m going to accept without hesitation.

“Sure anything,” said Natalie.

“I want you to tell Flynn the truth.”

Natalie felt bile rise in her throat, giving her mouth a sudden bitter taste. Was Marie referring to what she thought? And if so, how could she possibly know?

“And don’t go telling me you don’t know what I’m talking about. You’re Emily’s birth mother aren’t you?”

There was no running now. Natalie lower lips quivered. She nodded. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t at first but I’m a mother of four, and I know the look a mother gives her child. Every time you’re with Emily you have a look of love and pride that doesn’t, and can’t, come from a stranger.”

A tear slid down her face. “I never wanted to give her up.”

“Shhh honeybee. I know that. And judging by your age and knowing she’s thirteen, I’m guessing you were little more than a baby yourself when you gave birth.”

Natalie nodded, a tear falling from her face and bouncing onto her lap. “And I didn’t know she…

“Was so special. I know sweetie. But here’s my concern—I’ve also seen the way you look at my son and the way he looks at you. There’s a spark there, there’s love there, and if you’re not honest with him it’s not going to end well and that would be a shame.”

“I have this feeling he might hate me now. I mean for not telling him when we first met. I had every intention of doing that but it was the shock of seeing Emily and, well, by then it was too late.”

She shook her head “No, he won’t. And there’s something he has to tell you too…about how he came to be Emily’s daddy. I think as her birth mother you have a right to know.” She took a deep breath. “Yeah, both of you are alike in the secret department. Now off you go and talk to Flynn.”





Chapter Eleven



Flynn walked into the kitchen of the café to see Emily looking at photos he’d never seen before.

“What do you have there?”

He’d surprised her and as she turned they scattered all over the floor.

“I found them in Natalie’s purse and I didn’t put them back because I wanted to look at them.”

“Honey, I’ve told you, not to snoop in people’s private things.”

“Sorry Daddy, sorry.”

She ran out of the kitchen door. He knew she was sorry but sometimes she needed to get away to deal with things in her own way. Flynn got on his hands and knees and began to gather up the photos so he could give them back to Natalie and apologize.