The Heart of Baker’s Bay

by Danielle Jacks

  She gives me a look of distaste. “We should be out spying on Kayleigh and Peter.” Her features turn angelic.

  “Your cinnamon muffins aren’t going to make themselves.”

  “Let me corrupt you one time. Forget being responsible, sensible Adam.”

  She didn’t want my help in the kitchen, but she does want to spend time with me. I’d like to know what’s going on in her head, but I’m afraid to ask. The truth could be something I don’t want to hear. This small sacrifice of taking her out feels like the right thing to do, and I like making her happy.

  “Saturday.”

  “What do you mean Saturday?”

  “I’ll let you lead me astray for one night only.”

  She claps her hands together in excitement. “You might become an addict.”

  “I doubt it, but we’ll see.” Making Jody smile gives me a strange feeling. This small victory feels good. One night out can’t hurt. It’s not like I don’t know the people she’s spending her time with. Peter’s okay, and I went to school with some of the other guys.

  After reaching the far end of the beach, we walk back along the rocks. It doesn’t take us long to arrive at the café. My time with Jody is too short this evening, but for whatever reason, she wants to bake alone. I have no choice but to say goodbye.

  “Enjoy your baking. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Jody unlocks the door while I admire her. “Adam.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Don’t be thinking I don’t need your help because I do.” She bites her bottom lip like she has something more to say, but the words never surface.

  “I’m always here for you if you need me, and I’m only a call away.” I kiss her cheek and she smiles. She watches me and Dax as we leave.

  “Goodbye,” I shout over my shoulder.

  “Night.”

  Dax chooses this moment to shake off his wet fur. I try to jump out of the way, though unfortunately, I’m not quick enough. Jody’s laughter echoes in the distance. I smile and wave before walking away.

  Dad’s cleaning his fishing boots on the front step when I arrive home. Dax feels it’s his duty to make sure he doesn’t miss out on the wet dog smell. He bounces all over him and licks his face.

  “Are you not seeing the lovely Jody tonight?” he says.

  “I’ve left her baking. She joined us for our walk on the beach, but she wants to practice her muffin skills alone.”

  “I’m having fish for dinner if you’re joining me?”

  “Sure. Sounds great.” I place Dax’s lead and my shoes into the cupboard. My dad follows me into the kitchen.

  “You and Jody seem to be getting close.” He holds eye contact.

  “She’s a nice girl,” I say with a slight smile, while trying not to give too much away about my feelings.

  “I’m sensing there’s a but in there somewhere.” His lips tighten.

  “But she isn’t a local.”

  “Does she know how you feel?” He looks serious.

  How do parents do that? I never mentioned liking Jody as more than a friend, so why does he presume I do?

  “It doesn’t matter how I feel. Jody’s a city girl.”

  “So you think you should give up before you’ve given her a chance to love you?”

  Whoa, who said anything about the L word?

  “Jody likes the fast life. Going to concerts and socialising with friends.”

  “From where I’m standing, I think she likes it here too. Clover Bay doesn’t have to mean cutting yourself off from the rest of the world.”

  “True.” Although, that’s what it means to me.

  He shakes his head like he can read my thoughts. My dad doesn’t know about my venture out of Clover Bay, but I’m not ready to tell him yet. He’s been trying to get me to leave for years, but I’ve refused. My dad visits the other local villages to sell the fish he catches. I never wanted his career, so I didn’t see the point in going with him. He’s only trying to help by suggesting a romantic relationship with Jody, but after Erin, I don’t want to put myself out there. It’s safer to accept that Jody will leave. Love wasn’t enough for Erin, and I doubt Clover Bay will be enough for Jody.

  After dinner, I bath Dax, leaving him to settle in front of the kitchen fire. My dad sits in his usual chair in the living room and I head to my bedroom. My space no longer feels like a sanctuary; I’ve started to enjoy my evenings with Jody. I’m not sure if tonight she wanted to prove she didn’t need me, or if it was something else, but I like spending time with her and I’m disappointed. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to convince her to let me stay. I pick up my book and try to focus on it, but I can’t get Jody off my mind.

  Twenty

  Jody

  Wednesday

  “You look pleased with yourself,” Kayleigh says, tying her apron around her waist.

  “I am. I’ve finally found a theme I like for the café,” I say, showing her the Alice in Wonderland spoons I found on Pinterest.

  “Have you spoken to your grandmother yet?”

  “No, but I will soon. How come you’re here so early?”

  “I start at nine every day.” She shrugs like this is normal.

  “Yes, but I don’t usually see you before ten.”

  “I slept at Pete’s.” She covers her face. The café is empty, so I don’t feel bad when I let out a gasp.

  “Slept at Peter’s, or, you know, slept with him?” I waggle my finger in the air to emphasize the slept with him part.

  She pulls at her hair as a deep crimson blush reddens her face. “I’m an idiot.”

  “No, you’re not.” I softly brush her arm.

  “This morning I did the walk of shame, had a quick shower, and got my butt here as quickly as possible. I’m hoping he’s forgotten I was there when he wakes up alone.”

  “Why don’t you talk to him? You’re both adults.”

  She lets out a huff. “I can’t. This is Pete we’re talking about. He’s my oldest friend. The one I used to run around naked with and swim in his paddling pool. He’s like my brother.”

  “Oh, stop. He is definitely not like your brother. You’re obviously into each other.”

  She sighs. “I hate my life.”

  “You do not. You just need to figure out what to do.”

  She hugs me. “Will you help me?”

  “I’m not the right person to give advice about love, but I’ll try. I do have something to tell you though. It’s not as earth-moving as your news, but Adam’s going to join us in the pub Saturday night.”

  “How did you get him to agree to that? Did you…”

  I hold my hands up, knowing where her train of thought is going. I don’t need the gritty details of her love life, or the mental image of sexy time with Adam. “I didn’t do anything other than pester him.”

  The entrance bell rings above the door, and we both turn to see our first customer arrive. I pack up a coffee with a cinnamon muffin to go. Kayleigh takes the money, and the customer is quickly on his way.

  Kayleigh places her hands on my shoulders, looking serious. “What would you do?”

  I’m about to answer something unhelpful when the bell chimes again. Kayleigh curses under her breath, and in walks a not so fresh-looking Peter. They stare at each other while I begin to feel suffocated by the thick tension in the air.

  “Coffee?” I say, trying to gauge whether I should leave. Nobody speaks, and I take that as my cue.

  “I’ll be outside if you need me. I could use a break after my morning baking.”

  I slip out of the back door before I start listing ingredients. It’s too early for a snack, so I wander down to the beach to catch some fresh sea air. Dax comes bouncing towards me. I bend down and stroke his back.

  “Where’s Adam?” Yes, I’m talking to a dog, but as I look around, I can’t see Adam or Harrison anywhere. I rub behind his ears and he tries to lick my face.

  “Did you escape? Have you gone on an adventure on your ow
n? Let’s walk you home before someone starts to worry about you.”

  I don’t know if he’ll follow me, but I walk towards Adam’s house. Luckily, Dax is quick to catch me up. As I reach the Davis residence, the gate and door are wide open. I pull the gate shut, but it doesn’t look secure, and then I head for the door.

  “Hello,” I shout as I enter. The sound of power tools brings my attention to the small outhouse. I make my way towards the building. “Hello,” I shout again before going inside. Harrison is sawing wood over an old workbench. He stops when he sees me.

  “Hello, Jody. What brings you here?” he asks.

  “I found Dax down on the beach.”

  “The gate must’ve blown open again. I’ll take a look at it in a few minutes. Thank you for bringing him back home.”

  “You’re welcome. Anyway, I’d best be on my way.” I stroke Dax on the head one last time.

  “You don’t have to leave right away. Do you have a few minutes to talk? There’s something I’d like to show you.”

  “Sure.”

  He dusts off his hands and leads me into the house. I lean against the kitchen counter, watching Harrison rummage through some old paperwork. When he finds what he’s looking for, he passes it to me. It’s a photograph of two girls younger than the ones on the wall.

  “Is this my mum and your wife?” I ask curiously.

  “Yes. Grace and Penny were close when they were children.” He smiles.

  “What happened between them?”

  “Your mum never wanted to stay in Clover Bay, and Penny couldn’t wait to settle down.” He smiles at the memory.

  “So, no love triangle?” Did I say that out loud?

  He coughs a laugh. “They weren’t as close once Penny and I started spending all our time together, but I don’t think there were any hard feelings between them. Your mum and I dated for a while, but it was never serious. Penny had the same life goals as me. Once we spent time together, we realised we fit perfectly. Your mum was always the confident one of the two, so she asked me out and I was intrigued, but it was Penny who stole my heart.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  I’d have to ask my mum if I wanted to know how their relationship made her feel. It sounds like Harrison could be part of the reason why she left and doesn’t realise it, or maybe I’ve been listening to too many of Kayleigh’s stories and my mum got busy with her career so she forgot to keep in touch.

  “I see Grace in you.” He smiles kindly.

  “I’m nothing like my mum. She’s smart and ambitious, whereas I don’t know what I am.”

  “I want you to be careful with my son’s heart. He seems tough, but he’s been through a lot.” His tone becomes serious.

  Now I’m beginning to understand what this trip down memory lane is all about. He’s protective of Adam, which might be because of his ex-girlfriend or one of our mums. I hope he doesn’t think I’d mess with his feelings.

  “Adam and I are just friends, but I would never intentionally hurt him.” I smile, trying to offer reassurance.

  “That’s good to hear.”

  I check my watch. “I’d better go. I’ve left Kayleigh at the café and I only stepped out for some fresh air.”

  “I’ll walk you out while I go check on the gate. You can keep the picture if you’d like.”

  “Thank you. That would be great.”

  I leave him trying to secure the broken wood. “Have a good day.”

  “You too.”

  The lunchtime rush is starting soon, so I hurry back to the café. Kayleigh is serving a table of five, and Peter is nowhere in sight. I take two orders and make drinks. Kayleigh brings out sandwiches from the kitchen, avoiding my gaze. Almost two hours pass until the café quietens down long enough for me to question her.

  “The suspense is killing me. What happened while I was outside?” I ask.

  “Just the usual, busy and quiet spells,” she replies, acting as though nothing unusual occurred.

  “That’s not what I mean and you know it. What happened with Peter? What did he say to you?”

  “He wants to take me out on a date.”

  “And?” I’m practically begging for the information at this point.

  “I said I don’t know.” She makes fists with her hands and hides behind them.

  “What are you so scared of?” I ask, hoping I can help.

  “I’m not the settling down type.” She rubs her hands over her face and up into her hair.

  “For the right person, everyone could change their mind about their future.” I rub her arm, offering her comfort.

  “Is that a hint?” She raises an eyebrow, snapping out of her blues.

  “We’re not talking about me.”

  “You’ve got to admit, it would be a sweet deal though. Your gran has to retire one day, and I couldn’t ask for a better boss.” She smiles, but I’m on to her.

  “Aw, thank you. Now stop trying to change the subject.” I give her a serious look.

  “I just need some time to think,” she says with a twitch of a smile pulling at her lips.

  “Okay, I get that, but this conversation isn’t over.” I point my finger at her but smile brightly.

  Kayleigh avoids talking about Peter for the rest of the day, and I respect her decision. In between the busy spells, we search Pinterest for inspirational designs for the café. By closing time, I have a fairly solid pitch to give my grandmother. Unfortunately, when I call home, the latest reality TV show is starting, and I don’t get enough time to share my vision.

  Twenty-One

  Jody

  Saturday

  I wipe my brow on the edge of a clean tea towel. It’s a hot day, and the orders have been non-stop. I’m ready for a long soak in the tub with some relaxing bath salts. My plan for tonight is the only thing keeping me going through the day. The next customer approaches the counter, and I smile, hoping for a break.

  “What can I get you?” I say, wafting my face.

  She gestures to the paper bag in her hand. I thought she looked familiar. I served her about twenty-minutes ago.

  “I’d like to order a dozen apple and cinnamon muffins for next weekend.”

  Did I hear the customer correctly? “You want to buy some of my muffins?” I emphasize the word my. I made the baked goods she’s referring to.

  “Yes. It’s my daughter’s birthday next week and these will be great for the party.”

  I smile with a sense of pride growing inside me. I nod before grabbing a pad of paper and jotting down her details. My hard work is finally paying off.

  “You can collect them any time after nine a.m. next Saturday.” I’m feeling confident I can fulfil the order.

  “Fantastic.”

  Indeed it is. Kayleigh cheers at me as she takes some empty plates into the kitchen. I can’t believe someone likes my baking enough to order a batch. I serve the next customer while Kayleigh wipes down a vacant table. I’m feeling pretty good about myself. People are starting to like my personal touches.

  Adam strolls to the front of the line and disappears into the kitchen. He reappears with a tray of caramel shortbread, which he places into the cake stand.

  “Thank you,” I say.

  Okay, so maybe it’s not just my personal touches to the café.

  “You’re welcome. I’ve finished my deliveries for today, so I thought I’d come and lend a hand,” he says, rolling up his sleeves.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  Ignoring my comment, he makes two takeout coffees while I bag up two shortbreads. “Are you ready for tonight?” he says when the customer is leaving.

  “After the day we’ve had, I can’t wait for a glass of wine. You’re still coming, right?”

  “I wouldn’t miss a night out.” His joke easily rolls off his tongue and we smile at each other.

  “Come on, guys. Stop flirting and get back to work,” Kayleigh says, passing the counter.

  “How’s Peter?” I tease.
<
br />   “Well played.” She pouts playfully. She’s still avoiding talking about him but doesn’t seem nervous about seeing him tonight.

  We work like a well-oiled machine until closing time. Once I’ve turned the sign over, we sit in the window bay to rest.

  “That was fun,” Adam says, earning a scowl from Kayleigh.

  “My feet hurt,” I say.

  “My face hurts from smiling,” Kayleigh adds, making me laugh.

  “You like working here. You don’t have to pretend for me.”

  “I do. Although, I have some news…” She bites her fingernail. “I’ve enrolled on a hairdresser’s course for September.” She sits forward, waiting for my reaction, but quickly adds, “If a man isn’t going to rescue me from Clover Bay, I might as well find my own fortune.”

  Kayleigh has a unique style, and I can see people wanting her as their stylist. Clover Bay could use modern makeovers. “I can imagine you as a hairdresser.”

  She smiles excitedly, and Adam nods.

  If, a week ago, I’d known Kayleigh intended to lay down roots, I’d have felt disappointed. I thought we were both coasting through life without direction. Now, I’m beginning to see it as a good thing. A younger stylist is what this village needs, and Clover Bay is changing even me. I’m beginning to want these kinds of things for myself.

  “I’m going home to get ready. I’ll see you both at seven.” Kayleigh peels herself off the seat, scrunches up her apron, and after we say goodbye, she leaves the café. I pour two glasses of water, drinking mine down quickly. Adam takes a sip before putting his on the table.

  “Your gran’s going to need to replace Kayleigh.”

  I hadn’t thought of that. I could be her replacement and make Clover Bay my home for real. My stomach flips at the idea. I never thought I’d be considering moving here.

  “I need to bake some cookies before getting ready for tonight,” I say. I’m not ready to talk about this with Adam.

  I head for the kitchen, and he follows. Together, we swiftly make some chocolate chip cookies. Our hands touch every so often, but I try to ignore what this village and everything inside it is doing to me.