Free Seeking Carolina by Terri-Lynne Defino

mouth.” Charlotte snickered. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”
    Of course, it matters, Johanna wanted to say, but she handed Charlotte the measuring cup she was reaching for and told her, “You have a real flair for this.”
    “I love to bake,” Charlotte said. “It’s funny, I never did before, and I worked in the coffeehouse all through high school. Then I went away to college and suddenly, I’m constantly baking cookies and cupcakes. My dorm is the most popular on campus, mostly because it is now known as a free bakery.”
    “I bought CC’s on a whim.” Johanna’s hesitation gave way to Charlotte’s honesty. “It was the name, really, that sold me.”
    Charlotte looked up from pressing graham cracker crumbs. “Cape Confectionery?”
    “CC’s,” Johanna said. “Carolina Coco. My mother’s initials.”
    “Oh, I get it. How cool is that?”
    Johanna’s hammering heart eased. Perhaps it was obvious, and maybe her sisters had guessed long ago, but Charlotte was the first person she’d ever told her secret to, and she felt better for it. “I don’t know how or why but as it turned out, I’m actually good at baking. Better than good, like you are.”
    “We make a good team.”
    Johanna gave her a quick squeeze. “We do. You know, if you’re looking for a summer job, I can always use—”
    “Yes!” Charlotte laughed when Johanna did. “Sorry. I got a little enthusiastic there. Do you mean it? Can I come work for you?”
    A passing thought for Gina and the custody agreement Charlie told her about flitted in and back out of Johanna’s mind. Charlotte was twenty, and no longer required to visit the mother she was obviously still angry with. “Consider yourself hired.”
    Charlotte hugged Johanna tight and quickly. “I can’t believe it. I have to text Katie. Johanna, you’re the best. I love you Coco women. You’re all so cool.” Charlotte blew past her father just coming through the doorway.
    Charlie leapt out of the way, shaking his head. “What’s got my daughter squealing like a teenager?”
    “I just hired her for the summer.”
    Charlie’s eyebrows shot up. “You did, huh?”
    “It just sort of happened. You okay with it?”
    He was silent for a moment. “She’s a grown woman. She can do what she wants with her summer.”
    “Gina’s not going to be happy.”
    Leaning over the counter, his elbows sending up puffs of flour, he said, “Charlotte wasn’t going anyway. Even if she would have, it wouldn’t be for the whole summer. Same with Will. He’s already started hedging.”
    “But Gina can make him, no?”
    “She can, but she won’t. Gina made her choice. She knew what it meant when she made it. That’s between her and her children.”
    “You’re good, not to speak badly of her.”
    “Why would I? I’m sad for the kids, but I’m not sorry we divorced. Gina and I tried, but we just didn’t work. Not from day one.”
    Johanna leaned back on the stove handle, her hands gripping it to keep from reaching for her locket. So many summers ago, she thought Charlie McCallan was the happily-ever-after she never wanted. Her own parents and their furious love ending so tragically convinced her she didn’t want or need anything of the kind. Growing up, Johanna had few crushes that lasted more than a kiss, a fact she took pride in. Until the summer of her junior year. Until the skinny, ghost-pale kid whose parents took care of the local cemetery became the young man who made Johanna Coco’s heart dance.
    “I guess I should have seen something like this coming,” Charlie was saying.
    “Hmm…what?”
    “Charlotte. I hoped by letting the kids out of Christmas in Florida would help Charlotte get over her anger. I guess it won’t.”
    Johanna cleared her mind with a shake of her head. “She will, eventually. Gina is her mother. The only one she’s got.”
    “That’s what I keep telling her.” Charlie straightened, dusted off his elbows. “I hope you know what you’re