by Shyla Colt
“I do.” He patted the thin hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. The passage of time had left its mark on his parents, but it’d done so kindly.
They walked the blocks over to River Road. The two-story tan building with a green awning and a screened-in sunroom had been built in an old farmhouse. The shop managed to update while maintaining the original charm. With different setups in the multi-roomed building, it ranged from comfortable with large, oversized chairs to a cozy area outside that seated two at a time. Another room held long, rectangular tables with chairs for bigger groups.
“Where do you want to sit today?” he asked.
“Outside. Let’s enjoy the weather before the chill creeps in.”
“Done. Why don’t you snag a table and I’ll grab our things? Are you getting your usual?”
After ordering two café au laits with apple danishes, he returned to the table. Placing one in front of her, he exhaled. It’d been too long since they did this.
“You seem more relaxed lately,” his mother said.
“Well the business is doing well, and I’m able to delegate more since the boys have proven themselves.”
“Hmm. You sure that’s all it is?”
Now’s your chance.
“Well—”
“Oh, look who’s here.”
He glanced over his shoulder and groaned at the sight of Kasey. Her chestnut-colored hair framed her round face and tumbled down her back. The light pink dress brought out her peaches and cream skin. Still slender, and beautiful, she did nothing to move him.
“Hey, Al.” She wriggled her fingers at him, and he fought to keep from scowling. He’d always hated that nickname.
“Kasey.” He kept his tone flat. The spark in her eyes waned for a moment. His mother nudged him under the table.
“What a nice surprise this is. Granville is such a small town. You never know who you’re going to run into.”
Come on, Mom. The two had loved each other from the start. He knew his mother had gotten used to the idea of her as a daughter-in-law, but her blatant attempt to rekindle the long-extinguished flames was grating on his nerves. Every time he thought she’d let it go, they popped up together like they were in cahoots. Maybe Kasey was using her connection with his mother to get back into his life. Regardless, his mom should know better.
He’d never had a problem being friends with his exes. Kasey couldn’t settle for that. She wanted more than he was willing to give. She seemed to think if she gave it enough time, their visions for the future would magically align. So he always felt he needed to be firm. Any sign of kindness that could be perceived as romantic interest would be used against him.
“We shouldn’t be surprised. We both know how much she loves River Road, don’t we?” his mother asked.
“That we do. I was expecting to get some mother-son time.” His jaw ticked as he flashed her a look that said he wasn’t pleased with her antics.
“Honestly, Alaric, your only child is showing. There’s plenty of me to go around.”
He’d planned on mentioning the fact that he was dating someone new to her. So much for that. Kasey’s smile wavered. He almost felt bad. She aimed to please. It was one of the reasons they broke up. Over time he watched her change from the woman he thought she was into the one she believed she had to be. Her likes had slowly but surely shifted to become identical to his own. Decisions were left up to him as she waited to hear what he wanted. He never understood how such a beautiful social butterfly with a successful career as an RNA could be so insecure. If he’d been after a trophy wife, she would have been everything he dreamt of.
It drove him crazy, trying to pinpoint when the personality swap had begun. He never could figure out if she’d always been that way and managed to hide it for the first half of their relationship, or she’d become what she thought a man wanted. Either way, it hadn’t worked for him. It made him feel like he couldn’t trust her.
“I’d ask you to join us, but the table only sits two, so ...” He shrugged.
“Oh, yeah. It was nice to see you again, though.”
“Mmm-hmm.” He nodded politely.
Kasey cast a confused look at his mother who shook her head, obviously shocked by his chilly reception.
“I’ll just go grab my order.” She shuffled away.
“Why did you embarrass that girl that way?”
“Because I’m old enough to pick and choose who I date, Mom. We broke up for a reason, and I have no interest in going down that road again. I told you that. Egging her on is cruel.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re not dissuading her either.”
“She’s such a nice girl. I just don’t understand why you’re so dead set against her.”
He sighed. “She is, but she’s not for me.”
“And who is? Hmmm?” His mother arched a thin brow.
“That’s what I’d been trying to figure out.”
She tensed. “Past tense?”
“I’m seeing someone. It’s new, and I’m not sure where it’s going, so I won’t get into much detail, but I wanted you to know.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“Thank you. So, I need you to cool it with Kasey. That’s water under the bridge, and I won’t have it messing up what I have going now.”
“This sounds serious.”
“I’d like it to be,” he admitted.
“Okay, if she comes trying to get back into your good graces again, I’ll let her down easy.”
“Thank you.” He exhaled.
“Now, about this new girl.”
“Nah.” He shook his head and laughed.
Chapter Four
Rosaleen
“It’s an exciting event, a new shop opening in Granville.”
“Thank you, I’m looking forward to being part of the community,” Rosaleen said, trying not to fidget as she spoke with Nicole, the local newscaster. One of the perks of living in a small town, a new business was big news for the local paper and news station, which was how she wound up in the studio at five o’clock in the morning.
Later, the paper would be stopping by to do an interview and photograph her and the staff cutting a pink ribbon in front of the store. Her stomach bubbled like a carbonated drink. Having the spotlight shone in her face was a new experience. It was one thing to talk about another’s work. When it as your own creation on the line, and your business, everything you said and did felt like it was under judgment.
Brushing her fingers over the embroidered pink rose on the sleeve of her crisp white chef’s coat, she grounded herself.
“Channel Five appreciates you making us a part of your big day.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you so much for having me.” Rosaleen smiled.
“Can you tell us a bit about For Cake’s Sake? Love the name by the way.”
“Thank you. I thought it was a bit tongue in cheek which represents what we’ll offer. In addition to comfort foods like pumpkin pie, snickerdoodles, and cakes with buttercream frosting, we also offer other elevated desserts and seasonal specials. We offer a wide variety of coffee, and I’ll be doing wine and dessert pairings on Saturdays. It’s perfect for a girls’ day out, bachelorette party, or a chance to try something new.”
“It sounds delicious. Chocolate lovers take note ... this is going to be the place to visit.”
“Did I mention for this weekend our first pairing will be free?” Rosaleen asked. She knew how to play the game. Free was the magic word that got people to listen, the rest was a matter of giving them something to spend their money on and to keep them coming back.
“Mark your calendars, ladies and gentleman. Now, the grand opening is today at seven o’clock?”
“Yes. We’ll be open bright and early with fresh pastries and coffee.”
“After the commercial break, Rosaleen is going to share some of her delicious baked goods with us.”
They smiled at the camera until the cameraman ga
ve them their cue.
“We can go and get set up now. I have to ask, why Granville?” Nicole asked.
Grateful for an activity to help distract her from her nerves, Rosaleen stood and followed her to the stage where a table was set up with the platter she’d brought. Carefully arranging the dishes, she continued their conversation.
“I was out here on vacation, and I saw the space for rent, and I knew it was where I wanted to be. The town’s charming, the people were friendly, and demographically speaking, it’s not overrun with people who do what I do. Indie owners can truly flourish here.”
Nicole nodded her head. “I could see that. People will love getting a taste of the big city without going there.”
“That’s my hope,” she admitted. “Personally, the slower pace has been refreshing. The city can burn you out after a while.”
Nicole nodded. “It’s one of the reasons I came home when the job opened here. I did my time working for a large channel in Chicago. The city lost its shine and charm after a few years. How are you enjoying the town so far?”
“I love it. The scenery is beautiful, there’s always something going on, and people are friendly.” Outside of business.
“Except?”
“Pardon me?” Rosaleen peered up from the éclair she’d placed just so to catch the best of the studio lighting.
“You hesitated.”
“Many of the fellow business owners have been standoffish. Not rude, just ...” She shrugged.
“It’ll pass. This town has been dragged into the present kicking and screaming. It’s a tough job balancing history and tradition with more modern ideals and upgrades. I think some of them see every new place as a potential threat to their way of life.”
“I’m not a strip club,” Rosaleen murmured.
Nicole snickered. “And they’ll realize that soon enough.”
“Sixty seconds to air,” a voice called.
“All right, here we go.” Nicole smiled. “We’re back with Rosaleen Plath, owner of For Cake’s Sake. She’s brought some tasty treats into the studio, and I’m the lucky lady who gets to sample them.”
The interview passed in a blur of nerves, and what she prayed were clever answers. Thanking them again for having her, she invited them to enjoy the baked goods. Waving, she joined her mother who was waiting on the other side of the studio.
“You did a great job, honey.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She smiled.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for years. I knew one day I would watch my baby open her own bakery. You’ve worked so hard for this. Make sure you enjoy it.”
Her mother’s unwavering faith helped soothe her grand opening jitters. “I’ll try. I’m worried about everything going smoothly.”
“Just take it one minute at a time,” her mother said as she fell into step beside her. “That’s all we can really do. I know you. All the i’s have been dotted, and t’s have been crossed. The rest is going along with what life hands you.”
“If only it were so simple.” They reached her black sedan, and Rosaleen unlocked the car with her key fob. “I’ve bet everything on this, Mom. What if I fail?”
“Honey, don’t even put that into the universe.”
“You’re right. Once I’m there, and in the thick of it, I’ll be too busy to worry. At least that’s the plan.” Entering the car, they buckled up, and she turned over the engine.
“Besides, I get to meet all the friends you’ve made while you were here.”
Her gut churned. There would be another first happening today—meeting the parents. Though neither mother would know their children were dating it made her nervous. She’d told her mother all about her new friend. The perceptive woman had pinned her with a look that stripped her bare but remained silent on the subject.
“Yes, you will.”
“Especially the one you’re closest to. What’s his name again? Alex? Albert?”
The teasing lilt made her scowl. “Alaric,” Rosaleen said softly. You think you’re so clever, Mom.
“Right. Alaric. I’m very much looking forward to meeting him.”
Crap. The shark’s caught the scent of blood in the water. I’m going to have to work extra hard to put her off the smell.
“I have to thank him for taking such good care of my baby.”
“Mom,” she warned.
“What? I’m grateful. It’s not easy moving to a new place and starting over from scratch.”
Listening to her mother continue, she allowed the familiar treatment to lull her into a temporary sense of ease.
“I WON’T KEEP YOU LONG, Rosaleen. I know you’re anxious to get to opening this beautiful establishment.”
“I always have time for the Granville Gazette.”
“That’s what we love to hear. Tell our readers what they have to look forward to.”
“Freshly baked goodies I learned to bake in my Grandma Rose’s kitchen along with new twists, and some of the elevated desserts I learned to make in culinary school. We’ll have seasonal favorites like pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie along with dessert and wine pairings. The first of which is free this coming Saturday.”
“You certainly aim to please,” Jennifer said as she scribbled in her note pad. “I have to ask, what drew you here?”
“I came here for a weekend getaway from the city and fell in love with the town and the people in it. The architecture called to me, and For Cake’s Sake became more than a dream once I viewed the corner spot open to rent.”
“I know Granville residents want to know ... are you single?”
She felt like a deer in headlights as she chuckled. “I am.” The lie tasted tart on her tongue. Put on the spot. She had to stick with their decision to remain under the radar while they figured out what they looked like.
“Fantastic. An eligible bachelorette who owns her own business is incredibly impressive. You must join us for the fall auction.”
“The what?” Did she just ask me to auction myself off?
“It’s an annual fundraising event here. We auction off one date, to be agreed upon between both, and lasting less than an hour. All the profits go to the United Services Organization. We have a lot of people with family who served, and they wanted to give back. We rotate causes yearly, and we are always, always, always looking for more participants.” It felt like everyone moved closer to hear her response.
“Oh. Yeah, I’d love to be a part of it.” She forced a smile.
“Wonderful! I’ll send you the email information and a sign-up sheet today.” Jennifer all but vibrated with happiness.
Rosaleen’s head spun as she was captured in the perky reporter’s web. What the hell did I just agree to?
“Tell me a bit about how you got into the baking industry,” Jennifer said, dizzying Rosaleen with the rapid switch of topics.
Blinking, Rosaleen cleared her throat. “As cliché as it sounds, I’ve always loved to bake.” Speaking about a familiar topic allowed her brain time to catch up as she gave what she hoped was a bare-bones, heartfelt story of a girl with pipe dreams turning them into reality.
“I think we have everything we need.” Jennifer smiled. “Look for the form tonight in your email.”
“Thanks, Jennifer.”
“My pleasure. Now let’s get your shop open.”
Could we please?
“On three, ladies. One. Two. Three.” Rosaleen didn’t have to fake the wide grin as she cut the pink ribbon in front of her shop. The crowd gathered around them cheered. The turnout was bigger than she’d anticipated. Hope and excitement melded together to form a tornado of emotion inside of her. All the networking and advertising paid off. Opening the front door for business and watching the group stream in and ooh and ahh over the things they saw erased the sharp memory of aching backs, swollen feet from standing too long, and sleepless nights spent worrying.
People are in my bakery. Taking in the joy and wonder on the children’s faces along with the smiles of their pare
nts filled her with warmth. Her workers were smartly dressed in white polos and pink aprons with a heart-shaped neckline, white bow, and ruffled hemline. They were the perfect mix of modern and vintage style to blend into her pastel paradise. The lyrics of “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” by Panic at the Disco echoed in her mind.
After all the preparation and sacrifice, she exhaled a long-held breath. I am living my dreams. Her mother squeezed her hand, and she moved forward to mingle with the customers and oversee her workers. As the day wore on, her anxiety spiked. Where’s hero? He was supposed to come in around noon, and it was two o’clock. That was more than a little late. It wasn’t like him to not be punctual.
Maybe he changed his mind? Still, he would’ve texted, right? In the office, she frowned down at her cell phone. No messages or missed calls. Her stomach plummeted. I knew it was too good to be true.
“Rosaleen. There’s someone out there who asked to see you. He’s cute,” Stephanie whispered.
Rosaleen shook her head. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Tucking her phone away in a drawer, she washed her hands and returned to the floor. Her mouth went dry, and she stopped, frozen stiff when the tall, tow-haired man came into view.
“Ryan?” she asked, hardly believing her eyes.
“Rosaleen.” His eyes lit up with warmth.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, careful to keep her voice neutral as coldness spread through her body. It’d been over a year since they last spoke. Still, seeing him in person proved to be too soon.
“I heard you were opening your bakery. I had vacation time, and I wanted to congratulate you.” Who are you, and what have you done to Ryan? If the vacation wasn’t on a private beach or international shores, he wasn’t interested. “I know how much this means to you, Ros.”
“Do you?” she asked with a chuckle that held no humor.
Stepping forward, he grabbed her hand. “I do now.”
She snatched her hand back like it was on fire. “Now isn’t the time or place.”
