Page 3

Rain

P arking Minx—my van—in front of the Rustic Spoon, I take a deep breath before heading inside. I pause to take in the view, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my face.

The diner is a small, quirky restaurant in the heart of Azalea Creek. It’s been in my family for generations, and now it’s my turn to run it.

A few bistro tables with umbrellas are set up outside. I’m trying outdoor seating this summer, since the crowds keep growing as more people flock to Azalea Creek to enjoy hiking and glamping. Being nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains makes it a great spot for tourism.

The windows are decorated with flower pots overflowing with petunias, foxgloves, poppies, snapdragons—even a few strawberry plants.

A smirk tugs at my lips as I spot the sign responsible for most of the traffic we get at the diner: Tarot Reads. Come See Granny MacA Inside.

“Hey, Chef. Good morning,” Blair, my sous-chef, calls as she hops out of her car.

“Morning. Ready to roll?” I ask, heading toward the diner with Blair beside me.

“Yes, Chef.”

When she doesn’t add any of her witty replies, I stop and look her in the eyes.

“It’s just that you’re not usually here this early,” she says, her eyes darting off every which way but at me.

“True. But today I need to come up with a few fresh ideas.”

I resume walking as Blair adjusts her bag on her shoulder, staying quiet.

“Spill,” I say as I unlock the diner.

“I heard that you were going to start teaching cooking lessons at Serene Lookout,” Blair says with a shrug.

I let out a deep breath. This shouldn’t surprise me. Small town, big gossip vine. As much as I love living in Azalea Creek, sometimes I wish my business were just mine. But I guess you can’t have it all.

“Yeah. I agreed to teach a lesson and see how it goes.”

She gives me a puzzled look but doesn’t press. She simply ties on her apron and heads to the sink to wash her hands.

“I’ve got half an hour before I need to start prepping for today, Chef. Want a hand?” Blair asks, a little hesitantly.

I flash her a big smile. “I thought you’d never offer. I’m so out of my comfort zone it isn’t even funny.”

I tie my apron and cue up my favorite playlist on the diner’s speakers.

“You’re super talented, Chef. You got this.”

I give her a grateful smile and head to the back door to check out today’s produce. Every day, we get fresh produce delivered from a few local farms. Even though diner food tends to be rich and buttery, I love incorporating garden-inspired touches whenever possible.

I look over the pile of corn, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and, like always, a light bulb turns on in my head.

“Let’s try fresh salsa, three ways,” I say proudly.

Blair gets to chopping without missing a beat.

By the time we’re done cooking, we’ve made fresh salsa, omelets, and tacos.

I take a bite of the omelet and moan.

Blair cackles. “Damn, that’s good,” she says, wiping a bit of compote off her mouth .

I almost did too. But who wouldn’t? The omelet is packed with fresh veggies, hash browns that are crisp to perfection, all drizzled with a fig compote.

Damn. So good.

I lick my fork. “Yes, girl. Same.”

We make quick work of cleaning the kitchen after polishing off our plates.

When the clock hits ten, the rest of the staff starts trickling into the kitchen.

I disappear into my office to write down the recipes.

I sure hope Ruin’s patients enjoy this—and don’t think it’s too simple, like something they could’ve come up with themselves.

Rain : Hey, Ru. Do you have a minute?

I text my sister as I oversee my staff working like a well-oiled clock. I’ve trained them well, and they know this place inside and out—just like I do. Everyone here has earned their spot.

It fills my chest with pride to know that my family’s legacy is alive and kicking—not just through me and my siblings, but through these amazing people who dedicate themselves, day in and day out, to recreating our recipes.

If I’m being honest, they don’t need me here every day. But if I’m not here… what do I do with my life?

While I wait for Ruin to answer, I head to the dining area to check on Granny.

“Oh, there she is. My beautiful grandchild,” Granny says when she sees me.

It’s not the first time she’s called me beautiful, but a deep blush creeps up my chest all the way to my cheeks.

“Hey, Granny. How’s it going today?” I ask, sitting across from her.

She has all of her crystals and cards beautifully splayed across a dining table. Since she’s the star of the show, hers is the largest, nestled between two walls of plants, making her corner of the diner cozy and inviting.

“Actually, it’s been an amazing day,” she says, grinning widely.

I raise an eyebrow. Usually, when I ask her how her day has been, she gives me a canned response like “You know, it’s going,” or “Nothing interesting to report . ”

Curious, I ask, “How so?”

She holds my gaze for a few seconds, then gestures to her card stack. I pull one, like always, and give it to her.

She turns it in front of me, and her grin widens. I glance between the card—a couple—and her.

“So?” I ask, growing impatient with her silence.

“It’s finally happening, Rain. The love of your life has arrived. Don’t close yourself off to this opportunity,” she says triumphantly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

I look around the diner, scanning for anyone new in town, because one thing I know for sure: my real love can’t be someone from my past. That part of my life is dark and buried deep.

“Don’t be impatient, dear. You’ll meet in due time.”

I chuckle. Silly me, thinking this was real.

“Don’t ever doubt the power of the tarot, Rain Melody MacAllister,” she says, her voice stern.

I clear my throat. “Of course, Granny. Never.”

She smiles, satisfied with my answer.

“Now, be a good granddaughter and bring me a slice of that fruit-of-the-forest pie Blair made,” she says, reshuffling her cards.

Now it’s my turn to be stern. “Granny, you already had a slice today.”

“And? You don’t think an old lady deserves her sugar fix? One more slice won’t kill me. I promise.”

I shake my head, amused. No one can beat Granny at her logic.

“Alright, I’ll be right back.” I stand and make my way to the kitchen.

As I’m slicing the pie, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Ruin : Hey sis. The babies are napping so I’m free. What’s up?

I open the picture she sent and smile.

My niece and nephew are hugging each other while napping. How does Ruin handle this much cuteness? My heart wants to burst out of my chest every time I see them.

Rain : I love them! *eye-heart emoji* *cry emoji*

Rain : So I was wondering how I should dress for this cooking lesson? Should I look professional? Please don’t tell me I have to wear heels and a skirt or dress *sad emoji*

Ruin : *laughing emoji* *laughing emoji* *laughing emoji*

Rain : *eye roll emoji* *middle finger emoji*

Ruin : You’re hilarious! Just dress as you usually do. Why would you have to dress differently?

Rain : I don’t know. I mean, don’t you run a fancy shrinking place?

Ruin : We are a very professional therapy center, but that doesn’t mean people have to dress in a way that they’re not comfortable with. We are an equal opportunity employer.

She’s right. Ruin has hired some incredibly talented people from all over the place.

Rain : OK, that’s fair. What time should I be there?

Ruin : I was thinking ten-thirty so you can prep and have the class from eleven to noon? That way, people can eat their creations for lunch.

Rain : Are there any dietary restrictions? Any special diet needs I need to be aware of?

If I remember correctly, she mentioned a hockey dude will join soon. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of diet a high-performance athlete has to maintain.

Maybe that’s something I should look into.

Ruin : Since the class is only once a week, I think they’re good to indulge during class. And there aren’t any allergies I’m aware of, but maybe that’s something you want to ask tomorrow before the class starts?

Rain : You’re so smart! Thank you, sis. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

Ruin : Ha ha ha. I can recognize your sarcasm a mile away. Why tomorrow? You can come have dinner with us tonight. Gio is grilling. Plus, you can snuggle with Indigo and Sage after their bath.

Rain : Since you’re offering quality time with my babies, I’ll let your sarcastic comment slide. See you tonight!

Ruin : See ya! *heart emoji*

I laugh, tucking my phone away as the scent of grilled pineapple and smoked ribs comes to mind. No way I’m missing Gio’s master grilling skills—or snuggling the babies after bath time.

But even as I slice the pie and plate it for Granny, her words echo louder than they should :

“The love of your life has arrived. Don’t close yourself off to this opportunity.”

I shake my head, smirking to myself.

Who could she possibly be talking about?

Whoever he is, he'd better like the outdoors and outspoken women—because I’m not changing for anyone.