Page 54 of A Cowboy Sugar Cookie Kiss
“Say yes.” Sadie grabs my hand. She’s practically bouncing in her seat. “Yes, yes, yes.”
“The building is paid for and I’ll put the deed in both of your names. You can keep the menu, update the menu, or completely rid the menu and create your own. The bakery will belong to the two of you. That is, if you’re ready to move back to Whiskey Ridge Creek.”
Truthfully, I’ve been ready since the day I left. This little town is my home. These people are my family. I’ve fought to break into the baking world in the city, but it’s clear to me now, my boss never had any intention of doing more than sleeping with me.
“Yes, definitely yes. I mean, thank you. Thank you so much.” My chair scrapes and I rush around the table to embrace my grandmother.
Sadie hugs us both. “Thank you, grams. I love you.”
“It was always going to be yours, girls,” she whispers to us. “I didn’t want to push it on you until you both were ready.”
“I’ve been ready forever.” Sadie laughs.
“I’m ready now.” I give her a last squeeze before I return to my seat.
Grams rubs Fred’s hand. “It’s time for me to move on.”
Cole’s fist drops on the table with a thud. “With some random guy you’ve been fighting with for most of your life.”
“Son, you realize we’re in our eighties.” I would laugh at Fred’s admission if my mind wasn’t still reeling over my grandmother’s proposal.
I can envision the changes already. Not that there would be many. I’d addgranddaughtersto the sign.Betty’s Granddaughters Bakeshop. I’d keep most of the menu and add all the flavours of my Dreamy Monster Cookiextreme. I’d even bake Dreamy Monster Cookiextreme cakes. Matching icing and loads of huge cookies piled on the top with whipped cream and drizzled chocolate.
“This is a rash decision. On both your parts.” I’m not sure why Cole is so worked up over their decision. Sure, it’s fast and unexpected, but even I can see they’re in love. Put aside the disaster they made in the kitchen, they’ve been sweet and adorable all weekend.
“It isn’t rash at all.” Fred’s thundering tone meets Cole’s. “I think it’s time to tell our story.” His voice softens as he makes eyes with my grams. In the most adorable, sweet way. My little heart melts for them.
“Betty and I entered a baking competition together. I was sweet on Betty all throughout school.” The enchanting way he smiles at my grams makes it difficult to believe they’ve been fighting like cats and dogs for all these years.
“And I was sweet on Fred. He was a ranching cowboy who didn’t need to do much for the girls to swoon.” Grams bats her eyelashes at the older man.
This is news to me. And by Cole’s upper lip snarl,it’s news to him too.
“We were partners in the local Whiskey Ridge Creek Bake-off,” Grams continues. “We made every excuse to work together perfecting our recipe.”
“Every spare second we would meet at my house or hers.” Fred has a glimmer in his eyes as he recalls their time together. “Sometimes we would meet at the high school kitchen.”
“That’s where things went sour.” Grams smile dips downward. “I went to meet Fred in the kitchen and saw him kissing slutty Sallie.”
Sadie and I exchange a look at our grandmother’s choice of word.
“He broke my heart.”
“But I wasn’t kissing Slutty Sallie,” Fred rushes out.
Sadie and I share another look. I try to share one with Cole, but he’s in his own world. And by the snarl on his face, it looks like an angry world.
“Slutty Sallie kissed me and Betty wouldn’t let me explain.” The older folk’s eyes meet. “We miss many years from miscommunication and we will never let that happen again.”
“One question.” Sadie holds her finger up. “Does Slutty Sallie still live in town?”
Laughter breaks out of me. “That’s your one question?”
“For real. I want to meet this Slutty Sallie.” Sadie winks at me.
We all burst into laughter. Everyone except Cole.
“I don’t accept this.” Cole tosses his napkin on the table and rushes out.
