Page 101 of Cooking Up My Comeback

Jack’s voice carries over the waves. “Scout! Get back here, you maniac!”

I slow down to see Jack jogging toward me, hair sticking up in seventeen different directions. “He spotted a seagull,” Jack pants as he catches up. “Decided it was his personal mission to make friends.”

“How’d that go?”

“The seagull declined his offer.”

We fall into step together, Scout racing ahead to investigate every piece of seaweed.

“You’re up early,” Jack says. “Everything okay?”

“Actually, yeah. For the first time in a while, everything’s exactly where it should be.”

Jack gives me a sideways look. “Dangerous words.”

“Best decision I ever made.”

“Want to grab breakfast at Hazel’s?” he asks. “She’s probably wrestling Ellen into daycare clothes as we speak.”

Twenty minutes later, we’re in Hazel’s warm kitchen. Ellen wears a pink tulle skirt over her regular clothes and what appears to be every piece of plastic jewelry she owns, and Hazel lookslike she’s already fought seventeen battles before seven AM.

“Ellen Marie, you cannot wear a tiara to daycare,” Hazel says.

“But I’m a princess!” Ellen protests, touching her sparkly crown. “Princesses wear tiaras!”

“How about the tiara stays in your backpack, and you can wear it during your outdoor play time?” I suggest.

Ellen considers this seriously. “Okay. But I need my pretty shoes too.”

“Deal.”

Jack moves around Hazel’s kitchen with the confidence that comes from eighteen months of gradually claiming space here. He still checks before opening certain cabinets—old habits from when this wasn’t his home too—but ease flows through his movements now. His coffee mug sits in the sink, and his glasses rest on the counter next to a book about sustainable fishing clearly not Hazel’s speed.

He’s been slowly moving belongings over, preparing for their wedding. A few shirts in her closet. His favorite skillet claiming real estate next to her good pans. The careful integration that happens when two people have already done the hard work of building something solid.

They worked on this house together back when it was a disaster zone, and now they’re working on a lifetogether with the same patience and absolute certainty they’re building something worth the effort.

It’s exactly what I want with Amber. A solid, secure relationship.

Both girls eventually head out the door. Hazel collapses against the counter.

“I need coffee. Stat.”

“I’ll make breakfast,” Jack offers.

“So,” Hazel says, settling with her coffee. “How was yesterday? You look like a man with a mission this morning.”

“Yesterday was perfect. Today’s about building on it.”

Jack glances over from the stove. “The fishing trip went well?”

“Better than well. Amber lined up suppliers for six months. Her whole family loves the restaurant idea. And...” I pause, grinning. “Let’s say the personal side went pretty well too.”

Hazel nearly chokes on her coffee. “About time! I was starting to wonder if you two would dance around each other until the restaurant opened.”

“We’re past the dancing stage.”

“Thank goodness,” Jack mutters. “You’ve been driving me crazy with all the pining.”