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“I’ll be fine!” She tucked into her sandwich, feeling her brother’s gaze lingering.
They both fell silent, eating their lunches while a band of gulls harassed a fisherman on the pier. As the sun poked through the clouds, spilling its shimmer across the waves and the approaching ferry, Evie smiled, hoping the weather would hold out.
“I thought I’d see joyriding Jamie about,” said Sam, stowing his empty sandwich container in his bag. “I hope he’s not hiding in the truck’s loo having a sneaky smoke.”
“No, he’s around back,” said Evie. “Probably having a sneaky smoke while setting up the tea and coffee station.”
“Has he been giving you much lip?”
“No. He goes walkabout more than I’d like, but at least it’s on foot and not in a stolen car.”
Her brother cleared his throat. “And what about Nick? You spoken to him?”
“Briefly.” Evie lifted her bottle of water. “Just work stuff.” She downed a sip.
“He didn’t say anything else?”
“No. Why would he?” She snapped the bottle’s sports cap closed. “Assholes don’t apologize, Sam. Haven’t you learned that by now?”
He nodded slowly as a stream of actors neared the truck, most glued to their phones. “Sprout, you sure you’re all right?”
Evie contemplated the remaining half of her sandwich. “I will be.”
* * *
Sunita rested two baking sheets filled with hot chicken parmesan on the counter and stole a glimpse outside at the hungry crowd. “You’re popular today.”
Tossing a substantial green salad, Evie looked out the window, her gaze narrowing. She set down the tongs. “What’s he…?” Wiping her hands on her apron, she rushed outside.
Dressed in a flannel jacket and faded jeans and hefting a bulging backpack the size of a small child, Caleb’s blue eyes lit up with his wide smile. “Hiya! I had the day off, so I thought I’d make myself useful.” The kiddie wagon trundling behind him drew confused glances from the waiting crew. “Looks like I made it in the nick of time, too.” He let go of the handle and scratched his dark blond beard as he shifted toward two large steel pots, their lids secured with cling wrap and several strategically placed elastics.
Evie grinned back. “Is this your famous soup?”
“Enough to feed at least twenty. They just need reheating.”
She laid her hand on her chest. “Caleb, really, this is so kind of you.”
He shrugged off his backpack, leaving it on the ground. “It’s what we do here, right?” Bending slightly, he lifted one of the heavy containers. “Pitch in, help one another. I’ll bring ’em inside?”
“Sure. Thanks.” Leading the way, Evie hopped up into the truck. “On the stove would be great.” She raised her brows as she squeezed past Sunita. “Caleb brought us soup.”
“Ooh, I know what I’m having.” Holding her oven mitts close, Sunita leaned into the counter, gifting Caleb sufficient room to pass.
“Well, I figured it’s been rather chilly this week, and what you don’t use today, you can serve tomorrow.” Setting the pot on a vacant burner, Caleb gestured toward the open door. “One down, one to go.” He hurried back outside.
With Caleb clear of earshot, Sunita gave Evie a smug grin. “I don’t like to sound like a broken record, but…”
Evie rolled her eyes then looked out the window as Sunita removed the taut elastics stretching from handle to handle on the pot.
“…but if this isn’t proof he has a thing for y—”
“Sun!” Evie trod on her foot.
“Ow—what?!”
“He’s back,” she murmured as Caleb swept through the doorway.
“Now you’re all set.” Edging past her, he placed the second pot on the stove. Sunita removed its elastics and plastic wrap and lifted the lid for a cheeky sniff.
