A sad song about lost love filled the interior of the Jeep, and Sophie hit the skip button. It hadn't snowed, much to Sophie's relief, and traffic on the way back from Washington was light. Unlike the train or bus, the drive to Bridgetown was straightforward, and it surprised her how quickly the time passed. In a bag in the back seat sat the final ingredients she needed for the investor dinner tonight. She tapped her finger in time with the upbeat music, her body buzzing with the thrill of creating her signature dishes.

The ringing of her phone interrupted the singer, and Sophie's shoulders snapped straight. Simon had already called four times this afternoon, confirming details they'd approved weeks ago. Still, she understood the winery owner had a lot riding on this event and his nerves were strung out. She tapped on the answer button.

"How far away are you?" Simon's voice sounded tight.

Sophie eyed the GPS. "Maybe fifteen minutes?"

"Good. Blake is here and I don't know what to do with her."

She could hear the sounds of plates scraping against one another. Simon must be rearranging the table setting she'd laid out before leaving. Her fingers turned white against the leather of the steering wheel. They'd agreed to go with the plain white set to let the food presentation speak for itself, but he had been wavering the last couple of days, considering a rustic stoneware collection he'd recently purchased. "There is a list of prep tasks on the chalkboard by the prep station. Each one is numbered. I've completed one to five. Have her start with number six."

"Okay. And you'll be here soon?"

"Very." Sophie flicked the turn signal on and merged onto the off ramp. "We've got a plan and everything is on track."

Simon hesitated, like he was distracted, and then agreed with her. Sophie disconnected the phone. Not for the first time today, she wished Max's calming presence sat in the passenger seat. The man who had knocked down her defences was constantly on her mind. She imagined how he'd make a joke about Simon's stress, cracking her own or wrap his sturdy hand around hers, bring their fingers to his lips and kiss her knuckles.

She let out a slow breath. The ache in her heart at missing the physical presence of Max eased somewhat when they talked, either on video or through text. While not the same, the freedom to speak with him, get his advice or perspective on a dilemma, learn about his life in the Navy, or just be with him, had quelled the panic she'd experienced the day he'd left. 

She knew it was irrational, but him driving away from her had memories of Thomas's mother closing the door in the hospital room after they'd turned off the machines keeping him alive. Emily had held her hand as tears flowed, assuring Sophie Max would be safe. As if Max could sense her anxiety, he'd texted from the highway, at the base once they arrived, and they'd had their first video call that night.

They'd talked every day since. Mostly through texts, which Sophie noted with delight, Max returned with little delay. It had taken a couple of attempts to work out the video calling timing, but they fell into a routine and now Sophie considered her time with Max the highlight of her day. Her chest constricted knowing the routine was off with the call earlier today with him and between his duties and the event tonight, it would be her last until tomorrow.

Up ahead, the winery appeared and a warm blanket of comfort settled over her. Somehow, over the past few months, the winery had become a home to her. The farmhouse with the kitchen she'd helped design was more than a place of work. 

Sure, Simon could be frustrating and she still wasn't sure he really wanted her there, that him hiring her wasn't a plea to appease his wife, yet they worked well together. He had a clear vision of what he wanted from the restaurant, and unlike the owner of La Terra, Simon's dedication to the business's success was palatable.

Truth be told, she hadn't realized how much her friendship with Emily and Mary had suffered with the distance between them this summer. When they'd each been single, there had been lunches and outings, weekends away, and she'd never felt alone. 

Since moving to Bridgetown, there had been a hole in Sophie's world that taking on extra shifts at La Terra couldn't quite fill. However, she missed aspects of her old life. Washington was alive with a nightlife that didn't exist in Bridgetown, never mind museums, art galleries, even movie theatres. Then there was Étienne. The chef had been a light in her life and she missed working with him.

If only there were a way to live in both worlds.

Her phone rang again and Sophie considered not answering since she had pulled into a parking spot outside the farmhouse when she noticed the caller wasn't Simon this time.

"I was just thinking about you."

"Great minds think alike." Étienne's chuckle boomed out of the speakers. "I wanted to wish you luck tonight. I know you'll knock their socks off."

She unbuckled her seat belt. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. Not sure the owner of the winery agrees with your assessment of my skills."

"He's a fool not to offer you a full-time job on the spot. And if he doesn't, I have one here with your name on it."

"Let me guess, dishwasher number two?" Sophie attempted a laugh at her joke.

Étienne huffed. "I'm serious. I've been touting your skills. And it so happens the sous chef handed in their two weeks' notice this morning. Of course, I immediately told the boss there was no need to place an ad for a replacement. I knew just the person."

A flicker of hope waved in her chest. "Really?"

Her mind flew to a possible future. A secure job meant she could stay in Washington. Be close to the Navy Shipyards. Not that Max was stationed there much, but it felt closer to him. Maybe they could get an apartment, a place for him to come home to.

"Yup. She's eager to meet with you."

The front door to the farmhouse opened and Mary stepped onto the wrap-around porch, her hand resting on her swollen belly. Mary leaned against a post, her lips tight. Moving back to Washington might mean she'd miss the birth of Mary's daughter. Miss seeing her grow up. Both of her friends' children. Not being part of their everyday lives tugged at her heart and she massaged the area like she could remove the pain with touch.

"Did you hear me?" Étienne asked.

"Yes." Sophie watched Mary caress her tummy with small circles. "When would the manager like to meet?"

"As I said, there's limited time. She wanted tomorrow, but I managed to put her off. But the sooner the better."

A smile burst on Mary's face as she spotted Sophie in the Jeep. She couldn't help returning the gesture, holding her finger up in the international sign for 'one minute.' "Let me get through tonight and I'll call you tomorrow with times. Is that fair?"

"I can't wait to work with you again," Étienne purred. "We'll have this place re-organized and calibrated in no time."

The prospect of working with Étienne again dulled with the notion of being confined to someone else's standards in someone else's kitchen. The new restaurant wouldn't be designed by her like the kitchen in the farmhouse. Nor would the menu be her creation. While she had made compromises with Simon, he had been at least open to listening and even taste testing some of her recipes. 

A different future blossomed before Sophie, one where she stayed in Bridgetown, nights spend running her own restaurant, days filled with friends and family. Maybe she could live in one of the upper floors of the farmhouse as Simon converted it so a bed-and-breakfast. Washington wasn't far away and Max had seemed to enjoy his time at the lake house. He could stay with her while on leave.

Perhaps he might like it enough to want to stay, work on the winery with Simon. Leave the Navy.

Sophie's heart slammed in her chest with the vision. She hung up the phone and made her way to Mary.

"Thank goodness you are here." Mary rolled her eyes dramatically. "My calm and casual husband has disappeared, replaced by a creature concerned about cutlery options. Tell me you got your ingredients so he can at least stop worrying about that."

Sophie looped her arm through the crook of Mary's and steered them back to the farmhouse. "I'm here. I have the ingredients and I have a few ideas about how to keep Simon busy until the investors arrive for their tour."

Mary squeezed her friend's waist. "What would I do without you?"

The lump that stuck at the base of Sophie's throat made it impossible to respond.