Page 58 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Demi shook her head, her expression dangerously dark compared to her yogic, serene self from moments before. “You don’t know anything about her. What her uncle is like… She deserves better.”
“I—”
Daisy was grateful Candace chose that moment to return. Truthfully, she had no idea what was going to come out of her mouth next. She only knew the guilt gnawing at her, and her frustration at its source.
As she plopped three fresh drinks onto their table, Candace deadpanned, “I sold my car.”
“What?!”
Daisy and Demi made eye contact as they echoed one another.
In a disbelieving voice, Demi repeated, “You sold your car? But why? Youlovedher.”
Standing tall, Candace played with her drink’s umbrella. She shrugged, saying, “I did love her. She was also a limited edition and worth a nice house down payment. The collector I found was practically begging me for the sale.”
“What about the loan I was going to give you?”
“You’re already helping more than enough with these designs. Really, it’s okay. This is a golden parachute I should have pulled a while back.” Candace paused. It was almost imperceptible, but she seemed to shudder. “Besides, I forgot how awful it is to have a recognizable car in a small town. You couldn’t pick the car I traded it for out of a lineup.”
Demi shook her head with wonder. “That’s crazy, Can-can. We—”
“We should run the numbers for the design,” Daisy cut in. For a moment, she caught eyes with Demi again. The woman wanted her friend to not be taken for granted? Fine. Daisywould gladly take whatever Candace wanted to give. They were all adults. Daisy was not going to let herself feel guilty over a choice that was not hers to make.
Not too guilty, at least.
To Candace, Daisy said, “If we’re going to get the work done in time for the height of the season, we need to talk about timelines and get moving ASAP. Right?”
Candace nodded. For the first time all day, her seafoam eyes showed some spark.
Cocking a grin, Daisy said, “I assume you already have some of this worked out. Maybe a sticker-covered binder?”
That spark grew to a full, gorgeous glimmer. Daisy’s heart burned in response.
“Well, since you asked…”
Chapter 15
Candace
June came crashing in like an impossible-to-escape tidal wave.
It took a full three weeks to plan, organize, and execute Bagel Bombs’!renovations. From paint swatches to particleboard, every detail mattered. Their progress was simultaneously warp-speed and too slow, which left Candace in a constant state of anxious flux—all that, plus the paradox that was her relationship with Daisy.
A shift happened.
Daisy only frowned at Candace half as often. And, most times, it turned to a begrudging, dimpled smile. Her cutting comments dulled to snarky ribbing, or even the rare compliment.
But it was impossible to say why.
Maybe it was the sheer amount oftime they were spending together. Along with the cafe shifts they co-worked, Candace started helping Daisy with inventory. They ran errands and baked bombs, shared mundane moments like debating whichSimpsonsepisode to watch, and talked business strategy late into every night. Candace would get into her (far from) new Nissan Altima, drive back over the bridge to the illustrious Comfort Clam, and sleep like the dead.
Then, she would start the day all over again.
To say she was tired would be an understatement. Not a minute passed where Daisy, Bagel Bombs!, or the future of both were not on her mind. It was exhilarating, too, because little by little their plans were coming together.
Candace just had to break her current trend of messing things up, which included keeping her uncle off their backs. He called her at the most random times, ‘checking up on her,’ he said, when it was more like keeping her emotionally hostage as he ranted about various topics. Candace swore the man was in love with the sound of his own voice. But, she listened, and did her best to keep him happy… while reassuring him that her work with Daisy DeMarco was a flippant, unserious effort.
Uncle Perry probably did not believe her. When she was young, he made a habit of interrogating her. He seemed to enjoy making her lie, like it was some kind of game, and her secrets were his to collect. Candace would keep playing—and lying—until she won.
