“Do you think her dog ever stops yapping?” Capri asked, stifling a laugh as Sweetpea let out another high-pitched bark.
“If Sweetpea’s ever quiet, it’s because Nicola’s talking louder,” Reva said dryly. “Though between the two of them, I’m not sure which one is more annoying.”
Capri smirked. “I’d say it’s a tie.”
She glanced around at the crowd. “Still no sign of those TV people?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the crowd for the Bear Country crew. She’d hoped their presence would bring in more donations, maybe even some publicity for their cause.
“Oh, they’re around,” Reva said, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Nick’s already handed out flyers to his crew. They’re probably stuffing their faces with oysters somewhere.”
* * *
Capri raised a brow, glancing at Charlie Grace and Nick again. The way Charlie Grace leaned into him, her hand resting on his arm, made Capri’s face break into a pleased grin.
Her smile widened as she caught sight of Jake making his way toward her, a familiar warmth settling in her chest. The earlier uncertainty that had once held her back seemed like a distant memory now. She no longer fought against the pull she felt toward him; instead, she welcomed this new relationship and the way he made her all tingly inside.
As he drew closer, his eyes locked on hers, and a slow, easy grin spread across his face. It wasn’t the kind of smile that demanded anything—just the kind that told her he was there, confident and sure, ready for whatever came next. She let her hands fall from her pockets and met him halfway, the sense of rightness in the moment undeniable. For the first time in a long while, she wasn’t running from anything.
“Hey,” she said, turning her cheek toward him.
“Hey, yourself,” Jake whispered softly near her ear, his breath warm as he brushed a gentle kiss across her skin.
A sudden clatter drew their attention back to the food table, where Betty Dunning had knocked over a tray of her infamous meat pies. Capri stifled a laugh as Betty scrambled to gather them, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I swear, these pies have a mind of their own,” Betty muttered, brushing off crumbs with a huff. She shot a good-natured glare at the nearby kids giggling at the mishap, then straightened up, the pie tray in hand, as if nothing had happened.
Capri exchanged an amused glance with Reva, who shook her head with a grin. It was moments like this—little bits of chaos in the middle of something so community-driven—that reminded Capri why she loved this town.
Just then, Charlie Grace called out, waving them over. “Capri! Reva! You’ve gotta try these oysters! They’re even better than last year.”
Capri walked across the square with Jake by her side, their shoulders brushing as they moved through the lively crowd. The sun was warm on her skin, the air filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking dishes, and the sizzle of frying oysters. Jake nudged her with a smile, but her eyes were still drawn to the thermometer by the stage, the red line stubbornly stuck below their goal. Even as Charlie Grace handed them both plates of food, Capri’s focus remained on that line, her thoughts swirling around the daunting gap they still needed to fill. Jake seemed to sense her tension, giving her a reassuring squeeze on the arm as if to say they’d figure it out, one way or another.
“Think we’re going to make it?” Charlie Grace asked, her voice low, eyes also on the donation tracker.
“Not unless a miracle happens,” Capri muttered, taking a bite of an oyster. “Everyone in town has rallied and given far beyond what is reasonable. We’ve done everything we can.” She paused.
Charlie Grace opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, Nick stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the noise. “We’re short, huh?” he said, hands on his hips as he surveyed the scene.
Capri gave a brief nod. “We’re still about eight thousand less than what we’d hoped to raise. Despite all the food, pies, beer, and raffles, we haven’t managed to close the gap.”
Nick glanced at Charlie Grace, a knowing smile passing between them. Then he turned, raising his voice so the crowd could hear. “I think we can fix that.”
His words cut through the chatter, and suddenly all eyes were on him. He stepped onto the small stage where Reva had been making announcements earlier, and for a moment, Capri wasn’t sure what he was about to do.
Nick cleared his throat, gripping the microphone with one hand, his other hand resting casually in his pocket. “I know how much this town means to Charlie Grace—and to everyone here. Bear Country has had the privilege of filming in this beautiful part of the world, and we know how important it is to preserve what makes Thunder Mountain special. So, on behalf of our production team, I’m making a donation to cover the rest of what’s needed.”
Gasps echoed through the crowd, and Capri’s heart skipped a beat.
Reva stepped forward, wide-eyed. “Wait, you’re serious?”
Nick nodded, his smile widening. “Every penny.”
For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, the sound reverberating off the old brick buildings that surrounded the square. Capri found herself grinning despite the knot of tension that had been coiled in her chest all day.
Charlie Grace beamed up at Nick, her face flushed with pride. She wrapped her arms around him, planting a quick kiss on his cheek as he chuckled, clearly enjoying the attention.
Capri caught Reva’s eye, and they exchanged a look of relief. The fundraiser was a success. Thunder Mountain had pulled through once again.
As the applause died down, Nick handed the microphone to Reva, who smiled at him, her expression full of gratitude. “I don’t think we can thank you enough, Nick.”
Nick just shrugged. “It’s the least we could do. Besides, you haven’t seen the bill for all the food we’ve eaten yet.”
