Page 21 of A New Year Baby

CHAPTER 13

STELLA, MONTHS LATER

When Mary walks into my bakery, she is heavily pregnant and waddling like a duck.

"I need carbs," she says seriously. "I need sugar. Please."

I smile at her. "Sure, honey. What are you in the mood for?"

"I don't even know," she says miserably, running her hands over her belly. "This little one has been kicking the stuffing out of me all night, so anything to make him stop and calm down for a minute. You always know the perfect medicine for everything that ails me. What do you recommend?"

I get up from where I am seated behind the cash register, and I begin to pace back and forth between the shelves for a moment, thoughtfully. Lately, my bakery has been doing very well. People have been coming from several towns over to pick up huge orders. I have been called the Fairy of Flour. The Shaman of Strudel. The Wicked Witch of Wheat.

Like my desserts and pastries can magically cure people’s souls. So, I’m trying my best to live up to this lofty reputation. As I pace back and forth in the store, I stop in front of a display of cinnamon rolls.

"When I was pregnant with Luna, I was always craving cinnamon rolls," I tell Mary confidently. "I just baked this batch fresh this morning. I know it's a ton of sugar, and you're usually doing keto or watching your weight..."

Stepping forward, Mary grabs a cinnamon roll off the shelf and stuffs it into her face. Very impatient, much like her sister Clara. She closes her eyes blissfully. "I'll buy all of them."

I release a short burst of laughter. "Mary, come on.”

"I can't stop eating," she says with her mouth full. "Sven always says to eat healthy things, and he makes me these cute little salads with a few cherry tomatoes. And I sit there and try to smile and act thankful, because I know he's doing his best to help. But I just want to throw the salad across the room and scream sometimes.”

“Oh,” I say softly, as a wave of jealousy and sadness washes over me. “Well, it’s nice that you have help and support through this. At least you don’t have to do it all alone.”

“Yes, I’m so sorry, Stell. I have no idea how you did this alone, because it’s so scary and stressful. It meant so much to have Sven there to hold my hand at the ultrasound appointment.”

I lower my eyes, and try to fight the little ache inside me. I would have given anything to have Jack there through all those moments. But he missed it all, and he is still missing it all. Today, Clara taught Luna how to do a little pirouette via video call. It made my heart swell, and I just wanted to tell him about it. Look at our beautiful daughter. Look at her grow and learn. Can you believe we made that? I am so proud.

But he’s nowhere to be found.

Being around the Frost family has helped to fill the hole left by his absence, just a little. Sometimes. Sometimes it makes it hurt even worse. There are still these moments where it hits me like a truck. But I try to forget about Jack, and focus on his adorable sister standing in front of me.

“I amsofreaking hungry,” she says, holding her stomach. "This is not a salad situation. I need calories. I need carbs, I need meat."

"How about some savory treats?" I suggest, leading her over to my glass display, adjacent to the counter. "These all have a bit more nutritious value. I've got some sausage rolls, beef puff pastries, spinach and feta tarte soleil, Caribbean-style beef patties, Russian-style piroshki. Beef wellington, mini Shepherd's pies, Cuban meat pies."

"Oh my god," Mary says, nearly smashing her face against the glass. "Girl, you are an angel. Did anyone ever tell you that? Stella, the angel of pie."

"I have heard that once or twice," I tell her with a smile. “I’ve heard all kinds of things.”

“I’ll take two of everything,” she says confidently. “One for me, one for the little guy. That’s how it works, right? I’m allowed? No one will judge me?”

“I think you should eat whatever your body tells you to eat,” I answer. “But maybe not all at once, Mary.”

“Of course, not,” she says with a laugh.

I move to package her order, and she watches me move carefully.

"Stell," Mary says softly. "Can I ask you a huge favor?"

“Sure,” I tell her as I use tongs to place her items in a box.

“Could you bake my wedding cake? I know it’s short notice, but Sven and I decided we’re going to do it. Soon. I mean, the baby’s already on the way, so why wait. We’re going to get married. Nothing big and fancy. Just a bit of family. At home, in the backyard.”

“What? Honey, that’s amazing!” I tell her. “Of course, I will make your cake.”

“I would also love it if Luna could be a flower girl,” Mary says, “and you could be a bridesmaid.”

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