Suddenly Single

by Millie Criswell

  Sol grunted his disgust. "That old bag isn't easy to please, so you should feel proud of yourself. I'm proud of what you've learned in the short time you've been working here. Have you given any thought to baking for a living? You have the talent for it."

  Rolling pin in hand, Lisa paused, pleased by the man's compliment, but knowing it wasn't possible. "I think about it all the time, Sol, but I don't have the money to start my own business."

  "I've never had the self-confidence to make serious plans about anything. I've just sort of coasted through life, and then I met my husband. The rest, as they say, is history."

  Or hysteria, depending on how you look at it.

  "After you get divorced you might have some capital to invest, no?"

  She shook her head. "I don't want anything from Alex. Even though he's well-off, I don't feel I'm entitled to any of his money. He's worked hard for it, and we weren't married long enough for me to stake a legitimate claim."

  "You're an honest young woman. I like that about you."

  Lisa smiled. "Honest but poor."

  "You have a good heart. That is worth more than all the money in the world."

  "Do you think my creditors will feel the same?" she quipped, winking at the older man, who smiled.

  "I've been thinking about my future and this bakery, Lisa, and I've come to the conclusion that I like having you around. It's not so lonely when I have you to talk to. And it's making my burdens lighter that you're helping with the baking."

  "Thanks, Sol! That's nice of you to say."

  "Nice doesn't have anything to do with it. What would you think of coming to work here full-time?"

  "Really?" Lisa's heart began pounding with excitement. Tossing aside the rolling pin, she threw herself at the older man, wrapping her floured hands around his thick waist. "I would love it. But are you sure? I'm not very experienced."

  Sol chuckled. "Of course, I'm sure. What am I, senile? In time, if you continue to do well, we might talk of a partnership. But that's in the future. First, we must see how you do baking full-time. And you must be more tactful with the customers. You can't be telling the men who flirt with you to shove an éclair up their— well, you know."

  "I'll try to be better." Lisa grew thoughtful for a moment, wondering what she was going to say to Leo and Francie, who had taken a big chance by giving her a job.

  "I've got to give notice at work. I don't want to leave Leo and Francie shorthanded. I hope you understand."

  "So you'll tell them and start here at the bakery as soon as you can. The job will still be here when you're ready."

  "I don't know how to thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."

  Sol chuckled. "I was young once, so I think I do." The bell over the door tinkled just then, and the older man added, "Here comes our first customer. Why don't you go out and sell him half of what we made this morning."

  "I will. I'm so happy nothing and no one can ruin my day today."

  But as Lisa stepped out to the front of the bakery and focused on the man in black leather, her smile disappeared and she almost choked on her words, not to mention the doughnut she was munching.

  9

  "What are you doing here?" Lisa blurted out, forgetting her promise of moments before to be nice to the customers.

  Surely there had to be exceptions.

  And soon-to-be ex-husbands were definitely exceptions.

  "I heard you were working here and came by to say hello. As I told you the last time we spoke, we need to talk about our future."

  Lisa squinted as she tried to take in Alex's very unorthodox appearance. "Why are you dressed like a biker?" It was then she noticed the Harley parked outside the bakery, gleaming in the streetlights that lit the early-morning darkness, and her mouth fell open.

  Alex riding a motorcycle? I don't think so.

  "I hardly recognized you when you came in." He was dressed in a tight black T-shirt and even tighter blue jeans; a black-leather jacket completed the ensemble. His dark hair had been slicked back and he looked damn good…for a James Dean impersonator.

  Alex wearing an earring! I don't think so.

  Alex sighed, wondering if he was ever going to get anywhere with his stubborn wife. He'd dressed like a macho jerk because he figured she was into that type of man. Her dance partners at the club had run to the chick-magnet type, so Alex figured if he couldn't beat 'em, he may as well join 'em.

  His damn pants were so tight, he doubted he'd ever be able to sire children. But at least they weren't leather. He had drawn the line at that.

  Well, if Lisa wouldn't respond to politeness, he knew how to remedy that. "Get your stuff! We're getting out of here. You're my wife, and I'm taking you with me. It's time you put aside all this nonsense, Lisa, and returned home. We have a life together, in case you've forgotten."

  At his caveman antics, Lisa's eyes became the size of saucers. She stared at him as if he were deranged or from another planet. "Have you been drinking again?" She sniffed the air. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Alexander Mackenzie. Not now, not ever. When are you going to figure that out? We're through, finished. Stick a fork in it and call it done."

  He winced at her ferocity. But Alex being Alex, and not one to take no for an answer, persisted. "You responded to my kiss the other night, and you know it. Admit it—you liked it. I know you're not as disinterested as you pretend to be. You still want me. We're good together, you and I."

  "Get over yourself! And get out of here. This started out to be a very nice day, until you showed up."

  "I'm not giving up, Lisa. We will be together. You love me. I know it, and you know it. So why are you being so damn pigheaded about it? I've already apologized about the way I treated you. What do you want me to do, grovel at your feet? I will if I have to."

  "What I want is for you to leave. You're making a spectacle of yourself. Thank God there are no customers to see you."

  It was then Alex spied an elderly gentleman holding a rolling pin in a threatening manner and knew that Lisa had a champion waiting in the wings. "I'll leave, but I'm coming back. I love you, I want you in my life, and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."

  Heart twisting painfully in her chest, Lisa watched Alex storm out the door. It took him a few tries to get the motorcycle started, but then he sped away, as if Satan himself were on his heels. "Well, that's that, I guess."

  So why does it hurt so much? It's what you wanted, after all.

  Sol stepped forward, still holding the rolling pin and looking not at all convinced by her words. "I wouldn't be too sure about that, young lady. The boy looks determined. He loves you. I've never seen a man so willing to toss his pride away for the love of a woman. I'm not sure I would have done as much for Olivia, and I loved her like crazy."

  Sighing wistfully, she shrugged. "Not everything is meant to be, Sol."

  "That's true. But sometimes there is no fighting what is."

  Still reeling from her confrontation with Alex, Lisa paced the apartment, hoping Leo would be back soon from his late-afternoon jog.

  Since he'd taken up with Bruce, Leo, the couch potato, had turned into the marathon man. He'd been running two miles a day for the past few weeks and hating every minute of it.

  When Lisa heard the key turn in the lock, her stomach filled with butterflies, the lump in her throat swelling to uncomfortable proportions. Telling Leo she was going to quit would not be easy. In fact, Lisa wasn't quite sure how she was going to do it, though she'd rehearsed several speeches while waiting for him to put in an appearance.

  "Hey, sweetie!" Leo greeted her with a toothy smile, wiping his forehead dramatically with the designer scarf draped around his neck. Even while exercising, the fastidious man liked to be fashionable.

  "I stopped by Smollensky's a little while ago to see you, but Sol said you had left early. I hope you're feeling okay."

  Lisa described Alex's visit.

  "Ah, well that explains why there's an angry-looking bik
er sitting out in front of our apartment complex. I didn't recognize him as Alex, but I did notice the man was hot. Sort of a Russell Crowe type, oozing with sexuality, huh?"

  Crossing to the window, Lisa looked out to find Alex sitting on his bike at the curb and groaned. She shook her head, wondering if her staid, conservative mortgage-banker husband had lost all of his marbles. This was definitely not Alexander Mackenzie behavior. "Something like that," she said finally.

  "Someone should tell the poor guy that he's wearing his earring in the wrong ear. That is, unless your rejection of Alex has turned him to the dark side. In which case—"

  Shaking her head, Lisa had to smile. "Alex is still very heterosexual, just unaware."

  "Pity. So, are we going to Club Zero tonight? You promised to be my date this evening since Bruce is out of town visiting his mother. I swear, but that man is thoughtful. Sometimes the big ones surprise you."

  Lisa wasn't touching that remark with a ten-foot pole. "I need to talk to you about something very important, Leo. I've made a life-altering decision, and you may not want to go clubbing with me after I tell you what it is."

  "Uh-oh. Sounds like a chocolate-chip-cookie type of conversation to me. Do we have any?"

  Like a hopeful puppy, Leo followed Lisa into the kitchen, where she procured a large Tupperware container of cookies and two glasses of cold milk.

  "I told you when I moved in here that I could take care of your sugar addiction."

  He bit into the cookie and made a contented sound. "So you did, sweetie. So tell me, what is this big decision of yours? Are you reconciling with Alex?"

  She made a face. "Definitely not! This has nothing to do with Alex."

  "Then what is it?"

  Taking a deep breath, Lisa said, "As I've explained many times before, Leo, I love to bake more than anything else in this world." Well, except for having sex, maybe. "I'm good at it, and Sol thinks so, too. He's offered me a full-time job at the bakery, and I'm going to take it. It's what I've always wanted to do. I hope you'll be happy for me." She held her breath, waiting for his response.

  Wiping the milk mustache from his mouth, Leo set down his glass, not bothering to hide his surprise. "Are you sure about this, Lisa? I've got plans for you at the store. You can do very well there, if you choose to stick it out."

  "I don't want to sound ungrateful, because I'm not. I really appreciate your hiring me and giving me a chance to build up my self-confidence and job skills. And I've really enjoyed working with you and Francie. But being a designer is not my heart's desire. I want to bake."

  "Well, based on the taste of these cookies, I think you've found your calling. If you want to bake, then you should. Life's too damn short to be unhappy in your work, Lisa. Though we'll hate to lose you, I understand completely."

  "I intend to give you two weeks notice. Will that be enough?"

  Leo shook his head. "Not necessary. Since business has picked up so dramatically, I've already placed an ad in the Inquirer for additional help. I intend to hire another designer, as well as an assistant for Francie. I start interviewing tomorrow, and I'm certain we'll be able to fill your position quickly."

  Lisa nibbled her cookie, swallowing more milk and wishing she could avoid asking the next question, but knowing she must. "Do you want me to move out, since I won't be working for you any longer?"

  "What? And give up my opportunity for freshly baked cakes, pies and cookies? Not on your life, sweetie. You can stay here as long as you like. I've gotten used to your slovenly ways and cheerful personality. I think I'd be lonely if you left."

  Lisa heaved a sigh of relief, and a rush of love filled her heart for this kind man. "Thank you! You've been a good friend to me, and to Francie. We're lucky to have you in our lives."

  "I know that, and the feeling is mutual. Now pass the cookies. That damn running has worked up an appetite." He held out his leg. "By the way, do you think my thighs look firmer?"

  Lisa nodded, trying not to laugh at the earnest look on her friend's face. "Oh, definitely. Much firmer. Bruce is sure to be impressed."

  "Oh, stuff Bruce! I've got my eye on the most adorable pair of black running shorts. They've got red lightning bolts running up the sides. Trés chic."

  "Are you sure you're not into this exercise program of yours just for the clothes?"

  Leo grinned. "But of course I am, sweetie. You don't think I'd go to this much trouble for a man, do you? After all, it's very hard to mess with perfection."

  March had come in like a lion. It was pouring buckets outside as Lisa and Molly shared lunch.

  "Who's that cute guy in the leather jacket that keeps staring at you? He looks very interested."

  Molly kept gazing over her shoulder, and Lisa felt like kicking her friend in the leg under the table. They were having lunch at Simply Salads to celebrate Lisa's new full-time job at Smollensky's.

  "Its just Alex. He's been following me around for days. I should have him arrested for stalking, but I don't have the heart."

  Molly sighed. "I wish someone that good-looking would stalk me. I would never have recognized Alex if you hadn't told me who it was. The man looks yummy enough to eat. How you can resist him is beyond me."

  Taking a bite of spinach salad, Lisa wondered the same thing. Her defenses were definitely weakening, not to mention that she hadn't had sex in what seemed like forever. "What's happening with you and Alan? I thought you liked him."

  "I liked having sex with him. Alan's great in the sack. But other than that, he bores me. Alan is too wrapped up in Alan. He's shallow and full of himself."

  That was true of most of the men Lisa had dated over the years. Seeing Alex in his new "macho man" image had made her realize just how stupid her choices in men had been. She'd gone for flash, not substance.

  Alex had been different; there was no denying that. He didn't have a shallow, self-centered bone in his body. He didn't lie, criticize or hold his Ivy League education over her or anyone else's head. For all his money, he was down-to-earth and kind.

  Alex was a real man, a caring man—which was why, she supposed, that she'd thrown caution to the wind and married him so quickly. Men like Alex didn't come along every day. She could see that clearly now.

  Good Lord! Maybe she was growing up.

  Her need to spite her parents, to draw attention to herself, to defy society and its rules and conventions had definitely waned.

  And wouldn't Josephine and John be pleased about that?

  Her parents had pretty much written her off, and she could hardly blame them for it. She'd pushed their buttons and gotten the logical response. But maybe if they had expected more of her, as they had with Francie, Lisa would have expected more of herself. Of course, it was always easier to blame someone else for her shortcomings. But she knew the fault was mostly her own.

  "Earth to Lisa. Hello? Where are you? You haven't heard a word I've said. This is supposed to be a celebration, remember? Instead, I feel like I'm at a damn funeral. What gives?"

  "Sorry. I've just been thinking about regrets and realized that I've been a real pain in the ass to my parents. It's a wonder they still love me." She sighed.

  "Mine have pretty much given up on me," Molly confessed. "They hate my vintage wardrobe, the men I date and the fact that I didn't follow in my father's footsteps, so to speak, and become a podiatrist."

  Both girls let loose an "ewwww" at the same time.

  "Can you imagine touching all those smelly feet?" the redhead asked, making a face of disgust. "Grosses me out, just to think about it."

  Glancing at Alex out of the corner of her eye and remembering his penchant for sucking her toes, Lisa decided not to share that tidbit of information with her friend.

  Alex looked over just then and their eyes caught. Smiling sexily, he winked, and Lisa's toes began to tingle; not to mention other various and sundry parts of her body.

  "I've got to go, Molls. I'll explain later." She tossed down a twenty-dollar bill to cover her lunch a
nd stood.

  "But why? We're not done with our lunch yet."

  "I've just got to, that's all. I'll call you later."

  Taking a page from Leo's book, Lisa sprinted out of the restaurant, eager to put distance between her and her irresistible husband.

  "Have you called Alex or Lisa?" Josephine asked her coconspirator, Miriam, over the phone. "I haven't heard my daughter mention it, and I'm sure she would have. As you know, you are not her favorite person." There was silence, then a long, drawn-out sigh. "I'm still not sure what to say. What if Lisa hangs up on me?"

  Josephine rolled her eyes, even though the spineless woman couldn't see her. "Say you're sorry, and she won't hang up. My daughter was raised with better manners than that, Miriam, despite what you think. And when are you going to call Alex? Surely you're not afraid of talking to your own son."

  "Tonight. I'll do it tonight."

  "Good. There's a lot at stake. Lisa still hasn't gotten her period."

  "You mean—"

  "We could be grandmothers soon, so don't put this off. We need to shove those two in the right direction."

  "All right. I'll do my part."

  "See that you do, Miriam, or a horse's head in your bed is going to seem like child's play."

  At the woman's sharp gasp, Josephine smiled and hung up the phone. Sometimes being Italian really came in handy, she decided.

  "You catch on quickly." Sol praised Lisa's ability to make each cream puff uniform in size and shape. "It took my wife years to master these, and you've done it in a week. Cream puffs are tricky."

  The compliment—one of many she'd received this past week—made Lisa grin. She was about to respond when the bell over the door tinkled and Francie walked in.

  "Hey, Lisa! Hey, Mr. S! How's it going?"

  "Your sister is a genius in the kitchen. I've got a nice crumb cake put away for you, Francie. I'll go get it."

  "Nice man," Francie said, watching the older man disappear into the back room. "Sounds like Sol is quite impressed with you, Lisa. I guess you made the right decision, after all."