Free Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) by Rita Garcia Page B

surprise.” Jezzica greeted her with a hug.
    “I arrived early to get my baking done and saw you pull up. Have time for coffee, Danish, and a little chitchat?” Julia held a thermos and a pastry box.
    “Yes—to all three.” Jezzica led the way to the table in the back of the shop.
    Julia looked around. “It’s looking sensational in here.”
    “It’s strange to have something you envisioned unfold before your eyes.” Jezzica sipped her coffee. “There aren’t many secrets in Serenity Cove. I heard about your husband. How do you move past it?”
    Julia flowed with the change of subjects without hesitation. “Baby girl, it’s one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever encountered. Death doesn’t leave room for compromises. Its finality bruises the soul.” Julia dabbed her eyes with her napkin. “But every morning the sun rises, and I tell myself I can make it through one more day.”
    “If we pretend we’re okay, will it happen?” Jezzica brushed her hair from her face.
    “There’s a multitude of old sayings: Life goes on. Life is for the living. They all have a thread of truth woven through them. My answer to your question is yes.” Julia fingered the edge of her plate. “There are many mornings I want to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed. I force myself to get up. I remind myself how much I enjoy baking. And I keep going step by step and before I know it, the end of the day comes, and I’m tired enough to sleep. So yes, sometimes we have to just go through the motions until it gets easier.”
    “It’s difficult to move on with life when the biggest part of it’s gone.” Emotion clogged Jezzica’s throat. She blinked back the tears, seriously wanting to hear what Julia was saying.
    “But then one morning, you notice the sun shining. You notice the birds chirping. You notice the flowers blooming. And you start to feel again.” Julia twisted the cap back on the thermos, as though she needed to do something with her hands.
    “Would you ever think of dating?” Jezzica nibbled on the edge of her sweet roll.
    Julia’s laughter boomeranged through the room. “Sorry, don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to worry about it.” Her expression turned serious. “You’re young and if God gives you another chance at love—don’t be too quick to toss it away. Life zooms by, and honey, nothing compares to traipsing through life with someone you love, and who loves you in return.”
    They both looked up as Zack strutted into the shop. “Morning, ladies.”
    Julia scooted back and eased out of her chair. “Hunting down your coffee?” She grinned at him.
    “You know it. Best coffee in Serenity Cove—no, make that the best I’ve ever tasted.”
    A soft glow spread over Julia’s cheeks, broadcasting the pleasure she had found in his compliment. “The time slipped away from me. I better go open my doors before half the town knocks on your door.” Julia eyed Zack and tossed Jezzica a knowing wink before waltzing out the front door.
    Jezzica caught Julia’s signal, and a heated blush settled on her face as she focused on Zack. “This is a surprise.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “I dropped by to apologize. You made your position clear and I crossed the line. Is it possible to take a step back to being friends?”
    “Friends.” She extended her hand. “You didn’t cross any lines—I sent conflicting messages.” It wasn’t easy to restrain the words that wanted to burst forth and tell him she wanted to be more than friends. Except an equally strong voice, from the same place in her head, screamed no. I’m becoming mentally deranged.
    “I’m still on vacation. Where should we begin?” His eyes wandered over the interior of the shop.
    “Several boxes of books were delivered—they’re in Maggie’s storage room. It would be a huge help if you brought them to the bookshop.”
    Zack eyed the big shelves that had been refinished with the soft sheen of a cherry wood stain.