Suddenly a Father. Michelle Major

       Chapter Five

      After struggling to get Brooke back into her car seat, Millie left a message for her sister. She needed to do something about her car situation if she was going to be driving Jake and Brooke all over Crimson.

      While she waited to hear back, she and Brooke went to the grocery and then stopped at the bakery she’d seen on her way through town. The main street through downtown was bustling with people on this gorgeous late-summer day. She knew that tourism was big business in Crimson. Olivia had been married to the town’s former mayor before she divorced him and met Jake’s brother Logan. Now she managed the community center that offered programs for both locals and nonresidents. The popular gift shop attached to the center sold goods from local artists. Jake’s other brother, Josh, owned and operated a guest ranch on the outskirts of town along with his Hollywood-actress wife, Sara.

      The town was picture-postcard cute, and she could understand why tourists would find this town irresistible. Colorful Victorian buildings lined the street, and the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains served as a backdrop. Crimson embodied a kind of small-town charm and friendliness she guessed might be lacking in tonier mountain resorts.

      “What’s your favorite kind of muffin?” she asked Brooke as they made their way to the Life Is Sweet bakery.

      “Blueberry,” Brooke answered without hesitation.

      “Yum. Mine, too.” Millie tipped her sunglasses back on her head. “I bet they have blueberry.”

      “We need Frenchy toast bread,” Brooke added, tossing her rabbit into the air.

      “And bread for French toast,” Millie agreed. Plus a giant vanilla latte, she thought to herself.

      The moment she opened the door to the bakery, the smell of sugar, bread and roasting coffee filled the air. She took a deep breath and led Brooke toward the counter. The interior was adorable, with pale yellow walls and lights strung across the ceiling. The counter was made of wood planks, and the same warm trim was at the base on the walls and around the door frames.

      A large chalkboard menu filled the back wall of the room and the glass display was filled with scrumptious-looking cakes, muffins, cookies and pastries. A cluster of tables sat to one side of the room, and a few customers were clearly enjoying their selections.

      Brooke let out a rapturous sigh. “I love it here,” she whispered.

      Millie smiled. “Me, too, Cookie.” She spotted Natalie Holt at a table near the front of the store and waved.

      “Hey, girl.” Natalie motioned Millie and Brooke to join her. She sat with another woman, who smiled as they approached. “How’s the first day with the hot doc going?”

      Millie made a face. “This is Jake’s daughter, Brooke,” she told Natalie.

      “Oops.” Natalie smiled, not looking embarrassed at all. “Nice to meet you, sweet pea.”

      Brooke grabbed hold of Millie’s shirt but smiled at Natalie. “Millie calls me Cookie.” Brooke held out her stuffed rabbit. “You can too if you want. This is Bunny. My mommy gave him to me for my birthday. She’s dead now.”

      Natalie’s smile turned gentle. She reached out a hand to gently pet the stuffed animal. “I bet having Bunny with you helps you remember your mommy.”

      Brooke nodded then looked up at Millie. “Can I have a blueberry muffin now?”

      “You’re in luck.” Natalie pointed to the woman across from her, who was dabbing at her eyes. Millie understood the effect Brooke could have with her candid innocence. “This is Ms. Katie and she owns the bakery.”

      The woman, who looked young for a business owner, stood and held out her hand to Millie. “I’m Katie Garrity. It’s nice to meet you. I’m also a friend of your sister’s.”

      Millie took her hand. “Olivia’s made a good life in Crimson,” she said, trying not to sound jealous of her sister’s perfect life filled with friends in a community she loved. Trying not to feel jealous.

      “She’s a wonderful part of our community.” She bent down in front of Brooke. “Did I hear you say you’d like a blueberry muffin?”

      “They’re my favorite.”

      “I just happen to know that fresh blueberry muffins came out of the oven a little while ago. They should be cooled by now. Would you like to come to the kitchen? We’ll wrap one up for you.”