Page 66 of Make Mine Sweet
“Deliriously?” He seems content with his bike shop, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him look especially happy. Maybe when he gets points in against Wren, but that’s about it.
Charlie hitches a shoulder. “Well…as far as Shepherd can look happy. You know how he is.”
Shepherd and I were in the same grade in high school, but I wouldn’t say we know much about each other. I’ve gotten to know him a little better since he opened his business next door to ours a few years ago, but our friendship doesn’t extend much beyond me running interference for him with my sister.
“Yeah. He and Wren have this fun ‘trying to murder each other with eye contact’ thing they do every time he comes in.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “He comes into the bakery a lot?”
“Every week.”
“Huh. Now I’m kind of mad he gets one of your pies every week and doesn’t share.”
I’ve got my own suspicions about that. We have our regulars, but nobody quite as dedicated to us as Shepherd is. Seems wrong to talk about it with his sister when I can’t talk about it with mine, though.
“I’ve got to go make sure everything’s ready for the big event.” She flashes an all-tooth fake smile. “If we do expand to weddings, I’m hiring a coordinator. I am not cut out for this. But thank you so much for that beautiful cake. You really came through for us.”
“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.”
“If things go well with my plans, this isn’t the last you’ll hear from me.” She points at me as she backs away. “That sounded like a threat, but I mean it in a good way!”
I laugh at her brand of enthusiasm. “Let me know how it goes.”
I cross the parking lot, my ribcage full of fireflies. Mom might not be sure about me making wedding cakes on a more regular basis, but my heart is full. The cake turned out perfect, and the couple’s reaction was better than I could have dreamed. Even my steps feel lighter, like my pride is cushioning me in a protective bubble where nothing can go wrong.
I’m almost to my car when my phone rings. August’s daycare name appears on the screen, and that bubble bursts.
TWENTY-THREE
IAN
I stepout onto the back porch to find Tess already there. She’s at the edge of the patio, arms crossed tight around herself, staring into the trees like she doesn’t see them. Something’s off.
Might be a weird thing for me to notice about my neighbor, but I see it anyway.
“Hey.”Excellent opener, Ian.
She turns and flashes a big, fake smile. Yeah. Something’s definitely off. “Hi.”
I move closer. Dutch joins August where he’s playing with some trucks in an empty section of flower bed. He flops into the grass, begging for a belly rub. Without missing a beat, August scratches him with one hand and drives trucks through dirt with the other.
“Is everything okay?” They’re home early, another thing I shouldn’t notice but do.
“Yeah. It’s just…” Tess drops her façade, her shoulders slumping, her fake smile crumpling.
“What happened?” I’m ready to get between her and whoever stole the sunshine from her skies. “Who do I need to throttle?”
That earns a faint smile. “Me, probably.”
“Not happening.” I close the last few steps between us until I’m close enough our shoulders brush. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I’m not sure I’ve ever asked anyone that before, but here I am. Ready to listen.
“August’s daycare called this afternoon. The workers all caught some stomach bug, and they have to shut down for the rest of the week.”
“Is August okay?” Kid looks fine from here, but the fact that he’s sitting down to play instead of running wild could be a bad sign. Frankly, I’m not sure even projectile vomiting would keep him from petting Dutch.
“He’s great, it’s not that. It’s just…” Her gaze lifts to the trees as though they have the answers she needs. Or maybe she’s trying to fight off tears. “I have to ask my mom and sister for help while the daycare’s closed.”
