“Why didn’t you tell me Heather knew you lived in the loft above the store?” he asked after they were on the road for a few minutes. His lean fingers had a death grip on the steering wheel.
“It wasn’t a deliberate thing. In fact, it slipped my mind until Jake brought it up.” Becca sighed. “This has been so hard for you. I wish I could make it easier.”
“There is no easy in dealing with Heather. Promise me one thing. If she threatens you in any way, don’t let it go. Tell me. Tell Jake.”
Becca rubbed his arm. “I will. I just refuse to let that bitch run our lives. But I would never keep something like that secret, not when it could affect Bash.”
He glanced over at her. “We’re going to get through this Becca.”
“I know.”
Once they were at the jewelry store, the clerk kept pulling out rings that were way too fancy for Becca’s taste until she finally held her hands out to the young woman.
“What do you see?”
“Your hands.”
“Do you see either a fancy manicure or any rings?”
“No.”
“I’m a baker. I spend a large part of the morning with my hands in dough. My diamond won’t, but I would like something that fits my lifestyle. Simple.”
Becca was already irritated by the condescending way the clerk dismissed Eli after seeing his braid and his earrings. She was tempted to inform the snooty clerk that he had a really interesting tattoo as well and ask her if she wanted to see it. But she glanced at Eli and saw by the slight arch of his brow and the humorous twist of his lips that he knew exactly what the clerk thought, and he found it funny.
They finally settled on a one and a half carat diamond solitaire. Becca loved the ring, but the price made her cringe just a bit. “Are you sure, honey?”
“We can make financing arrangements...” the clerk began in that same patronizing tone.
“Not necessary.” Eli pulled out a debit card. “You can call my bank and verify funds if you’d like.”
The clerk swallowed. “I’ll be right back, sir.”
“Eli...” Becca began, but he put a finger to her lips.
“Thanks to my loving father, most of the folks in Mountain Meadow appear to think I ran a hotdog stand or a beach cabana on the coast.” His smile didn’t hold much humor. “I can assure you, that wasn’t the case. Windswept is a very busy, very upscale restaurant. I sold part interest in it to fund buying Mercer’s from Dad, but I still own a percentage of the restaurant and get my share of the profits, along with what I make at Mercer’s. I just choose not to throw my money around unless it’s for something that really matters...like a ring for you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. Stupid. She blinked them away and leaned over to kiss him. “I love you. You know that?”
His grin was lopsided. “I’m gettin’ that general idea.”
The clerk returned with his card and the ring, now resting inside a velvet box. Eli smiled at her, lifted the ring from the box, and slid it on Becca’s finger.
“Now everyone will know you’re mine, Allred.” He pushed the box back to the clerk. “Keep it.”
Becca insisted they stop by the toy store before they left, so they could pick up two more cars Bash could add to his collection. After a late lunch, they headed back to town.
It was vain, and so girly she could hardly stand it, but Becca kept looking down periodically at the diamond sparkling on her ring finger. She was going to marry Eli Mercer, the boy she’d had a crush on since before she was a teenager. Life was perfect.
****
They picked up Bash on their way back into town, stopping long enough so Becca could show her ring to Eli’s parents. His dad eyed him with raised brows, but Eli just laughed.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I can afford it.”
“Have you set a date?” his mother asked, ever practical.
“We’re thinking this fall, but we haven’t hit on an exact date,” Becca replied.
“Don’t wait too long. You know your parents will want everyone to be there. After all, you are their only daughter.”
Eli could almost hear the groan Becca suppressed. It was the same thing her mother had said when they’d talked to her parents the other night.
“On a more serious note. We talked to Jake this morning. Heather confronted us in the driveway at my place last night, and this morning when Becca came down from her apartment, Heather had slipped a note through the mail slot.”
“Is Bash in danger? Are you two?” His mom put a hand to her throat.
“I think she just wants money, Mom. But Jake advised us to keep an even closer eye on Bash...not to leave him alone for even a second outside.”
“We’ve always been extra careful about that because of the pool, but that’s good to know. What are they doing about it?”
“They have her picture and the note she left for Becca. She’s already in violation of the restraining order I got, so if they see her, they can pick her up.”
His dad shook his head. “Just doesn’t seem right, a mother acting like that. If she was at all concerned about Sebastian, I’d feel better about it, but he doesn’t seem to matter to her.”
Eli sighed. “He doesn’t. I found out pretty damn quickly he never did. But Becca and I will make a good home for him.”
Bash dashed back into the room at that moment with his little backpack on his back. “I have my stuff packed, Daddy. Is Becca Mama coming home with us?”
Becca ruffled his hair. “For dinner, but then I have to get back to my place. I have to get up early so I can bake the bread for Daddy’s restaurant.”
“Can I help?”
She shook her head. “Not tonight, but maybe we can work on that. Jared helps me every morning, so we could teach you to knead the dough. You got any arm muscles? You’ll need those.”
He bent his arm and flexed. “See?”
Becca gently squeezed his bicep. “Wow! Those are getting big.”
Bash giggled and strutted toward the door.
“Wait a second, sport!” Eli called. “Don’t go out without us.” He glanced at his parents. “Sorry. Gotta go.”
They caught up with Bash, and Becca ran with him to the car. As they drove home, Bash told them all about going with Gram to the grocery and then eating lunch with Gramps. He had helped Gram bake cookies and work in the garden.
“Sounds like you had a full day.” Eli commented.
“What did you do, Daddy?”
Eli glanced up in the rearview mirror. “I bought Becca a ring.”
“I wanna see.”
Becca turned in the seat to show it to him.
“Wow! That’s really sparkly. Don’t lose it in all the dough.”
“I’ll take it off while I’m kneading bread, but see...that’s all the more reason for you to learn how to help me. If you kneaded the dough, then I could keep my ring on all the time.”
They grilled burgers, sliced up fresh veggies and fruit, and had dinner on the back deck. While Eli cleaned up, Becca pushed Bash on the swing. Eli watched them through the kitchen window and rubbed his chest. This felt good. Like a real family. It dawned on him that he had never shared this type of relationship with Heather.
When he left so many years ago, fired with the need to get out from under his dad’s thumb and make his own way, Eli had never envisioned returning. Never imagined he would end up with the girl he’d had a crush on when he was a kid. But it felt right. And the only thing marring it was Heather. Her threats tainted what would have been idyllic.
As much as he was trying to downplay it, Eli saw differences in Heather that concerned him. Her approach this time was much more aggressive. The fact she had nosed around and already knew so much not only about where and how he and Bash lived, but also about Becca made his gut tighten. In the back of his mind was a feeling he just couldn’t quite dismiss. Heather acted like a woman who was desperate, and he feared that desperation would lead her to violence.
*
* * *
Becca entered the kitchen the next morning with Bash’s words about not getting her ring in the dough still echoing in her sleep-fogged brain. She took the ring off, slid it into the pocket of the loose fitting scrubs she wore, and twisted her hair up and back before she scrubbed up and began work.
Jared came in a few minutes later, still yawning.
“I bet Bobby Flay doesn’t get up this early. Even the Ace of Cakes probably sleeps in more than we do.”
“Uh huh, and neither one of them makes a living selling bread. Until we build a catering clientele, early mornings are going to be the norm. Get yourself a cup of coffee. I’ve already got the white bread going, so you can start in on the wheat.”
“You’re a slave driver, Aunt Becca!” Jared called over his shoulder as he pushed through the door from the kitchen to the front of the store to get his coffee.
Becca smiled. She would save the good news for later. When she’d gotten home last night, there were two orders on the machine for birthday cakes. As soon as they got Eli’s bread order done and had replenished their own stock, she was going to turn Jared loose. It was time he had a chance to show off his artistry for more than just family.
If they were going to move in the directions of desserts and pastries, they would take on every order they got. After they had the last of the loaves in the oven, Becca handed the two orders to Jared.
“Pick one.”
“What are they?”
“Cake orders. Two separate orders for birthday cakes. Take a look at them, pick which one you want to do, and I’ll handle the other one. I’m giving you a chance to show off.”
“Wow. Thanks, Aunt Becca.”
“Don’t thank me. Both will demand hard work.”
He grinned. “I know that. I mean thanks for the opportunity, for not treating me like I’m just a kid.”
“You aren’t just a kid. I’m hoping you’re my future partner. Now pick an order, and we’ll get started once the bread’s in the ovens.”
The smile on her nephew’s face made Becca feel a whole lot better about the future. As they discussed the cake recipes and ideas for decoration, she felt the excitement of being able to create return. It was one of the reasons she’d specialized in baking to begin with. Not only was there satisfaction creating something that tasted delicious, but also opportunity to create art. She liked to think of cake decoration as edible sculpture, and that same excitement shone in Jared’s face.
By closing time, she and Jared both had detailed designs and drawings. She wrapped an arm across his shoulders. “Time to quit. You’ve got some great stuff here. We can get started on the baking tomorrow. They’ll pick the cakes up Friday.”
“Thanks, Aunt Becca.” Jared took off his apron and hung it on a peg next to the door leading into the front room. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Becca locked up after he left and ran upstairs to take a shower. She had just left the shower when her phone rang. Tucking an oversize towel around her, she grabbed the handset off the charger in the bedroom.
“Hello.”
“Am I going to have to fly back and beat the shit out of Mercer?”
As soon as she heard the deep voice on the other end of the line, Becca let out a squeal. “Noah! Where are you?”
“In the middle of some freaking jungle that just happens to have a cell signal. I just got your email. So what’s up with you and Eli? I thought he was already married.”
“Shows how behind the times you are. You really do need to come home once in a while, brother dearest. Eli is back here as owner of Mercer’s. He’s got a beautiful little boy, Sebastian, and he’s stuck a big rock on my finger.”
“Yeah. I am going to have to punch him.”
“Too late. Caleb’s already tried. He got me instead.”
“What the hell?” Noah’s voice sounded pissed even through their marginal connection.
“It was all a big misunderstanding. They’ve called a truce. I think it’s just a case of you all knowing too much about each other, but Noah, you know how I always had a crush on him.”
“That was high school, Becky.”
“For you. For us, it never went away. He’s good for me, Noah. We’re good for each other and for Bash.”
“He lives with Eli? Where’s his mom?”
Becca tensed, not sure exactly how much she should say, but this was Noah after all. “She’s not a good person. She’s got a drug and alcohol problem. Eli was granted custody because she neglected Bash.”
“Geez...”
“Oh, it gets worse. She’s been blackmailing Eli, and now she’s shown up around here trying to blackmail both of us. Jake’s gotten involved.”
There was a short silence from the other end of the line. “You be careful, Becca. People with drug problems are unpredictable. God knows we see enough drug issues here—from users and manufacturers.”
“You be careful, Noah. And I’m serious. We’re getting married sometime this fall. I want you here for it.”
“I’ll be there. You can count on it.”
They chatted for a few more minutes and Becca brought Noah up to date on everything happening around Mountain Meadow. Maybe she was imagining it because she wanted it to be so, but she could have sworn she heard some homesickness in his voice. It seemed to her that all the Allreds were discovering that no matter where they roamed, this part of Virginia was still home. Ultimately, it was where they wanted to be. She looked at the ring on her finger. Coming home had certainly been the best decision she’d ever made.
Less than an hour later, she waved to Eli through the plate glass windows of Mercer’s as she walked to Tarpley’s. He grinned and nearly dumped a tea pitcher over Betty Gatewood. As he was apologizing, Becca just laughed and went on her way. After her conversation with Noah, nothing could get her down.
She needed some fresh strawberries for the cake she had planned, and Jared was incorporating fresh flowers into his. If she could get them both today, that would clear things up so they could get the baking done and concentrate on decorating while still getting their daily business done. Becca had to smile. If things continued the way they were, she would have to look at hiring another part time worker to help out front.
After bagging her purchases, Susie Tarpley arched one brow at her. “How are things going with you and Eli?”
Becca laughed. “Wonderful. He is one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met.”
“Sweet on you.” She laughed. “Always was. Don’t know why the two of you didn’t see it years ago. Still, you’ll make a pretty family—you, him and his boy. Now there’s a rascal.”
“Bash has already learned the power of blue eyes and dimples. Give him a few years and he’ll have all the girls around here falling at his feet.”
Susie Tarpley snorted. “This town’s already been through a bunch of heartbreakers. Good looking young men is something we’re not short on.”
Becca smiled. “We’re growing a few too. Don’t forget Tyler and Jared.”
“Now there’s two young men who’re sure turning out right. Last year I wasn’t too sure about Jared, but he’s turned himself right around.”
Becca picked up her bag. “I couldn’t run my business without him. He’s very talented.”
“Same way we feel about Tyler. You need some help with that?”
“No. I’m taking them right back to put in the cooler until we’re ready for them. I just wanted to make sure we had them on hand, so we weren’t caught trying to track down what we needed at the last minute.”
“Well you have a nice day, Becca, and give that man of yours a kiss from me.” She winked and made Becca laugh once more as she left the store. She glanced over at her building but decided she’d stop by Mercer’s to invite Eli and Bash for dessert after they closed up that night.
Ruthie greeted her as soon as she walked in. “Why hello, sugar. Eli’s in his cubbyhole updating orders for the produce man. Go on back.”
There wer
e only one or two customers inside at this time in the afternoon. Becca spotted a couple of Betty Gatewood’s fleet of church ladies. She smiled graciously at them and waved, making sure they saw the diamond flashing on her left hand. Their pruney expressions relaxed into stiff smiles. Becca kept her expression pleasant, but inside she was finding it difficult to keep from laughing out loud. How irksome it must be for them to have her and Eli legitimize their relationship. It had taken the wind right out of the sails of the gossip armada.
For just an instant, she had a chance to study Eli unobserved. He was absorbed in the accounts open before him on his computer. His golden curls were only loosely tied back today, and she saw the hoop dangling in his left ear. A slight smile curved her lips. He was such a contrast to the usual clean cut, clean shaven mountain boy, but she knew deep inside, he was probably a lot shyer. She remembered that first day when he had snapped at her out of fear for his son. Already, he had changed so much. A lot of the tension she’d seen that day was gone. He looked more relaxed and confident. She hoped that was a result of their relationship.
“Eli,” she murmured. He turned, a slow smile spreading across his lean face until it warmed those beautiful dark eyes of his. She could do nothing else but smile back.
“Hey, baby.” He held one hand out to her. After setting down her bag, she let him tug her onto his lap. “I missed you.”
She giggled. “You saw me this morning.”
“I still missed you since then.”
Becca kissed his nose. “You know people are going to start making gagging noises around us if we keep this up.”
“Let ‘em.” He nuzzled her neck. “Mmm. Think anyone would notice if we locked the door, and I took advantage of you?”
Becca grinned. “As noisy as you are? Half the town would be in here.”
One hand slipped up to cup her breast. “Care to put it to the test?”
She set her hand on his chest. “Down! I came over to invite you and Bash over for dessert tonight after you close. You did say your Dad was going to bring him by later, right?”
The Secret Ingredient (A Place to Call Home Book 2) Page 19
