Page 24 of The Charming Checklist
Hard to believe that had been a family birthday celebration. No singing, no cake. No hugs. Whenever he got home to California for his birthday, the party lasted a week. Loud salsa music, crazy dancing and way too much food.
She looked so dejected, hands folded on her lap, prim and proper. Damn. This wasn’t Ava. An impostor sat next to him.
Trying to lighten the mood, he went for a bit of humor. “I thought your father was going to have a coronary when your mother suggested that you go into politics.”
“I know, right? I mean, the things she comes up with. She’s getting desperate.”
“What do you usually do every year after dinner with the family?”
“For the past couple of years, I usually go straight home.”
“That’s no way to spend your birthday.” He took a right turn at the last minute and headed to the only bakery in town, Sweet and Charming.
“You need cake.”
Chapter Eight
Max couldn’t let this night end without getting some cake into Ava. Later, he might take her for a walk along the beach. Or drinks at the Salty Dog. He had a bar, for crying out loud, and people sometimes literally came injustto celebrate their birthday.
At this point he’d do anything to wipe that solemn look off Ava’s face. He wanted to hear her laugh with that soft little trill of hers. Speak loudly. Jump on a table. Anything. He couldn’t drop her off at her house knowing her family had sucked the spirit right out of her.
“I’m overdressed for this,” she said.
“So am I.” He pulled into the empty parking space in front of the brightly lit bakery sign shaped like a purple-and-pink cupcake. “But what the hell.”
“This counts as spontaneous.” She turned to him and gave him the first real smile of the night.
“I told you.”
Hand low on her back, he steered her toward the entrance. Sally, the teenager behind the counter, didn’t blink an eye at their clothing. In fact, the shop was pretty dead, and she appeared to be comatose. She wore the ridiculous hat which was supposed to be a slice of cake but looked more like a football fan wearing the cheese head. A pink-and-purple cheese head.
“Hi, Sally!” Ava called out as he held the door open for her to walk inside.
Bright and beaming, the Ava he knew was back.
“Hey, Ava,” the teenager said. “What’s with the tiara?”
“Oh, I—” She briefly touched it, almost as if she’d forgotten she wore a crown on her head.
“It’s her birthday,” Max finished for her.
“Oh, dude, then you get a free cupcake. Our birthday special.”
“Make that two,” Max said, and pulled out his wallet.
They settled on a plastic bench. Though they were overdressed, oddly this didn’t feel uncomfortable or tense. Maybe because this wasn’t a date, where he was so ready to impress a woman. He felt relaxed around Ava, in an odd kind of I’m-not-going-to-marry-you way.
“Should I sing?” He winked.
“Please do.”
But two seconds later, Sally was beside them, Ava’s pink-and-yellow cupcake with a lit candle on it as Sally sang “Happy Birthday.” She set the two cakes down and went back behind the counter to sulk.
“I think we woke her,” Max said. “So, why a coffee shop? I’m not discouraging you, but I just want to know what led you.”
“That’s easy. I’ve had a love affair with coffee for years.”
“So does ninety percent of the population but you don’t see most of them opening up a business serving it.”
