Matters of the Heart by Helen Colella

Author:Helen Colella [Colella, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2019-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

Over the next few weeks, Amanda and Nick spent every spare minute together. They shared the cooking for their candle-lit dinners, popped popcorn, and watched favorite movies. They browsed flea markets and antique shops and cheered for the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Their newfound relationship showed all the signs of a happy couple.

After dinner one night at Amanda’s house, Nick happened to mention his delight over their meeting. “It’s hard to believe our paths never crossed before that night at the hospital. Especially since we had a restaurant connection.”

“Our paths would never have crossed. I spent the last few years down in Denver working at the bank. Whenever I came up to Crestview, Poppy and I usually visited at the house, rarely at the restaurant. It was nothing short of a miracle.”

“I watch you work, Amanda, and I can’t help think that you’re a natural restaurateur.”

“That statement would have pleased my grandfather. He probably would have told you he’d been grooming me to take over from my days as a young child. He’d let me help out around the restaurant—filling salt shakers, putting vases of flowers on the tables, setting tables, and carrying out the trash. Then, as I got older, he’d give me more things to do—help in the stock room, make sherbet cups, and sometimes on special occasions, let me hand our customers the menu.”

“Mind if I ask what changed your mind about staying on and running the business?”

She shook her head and explained. “After an unfortunate incident at my condo in Denver and at Poppy’s urging, I agreed to return to Crestview to recuperate. That’s when I noticed how frail he had become. I felt he needed someone around to take care of him for a change. We struck a deal. I’d agreed to stay on, temporarily, if I could work at the restaurant. He agreed. Things were going along great until he collapsed. Everything changed from that moment on…and well, here I am.”

Nick listened intently than asked, “What do you mean by recuperate?”

She filled in the details about her attack and ended with, “To this day, the police haven’t been able to uncover anything. They’re handling it as a robbery gone badly.”

“You could have been killed.” He reached for her hand and searched her face. “I can’t believe the police haven’t been able to find out more. Were there any other break-ins in the area?”

“That’s what my grandfather asked. There were some auto break-ins, but the police couldn’t make any connection to my situation.”

Concerned about what he had just heard, he asked, “Would you like me to look into this for you? I know a private investigator who owes me a few favors.”

“Thanks, not necessary. It’s over and done with for some time now, and I’ve just accepted the police theory. I really don’t care to revisit it.” Her thoughts wandered to Poppy and how well he had prepared her to step in and take over the family business. After a few minutes of silence, she heard Nick.

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