Coming Home to Seashell Harbor by Miranda Liasson

Author:Miranda Liasson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: None
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2021-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Cam was handing out craft beer samples and postcards to what seemed like half the town. A line of people snaked before him far down the grassy main aisle of the festival, almost to the big fountain in the park. And he couldn’t pour fast enough. “It’s a local IPA,” he said as he lined sample cups up on the table in front of him. “It’s got a hint of citrus, so it’s really refreshing, and it’s light and crisp. What do you think?” He kept working the crowd, saying hi to everyone he knew and posing for about a thousand selfies.

He had to admit, it was kind of fun. The low profile he’d kept since his injury had kept him away from what he loved best…talking with people. His people, neighbors and friends, all of whom had the same town pride that he did.

“My restaurant is going to serve great beer and great food,” he said to the council members. “It’s going to bring a ton of people downtown.”

“I’m excited for the possibilities,” the mayor said. “Now we just have to get Maddy on board.”

“Why do I have the feeling that getting Maddy on board means getting Hadley on board?” Nick, who’d been helping him out, asked in a low voice.

“Right.” Cam hoped his tone didn’t indicate how impossible that seemed. He’d stepped back to try to let Hadley and her grandma work this out. He wasn’t one to pressure, even if he had just signed a contract with the restaurant executives for the branding and naming of the restaurant chain. Now his butt was really on the line.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. It was Ian. “Hey, Cam. I’m just calling to give you a heads-up. The LA execs wanted to send some reporters over to your local festival today to drum up some interest in the new venture. It would just involve taking some photos at your booth, maybe giving a general statement about the restaurant. Sound okay?”

“Sure, thanks, Ian. I’ll look out for them.”

“Uh-oh.” Nick gestured with his head just as Cam hung up. “Here comes Hadley. And she looks like she’s definitely not on board.”

Cam looked up suddenly to see Hadley standing there. “Want one?” Cam waved his hand over the carefully lined-up beer samples, wishing she wasn’t looking at him like he’d just robbed the bank. He wanted to tell her how excited everyone was about the beer and pretzels. And about his restaurant. But of course he couldn’t.

It took less than a second to see that she was, indeed, royally angry. She stood there, fidgeting a little, doing this nervous thing with her hands she always did when she was mad, and frowning deeply. Yep, he was in deep trouble.

“No thanks.” Her voice was whisper-low but sharp. “I’m here to ask you to please stop glad-handing influencers.”

“Influencers?” He looked around, half expecting to see young fashion icons with huge Instagram followings modeling expensive clothing. But, no, it was just everyone they knew eating and drinking and having fun.

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