Sammy cleared a sudden tightness in his throat. “Thanks.” He stood. “Want a soda? I’ve got Cherry Coke in the mini-fridge.”
“Sounds great.”
Walking to the fridge gave Sammy a minute to think. New furniture for the youth center should be a priority. He wondered where he could find durable quality stuff that would hold up to the beating it would get from the teens.
He grabbed the Cokes and a folding chair, unwilling to brave that couch again. “Here ya go.”
They popped their drinks, and for a few beats the only sound was thethwackof the Ping-Pong paddle against the ball.
“It’s fun to see you as a family man,” Sammy remarked.
Peter scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I never knew life could be this great. I’ve always loved living in Deep Haven, but having a family too—man, it’s amazing.”
“I’ve always dreamed of building a life and family for myself here too. Even when I was in the Army, I pictured coming back here, starting a life. Maybe getting married, having a bunch of kids.”
“That’s the dream, man.”
“And now you’re living it.”
They both swigged back a drink.
“Attaboy, Tig,” Peter called out. “Take ’er down.”
Ronnie put her hands on her hips. “Hey! Whose side are you on?” The smile spreading across her face told them she wasn’t really offended.
When the players went back to their game, Peter spoke up again. “Last I heard you were looking to find some of that dream at a certain bakery.” That last part said oh-so-casually.
Sammy slammed back the last of his beverage, the sweet fizz tickling his nose, irritating it. “Yeah, I’d hoped so too. But she’s not interested.”
“She’s not interested, or you’re not taking the leap?”
Sammy shot his friend a look. He’d hit close to the mark. “I’m not a coward.” At least, not when it came to a certain auburn-haired baker.
Peter held up his hands. “I’m not saying you are. But one thing I’ve learned from Ronnie is that you can’t just expect people to know what you’re thinking. You gotta tell them. Be vulnerable once in a while.”
Okay, maybe he was a coward. Because right now, telling Robin how he was feeling was the scariest idea in the world. “I don’t know. She was pretty set on us being just friends. She’s got the bakery to run. And she wants to move back to Paris ASAP.”
“I don’t have all the answers. I’m just saying if you want to have a sure thing, you gotta lay it all on the line.” Peter finished his drink, crushed the can, and threw it to the garbage can in the corner. It fell in with a rattle. “Two points!” Then he laughed. “But what do I know? I’m no expert. I haven’t been married long enough.”
Peter hefted himself out of the saggy couch and crossed over to Ronnie and Tiago. He gave them each a high five before swinging Ronnie into an exuberant hug.
Sammy’s heart squeezed. He let out a long breath. Then waved goodbye to the family.
He wanted that someday.
Maybe even wanted it with Robin.
But he’d learned the hard way that he didn’t get what he wanted.
Not, at least, without a fight.
eleven
Robin had spent the last few days praying her grandma’s ancient oven would hold, and it had. Now it was Friday, and two workmen had shown up in an Anderson Equipment truck to deliver an oven.
“What oven?” Robin said.
The driver consulted his clipboard. “Looks like a MIWE Cube:stone and MIWE Cube:air combo.”
