An Unexpected Family

He glanced at Greg watching the Deans with wistful eyes, and his gut twisted. He knew that wish-filled feeling running through the kid. Wishing for things that couldn’t be or hadn’t been.

Cam wished he read more easily. He wished he hadn’t been disqualified at last year’s fishing tournament. He wished he hadn’t lost every last one of his sponsors because of it. He wished he could turn back the clock and do things differently. He had only today and all his tomorrows to make things right.

* * *

“Greg, honey, can you come out here?” Rose called to her son, hating the way her voice cracked.

“No need, Rose. We don’t need to meet your boy.” Karl got up from the table.

Rose stood, meeting Karl’s gaze directly even though her knees might give out at any moment. “He’s Kurt’s boy, too, and that makes him your nephew. My hope is to pass this diner on to him. It’s what Linda intended.”

The two brothers shared a look, then Kory spread his hands wide. “We’re just trying to help you out.”

She didn’t buy it. Not for a second. “Then why are you trying to take the diner away me?”

“We’re willing to pay—”

Greg came out from the kitchen and stood next to her. “Yeah?”

“Greg, these are your uncles. Kory and Karl Dean.” Rose stood straighter when her son reached out for a handshake like the properly raised young man he was. She wanted them to see Greg’s face. He looked so much like Kurt, their brother. Karl and Kory were taking from blood, threatening their own family.

“Hello.”

“Greg.” Karl briefly shook hands, followed by Kory. Neither man met her son’s eyes. “Rose, you’ve got a week to decide.”

Shame on them! She stood ramrod straight until they unlocked the front door and walked out of the diner. Then she crumpled into a chair.

“Mom! You okay?”

“Yes.” She sounded weary, even to her own ears.

Cam came out from the kitchen, looking concerned. “Greg, will you do me a favor and grab three beef patties from the fridge and throw them on the grill?”

Greg didn’t move.

Rose hated to see the worried look on her son’s face and smiled. “Go ahead, honey. We might as well have lunch before meeting Grandma and Grandpa.”

Cam locked the front door and returned. “What was that all about?”

Rose needed to unload before she saw her parents and fell apart. They had texted her before the Deans came in that they were getting settled into a hotel room in the larger town across the bay. She didn’t want to add to their worries about her. Looking up at Cam, she didn’t have time to be choosy. If she didn’t air this one out, she’d cry.

Rose hated to cry, so she gave way to anger. “They are threatening to contest Linda’s will if I don’t agree to a buyout of the diner.”

Cam whistled.

“Yeah. And I have a week to decide.” Rose threw her head back and stared at the ceiling, willing those unshed tears to stay put.

“Mom?” Greg sounded scared.

“It’s okay, honey. Just some business with the diner. Help Cam make lunch, okay?”

“I’m not a baby. You can tell me.”

Rose sighed. “Greg—”

Cam turned to her son. “Got those patties on the grill?”

“Yup.” Greg crossed his arms, refusing to move.

Cam placed a hand on Greg’s shoulder. “Let’s get the rest of the stuff we need and then we can talk while we eat.”

Greg looked ready to argue but glanced at her for direction.

“Go ahead with Cam. I’ll get us each a pop and we can sit at the counter.” Rose dragged herself out of the chair and headed for the soft-drink dispenser. She grabbed three plastic tumblers stacked on the shelf below and filled them halfway with ice followed by cola for her and root beer for her son. She didn’t know what Cam liked. “What kind of pop do you want?”

He shrugged as he flipped each burger. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Are you going to tell me, Mom?”

Rose looked at Cam. He didn’t look back and concentrated on placing a slice of cheddar on each burger. She faced her son. “Your uncles want to buy the diner.”

“But we just got it.” Greg’s voice rose.

“I know.”

“Will we move back home?”

She watched Cam construct each cheeseburger on the plates. He was clearly staying out of the conversation. As he should, but then Rose realized she’d raised her son’s hopes by keeping quiet on the Dean boys’ threat. “I don’t want to sell, Greg. I’d like to have something that’s ours. Yours and mine. Something you can take over after college.”

Greg mulled what she’d said. “What if I don’t want it?”

Rose chose her words carefully. “We can cross that bridge when we get there. For now, I like being my own boss. Here, I have more time with you.”

Greg shifted. “Awww, Mom...”

“It’s time we make our own home.” Furious for having to talk her son into this all over again, Rose quickly changed the subject. “Greg, will you grab the bag of chips in back? Cam’s got our burgers done.”

“K.”

When Greg walked away, Cam looked her in the eyes. “This diner might be worth more than you think. Maybe you should talk to Linda’s attorney, get his thoughts about today’s events. He’s right here in Maple Springs.”

“I can’t afford an attorney,” she hissed.

“You might not have a choice.”

Rose hated that he was probably right.

Greg tossed the bag of chips on the counter and sat on one of the stools and spun around a couple of times.

“Three cheeseburgers.” Cam set down three plates.

Rose wasn’t in the mood to eat, but took a bite anyway. The burgers were sloppy, stacked with lettuce and tomato and pickles. Perfect.

“Aren’t we going to pray?” Greg challenged her. He did that a lot lately.

She nodded, her mouth full.

Cam cleared his throat. “I’ll pray.”

Her gaze flew to Cam, but he’d already bowed his head. She did the same while he recited a formal-sounding prayer.

“Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts...”

Her mind wandered. She didn’t want to sell. The deed hadn’t even transferred to her yet, so how could she sell?

“Which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty...”

But then, what if Karl and Kory contested the will and she lost? She’d have nothing. No legacy for Greg. Nothing.

“Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.”

She felt a warm, large hand cover hers. Startled, her eyes flew open and locked with Cam’s. He looked kind and genuine.

His hand remained on hers. “How’d you find out that you’d inherited the diner?”

Rose slid her hand back and tried to think. She’d met this man only a few hours ago. Even though he’d helped her when things had gone from bad to worse, she shouldn’t trust him. Still, it’d be nice to unload on someone other than her parents. They worried about her enough as it was. “Um, I received a letter enclosed in a packet that I had to sign for. Would you like to read it?”

“Uh...sure.”

Rose popped off the stool and darted upstairs, returning in moments with a fat folder. Rifling through the financials that had been sent, as well, Rose pulled out the letter and handed it to Cam.

His gazed raked over the document as he chewed, then he waved it away. “Why don’t you read it?”

Rose glanced at Greg. Her son nodded in agreement as he took the last bite of his cheeseburger. She slid her plate toward him. “You can have mine.”

Greg reached for her sandwich with only two bites taken. “Mmm, yeah.”

Rose made the mistake of looking back at Cam. Gazing into those brilliant blue eyes full of concern brought a hitch in her breathing. Now was not the time to fall apart. Taking a deep breath, Rose rallied her strength and read.

“‘I am hereby writing to inform you that the inheritance process has been successfully completed and the will of Linda M. Dean has been put into action. According to said will, Rose Dean will immediately inherit the business titled Dean’s Hometown Grille and the commercial building therein at the bequest left by Linda M. Dean to you.’”

Rose lowered the letter. “Then there’s the stuff about transference of property and Linda’s wish for Greg to eventually take over. Financials were also included in the package.”

“Sounds legit,” Cam finally said.

“Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know.” Cam gestured to the packet. “So all that came with the letter?”

Rose nodded and pushed the folder toward Cam. “Three years’ worth of business tax returns.”

“Have you looked at them?”

Rose shook her head. She’d never been good with that sort of thing. She couldn’t even figure out her own tax returns let alone a business like this one. “I don’t know what to look for.”

Cam pushed his plate out of the way. “Greg, would you mind taking the dishes to the kitchen? I’d like to talk to your mom a minute.”

Greg looked at her.

Rose nodded. “I got these. Why don’t you go upstairs and clean up.”

Greg slid off the stool, but he gathered up the empty plates anyway. “Thanks, Cam. The burgers were really good.”

“You’re welcome.” After her boy entered the kitchen, he added, “You’ve done a good job. He’s a good kid.”

“Thanks. My parents helped, especially my dad.” She searched Cam’s face. “What am I going to do?”

“To my knowledge, the Deans live downstate and have never been involved in the diner. My guess is that they think you’re sitting on a gold mine. You need to find out if that’s true in those financials.”

“I can’t afford an accountant and even if I could, would he have the answer in a week?”

“I can take a look.”

Rose stared at him. “You know what to look for?”

Cam nodded. “I know how to find a business’s cash flow. I’ve kept track of my own and double-checked my business manager’s figures.”

Cam had a business manager? Rose wrestled with that bit of information. What exactly did this man do for a living?

“Rose, you can trust me.”

He’d misunderstood her silence. But trust wasn’t something she should hand over along with her financials. Drumming her fingertips on the laminate countertop, Rose had an idea. Hopefully a good one. “Okay. You can look them over on one condition.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What’s that?”

“You have to teach me how to figure them out, too.”

Cam smiled, broad and sure. “Done. We can get started right now if you’d like.”

Rose stood and gathered up her packet of information. “I can’t. My parents are up for the weekend.”

“How about Monday? After we close the diner.” Cam stood, too. “I’ve worked in restaurants on and off since I was a kid. I can fill in for a few days.”

Rose ignored the flutter of nerves hearing them described as we but she didn’t have many options. She didn’t have much time, either. Squaring her shoulders, she agreed. “Monday, after we close.”

Her future and Greg’s legacy depended on this. Rose needed all the facts before seeking out Linda’s attorney. Time wasn’t on her side and Cam might be her only hope. He was also an attractive man. One she knew little about. If this was some sort of game for him, a way to come on to her, he could prove to be her biggest fear.

Chapter Two

“Oh, Rose, this is lovely!” Her mother looked around, smiling as she entered the diner. Her parents had showed up sooner than expected. “Your father is parking the car. This is so nostalgic with the red vinyl chairs and spinning stools. I love it.”

“I’m glad.” Rose gave her mom a big hug.

Many told Rose that she resembled her mom. They shared the same eye color and clothing size and practice of dyeing their hair. Although, her mom covered gray with a light brown shade; Rose used her naturally mousy color to hide. She didn’t care to be noticed, especially by men. Once upon a time, Rose had experimented with more striking shades for the fun of it. Not now. Everything she did had to have a bigger reason, a purpose.

The rattle of pots and pans sounded from the kitchen. Her mom craned her neck to see. “Is that Greg?”

“He’s upstairs getting cleaned up. That’s our cook.” Rose hesitated. Cam was only filling in, but she didn’t want her folks to know about all the drama today.

Her mom frowned. “We came too early.”

“Not at all.” Rose had finished wiping down the tables and chairs while Cam cleaned up the prep station and last bit of the kitchen.

Her father tapped at the front door.

Rose waved him in and gave him a hug. “Thanks for coming.”

Her father gave her an extra squeeze before letting go. “We had to see where you were and this is quite a place you’ve got here.”

“Grandpa!” Greg charged straight for him.

“Heyyyyy.” Her father enveloped her son in a bear hug.

Watching them, Rose swallowed the lump lodged in her throat and turned to lock the front door. She and Greg hadn’t been here a month, yet it seemed much longer. Maybe accepting the Deans’ offer would give her enough for Greg’s college fund if she put it all away. Maybe she should play it safe and not risk her son’s future. Greg might be better off near her dad facing the high school years.

Maybe her dreams should wait.

“Rose, I’m taking off.” Cam stood in the kitchen doorway.

Thoughts scattered and she momentarily stared. “Yeah, okay.”

Cam stared back. “I’ll see you Monday.”

His tousled hair curled from the steam of washing the remaining dishes. The front of his shirt showed water spots, as well. Why did he have to look so good? “Thanks for everything.”

Her mother stepped forward. “You’re the cook?”

“That’s Cam,” Greg volunteered. “He took over after Chuck quit right in the middle of lunchtime.”

Too late, Rose couldn’t shush her son from letting that news out of the bag.

Her mom cast her a worried frown before extending her hand toward Cam. “I’m Louise, but my friends call me Lou. And this is my husband, Frank.”

“My parents.” Rose pointed out the obvious.

Cam shook first her mother’s hand and then her father’s, giving them that gleaming smile of his. “Nice to meet you both.”

“So, what happened?”

“Mom, I’ll tell you later. I’m sure Cam wants to leave.” She gave him a pointed look. She didn’t need her folks knowing anything but the positive stuff.

“Right, okay then.” Cam hesitated.

Her mom’s gaze swung from Cam back to her.

Greg kept going. “Chuck got mad at Mom and quit. Cam was in here eating lunch and he just started cooking. It was great.”

“I’m filling in until Rose finds someone permanent.”

“I see.” Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “Thank you for helping Rose.”

“He makes the best cheeseburgers,” Greg said. “Way better than Chuck.”

“Not better than mine.” Her dad ruffled her son’s hair.

“I don’t know, Gramps. They’re pretty good.”

“Thanks, buddy.” Cam fist-bumped her son’s ready hand. “I really do need to leave, though. Very nice to meet you both.”

“See ya, Cam.” Greg grinned.

They watched him leave, and Rose braced for the inevitable questions.

“Is that true? He just got up and helped out? Who is this guy?” Her father beat out her mom.

“His name is Cam Zelinsky. He grew up here and he’s got restaurant experience.”

“Doesn’t he have another job?” her mom added.

Rose sighed. She didn’t know exactly. She was placing the future of her diner in a stranger’s hands reviewing those tax returns. “He owns his own business, but I’m not sure what. I’ll find out more next week.”

“Hmm.”

Rose could see the gears turning inside her mother’s head. “Come up and see the apartment. I’ll change and then we can go for a walk around town.”

Her mom kept pace with her while Greg and her father dawdled, looking over the diner more closely.

Rose paused, in case there was something on his mind, but her father was looking at a grouping of framed vintage postcards that depicted Maple Springs around the turn of the century. Even then, this area had lured folks from downstate for the pristine summer months.

“Greg sure seems to like this Cam fellow,” her mom whispered.

“Mom...” Rose knew where this was headed and slammed on the brakes. “We met him today. Please, don’t even go there.”

“What?” Her mother tipped her head. “Why not?”

“Because.” Rose kept walking.

Her mother knew better than anyone the heartache she’d gone through when Greg had turned four. That’s when Kurt had served her divorce papers and Rose had been a mess. Her mom had urged Rose to move back home, so she did. Her mother had watched Greg while Rose worked erratic restaurant hours waitressing. In time, she’d been promoted to waitstaff supervisor and then finally she’d landed an events manager position. Her parents had been the anchor she’d needed after being set adrift by her husband.

The sad thing was that even after a failed marriage and her last dating disaster, her mother still wanted to see her only daughter walk down the aisle. Rose had robbed her parents of a wedding day when she’d eloped with Kurt. They’d been disappointed for sure, but adamant that she stay in college. She’d let them down on that one, too.

Rose sighed.

“Tired, honey?” Her mom followed her up the steps that led to the apartment over the diner.

Her father and Greg had caught up to them and four sets of feet stomped up the narrow wooden stairwell.

“A little.” Rose was more scared than weary.

Aside from a few months of college, she was truly on her own for the first time in her life. Part of her wanted to run back to the comfort of living with her parents, but God had given her this opportunity.

Linda’s sons had thrown her off balance today with their threat to take her inheritance away. Linda’s will had been so clear; at least that’s the way it had sounded from the packet she’d received.

Once Rose understood those financials, she’d have a better reference point to consider whether the Deans’ offer was a good one. After all, knowledge was power. She hoped Cam knew what he was doing and she prayed he wasn’t playing her.

* * *

What was he doing?

Cam stared at the flames licking the dry tinder he’d helped his father stack into the fire pit. It might not have cooled off enough to need a campfire, but what was a summer’s eve gathering without one?

Seriously, what made him think he could teach Rose to read her business returns? Read. Ha! That was an odd choice of terms considering his issues with written words. Numbers were different. Numbers were concrete and made sense, like that periodic table.

“You can toss that log on now.” His father touched his shoulder. “Cam?”

“Huh? Oh.” He tossed in the piece of wood he’d held and then reached for another.

“You okay, son?”

“Yeah, sure.” He’d escaped from the noise of the back deck to help his father while everyone else cleaned up after dinner.

In honor of Father’s Day, his mom had gathered his siblings for a cookout. Matthew was out on the Great Lakes with his job as a freighter first mate, but his wife, Annie, and her baby, John, were here. Zach and his fiancée, Ginger. Even Darren, although he’d sulked through dinner, since his girlfriend had recently left for her music thing in Seattle. Of course Monica, his younger brothers—Ben, Marcus and Luke—and their baby sister, Erin, were here, too. His sister Cat, working on assignment somewhere, was also absent.

“Something on your mind then?”

Cam looked his dad in the eye. Retired from a long army career, Andrew Zelinsky still carried an air of authority that encouraged the truth or else. As usual, Cam darted around giving a straight answer. “I’ll figure it out.”

“No word on a new sponsor.”

“Not yet.”

“What’s past is past.” His father nodded. “You’ll make a comeback.”

“Right.” Cam snorted and stared at those flames some more.

He’d leveled with his folks to an extent. He’d been disqualified from a tournament last year because he’d broken practice rules by fishing after dark. He’d broken more than that with an illegal catch, but nothing had been proven. Still, that decision had not only dropped his standings to the bottom of the pile, but cost him his last sponsor. It could have been worse. He could have been banned from the profession and it would have been justified. Although rumors swirled, his business manager had been able to keep things relatively quiet.

Still, Cam had pushed things far too many times in his fishing career. When competition got fierce and the stakes were high, he’d cut corners. Literally. He’d trimmed fins on fish to make sure they qualified. He’d even stuffed a couple lead sinkers into the bellies of bass for better weigh-ins.

Cam had massaged the truth so well that he’d gotten away with it too many times. It had finally cost him, though. Like now, offering to teach Rose how to review her financials when he only knew what the numbers meant and where they should be.

“How’s the new job?” Monica wiggled her eyebrows at him with a teasing glint in her eyes.

Relieved for an escape from his father’s scrutiny, Cam laughed. “I’m just filling in.”

“I can’t believe you’re cooking at my favorite place to eat. Don’t mess with it too much.” His brother Darren pulled a soft drink can out of an ice-packed metal tub and cracked the tab.

“Come by and see.” Cam tossed another log on the fire, grabbed an icy beverage and kept staring into the flames.

“I don’t get it, why are you working there? If you need money—”

“The new owner is pretty and single,” Monica pointed out.

“Ahh.” Darren nodded. “Now it all makes sense.”

Cam took a long drink and shrugged. “She needed help and I’ve got a few days before fishing in the first Northern Open.”

“So, you swooped right in and saved the day.”

“It’s what I do.” Cam winked.

“Poor woman. Does she know about you?”

“Not yet.” Cam laughed, but his brother didn’t realize just how loaded his teasing words were.

“I’m hearing good things about Rose Dean. The women on the church planning committee are looking for a place to have their meeting. I’ll tell them to go there.” His mom wrapped an arm around his waist and gave him a squeeze.

“Thanks, Mom.” Grateful for the switched focus, Cam scratched his forehead.

“Is everything all set for the Fourth of July barbecue?” Monica asked. “It’s only two weeks away and I need to print off the flyers.”

“It’s a go.” His mother looked up at him. “Would you be interested in grilling? It’s going to be big this year. The chamber is sponsoring a live band for entertainment complete with a dance floor.”

“Nope.” Cam backed away from his mom and slid onto a lounge chair. He took a long pull from his drink. If he fished well at the tournament the weekend before the Fourth, any number of opportunities could arise and Cam wanted to be ready to accept.

Darren raised his hands. “Don’t look at me. I’m on duty that day.”

Cam watched their mom wrangle their younger brothers into manning the huge grills for their church’s biggest fund-raiser. Ignoring the stitch of guilt that tweaked for not helping, Cam figured he’d buy a ticket instead. Maybe two or three, enough to take Rose and Greg, if he was around.

No matter how attractive he found Rose Dean, Cam knew better than to ask her for a real date. Romancing Rose would be like walking into quicksand. Not only was there a kid involved, but Cam didn’t do anything long-term. Fishing came first and fishing kept him traveling. It wasn’t only his livelihood, it was his life. It’s all he had and he’d come too close to ruining it for good.

Going to the Fourth of July barbecue would be about introducing Rose to more folks in town. Establishing her as the new owner of the Grille and proving she belonged there. He didn’t want those Dean boys getting their hands on the diner. Not when Linda had wanted Rose to have it. Not when Rose wanted it. Whatever it took, he’d help her keep it.