Page 18 of Cut The Cake

Confident that her cousin’s wedding was in good hands, Jenny warmed to the task of ordering flowers for the rest of the wedding. An hour flew by as she and the shop owner discussed the merits of carrying a cascade, rather than a hand-tied bouquet. In the end, Jenny chose a stunning posy for the bride and a similar nosegay for Karolyn’s attendants. Once those decisions were made, the boutonnieres, wreaths for the aisles, and centerpieces for the tables quickly fell into place.

Happy with the results, Jenny tucked a hank of hair behind one ear. “Well, if that’s everything, I’m off to my next appointment.” She eyed Mildred as the shop owner ran one finger down the list of arrangements she’d ordered. Had they forgotten anything?

“This looks wonderful.” Mildred laid her pen on the table. Her blue eyes shining, she stared at Jenny. “You’re going to have the most beautiful wedding. The hydrangeas and roses are stunning together.”

“But simple,” Jenny cautioned. “Nothing too dramatic.”

“Don’t you worry.” Mildred gave her head an agreeable nod. “Everything will be exactly as you requested. Nothing but the best for our brides in Heart’s Landing.” She straightened, smoothing the smock she wore over black slacks. “Where are you headed next?”

Jenny checked her watch. “I have half an hour before my appointment at Ideal Images.” She swallowed a frown. She could use a break, but thirty minutes wasn’t enough time to stop at the bakery for coffee and a cupcake.

“I’d be happy to call the photographer for you. I saw JoJo this morning. She was planning to handle some office jobs today. She’d probably be glad to talk to you instead.”

“Would you? Alicia was kind enough to get me an appointment with the caterer this afternoon, but that wasn’t on my schedule, so I’m in a bit of a rush.”

“Oh?” Mildred’s eyebrows rose. “Who did she recommend?”

“I’m supposed to see Janet at Food Fit For A Queen. I don’t know what I was thinking. In all the excitement of moving up the wedding date so we could get married here, I actually forgot about food for the reception. Alicia sorted it out with one phone call. That was pretty amazing.”

“That’s what we do.” Mildred cupped her jaw in one hand. “We go the extra mile for our brides.”

“I’m sure you hear this every day, but everyone—and I mean it, everyone—has been so kind and so helpful since I got here. I’ve always heard about the town’s marvelous reputation for creating perfect weddings, but honestly, I wasn’t sure I believed it until I saw it for myself.”

And how was she repaying the help she’d been given? By lying to everyone she met. The fresh realization sent tears to her eyes. She brushed them away with her fingertips.

From out of nowhere, a tissue appeared in Mildred’s hand. “There, there, now. Dry your eyes. You won’t be the first bride who’s been a little overwhelmed by the pressure and the planning. I’m sure you won’t be the last. But you can count on us.” She handed over the tissue while she sent a meaningful glance down the street. “All of us. We’ll help give you the wedding of your dreams, ’cause that’s what we do here in Heart’s Landing.”

Stepping out into the sunlight of the early afternoon a few minutes later, Jenny blinked. Mildred had meant well, but her pledge to provide the wedding of Jenny’s dreams only made her feel worse for hiding the truth from the very people who were being so helpful. She drew herself straighter while she swore that everything would turn out okay. Once the shop owners realized whose wedding she’d really been planning, they’d forgive her for lying to them. She hoped. Her fingers crossed, she headed to the photography studio.

The bell over the door in the front part of the bakery jangled. Lost in the task of stirring the final drops of vanilla into the icing for tomorrow’s special, Nick barely registered the sound.

“Denise? Nick? Is anyone here?”

The vaguely familiar voice reminded him that Denise had left early to take one of her last semester exams. Until Jimmy returned from a late-afternoon delivery, Nick was holding down the fort alone. He gave the frosting another stir. “Just a sec,” he called. Setting the bowl aside, he dusted his hands.

A cloud of confectioners’ sugar rose from his fingers. The fine particles drifted down. In seconds, they coated his apron like a snowy blanket.

Clucking his tongue, Nick grabbed the damp towel he kept at hand for cases just like this. He ran it over the fabric, his lips thinning. He should never have let that salesman talk him into buying dark aprons for the shop. No matter how much his clients loved I Do Cake’s chocolate-and-pink decor, the next time he gave the shop a makeover, something lighter and brighter and better suited to camouflaging an ever-present coating of sugar and flour was definitely in order.

“No problem. Take your time.”

Nick stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of the voice he recognized from the day before. His pulse rate jumped the tiniest bit. The standard grin he reserved for customers widened just a tad. Afraid Jenny might leave before he had a chance to ask what had brought her to I Do Cakes, he got his feet moving again. Two seconds later, the swinging doors swished quietly behind him as he stepped into the front part of the shop. “Sorry about the wait,” he said, hurrying to the counter. “I was busy in the back.”

“Nothing’s going to burn, is it? ’Cause that would be a real shame.” She glanced over the door toward the kitchen.

“You like my cupcakes, then, I guess.” Her concern rocked him back on his heels. Most customers simply wanted reassurances that he could fill their order and deliver it on time.

“They’re the best I’ve ever tasted.”

She looked so earnest, standing there in her summer dress, her wavy dark hair framing her face. Then again, he’d noticed something different about Jenny the moment he’d met her. She wasn’t the typical bride who stopped in to order her wedding cake. For one thing, most of the others had a doting fiancé at their elbow. Quite often, an entire troupe of attendants surrounded the bride as she moved from tastings to fittings to days at the spa. Barring that, they had a relative on hand to provide advice, though whether they followed it or not was another matter.

But Jenny had come to Heart’s Landing all by herself. A bride flying solo was such a rare thing, it stirred his curiosity. Where were the people who should be helping her plan one of the most important days of her life?

“What brings you by? Your tasting isn’t until tomorrow, right?” He spared a glance at the alcove reserved for prospective brides and grooms.

“Oh, yes. I mean, no. I mean …” On the other side of the counter, Jenny adjusted the portfolio that hung from her shoulder on a strap. “Yes, my tasting is scheduled for tomorrow. I just wondered if I could buy a cupcake.” She scanned the display case, hope fading from her dark eyes. “But it looks like I’m too late. You’ve sold out?”

“Tuesday’s special is salted caramel. We always sell out.” Especially on days like today, when he’d started out a dozen cupcakes short.

---