Page 74 of You Cake My Breath Away

And as petty as it may seem, there’s no essence of Deidre here. The thought crosses my mind that Archer may feel the same way hanging out in the house where Jessie and I lived, but at least they were friends. There’s no love lost between me and Deidre.

“These better be good,” Shantel says, laying the bags on the counter.

“I think they’re going to be a hit.”

Dad asked me to bring a dessert to Thanksgiving with him and Gloria, and my nervousness about spending time with his new girlfriend had me anxious and in need of relaxation, so I chose to try out a new recipe.

Shantel sits on the stool at my kitchen island and lines the high-sided baking tray with parchment paper so we can roast the rhubarb. I zest a few lemons and place them to the side before mixing the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and almonds for the cake. Shantel works on the filling, whipping the cream to soft peaks along with the remaining roasted rhubarb, yogurt, and elderflower cordial.

I manage to get the cakes out of the oven before Archer knocks on the door. Ever since we got back from our trip, we’ve spent the majority of time up at his house, mainly in bed. I know there's stuff we need to talk about, like where we go from here, but I’ve been busy letting him rehydrate my body with his touch.

“What’s Archer doing here?” Shantel asks.

I shrug, dusting my hands on my apron before going to answer the door.

“Hey, baby girl.” Archer leans down to kiss me.

I shiver at his nickname and fight the urge to step back, to be worried about what Shantel will think when she sees us.

Old habits die hard.

He hands me a bouquet of flowers, and all I hear behind me is Shantel squealing.

“Did this…Did you…” She covers her face, shaking her head. “Finally!”

“Shantel.” Archer’s voice is a reprimand.

“I’m sorry.” She laughs. “I’m just happy for y’all.”

“Thanks,” I grumble, walking back into the kitchen and placing the flowers in a vase.

Archer sits beside her, plucking a strawberry from a bowl I have set aside for my strawberry and Nutella cake topping. Shantel’s smile reaches her eyes, and she can’t stop flitting between Archer and me with a look of sheer excitement on her face.

“Would you chill out?” I throw the dish towel at her.

“I can’t.” She’s antsy in her chair, bopping her shoulders to a tune only she can hear.

The timer dings, signaling my rhubarb cakes are finished cooling. Archer and Shantel chat, and I can’t help comparing it to how we allused to convene in the kitchen when Jessie was alive. Before things went south after Archer’s sister’s wedding.

I push away the negative thoughts and replace them with new memories, ones where Archer has shown me he does believe in my abilities. Our little family is back together.

For now.

A niggle of abandonment twists in my stomach as I watch them, worrying how long it’ll be until Archer leaves me again too. We still haven’t talked about his job opportunity, and I’m too scared to approach the topic. This thing between us is so new, and I’m worried the slightest complication will snap it in half.

“I’m gonna change for dinner.”

“You’re going to dinner with the parents?” Shantel asks, wide eyes pointed at Archer.

“With my dad.” I cringe at the thought of Gloria stepping into my mom’s shoes, then chastise myself because Archer’s in a slightly similar position with me being his best friend’s widow.

I go down the hall to my room, leaving them to talk about me in hushed tones. Closing my eyes, I do the breathing exercises my grief counselor taught me when I first lost Jessie and so much was changing.

The slight blush on my cheeks and the light that has returned to my eyes shines back at me from the mirror, and I’m thankful. Thankful I finally found a way through the grief and the sadness, that I’m allowing myself to move on in the wake of a terrible tragedy.

“Knock knock,” Shantel says from the doorway as I’m smoothing down my dress. “You look radiant.”

My cheeks heat. “Thank you.”

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