Page 75 of The Summer of Us

Shannon shook her head. Mack spoke up. “I followed him around, and Abby was there. He was really thorough. But he didn’t say anything and only asked the basic questions about our routine.” He met Sunny’s eyes. “I was certain we’d pass with flying colors. We always do. So I didn’t even think to call you.”

“No, it’s fine,” Sunny murmured. She was shaking, and I knew she was feeling anything but fine. Gently, I pushed her down into a chair and read the list of violations.

“Mack, come with me.”

We went into the kitchen—I knew nothing about kitchen equipment, so I had him point out each infraction, my anger growing as the moments passed.

Frayed wires—fire hazard.

One plug had a piece of electrician’s tape on it. “I put that on the plug so I knew which one it was. There isn’t anything wrong with it,” Mack stated.

Inadequate hand-washing stations.

“We meet code,” Mack insisted. “In fact, we exceed it.”

Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles, and food contact surfaces are not properly constructed or sanitized.

The kitchen was spotless. I frowned and looked at Mack. He shook his head.

“We were baking when he showed up. Of course, it was messy—but not unclean. Never in this kitchen. Sunny is very particular. So am I.”

Maintain and arrange appliances to permit a clean and sanitary condition.

“Our arrangement has passed every other time. The interiors are impeccable,” Mack insisted.

The list went on in the kitchen and included the temperature of the display cases and the cleanliness of the washrooms.

All of it bogus.

I growled under my breath. I already knew who was responsible for this. I pissed off Martha, and this was retribution. She saw Sunny and me kissing. She knew how my father had felt about our relationship. She was doing this to get back at me. This was my fault.

I glanced at the list. Every “violation” was ridiculous.

I returned to the shop. Someone had given Sunny a cup of coffee. She was calm, almost removed, when she met my eyes.

“It’s bullshit,” I insisted.

“Michael had a visit from an inspector. They told him his shop and the chemicals he keeps on hand are dangerous, and they are going to recommend the closure of his shop and relocation,” Abby said. “He’s beside himself with worry.”

“Did Martha see you with him?” I asked, my voice icy.

She furrowed her brow in thought. “Yes, I think so. I was sitting with him and his kids when she came in.”

I wanted to storm up to the town hall and have it out with that bitch. Call her every name under the sun and tell her husband exactly the kind of woman he was married to. But the bottom line was the affair I thought she’d had with my father was a rumor. The mayor might have heard it already. Maybe he didn’t care. I had no idea.

Sunny stood. “Well, we need to regroup. Take pictures of the before and after. Fix one item on the list at a time. We have a week to clear the list, so the inspection certificate on the window goes back to a pass—” she swallowed heavily “—not a conditional pass.”

I glanced at the window, narrowing my eyes at the sign. I wanted to rip it down, but I knew that would cause Sunny more trouble. Shannon, Mack, and Abby stood. “We’ve been baking all day. We’ll finish it, and you can decide what to tackle first,” Mack stated. “We’ll get it done, Sunny.”

“Thanks, Mack.”

They filed into the kitchen, leaving Sunny and me alone.

“This is on me.”

Sunny shook her head. “Not even Martha would go this overboard for a bad cup of coffee, Linc.”

“No. She saw us. She knew the lengths my father went to in order to keep us separate. She’s carrying on his work. She’s furious with me over the house. Abby was sitting with Michael, so she’s put the two of them together and is making Michael suffer.”