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The display looks like a fancy barnyard, with the spun sugar glinting under the small down lights, and all the cute little animals we made out of chocolate or fondant peering up at us. Easter eggs of every shape and color look downright mouth-watering littered throughout the magical setting.
“Let’s go check it from the street.” CeeCee grabs my arm, and pulls me into the bright day.
“Would you look at that?” I say. “Walt’s shop is closed again — that’s the third time in a week or so. Why do you suppose that is?”
CeeCee crosses her arms and follows my gaze. “I don’t rightly know.”
“You think sales are slow?”
She turns back to our Easter display, and says, “Could be.”
Walt’s shop is dark. His display window is filled with colorful one-off pieces of furniture he lovingly hand-crafts. He uses wood recycled from old boats, their assorted paints faded and chipped, and mismatched to produce the most beautiful eclectic pieces you’ve ever seen. He says his furniture tells a story. The wood he uses has sailed around the world and seen more life than most of us ever will. My heart aches thinking Walt and Janey might be suffering financially.
“Maybe we should make him a box of goodies tomorrow, Cee. There’s nothing one of your famous pies can’t fix.”
She nods. “That surely will help.”
I know firsthand how hard it is to stay afloat in such a small town. We’ve seen plenty of businesses come and go but Walt and Janey’s furniture shop is one of the oldest. They’ve been here forever. Walt is the event organizer for Ashford. He arranges the Christmas carols every year, and all the festivals and gatherings we have throughout the seasons. It strikes me how odd it is he hasn’t been more involved in the chocolate festival. And CeeCee’s uncharacteristically quiet about it all; she’s Janey’s best friend, and surely knows what’s going on. Though, it could be a pride thing — I’m sure if it’s a financial problem they don’t want everyone knowing.
“Once I get this Joel mess sorted out, why don’t we look at buying a few more of his tables for out front here?” I motion to the pavement, where we have a motley mix of wooden tables, and mix-matched chairs.
“You a good girl, Lil. I think that’d be nice.”
We stare at Walt’s store for a while longer. I realize I haven’t seen Janey in town over the last week or so. Usually Janey comes in to shoot the breeze and sit with CeeCee while they talk about their church and their grandbabies.
“Did you play bridge with Janey this week?” I ask CeeCee.
“Nope. I got word from Rosaleen it were off because we had odd numbers. Happens all the time. We’ll see if Walt turns up tomorrow.” CeeCee bustles back inside before I can respond.
***
Later that day, we decide to shut the café a tad earlier than usual. All these early starts and late evenings have taken a toll. The street has gone sleepy with so few people about. Everyone is conserving their energy for the weekend festivities; well, I hope so, at any rate.
“Sugar plum, you try and put the thought of Mr Jefferson’s verdict out of your pretty little head. Go on and enjoy the night with that fine-looking thing, and worry about it in the a.m.”
I couldn’t seem to get hold of Mr Jefferson on the phone all day. The niggly feeling he’s going to have bad news for me hasn’t been far from my mind. “I’ll be fine, Cee. Bet you he’s found a way to fix it, and will call with the good news tomorrow. Why don’t you take a few bunnies home? Not sure we taste-tested them enough.”
She haws, loud and high, and pats her handbag. “Already done. I never tried the white chocolate rabbits — can’t go selling the merchandise if I haven’t tasted it for myself.”
I pat my bag. “I’ve got a helping of caramel-filled eggs. You never can tell when you’ll get a sugar craving.”
“It’s a wonder we ain’t bigger!” She guffaws, and pats her rounded belly. “Wait a minute! You the only skinny one — that just ain’t fair!”
I scoff. CeeCee’s got a real thing about calling me skinny, when in actual fact I’ve got proper country-girl curves, which are only getting bigger with all the chocolate I’ve been eating.
I shut off the lights and we head out of the front door into the balmy air. Damon’s shop is still open, and I wave to him as CeeCee and I stroll up the street. “You gonna walk?” I ask. CeeCee usually hitches a ride with Sarah when she closes her book store. “Yeah, sugar, after all that chocolate today, I think I might need to make it a regular thing. Plus we’re early. You go on ahead. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She pecks me on the cheek.
“I’ll pop in and tell Sarah you’re walking home.” CeeCee lives a bit further out on the other side of town from me, a good twenty-minute walk.
“You tell her I need another selection of those bodice rippers you keep teasing me over,” CeeCee says.
Laughing, I nod and walk into the tiny bookshop.
As usual Sarah is propped up behind the cash register, her head in a book, jeans-clad legs crossed and perched on a stool. “Hey, Lil.” She dog-ears the page of her book, and closes it.
I smile in greeting as she stretches and shakes away the dozy look on her face. “Cee’s going to walk today on account of how much chocolate we’ve consumed.”
Her tinkling laughter rings out. She’s tiny, and looks like a doll with her smooth black bobbed hair, and perfectly cut bangs that hang just above her eyebrows.
“You know, the smell of melted chocolate travels all the way over here. I planned on coming over but I got to reading…”
I run a hand over the cover of the old hardback book. “That good?”
“A classic…”
Plunging my hand into the depths of my handbag, I grovel around for the box of caramel eggs and offer them to Sarah. “Here’s something to keep your energy up.”
She laughs, and takes the eggs, unwrapping one and popping it into her mouth. “Gosh…wow.”
“Keep going, plenty more where they came from.” I walk around the small shop looking for cookbooks. The small space has an otherworldly feel about it. It’s dusty and dingy with books piled on top of each other or double stacked on shelves. Old books mixed with new, a veritable treasure trove of wonder. Sarah knows instinctively where everything is, but it’s fun to mosey your way around and find something hidden, a gem for yourself.
“So you all organized for the festival?” Sarah asks.
All the coordinating was done weeks ago. All that’s left to do is the fun part. “I think so. We’ve made most of the eggs, and the truffles, now we’re making the medley of cakes, and fudges, and slices…”
“Stop! You’re making me salivate… How can you stand to cook like that without gorging on it all day?”
“We do gorge! Trust me, we do. It kind of goes on all day till I can’t fit another thing in. Maybe I should have opened a salad shop…” I pinch my love handles.
Sarah scoffs. “Lucky for us, you didn’t. Can’t see us getting a town full of shoppers for a potato salad festival, can you?”
I grin and say, “Well, what about a Caesar salad festival?”
She clicks her fingers. “A coleslaw festival!”
I giggle at the thought.
Her expression turns mock serious. “Are you telling me there’s not going to be a three-bean salad festival?”
I drop my bottom lip and shake my head sadly. “Not for a few weeks anyway.”
“Ha ha, I’ll hold you to that!” She leans under the counter and pulls some thin white books from a box. “I got these in especially for CeeCee. She sure can get through them at a rate of knots.”
I smile, thinking of CeeCee reading so many romance books a week, then talking about the characters as though they’re real. She’s got me hooked on them, after talking up so many buff men, and glamorous women. Though there’s not much chance I’ll ever be like the heroines, with their perfectly made up faces, and their sky-high confidence.
I poke around the box of books and find an old French dessert cookbook. As I flick through the pages my belly rumbles loud enough for Sarah to hear. “You can’t be hungry and run a café. That just doesn’t make sense.” She laughs.
“I think it’s living on a diet of sugar that’s doing it.”
“Take that book, Lil. I got it in for you.”
“Thank you. I can see us trying some of these recipes out tomorrow. Soon enough we’re going to need another pair of hands. We sure are getting busier these days.”
“You’ve worked hard for it. And I don’t know if it’s just the advertising we’ve done for the festival, but Ashford sure seems busier these last few weeks.”
The talk of customers reminds me of Walt, and I suddenly feel guilty talking about business improving when his shop sits closed next door.
“You know why Walt and Janey aren’t open?”
“No.” She frowns. “It’s not like them, though, is it?”
I shake my head. “CeeCee says she doesn’t know either, but I kind of felt like she did. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. I’m beginning to sound like Rosaleen!”
Sarah puts a palm to her face. “Speaking of which, I heard about Joel.”
“Rosaleen, already?”
Sarah smiles ruefully. “You got it. What are you going to do?”
“I’ve faxed Mr Jefferson the letter from Joel’s lawyer, so I’m hoping he has some magical potion that’ll make it all disappear.”
“I’m sure he will. And shout out if you need anything.”
I gather up CeeCee’s books, and go to pay but Sarah waves me off. “I’ll swap books for chocolate,” she says, grinning.
“Deal! Mosey on over when you need a fix.”
We hug, before I head outside into the fading sunlight. I take in the surroundings, the little town I love so much, with its old federation-style buildings, and the neat shops, and clean sidewalks. Aesthetically nothing much has changed here over time, other than a few cosmetic make-overs; a building gets a flick of paint, or some bright flowers sing out from new terracotta pots, but all in all Ashford stays the same.
Chapter Seven
I’m languishing in the tub when Damon gets home. It seems to be my go-to place in times of stress. There’s something about feeling weightless and submerging yourself that makes all your worries ebb away momentarily. He wanders in, his lazy, sexy smile not failing to make my pulse race.
“You some kind of mermaid or what?” he says, trailing a hand in the water.
“I think so.” I grip the edge of the bath and pull myself over the edge to kiss him hello.
“Charlie’s out with the kids next door again. She loves it here.” He sits on the tiled ledge.
“Did she talk to you about how she feels guilty loving people as well as her mom?”
He smiles. “She did, and she told me what you said, which was pretty sweet. I think she feels better now. I rang Dianne, and told her to speak to Charlie, to put her mind at ease. It’s one thing I’m grateful for, that there’s no animosity between me and Dianne any more. She’s happy with her new life, and I am more than happy with mine. Makes it easier to put Charlie’s needs first.”
I arch my eyebrow. “So you’re happy, you say?” My heart races when I watch his expression as his gaze travels up the length of my naked body.
“Hmm, I’d say right now I’m…distracted. What’s say we go take a lie-down before dinner?” Before I can answer he’s holding my hands and pulling me out of the bath.
I smirk as I say, “Oh, I’m not tired.”
His voice is gruff with desire. “That right? Well, you won’t be sleeping.” He carries me to the bedroom, as if we’re some kind of honeymooning couple.
***
Still smiling from Damon’s so-called lie-down, I change into old sweats. They’re too large, and are stained from cooking, or more likely from eating, but as comforting as a safety blanket.
In the kitchen, Damon’s at the table, his hands clasped together, looking out of the window as though he’s mesmerized by the sinking sun. Two glasses of white wine sit waiting, condensation running off the cool glasses.
“Hey, pretty lady,” he says lazily. “Don’t you just look adorable dressed like that?”
“Yeah, it’s the latest look. You know the whole sloth vibe…”
“I don’t know about that…you make sweats look good.”
I sigh inwardly. His flirty, sexy voice makes me want to ravish him again, but I know Charlie will be home soon. I can’t remember ever feeling this intoxicated by love before. It’s so powerful, like a drug, it makes it difficult to focus on anything other than him.
We sit quietly, listening to the sounds of the children’s shrieks as they play chase outside. It’s one of those very rare times when you suddenly realize nothing else could make this moment any more perfect. I’m flushed with love; it feels extraordinary, as if we’re the only ones in the world who’ve loved like this.
“So.” He turns to me, and by the look in his eyes I know what the topic is going to be. “Did you hear anything back from Jefferson?”
I shake my head. “No, not yet. I have this horrible feeling I’m going to have to pay Joel back. But, you know, I have some money saved, and hopefully the revenue from the festival will be enough to keep him at bay until I can work something out.”
He folds his arms and goes to speak then stops. Guess he’s weighing up what he ought to say and what he really wants to say. Truly, I am angry at Joel, and will be more so if I have to pay. But I don’t want Damon to think he has to save me. I don’t want to be that girl that needs to be rescued.
“Lil, I know you’re proud, and you don’t want to take the money from me. But can’t you see…? To me, it’s not about the money. It’s about you.”
“I know. I do. But I can’t have people fighting my battles. I should have known better when it comes to him and his family, so I’ll take it on the chin, and work my way out of it. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.”
He frowns as he sips his wine. “But what if you don’t make enough at the festival? Will you accept the shortfall from me?”
I try to look composed, confident. “No, there’ll be enough. I’m sure of it.” There’s no chance I’ll make enough to cover the twenty thousand, and the exorbitant amount of interest he wants to slug me, but if Mr Jefferson says I have to pay, I’ll get a loan or something before I even think of borrowing off Damon or selling the café. People might call me a fool not accepting his help, but there comes a time when you have to be in control of your own life. And nearing the big three oh, I can’t expect to be bailed out.
“I won’t keep hounding you, Lil, but what if he doesn’t leave? What if you have to sell the café, all on account of something as stupid as that idiot?”
“It won’t come to that. I promise,” I say hopefully. “And if all else fails, I’ll open up a chocolate shop.” My joke falls flat as I see his frown deepen.
“Really?”
“Easter eggs all year round, I say. No, not really — the café is my life. I’d be lost without it.”
“I wish you’d reconsider taking the money. I’d happily pay it to get him out of town and away from you.” His voice has a slightly harder tone and I realize maybe Damon does feel slightly threatened by the scurrilous Joel.
“He’ll go. I’ll work out a way, and I’ll fight to keep the Gingerbread Café. Either way I’m going to add chocolate to our repertoire. There’s something hypnotic about tempering chocolate and molding it into something completely different. I think of all the flavors and textures I can add…”
“Sounds like your mind is made up. We could incorporate it into the catering too. Chocolate martinis with a side of truffles. Say, we could even do chocolate buffets, set it out all pretty on a table and let people help themselves.”
“See? Now we’re thinking ahead. It’s much better than mooning about things I can’t change.”
He nuzzles into my neck; his warm breath on my skin gives me goose bumps. “Well, OK. I’m still learning that you can be stubborn as a mule.”
I let out a donkey-like haw, and we laugh together as the sun sinks completely, the orange hue replaced by soft sepia light. Shadows stretch on the floor beside us, and I get lost in the blackness of them, wondering how Joel managed to creep into my perfect moment, and break the spell.
Chapter Eight
The next morning at the Gingerbread Café, CeeCee is swamped with customers. I look on in awe as I jog past the window, and see a long queue inside. I’m late again on account of picking up some more supplies for the festival.
I rush in and don my apron.
“Sugar plum, glory be, it’s been hectic!” CeeCee has a sheen of sweat on her brow, and is smiling as if she’s won lotto. I grin back at her. From the looks of it everyone is here for chocolate and a rush of pleasure surges through me.
I serve customers, who are mostly local, and chat while I get their orders together.
CeeCee’s guffaws ring out when she tells the story about me blowing out the Paschal eggs. Seems she just has to tell everyone, including people who don’t ask.
“You shoulda seen her face, oh, it were priceless…”
I shake my head, and laugh at her hooting and hollering. CeeCee is always excitable when we’re busy. Everyone laughs along with her. “You should’ve been a stand-up comedian, Cee.”
With each order we slip in a free gingerbread rabbit, sweet-smelling biscuits that look cute with their white icing whiskers, and ruby-red bow ties.
Once the last customer strolls out with a backwards wave, we plonk down on the sofa for a break.
“I’m beat!” CeeCee hoists her legs up and closes her eyes.
“I’ve never seen it so busy. Seems like the whole town wandered in this morning.”
“There’s only a handful of chocolate eggs left. We’re going to have to make more tonight.”
“More? Gosh, we’re going to need a holiday after this festival.” I sigh, thinking of a summer holiday somewhere seaside with Damon. Cheesy love songs spring to mind. I envisage him chasing me along a white sandy beach. I grin when I realize I’m fantasizing about my life as if it’s one of CeeCee’s novels. They sure do give a girl inspiration.
“What you grinnin’ at?”
“Nothing. Just thinking of a holiday one of these days.” There’s no way I’m telling her I’m picturing a beach run while a song plays in my mind. She’ll think I’m cuckoo.
“So you heard from that snake?” she asks, narrowing her eyes at me.
And there it is again: Joel, the total mood killer. “Not a peep. I can’t believe I wasted so much time with a man like him.” It’s so hard to see what I found attractive in him, now that I have Damon to compare him to. “I must have been a dumb fool not to see him for what he really is.”
She glances at me, her face softening. “You ain’t dumb or a fool, Lil. The heart sees what it needs to see. You ever think that maybe it happened the way it did was so when that fine-looking thing came into your life you could recognize real love? Plus, you still so young, not even thirty, you got the rest of your life to spend with a real man. One who adores you just the way you are. Gloop-less, baggy clothed, and ponytailed.”
I laugh. “Amen to that.” I just can’t be that girl that gets excited about hair and make-up. And form-fitting clothes are just not me. Jeans and tees are about as fancy as I get most days. Cee’s always at me: “Let down those gorgeous blond curl o’ yours, show off that figure.” It feels wrong, though, as if I’m pretending to be someone I’m not. Plus I can’t see straight when I’ve got that amount of gloop on my face. Feels like glue drying and I can’t stand it.
“So what you think Joel gonna do?”
I try to keep the worry from my voice. “Don’t rightly know. I just want him gone. Out of my life for good.”
“Me too, sugar plum, me too.”
People wave as they stroll past, some with an eyebrow raised seeing CeeCee and me lazing on the sofa as if we’re on holiday.
“Did you hear from Janey, yet?” I ask idly.
CeeCee jumps up. “No, not yet.”
I watch her retreating back, and wonder what the heck she’s not telling me. Seems like we’re both guilty of keeping secrets.
***
The phone rings, startling me awake. From my bed the alarm clock reads 5.49. Time to get up anyway. I shake the grogginess away, and answer. “Hello?”
“You got the money, yet?”
I flop back in the bed and close my eyes. Thankfully Damon’s side of the bed is empty so he doesn’t have to hear this. I reach out and feel the groove in the mattress where he sleeps; it’s cold to touch. It makes me anxious we’re not spending our mornings together all of a sudden.
“Well?” Joel says again, interrupting my train of thought.
I exhale all the hurt and the worry in one long gust of breath. “I can give you three thousand, Joel. But that’s all I have. And it’s more than you deserve.” I don’t mention the festival proceeds just in case he agrees on my paltry savings. Paltry to him, certainly not to me. But there’s no way I’ll be handing over any cash until I hear back from Mr Jefferson.
“You’re just going to have to sell, then, Lil. I’m not playing a game here. I’m serious. I’ll give you one more day to organize something or I’ll file with a lawyer,” he threatens.
“One day? This isn’t a movie, Joel.”
“Don’t be smart, Lil. In the meantime, I’d hate to see a fuse blow at your precious café. Imagine that — all your fridges off for the night…all those cakes for the festival, ruined. You’ve got one day.” He slams down the phone.
I let out a barrel of expletives and only wish Joel were still on the phone to hear them.
***
CeeCee’s at the café when I arrive, slamming her palms into pastry dough as if it’s a punching bag.
“Why are you here so early?” I ask.
“Thought I’d make a start on these pies.”
“Sure, but you didn’t need to come in early. Let me help.”
I take a ball of dough.
“Damon left early this morning too. Hope it’s not my morning breath that’s scaring him away.”
“Hmm, don’t think it’s that,” CeeCee says.
“Do you think it’s weird, Cee? That he’s been leaving in the morning without me? We usually have coffee and mosey on down together. Now he’s up and gone before I’m even awake.”
CeeCee looks at me sternly. “What you gettin’ at?”
I shrug. “I just hope Joel hasn’t made him rethink things, that’s all.” I’m not used to the range of emotions that swim inside me, when it comes to Damon. I almost want to cling to him, because he’s so much more than I’ve ever had.
She tuts and tosses down the dough. “So Damon’s left early a couple days this week? Days Charlie’s been here? Kids that age are up before sparrows, that’s what it is. I seen the way you two carry on — all that huggin’ and kissin’ you do when you think no one’s watchin’…”
A blush rises up my cheeks. “Whoops.”
“Yeah, whoops, all right.” She sighs, big and dramatic. “Young love, it’s a beautiful thing.”
“Young? Why, thanks, Cee. Has Mr Jefferson called back yet?” I pummel the pastry.
“Nope,” she says. “And I checked that fangled machine for messages, nothin’.”
“Joel called this morning, said I have one day to sort something out. He’s really hamming up that whole bad-guy act.” I don’t mention his threat about the fuses — CeeCee would be at Old Lou’s before I could say boo.
“One day? What you s’posed to do in one day?”
I shrug. “Exactly.”
CeeCee grunts, and shakes her head. “Put it out of your mind, sugar. Oh, before I forget, another delivery of chocolate buttons arrived. We can get started on the rest of the Easter eggs. I thought we could fill up the smaller ones with some zany flavors for kids, like sherbet, that kinda thing. What you think?”
“Sherbet? Sounds amazing!”
“Folks certainly won’t find that anywhere else. I wanted to leave early today on account of running some errands.”
“Errands? You want me to do them?” I usually help CeeCee with her shopping because she doesn’t own a car.
“No, no,” she says quickly. “Just some things I need to sort out. It won’t take long.”
“OK. Take your time, Cee. I thought I’d organize those make-at-home choc-chip cookies in a jar, for the festival.”