Beagles Love Vows and Villains (EBOOK)

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At lunchtime, the diner was humming as usual. Wedding or no wedding, the diner was open and people needed feeding. Lyra had refused her mom’s suggestion to close for several days. She had a business to run and they’d be closing for the wedding at the weekend. Besides, the diner kept her sane. Usually. Today, she wasn't entirely sure.
“Order up!” Lyra slid two plates onto the pass and reached for the next ticket.
Maddie was beside her chopping vegetables with the ease of someone perfectly at home in a busy kitchen.
“I'd forgotten how much fun this is.”
Lyra glanced at her. “You have an interesting definition of fun.”
“I don't have to do it every day, so it’s a change from kneading dough and making pastry.”
“Ah. There it is. You love being here,” Lyra teased.
Maddie laughed as Leroy the head chef nudged her.
“She’ll steal you from your bakery if you’re not careful.”
“He’s not kidding,” Lyra agreed.
“My staff might have something to say about that,” Maddie chuckled. “Especially Gran. After tricking me into coming g home to Maple Falls by pretending she was sick, she pretty much orchestrated my new life. Not that I’m complaining. I love Maple Lane bakery. Almost as much as my new husband.” She winked at Leroy.
Out front, Maggie moved between tables while Dan carried another box toward the back room.
Lyra caught sight of Cinnamon stationed near the back door. Big Red had claimed the window seat in the corner of the verandah. Nobody had invited him onto it and nobody seemed willing to try moving him. Several customers had taken photographs which the Maine coon had regally posed for.
“At this rate, that cat’s going to think he owns the place,” Lyra mused.
Maddie grinned. “Sorry to say, he already does.”
Lyra watched Cinnamon wander over and put her front paws against the seat. Big Red opened one eye and Cinnamon dropped back to the floor.
“She's very patient,” Maddie said.
“She certainly is and she’s determined to win him over one way or another.”
The bell over the diner door jingled. Since her staff were out there, Lyra took no notice. Until she sensed a change. It wasn’t dramatic. Just a sudden absence of chatter.
Lyra walked to the doorway. A second later Dan was by her side and Maddie joined them. Maggie stood beside a table, coffee pot in one hand. She wasn't moving.
Lyra followed Maggie's stare toward the entrance. A man stood just inside the door. Late fifties, perhaps early sixties. Tall, with graying hair and a weathered face that might once have been handsome. He held himself stiffly, as though entering the diner had required considerably more courage than he'd expected. His eyes were fixed on Maggie.
Cinnamon shot between her legs.
“Cinnamon,” Lyra called.
The beagle ignored her and went straight to the stranger to sniff his shoes and trousers.
The man looked down and his shoulders relaxed a little. “Hello there.” He bent and rubbed Cinnamon's ears. “You're a friendly little thing.”
Cinnamon sat on his foot gazing up at him fondly while the customers and staff watched the bizarre scene unfold.
Lyra frowned when Maggie finally put down the coffee pot. It landed harder than strictly necessary. Dan was already moving toward her, though he was likely just as puzzled as Lyra as to what was happening.
The man straightened. “Maggie.” It wasn’t a question.
Maggie’s face was pale as she continued to stare at the man standing inside the diner with Cinnamon planted firmly against his leg. When she spoke, her voice was so quiet Lyra almost didn't hear it.
“Dad?”
The man swallowed. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Maggie's expression hardened. “Don't call me that.”
Dan didn't touch her. He simply stood there as if waiting to step into action if needed.
The man looked from Maggie to Dan and back again. “I know I should've called.”
Maggie gave a short, humorless laugh. “You think?”
“I heard you were getting married.”
“And?”
His gaze dropped briefly. “I wanted to see you.”
“Why? Or should I ask, why now?”
The question hung between them in the unnaturally quiet diner. Lyra was aware of customers pretending not to listen, but the awareness of a drama unfolding gripped every person. Maddie and Big Red waited uncertainly by the kitchen door.
Maggie’s father studied his daughter. There was so much regret on his face that Lyra almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
His shoulders straightened. “I thought maybe it was time.”
Maggie's jaw tightened. “For what?”
Stuart hesitated.
And in that tiny pause, Lyra saw Maggie close herself off.
“For me to explain.”
Maggie stared at him. Then she shook her head. “You're about fifteen years too late.” She turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Dan gave the man a studied glance then followed Maggie.
Stuart took one instinctive step after her. Lyra moved into his path. For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Stuart looked down. Cinnamon was still sitting on his other foot.
He gave a sad little smile. “At least somebody's pleased to see me.”
Lyra folded her arms. “Don't read too much into it. She once welcomed a man delivering drain cleaner.”
Cinnamon looked up at her and smiled. At least it appeared that way,
Stuart almost smiled too, but his mouth quickly turned down. “I didn't come here to hurt Maggie.”
“That's good.” Lyra glanced toward the kitchen door through which her friend had disappeared. “Because I think you've already done enough of that.”
Stuart flinched.
Lyra didn't feel particularly guilty. She turned and clicked her fingers. “Come on, Cinnamon.”
The beagle stood, walked three steps toward Lyra, then turned and looked back at Stuart. Stuart looked at her too. Something about the exchange bothered Lyra. She couldn't have said why, but at least she knew why Cinnamon already liked him—she adored Mags.
Cinnamon trotted to her side and Lyra rested a hand on the dog's head and headed to the kitchen without looking back at the man who had just walked into Maggie's life days before her wedding.
So much for simple and happy. And something told Lyra that Stuart's arrival was only the beginning.