Cameron's Quest (5 page)

Rena went straight to the oversized refrigerator
and began pulling out breakfast fixings. “Ham, eggs, hash browns, and gravy
this morning. I feel like cooking.” Rena grinned as she set her words to
action. “Who wants to make toast?”

“I will,” replied Lynne, crossing to the pantry
to get a loaf of bread.

Abby poured coffee and set the mugs on the table
then poured cream into one of their BF4 creamer dishes before placing it and
the matching sugar dish within reach. Most of the items used in the restaurant
had their BF4 logo on them now. Not so the cheaper dishes they’d started off
with.

Rena served breakfast and they sat down to eat,
fortifying themselves for the day ahead.

“Rena, I swear, your cooking is almost as good
as Mama’s,” said Abby.

“Thanks, Abby, but I think it comes naturally
for all of us, considering who we have for a mother. She taught us well.”

Lacey felt heat creep into her cheeks at the
unaccustomed compliment. Sometimes she wondered what they’d be doing if she
hadn’t opened the restaurant, thereby providing work for all three of them as
they grew into young adults. The fact that they seemed to enjoy the work was a
bonus she’d forever be grateful for. They hadn’t complained much over the
years, and having them work with her had made it much easier to keep an eye on
them when they’d hit their teens.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Lacey
said as she rose to remove the biscuits from the oven.

“Me, neither,” said Rena with a mischievous
grin. “I’m not sure what I enjoy more, cooking or socializing with the
customers.”

Lynne snorted a laugh, spewing coffee everywhere
and grabbing for napkins to sop up the mess as she spoke. “Flirting is more
like it, but I don’t mind since we all share the enormous tips you generate.”

“Ha! They’re mostly locals who’ve known us all
our lives. They’re used to me by now, and yeah, it does make for better tips.”

Lacey glanced at the wall clock, a gift from her
first customer. “Thirty minutes to show time. Man your battle stations, girls.”
She returned to the table to collect the dirty dishes and stored them in the
dishwasher. “Excellent breakfast, Rena. Thanks, love.”

“You’re welcome, Mama.” She bestowed a quick hug
and went out through the swinging doors smiling.

Lacey panned her bread and set it to rise. She
only had one loaf and a pan of rolls left from yesterday and hoped it would
suffice until today’s was baked. She set them in the warming oven with the new
batch and then washed up and went through to unlock the main entrance doors.
She always made it a point to greet the first arrivals, the least she could do
for their continued loyalty.

Abby began taking orders as soon as the first
customers were seated. Lacey bid the business crew a good morning, led them to
the stairs, and continued on to the kitchen just as Abby handed through the
first orders. Customers loved her homemade bread. It was nothing fancy, but
they went through it so fast, she often had to make another batch before the
afternoon crowd arrived. She prepared orders and baked bread, which kept her
busy for quite some time.

When the breakfast rush was over, Lacey grabbed
a coffee, went into the office, and booted up the computer before calling her
brother.

“Hey, Danny! How’s it going?”

“Pretty good, sis. To what do I owe the honor of
this early morning call?”

She laughed. “You know me so well.”

“That I do, now out with it. Why did you call?”

“Well, for one, I wanted to apologize for
calling so late last night, but the girls were very excited about
Cam
’s invitation and I knew they wouldn’t sleep if I didn’t.”

“Understandable. How long will you be gone?”

“You really think we should go?” she asked,
slightly hesitant about her decision now that she knew it was happening.

“Hell, yeah! You having doubts?” His voice was
laced with concern on the last question.

“Sort of. What if one or all of us like it there
and decide to stay? What happens to the bistro?”

“I’d send you an Irish blessing and wish you a
happy future. You deserve that, sis.”

“And the bistro?” she prodded.

“Jeanie and I will take care of it. Don’t worry
about a thing. This vacation will do you and the girls a world of good. I like
Cam
. He’s a good man.”

“Yes…yes, he is. And Jeanie’s been wonderful.
How she’s put up with you all these years is still a mystery to me.”

“It’s called love, sis. The same kind that has
kept you true to
Cam
all these years, no
matter how hard you had to struggle. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dan. No one else has ever measured up
to
Cam
.” She was so choked with emotion her
voice broke on the words. “I’m going to call the airline and make arrangements.
You will drive us there, won’t you?”

“Just give me the date and time, and I’ll be
there to see you off. Don’t forget to call Mom and Dad. They’ll be overjoyed at
your news.”

“You think so?” she asked, uncertain of her
parents’ reactions.

“We just want you to be happy, Lacey. You’ve
earned this. Go. Enjoy yourselves. Just don’t forget to keep in touch.”

“I will. Love you, big brother. Talk to you
soon.”

****

Cam
sat in stunned disbelief as he read Lacey’s
email message.

Cam
,

I think
it’s great that the girls meet your family and learn more about their western
heritage. Your stories served to whet their appetites for more. I’m guessing
that was your plan all along.

I’ll
check on travel arrangements as soon as I have plans in place for the
restaurant.

Will be
in touch. Thank you for generously supplying the tickets.

Lacey

He went to bed a happy man, and by the time he
woke the following morning, a second email had arrived.

Tuesday!
They were flying in to the
Edmonton
airport on Tuesday. He could barely
contain his excitement. He had work to do!

Cam
picked up the phone and dialed, relieved when
his nephew answered. “Luke, can you spare
Cal
for the day? Lacey and the girls are
arriving on Tuesday, and I have to get the house ready.”

“Sure, but where will you put everybody?”

“I’ll let them use the three bedrooms upstairs,
and I’ll bunk down in the den.”

“Okay, but we have spare rooms here if you need
it.”

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

He disconnected the call and phoned
Cal
. His wife, Leah,
answered. “Hi, sweetheart. I need a favor.”
Cam
told her his news and heard her speak briefly to her husband. Then she came
back on to tell him they’d be right over. When he heard the truck pull to a
stop, he met them at the door.

“Come on in. Do you want a coffee before we get
started?”

“Decaf for me if you have it,” replied Leah as
she shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the hook by the door. “You can fill
us in on what needs doing while we’re drinking it.”

Cam
led the way to the kitchen. “Sorry, Leah. No
decaf unless you want instant, but the pot’s on and it’s fresh.” He took mugs
out of the cupboard and turned a questioning look her way before he poured.

Leah smiled and nodded. “Regular’s fine. I may
need the energy.” She rubbed her belly, the baby bump more pronounced than he
realized.

Her words gave
Cam
pause for concern. “If you’re too tired, I’m sure
Cal
and I can manage.”

“Not too tired, just getting lazy with all the
sitting around. I’m not used to it. So where do you want to start?” she asked
as they sat to drink their coffee.

“I’ll get
Cal
to help rearrange the furniture in the den so we can bring the office stuff
down. Once that room’s cleared out, you can clean in there while we go to work
on the master bedroom. I’ll leave one dresser in there, the one with the
mirror, and move the highboy to the den. Then it’s just a matter of moving my
personal stuff down here and cleaning the master and spare bedrooms in
preparation for their arrival.”

“So who’s coming that’s causing all this
trouble?” asked
Cal
.

“Sorry, I thought Leah might have told you.”
Cam
felt his chest puff with pride. “I went to
Ireland
last
year to find a woman I never forgot. When I finally caught up to her, I found
out that she’d borne my children…triplets…three fiery-haired, identical
versions of their mother.”

Cal
slapped him on the back, almost spilling his
coffee. “Congratulations, old man. That’s quite a family.”

“Yeah, I just wish I’d followed my heart and
gone looking sooner. I’ve missed so much.”

“How old are they?” asked Leah.

“Twenty-three.”

“What! And she never told you?” Leah retorted,
an indignant note in her voice.

Cam
shook his head. “She couldn’t. We’d met in
London
when her family
was there on holiday. They left for home unexpectedly before we had a chance to
exchange info. All she knew was that I was a Canadian cowboy. It’s a big
country. Hell,
Ireland
’s
big enough when you’re trying to find somebody.”

Cal
chuckled. “Sounds like you exchanged something
a lot more potent than info.”

A grinning Cam turned toward
Cal.
“That we did.”

“Okay, you two. Get to work while I tidy up the
kitchen. I’ll join you upstairs in a few.”

Cam
pushed back from the table and got to his feet,
anxious to have everything ready for his guests…his family. They rearranged the
den. Then
Cam
led the way to his office, and
they made short work of moving the office furniture and equipment downstairs.
Leah cleared out the closet of odds and ends of stuff that he’d stored there
over the years, taking it all down to the den.

“Be careful you don’t overdo, love,” said
Cal
as they passed her
in the hallway.

“Not a chance. This stuff is all light enough. I’ll
leave the heavier items for you strong men to handle.”

“I’m using muscles I haven’t felt in years,”
said
Cam
with a laugh. “Good thing we’re doing
this today. My old”—he delivered a sharp glance at
Cal
—“aching bones just might recover by the
time the girls arrive.”

They laughed and continued until Leah called a
halt. “What’s for dinner?”

“Geez, girl. Hadn’t thought about it. We only
have a few more things to do. How about I take you both out to dinner when we
finish?”

“Sounds good, but do you have a couple crackers
or something to hold me over until then? I swear, this baby has me ravenous
most of the time.”

“Go on down to the kitchen and make yourself at
home. You’re welcome to whatever you can find. There might even be a few treats
left from Zakia, seeing as that brother of mine hasn’t been here today.”

“Daddy sure does have a sweet tooth,” said Leah,
giggling as she headed downstairs. “Be back to help in a few minutes.”

“Take time to sit and put your feet up for a
while,” said
Cal.
“They look swollen.”

“Ha! My entire body is swelling these days, but
okay. Want me to put on a fresh pot of coffee while I’m in the kitchen?”

“None for me thanks. I’m hyper enough now.”

“I’m good, honey. Get yourself a snack and rest.
We can finish up here.”
Cal
leaned in for a kiss and sent her on her way.

“That woman works too hard.”

“I know,
Cam
,
but it’s difficult for her to not pitch a helping hand when one is needed. She’s
so happy to be home again.”

“So when’s the wedding?” asked
Cam
as they entered the master bedroom to get the dresser.

“In the spring, March twenty-first. Didn’t Luke
tell you?”
Cal
sounded surprised. “That’s all Leah and Zakia have talked about since we set
the date.”

Cam
straightened up and looked at the man. “No one
said a word. Am I invited?”

“Of course you are! We’re trying to limit it to
immediate family and a few close friends. Leah doesn’t feel right about having
a big wedding in her condition.”