I loaded all her luggage, then opened the passenger-side door. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“On the way back, I’ll tell you all the stories I can remember about Camille. Cami. She is named after her grandmother, her father’s mother. That Camille gave life to a room. She broke conventions and could make people laugh with a look.” Mrs. Phillips buckled her seatbelt. “I can think of so many stories. This will be fun.”
My drive home wasn’t going to be at all what I expected when I left Mr. Phillip’s office. Spending three hours on the road with my future mother-in-law hadn’t even been a blip on my radar.
At least I’d been partially successful.
Chapter 28
After two weeks of non-stop preparing, I dropped into a chair, sighing as Tessa locked the door. “One more week. After this tasting, I want to fast forward time. There is still a lot to do, but I am so ready to walk down that aisle.”
“I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Think of this like a spa appointment, only with cake.” Tessa set the carafe in the machine.
“Thank you so much for this. You know I would have been happy with anything you made.” I was looking forward to a low-key visit with friends.
Delaney laughed. “Tessa must give options. Is Harper coming? He gets a vote, right?”
“Of course he gets a vote, but he had something he had to do. Eli is coming to give a guy’s opinion.”
Tessa set a tray of small cakes on the table. “That must be who is knocking at the back door. Let me grab it.”
Before Eli appeared, I touched Delaney’s hand. “That’s who I’m going to have you walk out with. You know him, right?”
“Funny thing, I don’t. I’ve seen him around, but we’ve never met.”
“Well, if you hate him, let me know. I can switch up the order or something.” I flashed a smile as Eli came into view. “Hiya, thanks for being willing to give up an hour eating cake.”
That wide Gallagher grin spread across his face. “Sacrifices must be made.” Then his gaze shifted to Delaney, and he froze.
That change in behavior was interesting. And all I could think about was what Harper had said.
“Eli, have you met Delaney?” I couldn’t wait to tell Harper about the way Eli was reacting.
Eli shook his head and extended his hand. The most telling thing was what he didn’t do. He didn’t say a word.
After shaking his hand, Delaney pulled out the chair next to her. “Nice to meet you. Have a seat.”
He dropped into the chair, as stiff as one of my dad’s cocktails.
This was going to be fun.
I counted Joji and Clint getting together as a win. Maybe I could add to that list. I could visualize my business cards. Social Media Manager & Matchmaker.
Connection was what the two things had in common.
Tessa set a tray of small cakes on the table. “White with lemon filling. This one has raspberry filling. This is the traditional German chocolate. And this one is a double chocolate. Last one is a red velvet. You need to choose two.”
My mouth watered. “I’m not even sure where to start. Everything looks amazing.” Angling my camera, I captured a picture of the tray. “This is too yummy not to post.”
“Let me grab the coffee. Eli, help me, will you?”
He shot across the room like a clown launched out of a cannon. “Yep.”
Once we all had coffee and Eli was back in his chair, looking wholly uncomfortable, Tessa cut the first cake into pieces. “Round one.”
I forced myself not to devour the entire slice. “This is like a lemon-filled cloud. Oh my word, it’s good. I think I could live on this.”
Laughing, she cut into the next cake. “Sip the coffee, then we’ll taste the next one.”
Working our way around the platter, Delaney, Tessa, and I chatted about the different flavors. I knew which cake I wanted for the wedding cake, but getting Eli’s input on the groom’s cake seemed like the fair thing to do. Besides, it would force him to speak.
“Eli, you’ve been quiet. What do you think? Would Harper prefer the traditional or one of the others?”
He shrugged. “They’re all good.”
“Well, do you prefer the almost sensual richness of the double chocolate or the vivid energy of the red velvet?” I nudged his leg with my shoe.
His eyes narrowed, and his normally humorous gaze was filled with icy daggers.
“I need to know what a hero-type guy would want.” Watching him squirm spurred me on, and I just kept at it. “Need to taste them again?”
“Double chocolate.” He’d worked up to five words, but the deep breath he pulled in warned me not to push him.
“Got it. Sensual chocolate. We’ll go with that. And lemon for the wedding cake. I’ve never tasted anything so delicious.” I checked my phone.
There was no message from Harper, but there was a like on my photo. Mom. My stomach knotted.
In the middle of my excitement, there was a sliver of bitterness. But like when I was sick and needed to take medicine, I swallowed the bitter taste and focused on the happy things.
Where was Harper? It had been hours since I’d heard from him. I knew he was busy, but rarely was he out of contact. And right now, I wanted to be wrapped in his arms.
The ready-to-run Eli probably knew where Harper was, and catching Eli off guard was the best way to get an honest answer.
I leaned forward like I was about to share a secret. Delaney and Tessa followed my lead. With Delaney inches from Eli’s arm, he stared at the gap like it might implode at any moment.
“I don’t know where Harper is.” I let loose a dramatic sigh. “He wouldn’t say what he was doing today.”
Eli rolled his eyes. “He’s almost to your place.”
“Really? He hasn’t called.” I crossed my arms. “I figured you’d know.”
“You could’ve just asked.” He glanced at Delaney, then sprang out of his chair. “If you don’t need me anymore, I’m going to go.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Tessa picked up the tray.
I snagged the last of my favorite cake. “I’ll just take this. And thanks, Eli.”
Delaney watched as he strode toward the back. “Quiet, isn’t he?”
“Not always.” I wasn’t ready to tell her what that meant, but I couldn’t wait to talk to Harper about it.
By the time Tessa made it back to the table, I’d shoveled an entire piece of cake into my mouth.
She refilled our coffee cups. “He was in a mood.”
“We can talk about him later. And believe me, I want to, but right now we have other issues.” Delaney pointed at my plate. “What’s wrong, Cami? I haven’t seen you down food like that since when you ate all that ice cream when you were drowning your sorrows over leaving Harper on the sidewalk.”
I loved having friends, but having them know me so well made avoiding some conversations impossible. “Mom liked the picture of the cakes. I feel bad that I haven’t invited them. I’d be thrilled if they showed up, but if I asked and they didn’t come, I’d eat the entire wedding cake without sharing. And I should at least share with Harper. You know, for pictures.”
Tessa hugged me. “I’m sorry. It’s not too late to ask Clint to walk you down the aisle. Then you might not feel as alone.”
I wadded a napkin into my fist. “Thanks to all of you, I don’t feel alone at all. Really.”
“And you aren’t upset about Harper being MIA?” Delaney sipped her coffee.
“No. I’ve missed seeing him today, but it’s not like he’s off doing something awful. I trust him.” I savored the robust coffee. “But as soon as I finish this, I’m racing home to see him.”
“Knowing Harper, he probably went to a nursery and picked you an entire bouquet with his own hands.” Delaney laughed. “He’s a bit of a romantic when it comes to you.”
“All that is just icing on the cake.” I slapped the table. “Now before I go, any objection to walking out with Eli?�
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Delaney shook her head. “No objections. He’s a cutie. I just won’t plan on conversation.”
“If he doesn’t talk to you, it means—” Tessa yelped when I kicked her shin. “What?”
“Sorry. He’s weird. Don’t let him bother you.” I picked up my purse. “I’m not sure I know how to thank the two of you properly. Walking into this doughnut shop has made my life so much better.”
“Maybe that should be written on the door.” Tessa grinned. “And we love you too.”
After a group hug, I raced out to the truck, eager to see Harper. Before backing out of the parking space, I called him.
The call rang once before going to voicemail.
Instead of panicking, I shot off a text. On my way home. Will you be over later?
A kissing emoji popped up as an answer.
Something was up, but I didn’t have the first clue what it might be.
The answer to my text waited for me at the farm. Harper’s truck was parked outside the trailer, and he stood on my porch.
“Hello, gorgeous.” He met me at the bottom stair. “I have a surprise for you.”
That statement wasn’t completely unexpected. He’d been gone all day doing something, and this close to the wedding, I guessed it somehow related to me.
I wrapped my arms around him. “Do you?”
After a lingering kiss, he swung me around. “How was the tasting?”
“Tessa is amazing. I chose double chocolate for the groom’s cake and lemon-filled for the tiered cake. Oh, and Eli showed up and maybe said ten words.”
Harper cocked his head. “With you and Tessa?”
“And Delaney.” I poked him in the chest. “You know what that means, don’t you?”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Can you at least wait until after the wedding to play matchmaker?”
“Believe me, marrying you is my priority.”
“Good.” He clasped my hand. “The surprise is at Joji’s.”
“Joji is right there.” I waved as she walked into the barn.
“Inside her house. Let’s go.” He tugged me toward her porch. “You’ll want to see this.”
I pushed open the door and was met with a scream.
My beautiful, poised mother was up on the counter on her hands and knees. “Help me.” She pointed at the ground where Joji’s smallest kitten wiggled his rump as if ready to jump.
Caught between the urge to laugh and the need to cry, I scooped up the kitten. “Mom.”
“Put him outside. Please.” Panic etched on my mom’s face in all the places wrinkles were supposed to be. Her plastic surgeon was a skilled man.
I handed the kitten off to Harper. “You did this, didn’t you?”
He set the cat on the front porch. “Your mom? Yes. I didn’t have anything to do with the cat. I had no idea she didn’t like them.”
“Phobia.” I put my hand out to help her down. “I’m so happy to see you.”
She inched her way to the edge of the counter. “Are there more of them?”
Harper ran down the hall, checking for fuzzy creatures.
“He’ll make sure they are all outside.” I grabbed her hand. “You can get down.”
“How embarrassing. And how did you know I had a phobia?” The bewilderment on her face was welcome after seeing her panic.
“It’s a bit obvious.” I helped her to the ground.
As soon as her feet hit the floor, she wrapped me in a hug. “Does he make you happy?”
“Very happy.” I’d never been so thrilled to see my mom.
“Harper said you have an extra bedroom. If that doesn’t work, I’m happy to stay at a hotel.”
“You are more than welcome in my extra room.”
This would definitely make for an interesting week. Mom would be spending a week in a small trailer, and she’d be on a goat farm. What could go wrong?
With such a happy surprise, I didn’t shatter any part of it by asking about my dad. He wasn’t here, and that spoke volumes.
Chapter 29
Harper brushed a thumb on my cheek. “I learned all about your grandmother. Sounds like you are a lot like her.”
“She made me feel not crazy. I loved her.” I nestled against him and pulled the blanket tighter around us. “Thank you. I’m shocked she came.”
“It’s clear she loves you. I had to give it a shot.”
“It might get a little nuts with her here, but I am happy she came. I’m saying that now before I call you ranting about my mom.”
He laughed. “You going to introduce her to the goats?”
“I plan to. I’ll just have to chase the cats out of the barn first.”
The evening had been a whirlwind. Joji had made dinner, and we’d all talked for hours. But I was thankful for a few quiet minutes alone with my love.
“Joji has been awesome. And I can’t even tell you how happy I am that Mom and Joji hit it off. That will make this week much easier. Sorry we have to snuggle outside.”
“Okay by me. I should let you go visit with your mom.” Thankfully, Harper didn’t move.
I listened to the night noises, enjoying being with him. “Did he say anything? Or did you even see him?” Explaining who I meant by ‘him’ didn’t seem necessary.
Those strong muscles tightened. “My plan was to invite them quietly, so that if they didn’t come, you’d never know. But it didn’t go the way I’d expected. When I left, I hadn’t planned on three hours in the truck with your mom.”
I giggled. “I wish I could’ve been there.”
“She kept glancing over at my speedometer. And she’d squeeze her eyes closed whenever a semi-trailer passed us. But she told story after story about you.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I learned a ton.” He nuzzled my neck, then grew serious. “In answer to your original question, I did talk to him. His dislike for me exceeds his love for you I think. And I’m sorry about that. And I’m sorry you found out about that part of it.”
“I know how far you’ll go to make me happy.”
“Three hours. That’s as far as I’ll go.” Moonlight reflected in his eyes, highlighting the humor dancing there.
“I love you too, Harper.” I trailed a finger through his whiskers. “What was your plan if the trip hadn’t been successful? How did you plan to explain being gone all day?”
He crinkled his nose. “I was going to buy you a kitten.”
“We’ll have to get Mom past her fear before we add a cat to our family.”
“No joke. And I love hearing you say that word.”
“Family?”
“We.”
Just before six in the morning, I tiptoed out of the trailer. It was my last week feeding the animals, and I wasn’t going to skip out on the fun. Working on the farm had changed me, and I’d forever be grateful to Joji and her menagerie of animals.
“Morning, Boingo.” I rubbed his head as he trotted along beside me. “Be nice to my mom, please. She isn’t used to being around animals.”
I grabbed chicken feed and headed toward the pen, and Boingo stayed right on my heels.
He never went in where the chickens were. I think the red hen scared him. Sometimes she scared me.
“Are you ladies going to miss me?” I gathered eggs from the hen house. “I’ll miss most of you.”
Once the eggs were safely on Joji’s porch, I wandered into the barn to set up the milking machine. I’d grown to love the quiet hours of the morning.
But some days, I did miss my bed.
Once the chores were all finished, I handed off the eggs to Joji before slipping back into the trailer. Coffee and I had a standing morning date.
Mom stood in the kitchen, looking like she’d stepped off the set of a reality cooking show. Eggs were smeared on the counter, and flour dusted the counters and her clothes. But the smile on her face was the brightest I’d seen in years.
“I made us breakfast.”
The chances of it tasting
good were slim to none. “Perfect. Let me wash up, and I’ll make us coffee. I didn’t expect you up this early.”
“We only have a week. Besides, your father started calling before the sun was up. I didn’t exactly tell him where I was headed.” She flipped over what was likely supposed to be a pancake.
“You what?”
“I simply sent him a text telling him I’d be home on Sunday. He’s a smart man. If he cares to figure it out, he will.”
I’d never seen this side of my mom. “Did you answer his phone call?”
“Nope. Just sent a text with a picture of flour and eggs. Told him I was busy making pancakes.” She wet a dishrag and wiped her face. “I’m sorry for how he acted and for not taking your side at the restaurant.”
“I’m just glad you’re here.” After she added the last pancake to the stack, I snapped a picture and posted it with a simple caption. Breakfast with my mom.
Dad was probably worried about her, but he’d figure out where she was with a little research.
“And Cami, you snagged a good one in Harper. He drives a little bit fast, but he loves you. And that is what’s important. I miss the days when your father looked at me like Harper looks at you.”
“He does love me. And I prefer to think my parents welcomed a stork one day.”
Mom laughed. “Oh, no. Once upon a time, your father—”
I covered my ears. “Not listening.” Watching her out of the corner of my eye, I laughed at her reaction to my antics.
“You are so much like your grandmother. She’d be so proud of you. I am. Harper told me about the social media business you’re building.”
“Being a grownup isn’t as hard as I thought it might be.” I popped a bite of pancake into my mouth, then forced myself to swallow it.
Mom did the same. “Oh my. These are awful. Spit it out. Hurry. You don’t need to get sick.” She shoved her plate far away from her. “I tried.”
“Come into the kitchen. We’ll make a new batch together.”
“I used all the eggs.” Mom pointed at the mess on the counter.
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