Page 32 of Made for You

“He’s busy,” I answer curtly.

Getting the hint, Franklin asks for my order.

“Can I have the chocolate covered strawberry cold brew, please?”

“Sure thing.” I move to the end of the counter and Esther comes out from the back with Gran.

“Oh my beautiful girl!” Gran squeezes my cheeks together and kisses my forehead.

“Good morning!”

“We were just doing some planning for the Valentine’s Day dance. Do you want to hear our ideas?” Esther offers.

“Yes! I have some too. I was at Rebels last night and have big plans for the space over by the fireplace.” The three of us go over to a table and Esther tells the barista where to find me for my drink.

“What are your plans first?” I ask, wanting to make sure that I don’t step on their toes since I’m only here because of Gran and this is kind of their signature town event.

“We were thinking that we could use you youngins’ to make a video and tape everyone’s love story that started in Balsam Cliffs! There are lots of people who come every year just because this is where they met. Maybe you and Emma could put something out on social media to get people to submit their love stories!” Esther and Gran take turns filling me in on this plan.

You can tell they’ve been friends for so long by the fact that they can finish and start each other’s sentences without even noticing.

“That sounds like a great idea. It’d be perfect to put on the televisions around the brewery. But I bet it’d be perfect to put on the television by the fireplace where the big overstuffed chairs are! People can sit and watch while they cuddle up with a dessert bar. I think a dessert bar over there would be the perfect cozy touch.”

“I love a good dessert.” Franklin joins us patting his tummy, “Especially if that dessert is provided by you and Margaret.”

My Gran beams at me, “It seems my girl here has made quite the impression on this town with her baked goods. And I’m getting a much needed break.”

“So are you two going to be the first ones to film a video?” I ask Esther and Franklin.

They are high school sweethearts and have been married for a long time. They are approaching their fiftieth anniversary soon. Gran and my Granddad would be there too if he hadn’t had a heart attack when I was a little girl. My Gran never found anyone else to fill his shoes.

She claims that she could never find a man with big enough feet to fill his shoes and I used to think Liam could be that for me in the wistful way a thirteen year old girl thinks about her crush. But after last night, I don’t even want to think about him.

I just need to get my heart on board with that thought process.

“Oh Franklin, that would be lovely! What do you think?” Esther leans her head on his shoulder.

“Whatever makes you happy, dear.” He kisses the top of her forehead.

I sigh. That’s what I want to find.

“Okay well, this has been fun, but I need to get some eggs. I burnt a quiche this morning.”

“Violet,” Gran holds her hand to her chest in mock horror. “A burnt quiche? What’s wrong? You’ve not burned anything since that summer you were distracted by Liam and burnt a whole batch of cookies setting the bakery’s fire alarm off.”

My cheeks blush at the memory.

“Oh, I think that was the problem again this time.” Esther laughs.

“It was another Keaton thank you very much.”

I turn and leave after kissing Gran’s cheek and let them try and figure that out. Of course they’ll never guess that it was Emma, and still Liam. Just not for the reason they think.

Okay time to get my head straight. I need eggs. And I need to finish prep for the weekend with our guests.

No Liam. Just baking.

The bright beams of the sun’s rays are shining directly into my eyeballs through the open floor to ceiling wall of windows in my bedroom.

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