Page 60 of Make Mine Sweet
Her smile spreads and curls across her mouth so slowly, it’s like she’s means for it to worm straight under my skin. Having a sister is a constant love-hate relationship.
“Whatever you say. Someone’s out front to see you.”
She hitches her eyebrows up before disappearing back through the swinging door. My stomach dips. Nobody ever comes to the bakery to see me. Except once.
I smooth my hands over my hair and straighten out my apron for good measure. I consider checking my face in the back bathroom, but nothing could be worse than the state Ian found me in last night.
Pushing through the door, I step out into the bakery, quickly scanning the space. Wren’s helping a mother and her children at the front counter, with a man waiting in line behind them, and standing off to the side is Charlie Callahan.
No Ian.
Wren looks from me to Charlie, dipping her head in indication.
Oh.
I brush off my silly disappointment and cross to where Charlie’s waiting. She’s Shepherd’s younger sister, but you’d never know it by looking at them. He got their dad’s black hair and tall, lean frame, where she got their mom’s red hair and petite, curvy figure. Meanwhile, Wren and I are carbon copies of our mom, personalities excluded. Genetics are weird.
As soon as I get close enough, the anxious look on Charlie’s face breaks into relief. She actually clasps her hands together as if she wants to give me a standing ovation just for being here.
“Tess. Hi. How are you? Everything good?”
“Yes.” I drag the word out, trying to do some calculations about what’s going on. Charlie runs Moonlight Lodge with her parents. They sometimes request pies for special events, but they usually talk to Mom about those.
“I know I’m being weird. I’ll get right to the point.” She pushes her brown plastic glasses farther up her nose. “I have a couple staying at the lodge who have decided to elope while they’re here.”
She pauses to make jazz hands for the happy couple.
“They’re throwing together a scaled-down event, but it’s still our first real foray into weddings. I’m a little frazzled trying to help them pull in everything they need, can you tell?”
I just smile, but yes, I noticed. Charlie’s usually less frantic than this. “What do you need from me?”
She stares at me a beat. “The wedding cake, obviously!”
“I…” My first request for a wedding cake, and that’s all that croaks out of my mouth.
“My parents showed them pictures of the cake you made for their anniversary in the spring. The couple would love for you to make their cake, too. They probably want something different, and smaller since they don’t really have many guests, but I told them I would check to see if you’re available. I know it’s crazy last-minute, but…do you have any space to make a wedding cake?”
“Uh…” Everything she said’s still filtering through my sluggish brain like it has to go through a translator app a few times first. “When?”
“They’ll have their license in three days, and we’re planning for a ceremony then. If you can’t do it, I completely understand, but I’d really love to keep everything sourced right here if I can.”
She flashes a tentative smile. I’m flattered beyond reason—I can’t even think straight—but I’ve also never made a wedding cake before. Birthday cakes, yes, anniversary cakes and holiday cakes, sure. All beautiful, all results I’m proud of. I even have a folder on my computer stuffed with photos of my work. But a wedding cake is a big deal.Thebig deal when it comes to cakes. I can’t mess around and get it wrong.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather call a bakery in Bend?” The question comes out at the same time I think it.
Over my shoulder, Wren makes a strangled sound of protest.
“I will if I have to, but I’m sure their specialty bakeries are already booked solid. I mean, it’s June—everybody’s getting married, right?”
That’s true. Any bakery that offers wedding cakes probably has a waitlist months out by now. Her couple won’t be able to find anything custom with only three days’ notice. I don’t want them to have to resort to a grocery store sheet cake when I could create something just for them. And Icouldmake time…
Charlie watches me with a hopeful expression, waiting on my answer. I’m frozen, mentally scrambling over possibilities. Flavor combinations and decorative styles, tiers and frosting and aesthetics. It’s just another specialty cake, right? I can do this.
“I’ll make the cake for them,” I finally say.
She grins again. “I’ll give them your contact info. You are the best. I know it’s going to be amazing!”
Charlie finishes singing my praises and leaves to secure a few more vendors for the last-minute wedding. I return to Wren’s side behind the counter, calculating how my next few days will have to adjust so I can bake and decorate the cake in time. I’ve already got a cake on my calendar next week for Hope’s engagement party, but I can absolutely swing this.
