Sugar And Spice (Holidays: Valentine)

by Charlotte French

  “No, you are not.”

  “That’s exactly what Quinn said.”

  “Because he’s right. You can’t do anything for me at the moment, Amy. You’ll be home soon enough. You need this time with Manu and his family. Especially after all this. They’ve accepted you. They love you. I’ll still be here when you get back in a few days, as scheduled. So don’t cut your trip short for me please. Quinn is right here. He hasn’t left my side, okay? I’m not alone, I know that.”

  Amy blew out a breath. “Fine. Then start talking.”

  Crissy closed her eyes and sank deeper into her chair. “Mom exploded. She was practically yelling in the middle of the front hallway that Quinn was going to leave me because he’s selfish and she knows men better than I do.”

  “And she’s basing that off of…what exactly?”

  “Because that’s what Dad did to her when I was born. So she assumes it will happen to everyone.”

  “That…doesn’t make any sense. But okay keep going. I hope you appreciate the massive level of self-control it is taking me right now to not call up your mother and completely go off on her.”

  “I told her to go to hell,” Crissy whispered.

  Amy went dead silent for a full minute.

  “Holy shit,” she muttered.

  “I’m not really sure if I feel guilty at this point for saying that or just…tired.”

  “I’m not the right person to ask that, I know. I have no filter. I say what comes to mind and I don’t have any tolerance for people’s crap. But I will say…Crissy, I am unbelievably proud of you. I always have been but right now, I’m over the moon. It’s about time you said something to her.”

  “But not that way. I mean, I should have stood up to her a long time ago, I realize that now. Maybe I always realized it but I didn’t have the guts to do it. I feel like…I feel like they were her words and not mine.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mom has always been so careless with her words, using them like knives. She throws out whatever hot, blistering comment is on her tongue and she doesn’t care what the consequences are or how it might affect someone else. And I feel like maybe I did that too.”

  “Okay, sugar, listen to me very carefully and I’m sure Quinn will agree with me on this so if you need a second opinion, ask him and he’ll back me up. Those words came from you. For your entire life, you have put up with more bullshit than I have ever seen another human being take. And your heart never got hard. You have always been a kind and thoughtful person. The fact that you are worried about what your words might have done to your mother shows that you are not her. You are not her at all. Those were your words and they were necessary.”

  Crissy managed a small, shaky smile. “You think so?”

  “I know so. You have always been gentle when it comes to your family, forgiving them over and over when they continually hurt you. But using a little sharpness is good, Crissy. I promise you. Has your mom tried to contact you after the wedding?”

  “No. But Andrea left a few messages. I haven’t looked at them yet. Not ready to.”

  Amy made a small hesitant noise.

  “What?” Crissy said.

  “Just…it’s your sister. You know she’s been really tight with your mother since forever.”

  “I’m not sure she is anymore,” Crissy said, trailing her finger in lazy circles over the table top. “I never could have dreamed that she would agree to run interference for me either but she did. I have no idea how she handled the blow up with Mom but I think I’d like to know, to see where she stands. But not right this second.”

  “Good point. Just be careful, okay? Take some more time away from everything if you need it. Whip up some chocolate covered strawberries for me or something.”

  “You’re not even here to eat them.”

  “But I’ll be back in a few days and I’ll need a fix while I pester you with questions.”

  Crissy laughed softly and shook her head. “I’ll make sure to have a batch ready and waiting.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  “By the way, you scared Quinn.”

  “Oh, I did? What did I do exactly? I need to take notes for future reference.”

  “He keeps expecting you to break down the door at any minute. Which, I have to admit, was a more than mildly terrifying image he put into my head when he told me that.”

  Amy chuckled. “Have to keep him in line somehow.”

  Crissy let her hand trail away from the table and wrapped an arm around her middle.

  “He’s been very good to me, Amy,” she said.

  “I was impressed when he called. I was still flipping the hell out because it wasn’t you calling me like you were supposed to, but impressed anyway. And I’m so relieved he’s there with you now. I’d be nothing but a bundle of nerves if you were there alone.”

  “Mom was wrong about him.”

  “I could have told you that one, sugar.”

  “I mean, when I look at him. I see it in his face. And when he’s been right with me through all of this mess…I…”

  Crissy broke off and shook her head, trying to piece together the words she wanted to say when her mind continually blanked on coming to terms with this feeling growing in her chest, foreign and warm and yet still so welcome it scared her more than a little bit. Amy said nothing, waiting.

  “I can practically hear you smiling from here,” Crissy said. “Stop it.”

  “I’m just happy for you, sugar, that’s all. Would you like to finish what you were going to say? Or would you like me to fill in the blanks with my fabulous and wild imagination.”

  “No, do not do that. All I’m saying is that…I wasn’t sure. Before. I knew I…cared about him, very much. And I wasn’t sure if I could allow myself to let someone in again.”

  “But…” Amy prodded.

  “But I’ve already let him in and I didn’t even realize it. And he hasn’t hurt me like I thought he would.”

  “That’s a good thing, right?”

  Crissy didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

  After a few minutes more of reassuring Amy that she was fine, Crissy hung up, silenced her phone, and set it on the table as she headed back to the bedroom. Quinn was sitting on the bed, his back to the wall, his legs stretched out in front of him with a book open on his lap. He set the book aside as she came into the room and he held his arm out to her. She crawled onto to the bed and tucked herself in against his side.

  “Everything settled now?” he asked. “Or is she still threatening to break my door down?”

  “I can’t promise that but she sounded better once I told her what happened.”

  “And what about you?”

  He brushed a lock of hair away from her face and she tipped her chin up to look at him.

  “I’m getting there,” she replied. “I’ll be okay eventually.”

  “Do you feel up to getting out of the house for a little while?”

  She wrinkled her nose and pressed a kiss just below his ear.

  “Maybe tomorrow. Or the day after that.” She paused then pulled back. “Why?”

  He shrugged. “Just asking.”

  “For what?”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Can’t I ask my girlfriend if she’s interested in going out for a little while?”

  “Not without a good reason. You’re not telling me everything.”

  He raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing across his lips.

  “Only when you’re ready, sweetheart.”

  “Do I get a hint?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Does it have anything to do with food?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I think you already know the answer to that one. If it involves you, which it does, there will be food.”

  She squinted at him. “Now it’s going to bug me until you tell me what’s going on.”

  “That’s exactly what I hoped it would do. Get your mind off of everything that’s been happening. But there
’s no rush,” he said, wrapping his arms around her again. “We’ve got plenty of time.”

  Crissy almost wanted to protest. The thought that life would go back to normal was tempting, especially if she could forget the disaster this weekend had been. But then Quinn kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes. The rest of the world could be put off a little while longer…

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Crissy woke to Quinn pressing feather light kisses to her shoulder and up the length of her neck.

  “Cinnamon rolls,” he whispered. “Strawberry shortcake with fresh whipped cream. Hot, steaming brioche.”

  She opened one eye to look at him. “I smell none of these things and that means you haven’t made them yet. You’re a terrible person for teasing me.”

  He laughed softly against her skin. “That’s your department, sweetheart. I’m just planting a few seeds of suggestion to get you moving.”

  “What if I don’t want to get moving?”

  “But what about that surprise I promised you?”

  She groaned and rolled over to look at him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled him close with a light kiss.

  “Do I get another hint?” she asked.

  He brushed his nose against hers and hummed.

  “I’ll think about it,” he said. Then his smile faltered and he drew back, studying her for a moment. “Unless you’re really not feeling up to it today.”

  She sighed and propped herself up on her elbows. “It’s fine. Probably a good idea to get out for a little while. I needed an excuse to ignore responding to Andrea’s messages for a few more hours anyway.”

  “You really don’t want to just find out what she says?”

  “No…okay maybe a little. I’m getting there.”

  His hand settled on her leg with a gentle smile.

  “I know you are, sweetheart,” he said, brushing his thumb over her chin. “But you need to hurry up, a tiny, tiny bit because Amy is due back in three days and I really want to show this to you before she sweeps you away from me.”

  “Then give me a hint and I’ll have more incentive to hurry up.”

  He grinned as he kissed her. “I love you but no.”

  She bit back a growl of frustration and pushed the covers aside, heading for the bathroom. “I’ll be grumpy until you tell me what’s going on.”

  “Fine by me. You’re adorable when you’re grumpy.”

  “I’ll tell Amy you said that and she’ll beat your ass with a rolling pin.”

  “She will completely agree with me.”

  Crissy frowned. “You’re probably right.”

  Quinn caught her hand and pulled her to stand in front of him, his hands skimming up her thighs.

  “I promise, it’s a good thing today,” he said. “And I don’t want to give you anymore hints because I don’t trust myself here. I feel like I’m about to spoil the whole thing at any minute. So I’d rather show you instead.”

  She smoothed her hand over his hair and nodded.

  “All right,” she said. “Do I have time to make breakfast?”

  He tipped his head to the side, considering. “I might be able to hold out for breakfast. But no longer than that.”

  “Will you help me?”

  His eyes brightened and he opened his mouth but she placed a finger against his lips.

  “And not just taste testing. Actually making the food. You did an incredible job when you made dinner for me. It’s only fair since you won’t give me anymore hints.”

  He sighed and kissed her fingertip. “I guess I could be persuaded to help if you’re going to say it like that.”

  After Crissy showered and dressed, she set to work alongside Quinn in the kitchen, making beignets. Roughly a week had passed since she had made anything and it felt so good, so comfortable and familiar to settle into the rhythm of cooking. The smell of vanilla and melted butter and sugar floated up, wrapping around her like the hug of a long lost friend and she felt a little lighter, a little happier. Part of her thought she should have been back in the kitchen as soon as she left the wedding but a bigger part of her knew that wouldn’t have been possible. She needed that time to crumble, to slowly let herself hurt for a while before she faced the world again.

  When the beignets were done, Crissy held a fresh one up to Quinn. He took a bite, spilling powdered sugar down the front of his dark blue t-shirt.

  “Oops,” she said, trying to brush his shirt clean.

  “I don’t even care,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist. “Those taste incredible and I can’t believe I’ve never had them before.”

  “I don’t make them very often, I don’t know why. Maybe because the coffee shop had its regular favorites and I didn’t vary too much. Besides, you were stuck on my turnovers for a while.”

  “With good reason.”

  She moved to put the dirty dishes in the sink and turned on the water but Quinn reached past her and shut it off, taking her hand and pulling her towards the door.

  “Leave them,” he said. “I’ll get them later.”

  “But I don’t like leaving dirty dishes in the sink after I’ve been cooking. It feels wrong.”

  “Then enjoy feeling wrong for a little while. I promise, we can wash them together as soon as we get back. But I can’t wait another second, okay?”

  “Okay, okay, I’m coming. I need shoes. You can’t drag me into the street barefoot.”

  “Is that a challenge? You’re living with a firefighter. I could just throw you over my shoulder…”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  He raised an eyebrow and before she could take a step back, he caught her around the waist. She squeaked with surprise as he acted as if he would pick her up but she wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her close to kiss her instead. He broke away just far enough to rest his forehead against hers, trailing the back of his fingers over her cheek.

  “That’s better,” he said softly. “It’s good to see you smiling again, sweetheart.”

  She stole another kiss before she grabbed her shoes and slipped them on. Quinn tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow as they walked south through town. Crissy braced herself as they passed the empty hole where the shop had been. Quinn placed his hand over hers and quickened his pace a little more until they were around the corner. Then he stepped behind her and covered her eyes with his hands.

  “What on earth are you doing?” she said.

  “It’s a surprise, remember?”

  “Yeah but…I can’t see where I’m going.”

  “I won’t let you trip over anything. Trust me.”

  She smiled as she curled her fingers over his arm.

  “I do trust you,” she said. “But if you make me trip, you’re sleeping on the couch for a week. And the rest of the beignets are all mine.”

  “Jesus. You cut a man down to size faster than Amy does.”

  But she could hear the grin in his voice and the barely contained laughter rising in his words. She inched forward, her hands held out in front of her, as Quinn guided her from behind.

  “How much further?” she asked.

  “We’ve gone all of five feet.”

  “It feels much longer than that when I can’t see.”

  “Almost there.”

  “Another five feet?”

  “Nope.”

  “Ugh. Ten?”

  “No.”

  “Are we there yet?”

  Quinn laughed, soft and deep behind her, and Crissy smiled. He kissed her shoulder and pulled his hands away.

  “We’re here,” he said. “Go ahead, sweetheart, take a look.”

  Crissy opened her eyes. It felt as if she had stepped into her scrapbook. Her dream bakery sat before her, still a little rough around the edges, but the general idea was there, right down to the pink and cream and robin’s egg blue colors she had been dreaming about for years. The sign hadn’t been put up yet but she could see inside the windows, see the
piles of lumber and paint cans still littering the floor. It was a work in progress but progress nonetheless.

  She turned to Quinn, her heart leaping up into her throat.

  “What is this?” she whispered.

  He took her hand, his thumb rubbing across her knuckles.

  “After the coffee shop burned down, a few people in town started tossing around the idea that maybe everyone could pitch in to get you the bakery you’ve always worked so hard for.”

  “And by a few people you mean…”

  “Amy and I.”

  “Of course.”

  “But when we asked around if other people might be interested in helping out…” He shrugged. “No one turned us down. Everyone said yes.”

  A thousand questions whirled through her mind at once and she finally snagged one.

  “How?” she said. “How did you manage to get so far into this when I was living only a few blocks away?”

  “Believe me, it was not easy. A lot of the work happened over the past weekend while we were in Denver. I was hoping to convince you to stay another week or so after the wedding but then things went haywire and we ended up back here earlier than I’d expected. And then I knew I couldn’t keep it from you anymore. You needed to see what was going on.”

  He reached into his pocket and held up a key.

  “It’s all yours, sweetheart,” he said. “Check it out.”

  For a moment, she couldn’t move. The key to her dream was right there, right in front of her, real and ready for the taking.

  Then Crissy shook herself and held her hand out. Quinn dropped the key into her palm and she felt the smooth cold metal against her skin, sharp with promise. She wasn’t dreaming then. This was really happening.

  She approached the door and slid the key into the lock. It turned with a click and the door popped open. The smell of paint and plaster washed over her as she stepped inside, fresh and clean with new beginnings.

  The bakery was at least twice the size of the old coffee shop with an open floor plan rather than the crowded and cramped set up she had grown accustomed to over the years. The windows lining the street front were huge, letting in oceans of golden sunlight that made the entire place look it was glowing. Tentatively, she reached out and trailed her finger over one of the walls. Still real. Still solid to the touch.