Page 56 of This Moment

Confused, I asked, “I’m sorry?”

Jake cleared his throat and said, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Cadie. It’s a small town, so I’ll surely see you again.”

“I’m sure you will.”

Jake started to walk off, and I called for him. “Wait! Would you like to bring something home for your granddaughter?”

He turned and grinned. “You know, I think she would love that. I’ll let you pick it out. She’s almost one and her name is Winnie.”

“Like as in Pooh?”

He laughed. “Yes. My daughter Hope was obsessed with Winnie the Pooh growing up and always said if she had a little girl, she would name her Winnie.”

“I think the name is adorable. How about a couple of macarons and a chocolate croissant?”

A sad expression moved across Jake’s face, but it was gone as fast as it appeared. “She’d love that. Thank you.”

After packing up the desserts for his granddaughter, I watched Jake leave the bakery. With his hand on the doorknob, he paused momentarily before opening the door and leaving.

I stood there and stared at the door.

Whispering to no one in particular, I said, “I guess I’m not the only one with a secret.”

Main Street was abuzz, with everyone from small children to adults participating in the spring scavenger hunt. The bakery was busier than I’d ever seen it, so the last few days I had been coming in earlier than usual to help Opal bake everything for not only the storefront, but also the booth that was set up on Main Street down near where the spring fling dance was being held that night.

Katherine walked into the kitchen and asked, “A customer is asking if we can do an emergency first birthday smash cake.”

Opal stared at Katherine like she was insane. Before she could respond, I asked, “What flavors are they wanting? Just a plain smash cake?”

With a nod, Katherine said, “Yep, just a smash cake, nothing fancy. As far as flavors, they said chocolate or vanilla; they’re not picky. Opal made the actual birthday cake already, but her mother-in-law told her she needed a smash cake and said the mother-in-law wouldn’t, and I quote, ‘Shut the hell up about the smash cake.’ End quote.”

Opal and I both giggled.

“I’ve got a chocolate cake I took out this morning. When does she need it by?”

“The party is tomorrow, Sunday.”

“Oh, is that Hope out there?” Opal asked.

Katherine nodded. “The one and only. She looks desperate.”

“I can have it ready for her before we close. I’m about caught up here, and decorating it won’t take long.” I turned to Opal. “It was a princess cake, right?”

She nodded. “White and pink.”

Facing Katherine, I said, “I can do that.”

A wide smile broke out over her face. If there was one thing about Katherine that I had picked up on early since working here, she had difficulty saying no to people. Her blonde hair swung in her ponytail as she quickly exited the kitchen to deliver the good news.

“That was nice of you, Cadie,” Opal stated from behind me.

“It’s not a problem. It won’t take me long to decorate it. I’ll just do something…princess-like with the frosting.”

Opal smiled. “Princess-like?”

I nodded.

“I can’t wait to see this.”

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