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Regina motioned him to sit and then pushed his plate with two cinnamon rolls across the table.
“Thanks for waiting for me and watching the rolls.”
He nodded, letting the sweetness of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon fill his mouth. This was one of the things he’d missed while he was away. The smell of bread baking, the taste of a cinnamon roll right from the oven, and the woman who had raised him smiling from across the table.
“These are just as good as I remember,” he said, loving the smile that spread across her face at his compliment.
Her hand reached across, patting his. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to have all my boys home. I wanted to talk with you about the diner.”
He heard something about the owner of the diner in town wanting to sell. Whatever Regina wanted, he’d do. He adored her.
“What can I help you with?”
“I’d like to look at reimagining it. It’s been a diner for years. The town has grown some but the diner has stayed the same. I’d like to know the feasibility of adding on a small area which could sell some of our jams, jellies, desserts, and candies. I believe there’s a market for it. I’ve roughly sketched what I’m thinking along with some of the needs I think this would create. I need your expertise thinking through all scenarios. Plus, you’ve grown up in the kitchen with me and know what might sell, too.”
“Has the sale gone through yet?” Bear asked. They’d approved the purchase of it during council. It had actually been a formality. Regina and the MC had owned part of the diner back when he, War, and Roam were in elementary school. She’d sold her part with the right of first refusal back then because she chose to focus on the farm and their expanding family.
“We sign the papers today. If you feel good enough, I’d like you to go look at it today. There’s also a building that has recently come empty between the diner and the tattoo shop. I can’t get if off my mind that we need it, too, because what if the person who buys it isn’t friendly to the MC?”
He stood up and cleaned up their plates, already running through the scenarios of what ifs. He leaned over, kissing Regina on the forehead. He might be a grump, but this woman had always been there for him. He needed to tell her out loud even though she most likely knew.
“I’ll go check it out. Regina, I should have said something years ago but thanks for being the best mom I could have asked for. Love you,” he whispered then turned and walked out the door.
She was the first woman he’d loved. Winnie’s mom, Kathryn, had been a close second. They’d both worked to get the child who was scared of women touching him to open up. He honestly couldn’t remember when he’d finally realized Regina and Kathryn only wanted what was best for him. He’d guessed it was probably when he looked forward to running in the kitchen and helping with the baking. His attitude had turned and the MC had become home.
Regina and Kathryn had even taught him to crochet in an effort to help him deal with his thoughts. He hadn’t crocheted for years but now might be a good time to pick it back up. He’d look for the supplies and then settle back in a chair. Maybe he’d start a blanket for Regina for Christmas.
The MC was flush with money, especially with their portion of the security jobs. He’d rather they controlled the building between the two shops than worry about the what ifs. He was still on limited duty and was working to fill his time. Crocheting and thinking through what shops might prosper in that space seemed like the perfect use of his time. It would have the added bonus of keeping his mind off his sunbeam.
Chapter Six
Bear leaned back inthe chair, waiting on War and the rest of the guys for council. A month since the shooting and they were still searching for why they were targeted. War had asked him to be here a little earlier and for once, he had no idea what his president wanted.
War pushed open the door, closing it and coming to sit beside Bear.
“How are you feeling, old man?”
