Baked with Love

by Peggy Jaeger

  “That sounds like the right word to me,” he said with a nod.

  “If we start dating, they’re bound to have something to say about it.”

  “And you’re worried they won’t, what? Approve of us being together.”

  It was my turn to nod. “I know it sounds dumb, but…” I lifted a shoulder.

  “Why don’t we wait to deal with it? I’m not entirely convinced either of them will have a problem with it, but if you want, we can keep what we’re doing to ourselves for a while. Not tell anyone in your family. Sound fair?”

  Relief flowed through me. “Yes. Thank you.”

  The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the midnight hour.

  “I need to go.” Lucas touched his forehead to mine and sighed. “I don’t want to, but I need to. There’s a bunch of stuff I need to get done before I can head home. Then I’m right back on duty at eight tomorrow morning.”

  I pulled out of his arms, and we walked back into my kitchen. “Did you eat anything at the Love Shack before you got called away?”

  “Some wings. By the time we were ready to order dinner, I got paged. Slade was starting to get antsy about Colleen, and Mac was trying to hide the fact he was yawning. As far as a bachelor party went, it was a pretty piss-poor one.”

  I put together a tin of leftover muffins and sandwiches from earlier. “Take these. It’s not the most nutritious thing in the world, but it’ll fuel you up for a while, at least until you can get home and get to sleep.”

  He took the bag in one hand, the other snaking around my back and pulling me to him.

  “Like I said before”—he kissed my nose—“one of the perks of coming here. But not the main one.”

  “You’re a typical man, and you like someone to cook for you. You just happen to like my cooking and baking.”

  “I like a whole lot more than that about you, Maureen. A whole lot more.”

  This time when he dragged me back into his arms and kissed me, I didn’t even consider this was something I shouldn’t be doing.

  He sighed again. “I really do need to go.”

  He kissed me one last time, lingering enough for my vision to go blurry when I opened my eyes.

  “After the wedding is over,” he said, “and things calm down again, I want to take you out. Dinner. Maybe a movie. Something where it’s only the two of us. No family around, no worries about the job or my father or Robert. Just us. Okay?”

  I nodded.

  I watched as he drove away, then closed and locked the door and leaned back against it.

  My knees were still a little shaky and my heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn’t stop the cheek-wide grin shooting across my face.

  Lucas Alexander, the object of every one of my thoughts and fantasies for years, wanted me.

  Me.

  Holy Christmas.

  As I slid into bed with a grin on my face I couldn’t wash off, one thought popped into my head that gave me a moment’s pause. My sisters and Nanny were going to go bat-shit crazy when they found out.

  Chapter 9

  When Eileen got sick and I found myself getting annoyed at something family related, or irritated about a problem concerning the inn, I’d try to remember to take a deep breath and ask myself, “In five years will this still be a concern, and am I going to even remember why I was angry?” Ninety-nine percent of time the answer was a resounding no on both counts. Helping my twin get through her chemo treatments, deal with the hair loss she experienced, and manage her perpetual pain became my new normal. Her plight was so much more devastating than any little aggravation that popped up.

  Like when the contractor we’d hired to install new bathrooms in each of the suites suddenly ghosted us after cashing our check. I took a breath and left the legal stuff in Cathy’s hands, told myself it was a lesson learned, and cared for Eileen.

  On opening weekend when we had most rooms booked and the electricity decided to go out the day before our first guest arrived, I contacted every electrician listed in the telephone business directory while simultaneously driving Eileen to her treatment.

  And when our parents moved away immediately after we buried my sister, claiming they couldn’t bear to stay in the house she’d grown up in, I told myself the hurt of their abandonment would ebb away and be forgotten. They would come back again, or at least visit as soon as their grief was under control.

  They hadn’t, and now, more than three years later, they’d only returned once, for Colleen’s wedding. They blew into town late Friday night, missing the rehearsal dinner. Saturday morning, Cathy, Nanny, and I were the ones who got Colleen ready while my mother pleaded a headache and said she’d meet us at the church. My father walked my sister down the aisle with a stoic expression on his face and then sat next to my mother who wore dark sunglasses throughout the ceremony.

  The reception had taken place at the inn, thereafter. My parents had stayed for the first course, then claimed they’d been forced to book a late flight home due to airline scheduling concerns. Before the cake was served, they were on their way.

  Slade had tried to joke Colleen out of her disappointment by telling her at least he didn’t have to worry about meddling in-laws.

  When Cathy set the date of her marriage to Mac, my mother emailed and stated they wanted me to save them a room for two nights again, which I’d done. The plan was they’d arrive Friday and leave Sunday morning.

  When they hadn’t arrived by Friday lunchtime, I texted my mother.

  When I got no response, I texted my dad.

  And when four o’clock rolled around and I was finishing up some last-minute decorating to Cathy’s cake and giving Robert another piping lesson, my phone finally buzzed.

  —Call me—my father had texted.

  “Uh-oh,” I said when I read it.

  “What’s uh-oh?” Lucas asked as he walked into the kitchen, his gaze immediately going to me.

  “Maureen got a text,” Robert said.

  “What’s wrong?” Lucas moved close to me but, mindful of his son, didn’t touch me.

  Since Saturday night when he’d made his astounding declaration of intent, I’d seen him every day, including Sunday morning when he came to have breakfast with my family, Robert in tow. He took great pains not to touch me, but the few times we’d accidently knocked fingers when I’d refilled his coffee cup, or when he’d taken the fruits of Robert’s baking lessons home with him in the afternoon, the effect had been profound. My sisters, thankfully, hadn’t noticed any change between us.

  A few times I thought about what a horrible person I was because I wished the wedding was already over with. But I never said it out loud. I loved my sister beyond all measure, and I wanted her day to be perfect. My own happiness could wait a few more days.

  But now with the ominous tone of my father’s text, worry blew through me.

  “My parents were supposed to be here by noon. I’ve been texting with no response until now.” I showed him the phone screen so he could read my father’s text.

  His eyebrows lifted, and he cocked his head. “That doesn’t sound good. Go call him.”

  I went into my office and did. Five minutes later when I returned to the kitchen, Robert and Lucas were seated at the kitchen table, the insomnia cookie jar open between them.

  “They’re not coming,” I said, not bothering to hide my fury.

  “Why the heck not? Their oldest daughter’s getting married.”

  “My father said they were all set to leave this morning for the airport when my mother went to lift her suitcase into the car and threw her back out. To hear him tell it, she’s practically paralyzed from the waist down.” I shook my head and clicked my tongue in disgust. “He took her straight to the emergency room where they put her on muscle relaxers, sent her home, and told her to stay in bed for a minimum of four days. Dad was told to stay close to look after her.” I plopped down at the table, my arms crossed over my chest. “This sucks. Cathy’s gonna be so disappointed. Who’s
gonna walk her down the aisle tomorrow, now?”

  “I will,” Lucas said without a second of hesitation.

  I gaped across the table at him. I swear, my heart flipped over inside my chest. If Robert hadn’t been sitting between us, I would have jumped into Lucas’s lap and kissed him silly.

  He shrugged and said, “It make sense. Cathy’s practically my sister, so if her own father can’t do it, it seems right I slide into the role.”

  “Lucas.” I shook my head, unable to put into words what I was feeling.

  “I’m gonna be standing at the altar with Mac anyway. Might as well walk up with Cathy. You gonna call her now and tell her about your parents, or wait until the rehearsal to let her know?”

  “I should tell her now, but I’m not going to call. News like this should be given in person.”

  “Come on, then.” Lucas stood. “Let’s go tell her together. Robert, you come, too.”

  Thankfully, Sarah hadn’t left for the day yet, so I put the inn in her capable hands for an hour.

  Five minutes later, the three of us drove up Cathy’s driveway. I knew she would be home because she’d started her two weeks of honeymoon vacation yesterday.

  “Number Four,” Nanny greeted us when we came in through the garage door linking to the kitchen. Her knowing gaze jumped to Lucas. “This is a surprise, and from the looks on your faces, not a good one. What’s up?”

  “Where’s Cath?” I asked, bussing her cheek.

  “Just got out of the shower and is gettin’ ready for us to head over t’ the church. Why is the law here?” she asked Lucas.

  Before he could answer, Cathy came into the kitchen in her robe, her hair tied up in a bun and a happy grin on her face. The second she spotted the three of us her grin disappeared. “Something’s happened.” Her voice broke when she asked, “Colleen?”

  “Fine,” I told her, moving to give her a hug.

  “Tell me,” she ordered, barring me from doing so. “Just say it.”

  This was Cathy to a tee. Bad news always had to be delivered without any sugar coating.

  “Mom and Dad aren’t coming.”

  Her face went white, and a thin line popped up between her brows. I quickly explained why they weren’t.

  “That woman.” Nanny stood to her full four-foot-eleven height, fury spewing in her periwinkle eyes and anger slashed across her lips. “It’s not surprised I am by this news,” she spat. “Probably did it on purpose.”

  “Nanny.” Cathy shook her head.

  “Everything’s always got to be about her,” my grandmother continued, not heeding the warning in Cathy’s tone at all. “Didn’t even stay long enough to toast Colleen at her own wedding, did she? Just slithered away before the festivities were done with some cock-n-bull tale about airlines and such. It’s a selfish woman your mother is, Cathleen Anne, to be sure. I’ve known it for forty years.” The true indication of Nanny’s anger was apparent because she’d referred to my sisters both by their Christian names and not the hated number nicknames.

  “And don’t you be saying I’m a mean old woman, Maureen Angela”—she pointed a gnarled index finger at me—“for sayin’ so and speaking th’truth.”

  “I wasn’t going to because I totally agree with you, Nanny.” I rubbed my hands down Cathy’s robed arms. “Daddy called and asked me to tell you, which is low in my book. He should have been the one to call, tell you, and then apologize.”

  “Don’t be holdin’ ya breath, lass,” Nanny said. “Fintan’s well and truly under that woman’s thumb. Has been since the day she put her hooks into him, and it’s only gotten worse since she spirited him away after Eileen’s death.”

  “Nanny, you are talking about our mother, you know,” Cathy chided.

  “Poor excuse for one from where I’m standing,” she mumbled. Nanny’s sigh, honed from decades of practiced theatricality, rang loud in the kitchen. “Well, now, it looks like ya need someone to walk ya down the aisle, lass. Since I’m the relative closest to ya, ’twould be my pleasure to do it, seeing as me poor excuse for a son bailed.”

  Cathy’s expression went blank. “Um…”

  I flicked a glance at Lucas.

  He cleared his throat and when all eyes were on him, he addressed Nanny first. “Fiona, while that is the most unselfish thing I’ve ever heard someone offer, I’m sure Cathy will agree with me when I say you shouldn’t be forced to give up your role of grand dame tomorrow. I know you’ll want all eyes on your granddaughter as she walks down the aisle, and it won’t be possible if you’re with her. You know everyone in the church will be looking at you and not the bride. You don’t want to outshine her, not intentionally, do you?”

  Nanny squinted at him, but I could see her lips twitch up while she did.

  “I’ll escort Cathy to meet Mac. If you’re okay with that, I mean,” he said to Cathy.

  It was as if sunshine broke through a cloud-laden, stormy sky when she beamed across the room at him. In the next second she flew into his arms, hugging him so tightly you could hear the wind whoosh out from between his lips.

  “I’m so okay with it I can’t speak,” she said, tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Lucas. Thank you so much.”

  She pulled back, dabbed at her eyes with her robe sleeve, and grinned up at him.

  “That’s what best friends are for,” he told her, then kissed her forehead. “And don’t worry.” He cut his eyes to me, one side of his mouth lifting up, then back to Cathy. “I won’t be wearing a blue velvet tux to the wedding. Maureen saw to that.”

  “Dad. Lame,” Robert mumbled and shook his head.

  Nanny’s all-seeing eyes nailed me with their intensity. “Isn’t that interestin’. When did this occur?”

  I told her about the three of us going to Concord and added Robert had gotten a new suit as well. As a diversion tactic, it worked well.

  “Did ya, lad?” she asked him, smiling. “Well, I’m sure you’re gonna look dashing. Promise me you’ll escort me down the aisle, ay? The best-looking lad in the church you’ll be, and I’ll be the envy of every female in the place.”

  Robert blushed to the roots of his hair, then grinned at my grandmother and nodded. “It’ll be a pleasure, Mrs. Scallopini.”

  “Ach now, I think you can be calling me Nanny like the lasses do. You’re one of the family, you are.” She squinted over at Lucas and added, “Despite being the son of a lawman.”

  Lucas grinned at her, then bent to kiss her on the cheek. “You love me, and you know it, Fiona.”

  “I know no such t’ing.”

  “Yes, you do. Maureen assures me you do, and you know how truthful your youngest granddaughter is.”

  Once again, Nanny cut her eyes my way. “Ay, that’s one word for her.”

  “Oh, my God,” Cathy cried. “Look at the time. We have to go soon, and I need to get ready. Mac’s meeting us at the church after he finishes up at the museum.”

  “Go on, then,” Nanny said, making a shooing motion with her hands.

  “See you in a bit,” she called over her shoulder as she bounded back up the stairs.

  “We’ve gotta go, too,” I said, cocking my head at Lucas. “I need to get the rehearsal dinner started and make sure everything is set to go for tomorrow morning. See you in a bit, Nanny.” I kissed her cheek again.

  She grabbed my hand and pierced me with the intense glare we’d all squirmed under as kids.

  “You and I need to have a little confab, darlin’ girl.” She snaked a glance over my shoulder to Lucas. My stomach flipped. “Seems there’s t’ings goin’ on I’ve no knowledge of, and you know how that makes me a bit…unsettled.”

  “Let’s get Cathy married first, Nanny, okay? Then we can have a girl’s night at the Arms. I’ll bring the scones.”

  Once again, she narrowed her eyes at me. “Ay, I’m running low on me supply, ’tis true. Okay, after the weddin’, then. But you and I are gonna have a talk, lass. A big one.”

  I kissed her again, happy to d
odge a nanny-quisition bullet for the moment.

  Three hours later, we were all back at the inn, including Slade and Colleen, who’d joined us at the church. Colleen’s jaw clamped so tight when she heard the news about our parents I was afraid she was going to crack a molar. From a wedding-planner perspective, the bride’s parents pulling a no-show was the equivalent of one of the seven deadly sins. From a daughter’s viewpoint, it was just hurtful. And unforgiveable. Slade grabbed her hand and forced her to look at him. Without a word said, he managed to dissipate her anger. Her shoulders relaxed, and the pinched, sour look on her face dissolved. When Lucas told her not to worry because he’d be the one walking Cathy down the aisle, tears swelled in her eyes.

  The rehearsal went off without a hitch, our parish priest, Father Duncan taking the news of my parents in stride. From her perch in the front pew, Colleen instructed us all in our duties, and within an hour, we were back at the inn for a final supper together before the morning’s festivities.

  “Are ya staying at the house tonight, Mac, darlin’?” Nanny asked as we dined on one of Cathy’s favorite dishes, chicken Alfredo, that I’d made special for the event.

  Mac slid a side eye toward his fiancé and with a tiny lift of his lips said, “I’d planned to, Fee, but your eldest granddaughter has proven to be something of a traditionalist where marriage is concerned.” He took Cathy’s hand and kissed it. “She doesn’t want us to see each other until we meet at the altar.”

  “Not so much a traditionalist,” Cathy countered, “as superstitious. I don’t want to start this marriage off on the wrong foot or take the chance something will go wrong. There’s a reason you’re not supposed to see each other beforehand. I know it’s considered to be bad luck, but I can’t remember why. I want only good luck coming our way.”

  Nanny nodded, and her grin turned devilish. “The reason why you’re not supposed to see your intended is because in the olden days, with arranged marriages and such, the bride and groom never laid eyes on one another until after the vows were spoken and the veil was lifted. By then, ’twas too late to run.”