Baking Love (2 page)

Tears filled Kate’s eyes. “I would love to.”

“If it’s not too much to ask, Mark and I would also like you to consider making our wedding cake.”

Kate opened her mouth to respond, but Jess quickly continued. “If you think it’s a conflict of interest to make our cake because I work for you, we’ll use a different baker—but just think about it, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll think about it.” Kate took one step toward the coffee machine. “Jess?”

“Yeah?”

“I’d love to make your wedding cake.”

She laughed and threw her arms around Kate. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

Jess motioned toward Kate’s workbag. “If you’d make us
one
of Cecilia’s tiers, we’d be happy.”

Kate winked. “You’ll forget about Cecilia’s cake when you see yours.”

Saturday, January 21

“Is my sketchbook on the table?” Kate asked Jess.

“It sure is.”

“How about the groom’s cake photo album?”

“It’s there, too.”

“Great, thanks.” Kate glanced at the clock on the wall.
Almost ten.
“Cecilia will be here any minute.” She grabbed the broom from the supply closet and started to sweep around the bakery entrance.

“The floor’s not dirty, Kate.”

“I know. I’m trying to work out my nerves.”

“You’re nervous about your appointment with Cecilia?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“After the way our first appointment went, I don’t know what to expect today, especially because her fiancé is coming with her. I mean, what if he’s more of a nightmare than she is?”

“It’s possible he’s the total opposite of her and balances her out.”

“That’d be nice.” Kate put the broom back in the closet and washed her hands. She opened one of the display cases and bent over to reposition the white chocolate cake she’d made for Cecilia’s fiancé to sample.

The bells tied to the bakery door rang. With her eyes still on the cake, Kate called out, “Welcome back.”

“Thanks, Kate.”

She froze.
Eric?
She looked out the front glass of the case.
It is Eric!

His gaze met hers through the glass, and she quickly diverted her eyes…but not quickly enough. “Are you trying to hide from me?” she heard him ask.

Maybe.
“No!” she called out definitively from inside the display case. “Of course not!”

“It sure looks like you’re trying to hide.”

Anger surged through her.
You’re one to talk! Where have you been all this time?
Prepared to say these very words aloud, Kate pulled her head out of the case and met his gaze.

Eric smiled. “Hey, you.”

The mere smile of the man who’d formerly been her best friend for five years was enough to melt her anger. “Hey, yourself.” Without a second thought, Kate walked out from behind the counter and across the bakery toward Eric. She noticed him approaching her as well. When the gap between them was nearly closed, they wrapped their arms around each other.

“It’s good to see you again,” he said.

“It’s good to see you, too.”
I’ve missed you more than I’d realized.

Eric released her, and she noticed how little his physical appearance had changed.
As handsome as ever.
“How’s New York?”

“It’s incredible.”

“You still studying architecture?”

“Yep, and I graduate in May.”

“Congratulations.” Memories of her friendship with Eric suddenly flooded her mind: becoming fast friends—then best friends—when he’d transferred to her high school their freshman year; playing and fishing with Jess, Mark, and their other high school friends in the watering hole at the back of her grandma’s farmhouse property; telling him good-bye when he’d left for college in New York and she’d stayed in Hillsborough to work for her grandma at Sullivan’s; the summer after his freshman year of college, when he’d spent the days working in Hillsborough, the evenings hanging out with Kate, and the weekends helping her and her grandma transport and assemble wedding cakes; falling in love with him that same summer, but not telling him for fear of ruining their friendship if he wasn’t in love with her; receiving an email from him once he’d returned to New York for his sophomore year, saying he’d started dating a woman he’d met on campus; realizing she’d missed her opportunity to tell him she loved him; the subsequent months of heartache and sadness she’d endured while forcing herself to get over him.

Now he’s here…but why?

“The bakery looks terrific,” Eric commented as he scanned the space.

“Thanks.”

“Francis takes good care of this place, doesn’t she?”

Kate blinked. “My grandma passed away five months ago.”

Eric’s gaze shot to hers. “No.”

“Yeah. She had a heart attack.”

His face fell. “Kate, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard. Are you alright?”

She forced a smile. “I’m hanging in there.”
I need to redirect this conversation so I’m not bawling when Cecilia walks through the door.
“What brings you to town?”

“Actually, I need to order a cake.”

“Oh? What’s the occasion?”

Before Eric could answer, the bells on the front door jingled again. Kate looked and saw Cecilia, Loraine, and an older gentleman she immediately recognized entering the bakery.
Walter Prescott, the renowned Manhattan businessman.
Suddenly, it clicked.
He’s Cecilia’s father…and the reason cost isn’t an issue for this wedding cake.
“Good morning,” Kate greeted them. She realized her nerves had vanished at the sight of Eric and returned at the sight of Cecilia and her father.

“Good morning,” they replied. While Walter and Loraine sat down at the table, Cecilia walked over to Eric. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips.

Kate frowned.
What’s she doing?

After they’d kissed, Kate shifted her gaze quizzically between them. “You know each other?”

For the first time, Cecilia smiled at her. “Eric is my fiancé.”

Surely you jest.
Kate’s eyes darted to Eric for confirmation. As if reading her mind, he nodded.

I must’ve entered an alternate universe.

“You looked surprised,” Cecilia said coolly.

Try shocked.
“I just can’t believe Eric is back in Hillsborough.”
Or that he’s engaged to you.

“Ah.”

Despite my state of astonishment, I need to say something appropriate.
“Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Eric smiled.

Now I need to get it together.
“Let’s have a seat.”

As Kate followed Cecilia and Eric, she bit back a smile.
I can’t wait to see the look on Jess’s face when she finds out Eric is Cecilia’s fiancé.

They arrived at the table, and Cecilia put her hand on Walter’s shoulder. “Kate, this is my father, Walter Prescott.”

Walter extended his hand to Kate. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Kate shook his hand. then took a seat.
Maybe this alternate universe will present me with a way to fast-forward to the end of this meeting.
Seeing no signs of that happening, Kate rested her hands on her sketchbook and met Cecilia’s gaze. “I drew some wedding cakes based on what you told me and also based on your photo. I’d like to show you those drawings and see what you think.” She turned the sketchbook around to face Cecilia and Eric and opened to the first drawing. It was the one Jess loved, the one she loved, and the one she bet Cecilia would love. “What do you think?”

“Kate, that cake is
nice
,” Eric said emphatically.

“The cake is beautiful, dear,” Loraine smiled.

“Well-done,” Walter nodded.

“I’m not sure I like it,” Cecilia announced.

Say what?
“You don’t like this one?”

“Not especially. May I see the others?”

Kate could hardly speak for surprise…and confusion. “Uh, sure.” She slid the sketchbook closer to Cecilia. “By all means.”

Cecilia started to flip through the sketches, and Kate couldn’t believe her eyes. The woman appeared unimpressed, unaffected, and unsatisfied by every drawing.
What the hell is going on?

Finally, Cecilia returned to the first sketch. “This one will do.”

You just said you don’t especially like that one—which means you like the others even less.
“If you’re not happy with these sketches, I’ll draw some new ones tonight. You can come back tomorrow and take a look.”

“That won’t be necessary. Why don’t we just move on to the groom’s cake?”

Kate hesitated.
Should I ask her what about the drawings fell short of her expectations, or would that only make her angry?
In the interest of peace, Kate slid the groom’s cake photo album over to Eric.
Knowing him, he’ll be much easier to please than his better…other half.

As Eric looked through the album, Kate started to tremble.
I guess skipping breakfast on account of my nerves finally caught up to me.
“Mr. Prescott, Eric, can I get you each a slice of the cake Cecilia and Loraine selected for the wedding?”
So I can get a slice for myself.

“Sure, thanks,” Eric said.

Kate hurried behind the counter and took the white chocolate cake out of the display case. She cut two slices and plated them, then cut a slice for herself. She crouched to the floor and started cramming cake in her mouth.

Jess came around the corner, and her eyes landed squarely on Kate. “I don’t understand what I’m seeing right now.”

“I’ll explain later,” Kate whispered. “Would you get my water bottle off the work table?”

Jess disappeared into the kitchen and returned with the water. She knelt beside Kate and handed it to her. “Have you noticed the guy at the table looks exactly like Eric Wagner?”

Kate chugged the entire bottle. “That’s because it
is
Eric Wagner.”

“No way! What’s he doing back in Hillsborough?” Jess frowned. “Why’s he sitting next to Cecilia?”

Wait for it.

Jess clapped her hands over her mouth. “No.”

“Yes.”

She lowered her hands. “
Eric
is Cecilia’s fiancé?” she hissed.

“Yes, ma’am.” Kate stood up and brushed the crumbs off her clothes.

Jess stood up as well. “From the way you talked about Cecilia, I understood her to be a b—” Her gaze slid to the table and back. “Not a friendly person.”

“You understood correctly.”

“An unfriendly person doesn’t seem like Eric’s type.”

“I agree.”

Jess clicked her tongue. “Guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.”

Kate grabbed the plates and two forks. “Maybe Eric should have his eyes checked.”

Jess stifled laughter as Kate headed toward the table. She set the plates in front of the men and took her seat. “See anything you like?” she asked Eric.

“I’d take any of them.”

I knew you’d be easier to please.
“Which one’s your favorite?”

“The one with the fish on top.” He showed her the photo in the album.

“You still like to fish, huh?”

“Love to.”

“Are you sure you don’t want Kate to sketch you some more choices?” Cecilia’s voice rang out.

Unbelievable.

“No need for more choices,” Eric replied. “This one’s perfect.”

Way to go, Eric.
“What flavor of cake would you like?” Kate asked him.

“Red velvet is my favorite.” His eyes lit up. “Wouldn’t it be awesome if you made the cake blue instead of red? You know, like the fish is jumping out of water?”

That’s absolute genius
.

“Absolutely not,” Cecilia balked. “What would our guests think if they were asked to eat a
blue
piece of cake?”

The table fell silent.

Well, this is awkward.
“Tell you what,” Kate finally said. “Why don’t you call me or come by later this weekend and let me know what you decide?”

“Good idea,” Loraine chimed in. “Before we leave, we’ll sign the contract if you have it ready.”

“I do.” Kate pulled the two-page document from the back of her sketchbook and passed it across the table to Loraine.

“My parents said they’ll stop by next week to sign the contract for the groom’s cake,” Eric told Kate.

“That’s fine. Incidentally, will the groom’s cake be served at the rehearsal dinner?”

“Yes,” Loraine answered.

“What time does it begin?”

“Seven o’clock.”

“Great, thanks.”

While Walter and Loraine poured over the contract, Kate flipped mindlessly through her sketchbook.
Keep your eyes down and maybe you can avoid further interaction with Cecilia.

After going through the sketchbook twice and still not hearing a word from Walter or Loraine, Kate started to curse this alternate universe.
It won’t allow time to speed up for me, but it will allow time to slow down for them?
She glanced at the wall clock.
Have the hands indeed ceased to move?

“Here you are, Kate.”

She snapped her attention back to the table and saw Loraine sliding the contract and a cash deposit in her direction. “Thank you,” Kate said, sticking both in the back of her sketchbook.

Everyone stood up, and Kate inadvertently met Walter’s gaze. “Thanks for your hard work,” he smiled.

Kate returned his smile. In the case of Cecilia Prescott and her parents, the apple had clearly fallen a great distance from the tree.

“Bye, Kate,” Eric called out, while holding the bakery door open for his fiancée.

“Bye.” Once they were gone, Kate sighed.
I hope Eric knows what he’s gotten himself into.

* * * *

Kate sat at the work table, staring at the wedding cake sketch Cecilia had chosen earlier in the day.
How is it possible that I missed the mark on every single cake I drew for her? Why did she settle for one instead of taking me up on my offer to sketch a new set of choices?