A Slice of Summer

by Melissa McClone

  “Whatever you need.”

  And he meant it. This was more than making amends.

  He swallowed around the lump in his throat. He fought the urge to reach out to Taryn and touch her. Instead, he pressed his arms against his sides.

  She took a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

  An hour in, Jayden returned to the bakery.

  Two hours in, other business owners came by for first and second looks.

  Three hours later, the final decoration—a baguette on top of a picnic basket—was in place.

  Taryn rubbed her palms together. “I can’t believe we finished early.”

  “Teamwork and a great plan.” Garrett stepped away to see how everything fit.

  “A Slice of Summer” theme was, in a word, summery. The red, white, and blue color scheme with a yellow splash from the daisies worked well with the trees on either side and the artificial grass on the table and front panel. A picnic basket and tiered serving plates filled with samples: watermelon-slice-shaped cookies, cake slices, pie slices, and slices of bread sat on the table next to a large glass drink dispenser full of ice water with slices of lemon floating in it.

  “You put out all the sample slices.”

  “I wanted to for the judging. Saturday and Sunday, I’ll rotate them.”

  “Bravo.” Margot applauded. “The theme is quaint with a hint of nostalgia, a perfect combination for Lawson’s Bakery.”

  Taryn’s dimples appeared. Her face lit up. “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”

  “You did this.” Margot didn’t miss a beat. “Your parents will be proud of you.”

  She stood a little taller. “I couldn’t have done it without Garrett.”

  Margot’s twinkling gaze traveled between him and Taryn. “It’s nice you have such a good friend.”

  But the mischievous expression on Margot’s face suggested she wanted to say more. Garrett was happy she didn’t.

  “Very nice,” Taryn agreed.

  Margot leaned closer. “Your trees and front panel are a hundred times better than Summit Ridge’s.”

  Garrett nodded. “I thought the same thing.”

  “They might win. And I’m okay with that. But so much for my Midwinter Night’s Dream window for December,” she joked.

  Taryn would be okay. No matter how the judging turned out. “What about Twelfth Night?”

  “I’ll add it to the list,” she said.

  “No one knows what will appeal to people,” Margot said in that wise tone of hers. “But Pippa’s Summer Blooms theme is impressive for a newbie.”

  Taryn glanced in the direction of the florist’s booth, but there had to be eight to ten other booths before that one. “I need to check it out.”

  He put his arm around her. “Go now. I’ll stay here.”

  “When the ice cream booth opens, we’ll celebrate. The parlor is giving out mini cones for their samples.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” And he had another one for when they finished tonight.

  A date.

  Well, dinner.

  They would both need it after working so hard. And he wanted this time with Taryn to last as long as it could.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I hope you enjoy the slice of apple pie.” Taryn stood behind the booth’s table and handed a napkin to a man. The summer fair usually drew people from surrounding towns, but his Summit Ridge University tank top made her wonder if he was here to support the other bakery.

  Paranoid much?

  The answer was yes.

  Which was why the less she said about his town, the better.

  As she held in a laugh, she pulled a coupon from her apron pocket and gave it to him. “Lawson’s Bakery is around the corner from the park. We’re open tonight if you want to redeem your coupon for more pie or any other sweet treats. The coupon is valid through next Saturday night.”

  Taryn had memorized the spiel after saying it a few times. She hoped the limited time frame brought in more customers. The only expense was the paper to print them on—Brecken’s siblings had cut them in exchange for cookies—and less profit earned on items. But she would take the loss to get the baked goods in people’s hands, er, mouths.

  He placed the coupon in his pocket before picking up the small plate and a fork. “Thanks.”

  As he walked away, she straightened the stack of napkins. Brecken worked behind her and made sure the supply of samples didn’t run low. The only thing missing—Garrett.

  After they’d eaten ice cream cones, he’d gone to Callie’s booth to see if she needed anything, and he hadn’t returned. The crowds blocked the stalls on the other side, but it was no big deal.

  At least that was what she kept telling herself.

  Garrett had done what he said he would do—help her complete the booth. Sure, he’d mentioned helping her this weekend, but who knew what that meant? A kiss changed nothing between them, even if she might want another one. Okay, a lot more.

  Friends.

  Friends who kiss.

  But nothing else.

  She brushed off a pang. That was the safest path.

  Who was she kidding?

  The only path.

  Garrett would return home after Callie and Brandt’s wedding, and Taryn had to save the bakery. A few kisses were all she could afford.

  “Cute booth,” Mrs. Sellwood, one of Taryn’s former schoolteachers and the mother of Silver Falls’s mayor, carried her little dog, Madden, who panted at the table of baked goods. “I’ve had my fill of sweets today, but I’ll be here tomorrow for a slice from you. Clever theme.”

  “Thank you.”

  The woman had canceled Madden’s days at Callie’s Wags and Tails when the doggy daycare flooded, but she later apologized and returned. Now it appeared Mrs. Sellwood had done something similar to Lawson’s Bakery. She used to come into the bakery a few times a week, but Taryn hadn’t seen her in weeks. Possibly, months.

  Her stomach knotted. This weekend would remind Taryn of the customers who no longer came into the bakery. “I haven’t seen you lately. How have you been?”

  “Watching my figure.”

  Or driving to Summit Ridge.

  Taryn pressed her lips together. Customers were free to shop where they wanted, but she would try to remind them to visit Lawson’s. That was what a business owner—or a future one—did.

  “Good for you.” She handed a coupon to Mrs. Sellwood. “If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth or want a fresh loaf of bread or rolls this week, here’s a coupon for you.”

  “Thanks, dear. I love a bargain.”

  That explained why Mrs. Sellwood hadn’t been in. “It’s always good to get a deal.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Enjoy the fair.” Taryn noticed people standing in line. “Callie has dog biscuits if Madden is hungry.”

  Mrs. Sellwood glanced over her shoulder. “We’ll go there next.”

  A boy and a girl of around eight wearing matching yellow T-shirts, and a man came up to the table. The children stared at the cookies with wide eyes.

  Taryn’s grin widened. She recognized them from earlier. If she remembered right, they had moved to town recently, but she hadn’t seen them in the bakery. She wanted to change that. “Back for more?”

  He grinned at his kids, who appeared to hold their breaths. “They wanted another picnic cookie.”

  “That’s fine. You’re welcome to have more picnic cookies.” Those last two words brought a tingle. As Taryn gave each child a napkin, an idea formed. What if she created special dessert menus for various events? Caterers did that, but customers might enjoy those, too. Words popped in her mind: picnic, kid favorites, romantic, chocolate lovers, no chocolate. She gave the dad a second coupon. “If you have two cookie eaters in the family, an extra one might come in handy.”

  He laughed. “It will. Thanks.”

  The father handed each child a cookie. “No more after this, or you’ll get a tummy ache.”

  Both kid
s nodded before eagerly biting into their cookies.

  Their smiling faces made the long hours preparing for the fair worthwhile. She’d been so focused on surviving, she forgot what she’d love about working at Lawson’s—bringing smiles and creating memories with desserts. She needed to remember that. “Enjoy your time at Silver Falls Summer Fair.”

  The three walked away.

  “I checked all the containers.” Brecken refilled the empty platters before removing his gloves. He wore a Lawson’s Bakery apron over his clothes. “We’re almost out of the watermelon cookies. Do you want me to call Jayden or get them myself?”

  There’d been a steady flow of visitors to the booth but not overwhelming. “I can hold down the fort for a few minutes.”

  “I’ll run.” Brecken took off.

  “Someone’s in a hurry.”

  Her pulse kicked up. She turned to face Garrett. He’d changed into a different pair of shorts and a polo shirt. “Having fun?”

  He nodded. “I helped Callie until Anna arrived. Ran to Margot’s, showered, and changed. I also checked out the competition.”

  “Any favorites?”

  “My sister’s is cute. But I like yours.”

  “Ours,” Taryn corrected. “This booth wouldn’t have happened without you.”

  “Thanks.” He glanced to his left. “Summit Ridge did an okay job with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but a few things are missing, so it feels incomplete from what you designed. The florist shop nailed hers. It’s stunning.”

  “Pippa’s impressed me.”

  A woman stood next to Garrett and took a slice of black forest cake. “These desserts are so creative.”

  “Thanks.” Taryn handed her a coupon. “This is good through next Saturday if you want to see what else Lawson’s Bakery offers.”

  “Thanks.” She picked up a napkin. “It’s hard to pick one booth over another, so I’m doing a taste test to see who gets my vote.”

  Taryn’s chest tightened. “Sounds like an excellent method. Enjoy the summer fair.”

  Garrett watched the woman walk away. “Nervous?”

  “I was, but now I’m…” She searched for the word. “Resigned. From a purely aesthetic view, Pippa’s booth should win. But even if it’s Summit Ridge, that’s okay. I—we did our best. Now, I’m doing what I can to draw attention to Lawson’s and send customers that way. Only time will tell if it’s enough.”

  “Great attitude.”

  She raised her chin. “Thanks.”

  “Any marionberry slices?”

  Taryn laughed. “Your true motivation now comes out.”

  He winked. “Guilty, though I wanted to see how you were doing.”

  She handed him a plate, fork, and napkin. Pre-slicing the pieces made things easier and cleaner. The table behind her, where all the prep work took place, was another story. “So far, so good. Lots of traffic. Brecken is refilling samples for me.”

  “I wondered why you were alone.”

  “He’ll return shortly.”

  “What are you doing after this?” he asked.

  Her heart bumped. “Putting all the stuff away and washing the trays for tomorrow before getting a late dinner.”

  “Callie and Anna want pizza. We had it the other night, but do you want to join us?”

  “I’ll never say no to pizza.”

  “It’s a date.”

  A thrill shot through her. She nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Probably too much, but she would deal with that later.

  Four girls approached the table. They appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen with their world-is-ours-for-the-taking vibe. Each held a ballot and a short pencil.

  The taller of the bunch rose on her tiptoes. “Oh, I like this one.”

  A redheaded girl with freckles nodded. “I love picnics. Someday I’ll have a boyfriend, and we’ll go on picnics every weekend.”

  A girl with glasses pointed at the tiered platter. “Look at the watermelon cookies. Those are so cute.”

  “Cake!” One in a flower print romper tugged on the taller one’s arm. “We have to have a slice.”

  Another girl with short pink hair tapped her pencil against her chin. “Picnic. Flowers. I don’t know which to vote for.”

  “My grammy says you can never go wrong with pie,” the one with glasses said.

  The romper girl nodded. “Pie or cake.”

  Garrett leaned toward her. “That’s my cue to get out of the way. See you later.”

  The girls giggled and wanted to know about each dessert, so Taryn explained the different types and flavors. “You’re free to take whichever you’d like. And here’s a coupon you can use. I’ll give you an extra one for your family.”

  The girls thanked her before walking away.

  “I’m voting for this booth,” the one in the romper said. “Nothing beats free—”

  “Cake,” the three others said at the same time, and all four burst out laughing.

  Oh, to be that young again. Taryn’s smile spread. She hoped the girls made the most of the next few years of high school together. Most of her girlfriends she’d grown up with had moved away from Silver Falls. It was a town to leave. That was why several First Avenue businesses belonged to new people in town. A few had returned after college like Nick, and others had left a second time as Brandt had done. She was grateful to have Callie, Anna, Raine, and now Pippa move to Silver Falls.

  “Got everything.” Brecken hurried toward the booth with a box. “Sorry it took so long, but the line is out the gate, so Jayden needed me.”

  “No problem.” A line meant sales. “Things have been slowing down here. Restock everything and help out at the bakery. I’ll call if I need you.”

  “Sure thing, Boss.” Brecken pulled on gloves and opened the first container of cookies.

  She greeted more visitors to the booth. As soon as Brecken refilled one type of dessert, they disappeared. But soon, they caught up.

  “I sliced some extra cake and pie.” He pulled off his gloves. “I’ll be a phone call away.”

  “Thank you.” The crowd had thinned. Many were at the food trucks and stands or the carnival rides. “Tell Jayden, Carl, and Finley thanks.”

  “Will do, Boss.” With that, Brecken headed toward First Avenue.

  She straightened the table, even though the judging must end soon.

  Anticipation shot to her toes. Taryn lowered her expectation of winning. But any kind of placement, including an honorable mention, would be better when she told her father what happened.

  Not that she’d failed.

  Taryn ran her fingertips along the fake grass covering the table. She’d succeeded by not giving up.

  “Callie told me they’d be announcing the winner soon.” Garrett stood in front of the booth. He peered behind her. “Are you still alone?”

  “Brecken brought over more samples, but things are winding down here, so I sent him to the bakery to work there.”

  “I’ll help you.” He squeezed through the gap between the table and the tree covering the tent pole. “What do I need to do?”

  She gave him some coupons. “Before people walk away, hand them a coupon.”

  “Easy-peasy.”

  “It is.” She pulled disposable gloves from the box and handed him a pair. “Put these on in case you need to handle any of the plates or samples.”

  They worked side by side. More than once, Garrett sweet-talked people to visit Lawson’s with a sales pitch that would have made her grandpa proud. “If being a lawyer doesn’t work, you’d make a great salesperson.”

  “Only for something I love.”

  “It’s all about the marionberry pie.”

  “What do you mean?” he feigned innocence.

  “I saw you sneak a slice.” Possibly two, but she wouldn’t call him out on that extra one. He deserved it.

  “My eating more pieces means less to pack up when you close the booth. I’m assuming the stuff either goes home wit
h you or to the bakery.”

  “The bakery, and excellent save.”

  “Lawyers are known for their oratory skills.”

  “As in talking your way out of something.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Good evening,” a woman announced over a sound system that broadcast through the park. “Thank you for attending Silver Falls Summer Fair.”

  The crowd cheered and clapped.

  “We appreciate all who cast ballots for their favorite booth theme. This was a record-setting year for the number of ballots cast. And now, I’d like to announce the winners of our First Avenue Business Association Booth Competition,” the voice said.

  The people got quiet.

  Taryn’s muscles tensed.

  Garrett put his arm around her.

  “Honorable mention goes to Lawson’s Bakery’s: A Slice of Summer.”

  She released the breath she was holding. People and the other business owners clapped.

  “You okay?” Garrett whispered.

  A nod was all she could manage. The bakery had placed. No, it wasn’t a win, but she would take an honorable mention.

  “Second place goes to Summit Ridge Bakery’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

  People clapped again. Someone whistled.

  “At least they didn’t win,” Garrett whispered before brushing his lips over hers.

  Taryn nodded.

  “And the winner of this year’s Summer Fair Booth Competition is Silver Falls Flowers’s Summer Blooms.”

  People cheered.

  Taryn clapped. “Pippa deserved it, but is it awful if I feel relieved?”

  “Not at all.” Garrett pulled her closer. “Given where we were on Wednesday night, I’d say honorable mention is a grand prize.”

  He was correct. She straightened. They’d pulled together a booth that not only finished early but also placed. “Me, too.”

  Five minutes later, the honorable mention ribbon hung from her sign.

  Except it’s not first place.

  Her dad’s voice echoed in Taryn’s head. She’d upset him by helping Callie win the Christmas window contest when everyone in town believed she’d been a shoo-in to repeat as winner. No doubt he’d blame her for not winning. But neither he nor Grandpa had won, either.