Page 50 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
It was funny. Their reunion seemed like a lifetime ago but,in reality, not even a month had passed. Candace washed back on Wonderwood’s shore, and showed no sign of leaving. Not when she kept twining herself with Daisy.
Metaphorically and literally.
Overtop Daisy’s own hands, she became keenly aware of Candace’s. The fingers that almost threaded with hers, hovering over the valleys between them; stiff, like divers at the edge of a pool. With each breath Daisy took, her chest and abdomen expanding, their skin brushed ever so slightly.
It would be easy to turn the tables, an internal, devilish voice told Daisy. To take control and move those hands where shereallywanted them to be. They were so close, if she just…
As Candace murmured Daisy’s name, shivers shook her core.
“Daisy, it’s going to be okay.”
“I-I know.”
“Your heart is beating so fast. I understand what it’s like to feel overwhelmed. I got so used to shoving those feelings down, and it made me the worst version of myself. If there’s anything else I can do to help you feel better, I’ll—”
Daisy pulled back. Not roughly or in a panic, but with gentle ease.
“I’m okay. Really.”
Worry filled Candace’s gaze as she opened her eyes and searched Daisy’s face. Whatever she saw seemed good enough, thankfully. A smile curved the corners of her lips. If she knew the direction Daisy’s thoughts hadactuallyturned, she gave no indication.
Needing to fill the air with something other than buzzing tension, Daisy asked, “Where did you learn how to do that?”
Candace’s hesitant smile bloomed, and it made Daisy feel uneasy all over. It was gorgeous;shewas gorgeous. But who could inspire her to make that kind of expression?
“Do you remember Demi Panopoulos?”
Daisy fought her grimace into a flat line. How could she forget Candace’s old right-hand minion? She’d heard gossip that they were still friends. In fact, Daisy often saw the womanfloating around town in her hippie skirts. She might have been the one person to show some humanity after Daisy was outed. Even so, when they ran into one another, Daisy did her best to turn the other direction.
She supposed she would have to say hello, now.
“I remember her. She owns Downwood Dog Yoga here in Wonderwood, right?”
“Yep! She’s the best person I know, hands down. She taught me not to keep things bottled up and how to manage when I feel out of control. I don’t know where I’d be without her.”
“Touching.”
“Demi’s also a fabulous designer. She put together the mock-ups for Bagel Bombs!’ remodel.”
That was news to Daisy. Her first inclination was to be mad that she was left out of the loop again. However, as Candace pulled out her phone and showed a series of designs to Daisy, her irritation vanished.
It was perfect.
There were multiple variations, but each mock-up centered on maintaining the retro ’90s vibe of the hole-in-the-wall cafe, while updating the layout and materials. Fresh neon lime and green accents; a multi-leveled countertop with more (and functional) plush swivel stools; new, shiny signs and displays.
Also, it was as weird-looking as it was functional. With curves and odd shapes, the design was reminiscent of the kooky character that fast-food joints had before corporate investors took over and went with the least offensive designs possible. Walking along the boardwalk, it would be impossible to miss in the best way.
Candace was a bubbling brook of excitement while Daisy soaked in the digital drawings.
“I wanted to wait for the right time to show you. Demi emailed them over while we were cooking earlier, and, to be clear, nothing is even close to final. This is some spitballing she humored me with. We’ll meet with her to talk about any ideas you have, and if this isn’t what you want, we’ll scrap—”
“I want it,” Daisy heard herself say. Less intensely, she added, “There are a couple things I might change for practical reasons, or restaurant code. But I… My parents would have loved it.”
Softly, Candace told her, “I’m glad.”
A beat passed, and she continued. “We’re in this together, all the way. Not but because I pity you, because I believe in you. Let me handle inventory logistics. It doesn’t mean you won’t have a say in it, since you’ll need to tell me what we need. But I’ll get us the best bang for our bucks, and make any field trips we need over the bridge. What grumpy distributor could say no to me?”
For emphasis, Candace winked and tossed her hair over her shoulder with a flippant wave. Daisy rolled her eyes, but she could not stop the smirk that cocked her mouth.
