“I’m okay,” Jasmine said. “I’ve got a blanket and some pillows, that’s all I need.” Jasmine paused. "Look, I really appreciate you letting me stay here. I know you didn't have to say yes."
“Nonsense,” Charlotte said, waving her away. “I only said yes because I have tons of questions.”
After getting Jasmine settled, eating her supper, and setting out her clothes for the next morning, Charlotte managed to climb into bed by nine thirty. Despite her weariness, she couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned, thinking about Gabe. When she angrily told herself she wouldn’t think about him anymore, her mind turned to her mother. That made her even madder, and she found herself staring at her ceiling.
Charlotte thought of Jasmine too, with her tattoos, her motorcycle, her carefree attitude, and her apparent fondness for horror. She was opposite to Charlotte. Charlotte wanted to get to know her, but she didn’t feel like she could connect with her on anything.
Finally, at a very late hour, Charlotte managed to fall into an uneasy sleep.
Chapter 11
Charlotte stood bent precariously as she added more chocolate colored detailing to Coco and Gabe’s cake. She had to deliver the cake in an hour, and she was still finishing up. She told herself she thrived under pressure, but this time, it didn’t feel like it. Normally she loved watching a cake come together, piece by piece, but finishing this cake just brought her closer to a moment she wasn’t looking forward to.
Soon she would be face to face with Coco and Gabe on their big day. And she was dreading it.
Most of the time, Charlotte was able to drop the cake off with little fanfare, unless it was a particularly large cake. However, this time, Coco had insisted that she take a picture with her and the cake. Not one to violate the bakery’s rule of never saying no, Charlotte had agreed to Coco’s request, which also meant she had to adhere to a strict delivery time.
Mary Ellen was working on the opposite side of the counter, completing a birthday cake order. Between icing ruffles along the edge of the cake and a centered edible photograph, she sipped sweet tea from a large cup.
Charlotte’s phone vibrated next to Mary Ellen where she’d left it earlier that morning. Mary Ellen leaned over to look at it.
“It’s him,” Mary Ellen informed her.
Charlotte’s eyebrows furrowed, but that was the only reaction to the news as she focused on the task at hand. “I can’t believe he’s still calling.”
“Some men just can’t help themselves,” Mary Ellen replied.
“It’s his wedding day,” Charlotte replied.
“Maybe he has cold feet,” Mary Ellen said with a grin, her eyebrows waggling.
“Don’t,” Charlotte said, pointing the frosting bag at Mary Ellen.
Mary Ellen shrugged and took a sip of sweet tea. “I still can’t believe he picked her. Of course, I can’t believe anyone would.”
Charlotte didn’t chastise her for the comment. Instead, she remained silent, remembering a time when she’d been a month into her engagement, and finding out her fiancé had a change of heart. She didn’t wish it on anyone.
As she put the last swirl of icing on the cake, she leaned back and said, “Done. Finally.” Charlotte looked at the clock.
Mary Ellen looked at the clock as well. “Nicely done, Chief. Ten minutes to spare.”
“I’ll get a box,” Charlotte said as she flexed her tired fingers.
She walked to the far back and was assaulted with the sight of strewn boxes all over the floor.
“What the… Mary Ellen!”
Mary Ellen appeared at her side. Her eyes widened, then her face went red. “Must be some kind of pest back here,” she said as she surveyed the damage.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow and wondered why Mary Ellen’s face was red, but she just didn’t have the time to investigate.
***
Charlotte and Mary Ellen arrived at the beautiful beachside venue in uniform. Charlotte felt her heart beating faster as she opened the door of the van.
Here goes nothing, she thought.
“I wonder where Her Grace is,” Mary Ellen commented as they each took a side of the cake.
Charlotte was too nervous to react to Mary Ellen. Her eyes darted to the small crowd of guests by the door of the wedding chapel. She didn’t recognize anyone.
Stop looking for him, she reprimanded herself.
It had been a week since she’d last seen Gabe, and now she was about to take a picture with him on his wedding day. She couldn’t think of anything more dreadful.
Mary Ellen and Charlotte carefully rolled the cake on a cart to the doors, the crowd parting for them as they did so. Many gasped and several people threw compliments in her direction. Charlotte kept her focus entirely on the cake. This was always the part of the job she didn’t like. She loved the moment the cake was sitting safely on display. But getting to that point was always nerve wracking, and today it was even more so. Charlotte's hands and legs shook with nerves.
It seemed like an eternity, but Mary Ellen and Charlotte finally made it to a large table that was draped in white at the far end of the reception hall. She placed the cake on a large display table at the center of the table. It was beautiful, truly a masterpiece.
Her heart jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around to see Coco.
“Charlotte, it’s so beautiful,” Coco said, her face shining with happiness.
Charlotte, despite her trepidation, found herself smiling. She was pleased that Coco was happy.
Coco clapped her hands together as she bit her lower lip. “Let me go find Gabe,” she squealed with excitement.
Charlotte felt her face go numb and her palms go sweaty.
A small crowd was gathering around them, many of them taking pictures like paparazzi.
Charlotte could feel her heart pounding even more. What would she say? She smiled absently at the guests who complimented the cake while she awkwardly waited. She would say nothing. She would smile for the picture and then get the heck out of there.
And then she saw him. Only it wasn’t him. Coco came across the hall with a man who was obviously her groom and just as obviously not Gabe. Well, not her Gabe.
Her Gabe. She felt her heart throb.
She’d made a terrible mistake.
“Oh dear,” Mary Ellen breathed.
Oh dear, indeed.
Coco approached her smiling, not even noticing Charlotte’s pained expression. “This is Isiah,” she said. “He goes by Gabe, his middle name,” she clarified.
Charlotte forced a smile and somehow found her voice as she shook his hand, “Nice to finally meet you… Gabe.”
“Yes, I was absent,” Gabe said. He nodded toward the cake then squeezed Coco’s shoulders. “But I see the two of you figured things out.”
Gabe and Coco exchanged dazzling smiles.
Mary Ellen clapped her hands together. “Well, let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”
With Mary Ellen’s prodding, Coco called over to the photographer, and they quickly posed for pictures. Charlotte did her best to smile. She spent a few more minutes receiving compliments before she finally ducked out with Mary Ellen.
All the way back to the bakery she agonized over how stupid she’d been. When they finally arrived, Mary Ellen nearly flung herself from the van.
“You'd better call him, Charlotte.” Mary Ellen nodded.
Charlotte gave Mary Ellen one of Joel’s salutes and then tore off toward Alice’s house. Alice had a Christmas party every year and had several dozen cookies delivered, so Charlotte knew the way. She drove there as fast as the old van would take her, once making the tires squeal around a corner.
She came to an abrupt halt in front of the driveway.
Gabe’s car was there.
Charlotte got out of the van and trotted up the sidewalk. For a brief moment, she hesitated, wondering if she should’ve called. Then, she knocked on the door, not giving herself any more time to think abo
ut it.
She heard footsteps and her palms went sweaty.
Gabe opened the door. Wonderful, handsome Gabe.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she fought to find her tongue. “I’m sorry I haven’t answered your calls… I… just.” She fumbled over the words, trying to figure out how to explain it to him.
He stood staring at her, still shocked. He waited for her to continue.
“One of my clients married a Gabe today,” she finally said. “A Gabe who’s grandmother lives in town and who I didn’t meet until today.” She wrung her hands. “I thought it was you.”
Gabe slowly smiled. “I can assure you I’m not engaged.”
Charlotte gave a small chuckle, relieved that he appeared to be taking it well.
Gabe’s smile widened, and he took her in his arms. He pressed his lips to hers. Both of their bodies relaxed as tension from the past week drained from them. His kiss was slow and sweet, and everything Charlotte had been longing for.
When they finally pulled away, Gabe asked, “So what are you doing tonight?”
Charlotte smiled. “I think I might do something crazy.”
“Oh?” Gabe asked.
“I think I might take the rest of the day off.”
Gabe nodded in agreement. “I think I might do the same.”
Charlotte grinned at him. “How about we grab some things at the bakery for a picnic and head to the beach?”
Gabe pulled her into his arms again, planting soft kisses just at her hairline. “Are we taking your van?”
Charlotte laughed at the smile in his voice. “You have something against my van?”
Gabe chuckled. “Does it come with doughnuts?”
Charlotte and Gabe arrived at the bakery, beaming smiles on their faces. As they walked into the back, Charlotte noticed how everything looked brighter now that Gabe was back in her life.
She turned to him. “Help yourself. I’ll just be a minute telling Mary Ellen.”
Gabe smiled. “Okay.”
Charlotte headed to the back. As she did so, she came across a stray doughnut box with what appeared to be bite marks in it. She stooped to pick up the box and examined it closely. There were definitely teeth holes all over the top portion of the box.
“What on earth?” she murmured.
As Charlotte straightened, she paused to listen. She heard whimpering noises. She followed the sounds that brought her to the office. There, sitting behind a poorly barricaded door was a fluffy, yellow puppy. It cocked its head sideways as it stared at her with bright eyes. Then it barked twice.
“What on earth?” Charlotte said, this time much louder.
Mary Ellen’s face popped into the doorway, her eyes wide.
The women stared at each other for a second. Then Mary Ellen looked down at the dog as she tried to think of an explanation.
“Mary Ellen, is that your dog?” Charlotte put a hand on her hip as she pointed.
“I um, well, yes.” She picked the dog up, and it promptly proceeded to lick her face while Mary Ellen smiled. “I just get so lonely sometimes, and I thought… why not adopt a puppy? And I can’t just leave him at home all day long. He’s too little.”
“Is he the reason why the place has been a mess?”
Mary Ellen gave a sheepish smile. “I do think he is your pest problem.” Her cheeks flushed red. “And he… was the reason why I interrupted your date night.”
Charlotte sighed. “Make sure he stays back until our customers have gone. Get a baby gate or something.”
“He can stay?”
“Just for now,” Charlotte said with a wave of her hand.
Mary Ellen smiled, then asked in a hushed voice, “How’d it go with Gabe?”
Charlotte’s face broke into a smile. “I’m taking the rest of the day off.”
“You’re what?” Mary Ellen looked more shocked than when Charlotte had discovered the puppy.
“I just wanted to let you know.” Charlotte turned to go back to Gabe. “Hold the fort down while I’m gone,” she called over her shoulder to an incredulous Mary Ellen.
Chapter 12
Charlotte finished putting up the last bit of tinsel on the bakery Christmas tree, then stood back to admire her work.
“Perfect,” Jasmine said.
They exchanged smiles and Jasmine held up a plastic ball of mistletoe.
“Now we just need to find a spot for this.”
Charlotte laughed. “Where did you find that?”
“Online, of course.” Jasmine ruffled the leaves and then spun it so it twirled from its string. “I think above the cash register.”
Charlotte laughed again. “Kissing every customer might cause problems.”
This time, Jasmine laughed. “It’d be Peaches, I mean Joel, doing the kissing.”
They both laughed at the thought.
Charlotte took the ball from Jasmine and walked over to the front door that was lined with twinkling lights. “Here?” She stood on her tip-toes, holding it just above the entrance.
“Perfect,” Jasmine agreed. She pushed a chair over to Charlotte.
Charlotte stood on the chair and tacked the string to the ceiling. “I think we’re done.”
The women surveyed their work. The Christmas tree stood in the corner, covered with twinkling blue lights. They had wrapped some doughnut boxes with shiny red and green paper. Jasmine had the idea of making bows out of the tissue paper they used to pick up pastries with at the counter. The paper had the bakery’s logo on it. They taped the bows to the presents and wrapped some around the Christmas tree as a garland. The front door and two large windows were lined with lights. The front counter was lined with pine garlands that were decorated with more of the tissue paper.
“Looks fabulous,” Jasmine said.
“I agree,” Charlotte said.
Jasmine turned to her. “I have an early Christmas present.”
Charlotte smiled. “Jasmine. Getting to know you all this time has been a present.”
“Don’t thank me yet, not until you hear what it is.” Jasmine took a deep breath.
Charlotte studied her face for clues. “Okay, what is it?”
“Mom has wanted to come visit you this whole time. I told her you weren’t ready… until yesterday. You seem like you’re in a good place now.”
Charlotte felt a pang of excitement in her chest. “I… don’t know what to say.”
Jasmine looked at her through long lashes. “She could be here for Christmas… if you want.”
Charlotte slowly smiled. “I… think that would be...”
Jasmine's face broke into a smile. “You don't have to answer right away.”
“Yeah.” Charlotte nodded. It was about time she opened her heart to more family. Part of her had always wondered what her mother was really like, though it would be difficult to see her again. But Jasmine turned out to be alright.
"Really?" Jasmine asked again.
Charlotte pulled Jasmine in for a hug and squeezed her tight. “I’m so glad I have you now.”
Jasmine returned her squeeze. “Me too.”
Jasmine had found a job in Sugar Cove and decided to stay. Despite their differences, the half-sisters had grown close, and Jasmine had even succeeded in getting Charlotte to go out on the town once and a while. She’d also encouraged Charlotte to break the bakery’s rule and say no sometimes when they got booked up. Charlotte had been unable to do it, the rule so engrained in her, so she’d hired some extra help.
A soft knock on the glass door made both women look up.
Gabe stood outside smiling. He waved.
Charlotte unlocked the door and stepped aside.
“Looks great in here,” Gabe said. He laughed when he noticed the Sugar Cove Bakery paper garland.
“Jasmine’s idea,” Charlotte said with a grin.
“Well,” Jasmine responded. “I’m going to leave you two to it.” She squeezed Charlotte’s arm on the way out the door. “And just so you don’t miss a
n opportunity, Gabe.” She pointed up at the mistletoe hanging above Gabe and Charlotte.
Gabe laughed. “Nice touch.”
Charlotte sighed happily. “Also Jasmine’s idea.”
“She’s full of them,” Gabe said as he looked at Charlotte’s face. And with that, he bent to kiss her. He took his time, savoring the feel of his lips on hers. He kissed her until they were both breathless.
Charlotte’s face was flushed when they finally pulled away. “Maybe we should skip dinner.”
“Skip dinner?” Gabe put a hand over his heart.
Charlotte chuckled. “Okay, we’d better not.”
Gabe smiled and held the door open for her.
“So what’s the surprise? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Gabe answered, a mischievous smile on his face.
Charlotte followed Gabe to his car and waited patiently as they drove to their destination. They pulled into the parking lot of the fish market. Charlotte smiled up at Gabe.
“I love it.”
Gabe leaned over and kissed Charlotte. “I love you.”
Charlotte’s heart still fluttered when he said those words. “I love you too,” she murmured back.
Moments later, they were walking among more twinkling Christmas lights and the bustle of the fish market. The damp breeze that blew in from the water bit into Charlotte's skin. Gabe drew Charlotte close as they walked to the wholesale shop.
They took some time to pick their orders and warm up, admiring all the different types of sea life that swam in the tanks. When they’d finally made their selections, they braced themselves for the cold and trotted back to the car.
Gabe took Charlotte to the same restaurant they’d shared their first date at. Charlotte was thrilled with the sentiment. They sent their fish away and then talked about their days.
“Jasmine seems to be settling in well,” Gabe remarked.
“She’s found a job bartending downtown.”
“Bartending, huh?”
“Yep. And she told me tonight that my mom wants to come see me.”
Gabe’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a good thing?”
“I suppose it is,” Charlotte agreed. “I was so upset with her for so long, but now… after having Jasmine here and hearing some of her stories, I think I’m ready to meet her.”
Her Sweet Affair: The Brides Of Sugar Cove Page 5
