The Little Brooklyn Bakery

by Julie Caplin

  ‘Todd, if I come with you, what sort of signal is that going to send to Marty? What happens when next time you see him and he asks where I am?’

  Todd picked at the label on his beer bottle, reminding her of Marty, mutinous and wary.

  The awkward silence stretched out between them and as Sophie reached out to take his hand, he jumped up waving. ‘Hey Bella, Wes.’

  Sophie turned to see the other couple weaving their way through the busy tables, Bella in front, her hand clasped in Wes’s.

  This was the second time they’d been out as a foursome. Sophie had got to know Wes a little more and his quiet dry humour was a good foil for Bella’s boisterous directness. Although completely different, they suited. Bella seemed a lot less frenetic in his company.

  ‘I delivered the wedding cake to the interior-design bride today,’ she said proudly.

  ‘You delivered?’ Wes’s deep tone grumbled. ‘I coulda sworn I put a big white cake box in the front seat of my van, with you flapping around like mama hen, convinced I was going to back end someone. She made me put the belt round it with two pillows.’

  ‘I meant delivered as in completed,’ said Bella, ‘and there was no way I’d have trusted the darned thing with anyone else, so consider yourself honoured.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ said Wes, saluting her.

  ‘And does she love it?’ asked Sophie, eager to hear, as Bella had given her free rein over the final design. It had taken them a whole day to put the finishing touches to the three-tiered cake, but once it was assembled, both Sophie and Bella had hugged each other with excitement. Each layer featured a different co-ordinating wallpaper in shades of purple, lilac, silver and white, the patterns picked out with three different icing techniques. It was quite simply a triumph.

  ‘When I called her on her cell, she cried. She loves it. I really regret not being there to see her face when she saw it.’

  Todd attempted to exchange a wry look with Wes.

  ‘Hey man, don’t include me.’ Wes held up his hands in surrender. ‘I saw the bride’s face, when she opened the box. Damn near brought a tear to my eye.’

  ‘It’s a cake,’ said Todd, genuine bewilderment on his face.

  ‘It’s a symbol,’ Bella sighed. ‘You don’t have a romantic bone in your body, do you?’ She curled her lip at her cousin.

  ‘I can be romantic,’ said Todd, folding his arms. ‘Just not stupid. It’s all part of the illusion. The cake. The dress. But when it comes to the vows, they mean Jack shit a few months down the line. The whole wedding probably makes things worse. Spending all that money, focusing on the crappy details, how much you’re going to impress the audience, because that’s what it is, one big show. And that’s been my parents’ marriage from the start, except theirs has been the biggest and the best. You can bet your bottom dollar that Mom’s dress would have been the most expensive, the flowers the most extravagant and no doubt their cake would have been thirty darn tiers high. Tell me how that’s a symbol of anything, but look at us, look at us.’

  Bella raised sceptical eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. ‘I declare, you have no soul, Todd McLennan. Not one shred of humanity. The cake is the centrepiece of the wedding. The design can symbolise so much. Sophie is amazing at picking up what the bride really wants. She has romance in her soul.’

  Under the table Sophie kicked Bella, sure that he didn’t want to know about it.

  ‘Cutting the cake is the first joint act a couple do together once they’re married. It’s a symbol of their unity. Of doing things as a team. Their future together. And that future includes their family as they share the cake among their guests. Feeding their loved ones. Embracing the wider family. There’s so much loveliness about it. It’s not just cake,’ snapped Bella.

  ‘What she said,’ added Wes.

  Todd looked to Sophie as if for support. ‘It’s part of the trappings of the day.’

  ‘I’m with them. Sorry, I think a wedding cake is a lovely tradition.’

  ‘At least they taste good,’ conceded Todd rather grumpily, looking at Sophie from under his lashes.

  ‘Outnumbered, Mr Grinch,’ she said, kissing him cheerfully on the cheek. ‘And what’s this about being romantic? I missed that.’ Her eyes twinkled at him. He might not do romance, but he certainly knew how to make her body sing.

  ‘I don’t do hearts and flowers or the diamonds and pearls. That’s easy stuff. Anybody can do that. Had a row? How bad was it? Worth one or two carats? Broken a date because you’ve been offered a day’s golf at Pebble Beach, that’s OK, an outsize bouquet of twelve dozen roses will fix that.’

  ‘Anybody’ being his dad, Sophie guessed, thinking of Celine’s tennis bracelet and diamond earrings.

  ‘You can be romantic without spending money,’ said Bella, with a dreamy wistful smile that really wasn’t her at all. ‘Someone leaving lavender under your pillow because you couldn’t sleep, well … that’s romantic.’

  Wes ducked his head. Todd shot him an irritated look as if he’d let the side down somehow.

  ‘Suddenly you’re an expert, are you Bella?’ Todd’s voice held a low angry hum. ‘You’ve wilted about for the last year, waiting for Wes to take notice. Moaning and not doing anything about it. Now, suddenly you know it all.’

  ‘Todd!’ Sophie nudged him, startled by his vehemence. He had the grace to send her an apologetic look although it didn’t extend to his cousin.

  Wes picked up two menus from the centre of the table and handed one over to Todd. ‘Man, I think we could use a little food. You two are mighty testy.’ He winked at Sophie. ‘Not kissing cousins then.’

  ‘Lord, no,’ scowled Bella and then her face brightened. ‘Although Todd was always very keen to make my Barbies kiss. What was it you used to say, “smoochy, smoochy” and rub their faces together.’

  ‘I was seven.’ Todd groaned and then he grinned. ‘And when you were seven, you spent a whole summer running around in your panties and Wonder Woman sparkly red boots, refusing to get dressed.’

  Bella giggled. ‘I’d forgotten about that. I chased you with my special lasso.’

  Sophie heaved an internal sigh of relief, sharing a small smile with Wes, as the two of them expounded on their youthful tormenting of each other.

  Bella caught her in the restroom as Sophie was washing her hands.

  ‘You OK?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, why?’ asked Sophie, sensing Bella had something on her mind.

  ‘I … you know … Todd’s attitude. I was worried about you. You’re the traditional type. I know you are from what you’ve said about wanting to marry James. You get the whole wedding cake, romance, happy-ever-after schtick.

  ‘Must be hard, that’s all. I guess now I’m finally with Wes, I want everyone else to be madly in love. I want you to have that … you know … that you’re-the-centre-of-someone’s-universe feeling. You were so sad when you first arrived here. I wish I’d warned you off Todd more.’

  ‘Bella, you warned me plenty of times.’ Sophie sighed, she just hadn’t paid any attention. Falling fathoms deep in love with Todd had never been her intention, but he had been nothing but honest with her. From day one he’d been clear he wasn’t available for the long term. Better to know at the outset than to find out that someone wasn’t available after all, when it was way too late.

  Bella wasn’t the type to compromise. She’d never understand, so Sophie added, ‘Look, Todd isn’t really my type. I’m enjoying myself while I’m here. My kind of man is serious, steady and reliable. Someone who’s ready to settle down. Have children. Once I get back to the UK, that’s the sort of man I’ll be looking for.’

  Her words sounded convincing but inside a voice was shouting, No! That was old Sophie. The Sophie who went out with men like James. She wasn’t that Sophie any more. She wanted someone who made her laugh, someone spontaneous, someone with whom she could be uninhibited and passionate. Someone like Todd.

  Chapter 28

  When she
saw the name come up on her phone, she snatched it up, taking the frying pan of browning chicken from the hob.

  ‘Kate! How’s it going? Let me just turn the ring off.’

  ‘Ooh, what you cooking?’

  ‘Thai curry,’ she said with a crooked grin. It was Todd’s favourite and a quick and easy mid-week dinner when they’d been distracted by other things.

  ‘Yum. I … I wasn’t sure whether to tell you but I saw James this week. He came into the café.’

  ‘James? What did he want?’ Sophie’s voice held a touch of healthy disdain.

  Kate smiled happily across the miles at her. ‘Nothing, apparently. Just wanted to know how you were.’

  ‘I hope you told him I was absolutely brilliant.’

  ‘Something like that.’ Kate’s eyes brimmed with mischief before her face sobered. ‘You don’t know how glad that makes me!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘You, you almost sound blasé. As if, who? James? I was worried about telling you.’

  Which just went to show how far Sophie had come. Hearing his name was like a reference to another life.

  ‘You don’t need to be. I’ve definitely moved on.’ Sophie’s mouth curved in a wicked smile of satisfaction.

  Kate burst out laughing. ‘You look like the cat that’s got the whole damn dairy, missy. Having fun, are we?’

  Sophie blushed at the memory.

  ‘I thought that was a very skimpy outfit for cooking.’

  She cast a quick look down at the vest top and knickers she’d pulled on while Todd nipped out to the liquor store to get a bottle of wine.

  ‘It was hot when we got back from work.’

  ‘I bet it was,’ teased Kate. ‘You look good, Soph. Happy. Ravished.’ She winked. ‘He’s good for you.’

  ‘Yeah, and I think I’m good for him. Although he doesn’t realise it.’ Sophie grinned at the screen, grateful for the miles between them. If Kate were here she’d spot the bravado in her words. Time was running out and she had no idea what she was going to do.

  ‘Kate, they’ve asked me if I’d like to extend my stay.’

  ‘In New York?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Sophie bit her lip.

  ‘Wow, that’s fantastic. Oh my goodness, I am so coming out to see you.’ Kate pulled up. ‘You are going to stay, aren’t you?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ She pulled an agonised face, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Todd hadn’t come back yet. ‘Part of me would love to, but I’m not sure what Todd’s reaction would be.’

  ‘I’d have thought he’d be pleased.’ Mama-hen indignation rang in her voice.

  ‘I don’t know. This was always supposed to be temporary. Remember, a fling. I’m worried if I tell him, he’ll run for the hills.’

  ‘Sophie, that’s crazy. The two of you practically live together. I mean, how many months is it? Two and a half? You seem pretty inseparable. Everyone says dumb things like that when they get together, basic self-protection, in case the other person doesn’t feel the same. But things have obviously changed now. And he’d be stupid to let you go. He doesn’t strike me as a stupid man.’

  Sophie swallowed, wishing she had Kate’s confidence. ‘He does seem … well, he never says anything but he acts like he cares.’ It was in all the little things he did.

  ‘Well there you go, typical man. Actions speak louder than words.’

  ‘And talk of the devil, I can hear him coming back.’

  ‘And I ought to head for bed, its nearly one here. I’m waiting for Ben to get home.’

  Todd bowled into the room, blowing extravagant kisses at her as if he’d been away for a day rather than ten minutes, before miming drinking a glass of wine.

  ‘Say hi to Kate, she’s just going.’ Sophie turned the phone around.

  ‘Hey Kate. What’s the weather like?’ Todd loved to tease them about their obsession with the weather.

  ‘Raining cats and dogs.’

  ‘You get some wild stuff over there in the UK.’

  He put the wine down and Sophie watched as he chinked glasses in the cupboard, sorting through to find her favourite. Despite teasing her about being fussy with her penchant for a bone-china cup that wasn’t too small or too big, and her preference for fine wineglasses, he always made a point of using them for her. The gesture of familiarity and intimacy made her smile. It was the little things he did that gave her hope.

  ‘I’d better go Kate, I need to feed my man. Take care. Night.’

  As Sophie put the phone down, Todd put his arms around her waist and nuzzled at her neck. ‘What time’s dinner?’

  ‘Another twenty minutes.’

  ‘Sure you don’t—’

  With a peal of laughter, she pushed at his hands. ‘I’m hungry even if you’re not.’

  ‘I’m always hungry for your …’ pausing, he raised his eyebrow wickedly, ‘Thai curry. I’m going to miss your cooking when I go to Charleston.’

  She rolled her eyes. ‘You’ll only be away two nights.’

  ‘Yeah but Marty will make me eat burgers the whole time. I’ll come back malnourished.’

  She shook her head, laughing at his mournful expression. ‘I’m sure you’ll survive. What time’s your flight on Saturday?’

  ‘Seven. I need to leave just before five to get to JFK.’ His hands dropped, moving to cup her bottom, dropping his voice with husky suggestion, ‘I guess we’ll have to have an early night tomorrow.’

  ‘You’re in luck.’ She looped her arms around his neck, toying with the hair that ran into the nape. ‘It just so happens, I’ve got that tasting thing near Prospect Park tomorrow afternoon. As it’s near here, I wasn’t planning on going back to the office.’

  ‘Excellent, we can have a really early night.’

  With the tang of exotic fruits still fresh in her mouth, Sophie turned onto Smith Street, her head full of ideas on how she might incorporate the flavours of yuzu, dragon fruit, lucuma and guava into a dessert feature. One thing was for sure, she was never trying durian again. With a shudder, thinking of the vile smell, she headed for Bella’s. As she was finishing work early, she’d promised Bella she’d call in to help decorate some cookies for a children’s birthday party on the Saturday.

  When she walked through the door, Bella rushed up to her. ‘You’re early.’ She glanced back over her shoulder.

  ‘I left when they brought out the durian, also known as vomit fruit because it makes you want to. Eek, that stuff is seriously—’

  ‘Sophie,’ Bella’s eyes were wide and she was jerking her head towards the back of the café. ‘There’s someone here to see you.’

  ‘Who?’

  Bella’s face lit up with an excited smile. ‘Go see.’

  As Sophie stepped past, Bella gave her a little push as if to hurry her along. ‘Good luck.’

  Rounding the corner, Sophie stopped dead. Sick dread anchoring her to the spot.

  ‘Sophie! Oh my. Sophie! Look at you. You look incredible. I’ve missed you so much.’

  White noise buzzed in her ears and her body felt as if it belonged to someone else. There wasn’t a scrap of moisture in her mouth and her tongue was suddenly made of lead.

  Unable to speak, she found her hands taken and she was being pulled to one of the bucket chairs around a round table. In the middle of the table was a small turquoise blue box. Dead centre.

  She looked from the box to James, still too stunned to speak.

  ‘Say something Sophie,’ he beamed at her. ‘I’ve surprised you, haven’t I? It’s good to see you.’ He threw his arms around her and kissed her full on the mouth, completely oblivious to her instant recoil.

  ‘James.’ Her voice sounded dry and stiff. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘What do you think I’m doing?’ He shook his head, smiling with patient indulgence. ‘Something I should have done a long time ago.’

  He grabbed the box, flipped open the lid and went down on one knee. ‘Sophie Bennings-Beauchamp, will you do me the ho
nour of becoming my wife?’

  Completely taken aback, Sophie stared down at him, quite unable to believe what she was seeing.

  ‘James?’ She blinked, trying to take in the familiar face that suddenly wasn’t familiar at all. The grey, pleading eyes that now looked like small, flat pebbles. The too-pink mouth that made her want to shudder in revulsion.

  ‘Say yes, Sophie. I know you love me. It sounds a terrible cliché, but I can explain everything.’

  To say she’d never been so stunned in her life would have been an understatement. It felt as an Exocet missile had blown up inside her, leaving her disorientated and shell-shocked.

  He jumped up, still holding the ring in one hand, and guided her into one of the chairs, pulling his up next to her. He took her hand and she flinched, taking it back and holding it up against her collar bone.

  ‘I’ve shocked you. Sorry, but I came as soon as I found out where you were.’

  Gradually she felt herself settle.

  ‘Sophie, I know you were upset, when you found out about Anna. But it wasn’t what it looked like.’

  She frowned, sarcasm taking hold as she pulled together her scattered wits. ‘You weren’t married? Emma wasn’t your child?’

  He huffed impatiently. ‘Hear me out. Believe me, I’ve always loved you. From the moment I met you. That was the problem. I loved you so much that I couldn’t bear to lose you. It made me weak when I should have been strong.’

  What was he wittering about? Why was he even here? It was a definite mind-out-of-body experience. She was watching and listening to a scene that she had no part in. It was tempting to check over her shoulder because it felt as if he were talking to another person. A different version of her. One that had loved him before she knew what love really was.

  ‘When we met, Anna and I were separating. It was instant. I fell in love with you. Me and Anna were already over. Just living in the same house while we sorted money out. I was going to leave her but somehow she got pregnant.’

  ‘Somehow?’ It wasn’t funny, it really wasn’t, but it made her laugh.

  ‘You know what I mean.’ James’s earnest gaze slipped. ‘It wasn’t planned. I felt sorry for her one night, let my guard down.’