Baking Love (13 page)

“Will do.”

Kate opened the rear doors of the van and climbed inside. Moments later, Jess and Mark emerged from the bakery carrying the largest box. They set it on the floorboard, and Kate pushed it toward the front. “One down.”

When Jess and Mark brought out the next box, Kate met Mark’s gaze. “Thanks in advance for your help this weekend.”

“No problem. I’m glad I’m able to help y’all and still be Eric’s groomsman.” He and Jess went back inside and returned with a third box, which Kate positioned on the floorboard.

“Speaking of Eric,” Kate said, forcing a casual note to her voice. “Have you talked to him lately?”

“Yeah, he called me a few days ago to make sure I knew the schedule for the weekend.”

“Did he sound excited?”

“Not really.”

Kate’s brows flinched.
That seems strange.

“Maybe he’s nervous,” Jess offered. “Don’t most guys get nervous about their wedding?”

“Not all guys,” Mark replied. “I’m not nervous about marrying you.”

“Aww.” Jess planted a kiss on his lips. “I think you’re just trying to get out of carrying more boxes.”

“Me?” he gasped in mock surprise. “Never!”

Jess laughed and took his hand. “Come on. Let’s get back in there.”

While loading the rest of the boxes, Kate’s mind was on Eric.
He’s getting married tomorrow, so why isn’t he more excited? Is he indeed nervous, or is there more to it? Has something happened between him and Cecilia?

“That’s everything, Kate.”

She snapped her attention to Jess.

“The cakes, the repair kits, the marzipan fish—it’s all in the van. I’ve got your workbag and thermos, too.”

“Thanks.”
I have to get Eric out of my head. I’m not going to call him or look for him at the Wynnfield Estate to ask him what’s going on, so there’s no need to waste another second thinking about him.
Determined to stay focused on the task at hand, Kate forced all thoughts of Eric Wagner from her mind. “Time to hit the road,” she said.

Jess and Mark hopped into the van while Kate closed the rear doors. She took her seat behind the wheel, and they started their 211-mile escort of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

* * * *

Kate pulled up to the gatehouse and rolled her window down. “May I help you?” the guard asked.

“We’re here for the Prescott-Wagner wedding,” Kate told him.

“Of course.” He handed her a stack of pamphlets. “Here’s a map of the estate and information about the establishments throughout the property. Accommodations are at the Wynnfield Inn, and the wedding is at the Wynnfield House tomorrow.”

“Thanks.”

“Enjoy your weekend.”

Kate handed the pamphlets to Jess and rolled her window up.

“Does anyone else feel like that encounter was déjà vu?” Jess asked.

Kate laughed and started down the drive. They passed the Wynnfield House and turned onto the next road. Before long, the Wynnfield Inn came into view. “Looks the same.”

“Except for the four thousand flowers in bloom,” Jess noted.

“Except for those.” Kate parked in front of the inn, where her gaze landed on the fountain. Her mind flashed unbidden back to the night she and Eric had played on the terrace.

Don’t think about him.

Kate took her phone from her workbag. “I’ll call Michael to let him know we’re here.” She pulled up his name and put the phone to her ear.

“Michael Spartan,” he answered.

“Hi, Michael. This is Kate Sullivan.”

“Hello, Kate. How are you?”

“Doing well, and yourself?”

“Quite well, thank you. Are you calling to inform me of your arrival at our humble château?”

Kate laughed. “Indeed I am.”

“Wonderful. I’ll meet you out front.”

Kate ended the call and got out of the van with Jess and Mark. She opened the rear doors. “Let’s see how the groom’s cake fared.” She lifted the lid of the box. “Looks good.”

Jess lifted the lid of a slightly smaller box. “Fish looks good, too.”

“Welcome back.”

Kate turned to find Michael standing behind them. “Thank you,” she smiled.

“What can I carry?”

Kate stacked the marzipan fish on top of the plastic box containing the groom’s cake repair kit and handed them both to Michael. She and Jess lifted the groom’s cake from the van, and Mark closed the doors. Michael led them across the terrace to the front door of the inn, which Mark held open while they entered. “I’ll keep the van cool,” he told Kate.

“Thanks.”

As Kate and Jess followed Michael through the lobby of the inn, he glanced over his shoulder. “Decorating is already underway in The Overlook Room, so watch for anything that might be lying in your path.”

“Just what we need,” Jess muttered. “An obstacle course.”

When they entered the ballroom, Kate immediately caught sight of several familiar faces. “There’s Eric’s mom and grandma.”

“Watch it,” Jess warned. “There’s a bag right in front of you.”

“Allow me.” Michael subtly reached down and moved the bag to one side. “Much better.”

Kate and Jess followed him past the propped-open main door of the kitchen and to the back, where the door of the small room was also propped open.
Wow, Michael thought of everything.

“Per our conversation in February, this space is yours,” he said. Kate and Jess set the cake box on one of the counters, and Michael put the fish and repair kit next to it. “Is there anything else you need?”

“I don’t think so.” Kate extended her hand to him. “It’s been a pleasure working with you.”

“Likewise.” He shook her hand. “Take care.”

“You, too—and thanks.”

With a smile, Michael turned and left the kitchen.

Jess adjusted the clips in her hair. “So you saw Eric’s family out there?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind talking to them, but after driving across the state, I’m not sure we’re presentable enough to start a conversation.”

“Time’s a factor, too. We need to get the wedding cake up to the house.”

“You’re right.” Kate walked back to the main door of the kitchen and peeked out. “Let’s try and sneak past them.” She entered the ballroom, and Jess followed. Kate kept her gaze fixed on the floor as they attempted their escape.
If I can’t see anyone, maybe no one can see me, either.
A few more steps, and they were home free.

“Kate? Jess?”

Kate glanced over her shoulder and saw Eric’s mom waving at them. Kate stopped in her tracks, and Jess ran into her. “We’re busted,” Kate whispered.

“Damn. We were so close.”

Eric’s mom came up to them. “Hi, ladies.”

“Hi, Mrs. Wagner.” Kate and Jess each hugged her.

“How are you?” she asked.

“We’re fine,” Kate answered. “Are you and Mr. Wagner ready for the big day?”

“We are. One of the highlights of being a parent is seeing your child get married.”

“I’m sure it is.”

“Incidentally, thank you for making the groom’s cake.”

“We were happy to do it. Eric picked a good one.”

“A good cake,” Jess interjected. “He picked a good cake.”

Kate shot Jess a look. “Yes, Eric’s groom’s cake represents him well.”

Mrs. Wagner smiled. “He told me about the fish. He said he’d even had the idea for the cake to be blue.” Her smile faded. “Apparently, Cecilia didn’t think it would be appropriate.”

You’re in for a surprise.
“Eric will love the cake. I promise.”

“I know he will. That boy loves everything about you.”

Kate blinked.
He what?

“I realize you two lost touch for a while,” Mrs. Wagner continued. “Now that you’ve reconnected, I hope you’ll remain friends.”

“It’d be nice.”
Don’t count on it, though.
Kate glanced at the cake table and found it had already been decorated. “We appreciate you getting the cake table ready for us. It looks beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Kate cleared her throat. “Well, Mrs. Wagner, I don’t mean to be rude, but we’d better scoot. We still have one more cake to unload.”

“Ah, yes. The big one.”

“That’s right.”

“Good luck. Maybe we’ll see each other again this weekend.”

“Maybe so.”

As Mrs. Wagner walked away, Kate knew she needed to turn and leave the room—but for a reason she couldn’t identify, her gaze returned to the cake table.
Why?
She quickly scanned the entire ballroom, trying to figure out what she’d subconsciously noticed.
The tablecloth on the cake table matches the ones on the other tables. The candles match. The vases match.

Her breath caught.
It’s the flowers. The ones on the circular dining tables are colorful, and the ones on the cake table aren’t. They’re…blue.
Kate bit back a smile.
Mrs. Wagner positioned blue flowers to surround a cake she assumes is red despite her son’s request. She’s making a statement—and it’s directed at Cecilia.

Kate wanted to walk over to Mrs. Wagner and ask her exactly what she thought about her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. She didn’t, though. She didn’t need to.

She already knew.

* * * *

With one less cake in tow, Kate started the short drive from the Wynnfield Inn to its larger counterpart. While she drove, Jess took her phone from her purse. “Our contact at the house is Shawn Murdock. He’s the events coordinator and the man I talked to when I called in March.” She put the phone to her ear. “Hi, Mr. Murdock. This is Jess Turner with Sullivan’s Cakery. I’m fine, how are you? Yes, we’re here. Yes, we’re familiar with that entrance. Great, thank you.” She ended the call. “He’s going to meet us at the same service entrance we used the weekend of the pre-rehearsal.”

Kate pulled around to the back of the house and parked beside the service entrance ramp. She turned to Jess and Mark. “The groom’s cake was intact, so I expect no less of the tiers. To be certain, though, let’s check them once they’re all inside.”

Leaving the air conditioning running, Kate got out and opened the rear doors. She picked up one of the smaller boxes, and Jess and Mark lifted a larger one. They were walking up the ramp when a man appeared in the doorway at the top. “Hello, I’m Shawn Murdock.”

Jess nodded a greeting. “I’m Jess Turner, and this is Kate Sullivan and Mark Stevens.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Please, call me Shawn.”

“Thanks for accommodating us,” Kate said.

“Of course. Let me show you where to put those boxes.” Shawn led them through the holding area and down a corridor to the massive kitchen. They followed him across the black-and-white checkered floor to a smaller section of the kitchen. He pointed to cabinets lining two walls of the space. “You’re welcome to keep the cake boxes on those counters.”

Kate noticed a closed door on the same wall as one set of cabinets. “Does that door lead anywhere?”
I don’t want foot traffic near these tiers.

“No, it’s a storage room.”

“Will the caterers be using it tomorrow?”

“No, they’ll be using the front part of the kitchen. They shouldn’t have any reason to come in here.”

“Great.” She, Jess, and Mark set the boxes they were holding on one of the counters.

“I’m happy to help you finish unloading,” Shawn said.

They walked back out to the van. While Jess and Mark lifted another box from the floorboard, Kate scanned the parking area around the service entrance. There were several other vans, but none of them had markings to indicate they were decorators.
I thought Loraine said they were coming today.

Kate and Shawn picked up a large cake box together. “Do you know when the decorators are supposed to arrive?” she asked.

“They should’ve already been here.”

Not what I wanted to hear.
Nerves gripped Kate as she and Shawn made their way back to the kitchen. They set the box next to the others. “So they
are
still planning to decorate today?”

“I haven’t heard otherwise. If you’d like, I’ll give them a call and check in, since I know your schedule hinges on theirs.”

“I’d appreciate it, thanks.”

Shawn pulled his phone from his pocket and stepped out of the room. Moments later, Jess and Mark came in, each holding a cake box. “What’s Shawn doing?” Jess asked.

“Touching base with the decorators to make sure they’re still coming today.”

Shawn stuck his head in the doorway. “The decorators are on their way. They’re just running late because they’ve hit traffic.”

“Thank you for checking.”

His gaze shifted to Jess. “I need to tend to another matter, but you have my number if you need anything.”

Shawn disappeared, and Kate realized the response from the decorators had only partially assuaged her apprehension.
They’re coming today, but traffic has put them behind schedule. What if they don’t get the cake table decorated in time for Mark to help us assemble the wedding cake tomorrow? What if they’re still decorating the banquet hall after we set up the cake and someone bumps into it?

Kate exhaled sharply. In these final hours, timing was everything—and she hoped their hard work and planning wouldn’t be undone by factors beyond their control.

* * * *

Kate and Jess lifted the groom’s cake from its box, then made their way through the crowded kitchen of the Wynnfield Inn. A chef stepped over and opened the door for them. “Thank you,” they said in unison.

The women carried the cake through the ballroom, where they were now the only two people, and over to the rectangular table by the windows. They gingerly set the cake in the midst of blue flowers. Jess went back to the kitchen and returned with the marzipan fish and repair kit. She removed two wooden dowels from the repair kit and handed them to Kate, then took the fish out of its box. Jess held the fish as Kate inserted one dowel into the underside of the fish’s head and the other into the underside of its tail. Jess centered the fish over the cake, then Kate stuck the opposite end of each dowel into the frosting .While Jess lowered the fish, Kate pushed the dowels deeper into the cake until they were no longer visible.

Kate pulled her camera from her workbag and snapped photos of the completed cake. “I wish I could see Eric’s face when he cuts into this cake and realizes it’s blue.”