Page 65 of A Cup of Autumn
“Just calling it like I see it, bro,” Callie shot back.
“I hope you have health insurance with eye coverage. You need glasses.”
She started to speak and then stopped herself.
Keaton knew that Callie was holding back. “Say what’s on your mind, or you’ll end up calling me in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep.”
“Okay, you’re not wrong.” Callie took a breath and another. “Please be careful with Raine. Even though you both know where things stand. She’s been through a lot, and I worry about her. I’m not sure she can survive having her heart broken again.”
Warmth balled in Keaton’s chest. “You’re a caring person, baby sis. I promise. I won’t be breaking any hearts in Silver Falls, including Raine’s.”
Especially hers.
All he wanted to do was help her. Not hurt her.
He hoped Callie understood that.
*
A few hourslater, Raine rinsed off her dinner plate and put it in the dishwasher next to two others. She usually only turned on the dishwasher once a week to not waste water. Often, she got takeout. One of the joys of being on her own was eating straight from the container.
She glanced around the house. Her clogs hadn’t made it into the shoe basket again. The only things out of place were the three stacks of orange five-gallon plastic buckets, courtesy of Mr. Jones. He’d found them in his storage room and remembered he’d used them when he and Mrs. Jones ran the Boo Bash.
All she needed was…
Keaton.
Then they could get to work on sorting whatever had arrived and figure out the next steps.
The doorbell rang.
Her heart leapt. Okay, not really. It did a slight jump. Only because she wanted to see the things that had arrived.
Her bare feet padded across the floor. She opened the door.
Keaton stood next to two boxes. On top of them was another box she recognized from the local printer. He held out a bag from Lawson’s Bakery. “I come bearing gifts.”
“I see that.” As Raine took the bag, the scent of chocolate and sugar tickled her nose. She could get used to being brought dessert. Even though she had a sweet tooth, it wasn’t something she usually bought for herself. “Thanks. I had no idea you were bringing this much. I would have helped you carry it to the door.”
He motioned to her feet. “No shoes. And it didn’t take me long.”
She set the cookie on a nearby end table. “The least I can do is help you bring the stuff in.”
Keaton grabbed one of the larger boxes and the one from the printer. She got the other.
“See.” Raine picked up the bag of cookies… Priorities! “I’ll put these on a plate and get us drinks.”
“I’ll unpack.” He glanced around. “Where do you want the stuff?”
“The dining room table so we can see everything.”
“On it.”
In the kitchen, Raine put the cookies on a plate. Not all were chocolate, but the scent of those made her mouth water. She blended whipping cream, pumpkin, pumpkin syrup, and pumpkin spice. Once that was mixed well, she used a hand mixer to make sure everything was nice and creamy. Ice went into two glasses. She added vanilla syrup to each and then cold brew coffee, which she’d made when she got home. Then she divided the pumpkin cream mixture between the two cups.
Raine wasn’t a huge fan of pumpkin spice, but she enjoyed this drink. She carried them out of the kitchen.
Keaton’s eyes widened. “Whoa. I heard the blender, but I had no idea you were going full-on barista tonight.”
