9
Mirror Glaze
Anna awoke before her alarm clock went off and tiptoed to her bedroom door. Eli was asleep on the couch, one arm thrown over his head and both his legs dangling off the edge. He didn’t look comfortable at all. She decided she’d offer him her bed and she’d take the couch until they could figure out better living arrangements. Maybe she could buy the Clarke House, and Eli could have his own bedroom there. The second bedroom was roomy with a lot of light, and he could choose his own paint color. Instantly she wanted to throttle herself. Are you seriously entertaining the thought of buying a house with Eli? It’s official. You’re losing your mind.
Anna changed for work and glanced at her cell phone. Baron still hadn’t called. Was he so busy he couldn’t spare a single minute? She imagined him wandering through vineyards smiling in the sun. In Anna’s mind, a Californian woman meandered beside him, and they shared jokes about architecture and spontaneity. Anna felt as though she’d eaten a spoiled egg. She crept down the stairs and eased the door shut on the bakery. This time she would let Eli sleep in.
She started the coffee and turned on the ovens. Saturdays meant a hodgepodge of chocolate treats—chocolate peppermint cocoa, chocolate flavored coffees, éclairs, tarts, turtles, truffles, cookies, fudge, and mini cakes. Chocoholics came in on Saturdays just to indulge. Anna put on a small pot of French vanilla coffee especially for Eli. While she was whipping up a batch of fudge, Eli came down the steps.
“I’m late for work. Does this mean I’m fired?” Eli asked with a sleepy grin. He grabbed his apron from the wall and looped it over his neck.
“Possibly,” she said. She grabbed the small carafe and poured him a cup of coffee. “Good morning.”
Surprise flitted over Eli’s face, and then he smiled at her. Her chest expanded, and she sucked in a sweet, sugary breath. In these moments, Anna could pretend Eli was just a man who had walked into her bakery and not someone who’d stepped out of her oven in the middle of the night. He seemed so real—so real she wanted to run her hand down his arm to see if it still made her tingle. Did he make Tessa tingle too? She cleared her throat.
“How was last night?” Anna said, returning to the fudge on the stove. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I used my stealthy ninja skills,” he teased. “It was fun. Tessa’s a nice girl. She has terrible taste in color though.”
Anna’s shoulders relaxed. Tessa’s a nice girl. Not a super sexy woman. Guilt piggybacked on Anna’s relief. She had a boyfriend, which meant it was completely selfish for her to want Eli for herself too. She poured the fudge into a square ceramic dish. “Tell me she didn’t choose gray or beige.”
“Orange.” Eli gathered ingredients to make the turtles. “Gumdrop orange. I think it glows in the dark.”
Anna shook her head. “Weren’t you supposed to help her pick out a color?”
Eli held up his hands in surrender. “There’s only so much a man can do when a woman makes up her mind.”
“Does it look like the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?”
“Why yes, Linus, it does.” Eli drank from his mug.
Anna chuckled. It felt good to share easy conversation with Eli again. She tested the chocolate peppermint cocoa. The rich, dark liquid warmed her tongue and put a shine in her green eyes as she swallowed. She sighed with a smile on her lips. “I would live inside this if I could.”
“You and Willy Wonka,” he said.
Anna set her mug in the sink and gathered ingredients for the truffles. Today she thought she’d make a variety filled with dark chocolate, raspberry, peanut butter, or almond cream. “I wish he was real.”
“I bet you wish you had a golden ticket too,” Eli said. Anna looked over her shoulder and they shared a smile that made her insides feel hot and gooey like the center of a fresh cinnamon bun.
˜˜˜˜
Tessa called mid-morning and asked if Anna was free to have lunch with her mom and Lily. Anna had just enough time to whip up Mrs. Andrews’ favorite dessert, banana pudding. At a quarter until noon, Anna breathed in the scent of day-old coffee. She stepped out of the backroom to see Lily and Tessa talking to Eli. Tessa looked like she’d been riding the Ferris wheel at the fair, all rosy-cheeks and glossy eyes. In contrast, Lily had subtle shadows smudged beneath her lower lids, and her blonde curls spiraled out of control, barely contained behind a pink headband.
Anna joined them. “I’ll be back in an hour or two. Call me if you need anything,” she said to Eli.
Tessa touched Eli’s arm. “Anna, you have to swing by and see the office. Eli did the best painting job. He was such a great help.”
Lily didn’t say anything, and she wouldn’t meet Anna’s gaze. “He said you picked a nice, bright color.”
“October Orange,” Tessa said. “I think it’s actually called Tangerine, but October Orange sounds better.”
Lily made a strangled noise in her throat and said, “I’m going to get some air.”
While Tessa thanked Eli again, Anna followed Lily outside. “You okay?”
Lily shook her head. “I’ve been pukey all morning. No offense, but the smells in the bakery were making my stomach turn.”
“That’s not good. Why don’t you go home? Tessa and I can go to lunch.”
Lily saw her reflection in the bakery windows, and she tried unsuccessfully to pat down her hair. “It’ll pass.”
Tessa leaned on the door and slipped outside. “Eli is so great, Anna. He’s not like other guys.”
“I wonder why,” Lily said cryptically, and Anna narrowed her eyes, but Tessa seemed oblivious. They climbed into Tessa’s car and drove to the Andrews’ home.
˜˜˜˜
Carolyn Andrews’ skin was pale and pulled too tightly over her thin frame, but her hazel eyes were alert and bright, and her smile was easy. They sat comfortably in the airy sunroom, which was filled with late October sunlight without the chill of the outdoors. The tropical plants flourished, and the gray, overweight housecat lounged beneath Carolyn’s chair.
“My three favorite girls,” she said with a genuine smile. “I’m so glad you were all free for lunch today. It’s been too long. I made chicken salad. Tessa, do you mind grabbing the lunch from the kitchen?” Carolyn adjusted herself in the chair. “Lily, you look peaky today.”
Lily cleared her throat and rubbed at her collarbone. “I’m okay. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
Anna felt a twinge of guilt. She and Lily still hadn’t talked about whatever Lily wanted to share, and clearly something was wrong with her best friend.
“I heard Baron got the job in California,” Carolyn said.
Anna resisted the urge to sigh. Hearing his name made her want to rub away the ache that throbbed in her chest. “Yes ma’am.”
“I never thought the two of you were an exceptionally good match,” she said. “Nor were he and Tessa.”
Lily’s head popped up. “Tessa?” She glanced at Anna.
Carolyn smiled and stared out the window as though she was recalling a fond memory. Her dark hair was shot full of gray now, and it was impossible to miss the frailty in her movements. “He moved here about a year before you came back home,” she said, looking at Anna. “He was this handsome, adventurous boy so full of life and energy. He needed a place to live, so of course he stopped by our office. Tessa helped him find a place, and I knew from the first moment she saw him that she was crazy about him. She’d never smiled so much in her life.”
Anna’s throat felt tight. Tessa had never once mentioned she had wanted to be with Baron. “He loves that townhouse,” Anna said stupidly. Lily looked as shocked about the news as Anna felt.
“She pined over him for the better part of a year, and then poof you came home, and he could see nothing but you.” Carolyn smiled at Anna. “But that’s the way life is, full of unexpected entrances and exits. I know you’ll miss him.” She leaned over and patted Anna’s hand. “But he was much too flighty for you. I’m surprised you to
lerated him for so long,” she added with flick of her wrist. “You need a different sort of man.”
Anna nodded, but she couldn’t swallow the jawbreaker-size knot in her throat. Tessa breezed in with the sandwiches and chips on a tray. When she returned with the lemonade, they ate, and no one mentioned Tessa’s year-long crush on Baron Barker.
˜˜˜˜
Eli ran the bakery with ease and looked relaxed when Anna returned from lunch. She’d barely stepped onto the black and white tiles when Tessa barreled in behind her, nearly smacking her with the door.
“Oh, sorry, Anna,” she said. “I think it’d be a great idea for all of us to go out tonight. Maybe Fred’s Diner? Lily said she and Jakob could go.”
Anna noticed that Tessa was only looking at Eli. He turned his blue eyes on Anna. “We don’t have any plans, do we? No cakes to make, no parties to prep for?”
“Are you including me?” Anna asked.
Tessa giggled—giggled like a teenager—and smacked Anna in the arm. “Of course I’m including you. Both of you.”
“I’m in,” Eli said, and Tessa’s grin stretched so wide Anna worried her face might split apart like a plastic Easter egg.
“Easy there,” she mumbled. Then she nodded and said, “Me too.”
“Great! Let’s meet at seven.” Tessa said and rushed out of the bakery.
“Did you feed her Pixie Sticks for lunch? She’s really excited about something,” Eli said.
About you. “How did we do today? Did you win new customers?” Anna eyed the half-empty cases. “Maybe I should whip up a few more batches today.”
“The éclairs were a big hit,” he said. “People couldn’t quit bragging about how good they were.” He smirked at her.
“You made the éclairs.”
“I know.”
Anna rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen to get to work. She knew Eli followed her when she breathed in the scents of spicy chocolate and warm, sticky sugar. She watched him gather the tools they’d need. He looked real enough, solid, human, and her mama was right—he was too handsome. She liked him, and she didn’t want him to be anywhere else other than in the bakery with her.
Anna wasn’t stupid. She knew Tessa liked Eli because she hadn’t seen Tessa this giddy over a boy since David Newman moved to Mystic Water in the sixth grade. But wasn’t Eli hers? Didn’t she make him because Baron was a jerk? Baron, who hadn’t called in two days. Baron, who Tessa also had wanted to be hers. Anna was pulled from her thoughts when Eli mashed his pointer finger between her eyebrows.
“Stop thinking so hard,” he said and smiled at her. “You’re going to wrinkle your face permanently.”
She smacked his hand away, but she was smiling and losing herself in his too-blue eyes.
˜˜˜˜
Fred’s Diner was packed with the Saturday night crowd. Anna and Eli found the group sitting in a semicircle booth for six in the far back corner. Tessa’s face lit up as though someone shone a flashlight down from the ceiling. Anna imagined a speech bubble appearing above Tessa’s head saying, “He’s here! He’s here! He’s here!”
Tessa wore a carnation pink shirt and matching lipstick, the first color Anna had seen on her in months. It complemented the rose undertones in her dewy complexion. Her excitement brought out a youthfulness that made her eyes bright and eager. Tessa looked at Eli and patted the red vinyl beside her. Eli slid in and Anna sat beside him on the end. Jakob and Lily were across from them in the half circle.
Jakob leaned casually against the back of the booth with his arm hooked around Lily’s shoulders. He oozed calm with a healthy dollop of sex appeal. Jakob’s dirty blonde hair looked like Lily had been running her hands through it, and he still managed to look presentable and clean in a pressed button down shirt and khakis. The dimple in his left cheek reminded Anna of a mischievous little boy. His affable nature had always made him one of the most popular boys in school, and he was mostly oblivious to the stares he incited from women on a daily basis. Jakob grinned at them, but Lily looked as though she was lost in her own thoughts, not even registering they’d arrived.
Anna introduced Eli and Jakob. Once Jakob quizzed Eli on his sports preferences and realized they had a lot in common—which shocked Anna because she knew very little about sports—they were immediate friends. They spent the first few minutes sharing their opinions on quarterbacks and fumbles and biased referees. Anna’s neck prickled as Eli talked. How could he possibly have that kind of knowledge?
The waitress bustled over for drink orders, and Anna ordered a root beer float. Tessa ordered a glass of Muscadine wine, and Jakob ordered a Coors Light for him and Eli and a Terminator—the equivalent of three margaritas—for Lily.
“Lily, are you seriously going to drink that big thing?” Tessa asked, looking like she’d sucked a lemon slice.
Lily glanced up and shook her head. “Just water for me.”
Jakob nudged her with his elbow. “You always order the Terminator. Still not feeling good, baby?”
“I don’t want to push it,” she said, and he squeezed her shoulder.
Anna pushed her foot against Lily’s shin until she looked at her. “You okay?” Anna mouthed while everyone was busy looking over the menus. Lily discreetly shook her head and mouthed, “Later.”
They all ordered greasy diner fare, and Anna sucked down her root beer float, wishing she’d ordered something stronger. She needed it because Tessa had touched Eli at least a hundred times, and now Tessa’s hand was propped on his forearm while she talked. Tessa had also turned into a laughing machine. Eli was suddenly the most hilarious person on the planet. When he could, Jakob tried to interrupt the conversation so he could get a word in.
Jakob nursed his beer, and when Tessa paused after describing a recent mold problem affecting real estate in the area, Jakob leaned forward. “So, Eli, you work at the bakery? Ever think about a different type of culinary job?”
Eli grinned and swigged his beer. “You mean a more manly culinary job?”
Jakob snorted into his bottle. “Was it that obvious?”
Eli chuckled. “Why does everyone always think pastry chefs have to be women?” he asked, faking exasperation. “Actually, I’ve always wanted to own a sandwich shop with regular and gourmet options. Homemade chips.”
Anna’s mouth fell open, and vanilla ice cream dribbled onto her chin. “You have?” She snatched a napkin from the dispenser and wiped her face.
Eli shrugged. “Maybe a combination deli and bakery where people could eat lunch and have desserts available. Something near the ocean.”
Anna felt like someone pushed her beneath the broiler. Her skin itched. Then a gust of cold, briny air blew her auburn hair from her shoulders. Eli was creating his own life full of his own dreams and desires. He was becoming his own man, not just a man she created.
“Could I order, say, alfalfa sprouts on seven-grain bread with the crusts cut off?” Jakob asked and finished his beer.
“I pegged you as a club sandwich kind of guy,” Eli joked. “You come to my place, and I’ll make you the best girly sandwich you’ve ever had.”
The food arrived, and Anna stared at her bacon cheeseburger. She wasn’t sure she could stomach it. Tessa filled Eli’s ears with descriptions about the myriad properties in town that would be perfect for his deli. She couldn’t give him an ocean breeze, but she could give him a cheery location and a promise to visit every day.
Anna chewed a french fry and noticed Lily was pushing her country fried steak around with her fork. Her skin was olive drab, and her spiral curls drooped. She moved her plate away and excused herself to the bathroom. Anna waited a minute and then followed.
Anna stepped into the bathroom, which housed two separate stalls and a single sink made of Carolina blue ceramic. Lily flushed the toilet and emerged looking ashen and wobbly.
“You think you have the flu?” Anna asked.
Lily made a scoffing noise in her throat. “Hardly.” She threw cold tap water i
nto her face and washed her mouth out.
“What is it then? You look like you feel terrible.”
“Thanks,” Lily snapped. She dried her face with a brown paper towel and poked at the skin beneath her eyes.
Anna leaned against the wall. The room reeked of hot grease and roasted espresso beans. “What’s going on?”
“It isn’t a good time.” Lily tried to walk past Anna.
Anna grabbed her arm. “Tessa knows.”
“Because she had time to listen to me.”
“That’s not fair,” Anna argued. “You know I had to go back to work. I called you, but you didn’t answer, and you didn’t respond to my texts.”
“I was mad at you,” Lily said. “And puking.” Frustration rippled off her like summer heat on asphalt.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve had a lot going on too. We made a man a few days ago, and he’s living with me, and I have feelings for him, and Tessa is clearly in love with him, and Baron hasn’t called me in days.” Anna’s eyes slowly filled with tears, and she blinked them furiously. “My life is a mess.” She wanted to tell Lily everything—about the house and the offer in Wildehaven Beach—but her throat felt as though she’d eaten marshmallow fondant and she couldn’t swallow.
“It’s not all about you,” Lily said. Tears sparkled in her restless eyes. “You’re not the only one with big problems.”
Anna gripped the edge of the sink to steady her legs. This was all wrong. She wasn’t supposed to be fighting with her best friend in a bathroom that stank of yesterday’s Philly cheesesteak and angst.
Then Lily’s shoulders slumped, and she rubbed her hands down her face. “I’m sorry, Anna. I feel like a cat left out in the rain.” She flipped the lock on the bathroom door to prohibit anyone else from entering. “I don’t mean to snap at you. I’ll tell you what I told Tessa, and I swear if you react the way she did, I’ll deck you and leave you on this sticky floor.” She managed a rueful smile.
Lily exhaled the same moment Anna’s cell phone rang in her back pocket. She reached to silence it and saw that it was Baron calling.
The Baker's Man Page 9
