Love Blooms on Main Street Read Online Free PDF Page B

approached.
    Brightening at the sight of them, Grace closed the cash register and handed over a brown paper bag of books to a customer. “Here to browse?”
    â€œHere for coffee,” Kara replied. “Can you join us?”
    Grace looked around the empty shop and nodded. “I doubt we’ll have any more customers before closing time, so why not?”
    The girls walked into the equally subdued adjacent café, dubbed the Annex, which typically cleared out near the dinner hour. “Jane’s teaching tonight, so I’ve been manning both sections on my own. I could use a break.” She sighed as she sank into a wooden chair at a table near the window. “Help yourself to whatever you want. It’s on the house.”
    Ivy walked over to the bakery counter and eyed the sugar-coated scones, oversized cookies, and gooey coffee cakes, longingly thinking of how comforting their sweetness would be after such a crummy week. Before she did anything she would live to regret, she plucked a mug from the shelf and filled it to within an inch of the rim from the half-full pot of coffee warming on the burner.
    â€œNormally, I’d demur, but I made these cookies today, and I’ve been thinking about them ever since you stopped by the restaurant to pick them up.” Kara happily added a large chocolate chip cookie to her plate and filled her own mug.
    â€œI didn’t know you made these,” Grace remarked as Kara pulled out a chair. “I had three different customers comment on them.”
    â€œReally?” Kara flushed as a small smile parted her lips.
    â€œReally.” Grace motioned to the cookie as Kara and Ivy sat down. “Mind if I see what all the fuss is about?” She broke off a corner of the cookie and chewed it thoughtfully. “Wow.”
    Kara gave a modest shrug. “It’s just a cookie.”
    Grace broke off another piece. “No, it’s just about the best cookie I’ve had in years. Don’t tell Anna,” she added quickly. “Ivy, you have to try this.”
    Ivy felt her own cheeks warm. “Oh, I trust you.”
    But Grace wasn’t backing down, and why should she? She had no clue about the condition Ivy had battled since first grade, even if she had been Ivy’s best friend all that time. She’d be supportive, of course—probably too supportive. Ivy already had one person in her life who judged everything she put into her mouth, frowned with concern over the smallest perceived sign of distress, gave her endless lectures on kidney damage, and looked for symptoms of too much or too little blood sugar in pretty much everything she did. She didn’t need Grace going there, too.
    Grace broke off another piece and thrust it at Ivy. Ivy stared at the moist, gooey cookie with the large chunks of milk chocolate, and swallowed hard. It was just
one
bite.
    A really big bite
, she could hear Henry’s voice stern in her ear.
    With a grin, she took the piece of cookie and shoved it in her mouth, closing her eyes as she tasted the brown sugar, vanilla, and smooth, creamy chocolate. “Wow is right, Kara. You have a gift!”
    â€œOh, I’m happy to help at the restaurant,” Kara said, sipping her coffee. “Your sister has taught me so much.”
    â€œWell, up until today I would have said no one could beat her when it came to baked goods. If she knew she had anything to do with this, I’m sure she’d be pleased. Has she tried these?” Grace broke off another piece.
    Kara shrugged. “I’m not sure. We’re so busy. Just all doing our part…”
    Her smile slipped, ever so slightly, and unnoticed by Grace, but Ivy caught it and frowned. “Well, I call this more than your part. You should start offering this on the dessert menu there. Maybe with some of that homemade vanilla bean ice cream Mark makes.” Not that Ivy had ever tried it.
    â€œMaybe.” Kara shrugged