Page 78 of It's in the Contract
I put a hand on Caroline’s arm, and she stops moving and looks up at me. “Has she been rude to you?”
Caroline scoffs in an overdramatic way. “Oh, no. Not overtly, anyway. She’s way too smart for that.” Caroline glances at Amanda’s perfect rows of what looks like hundreds of shiny wrapped cookies. “But, there have been comments, oh, you know. I’m sure she didn’t mean it . . .”
“Comments?” I ask, getting angrier by the minute. How could anyone treat this wonderful woman any less than perfectly kindly?
“Oh, just about my size.” Caroline glances down. “Amanda never actually comes out and says that I need to lose weight, but she invites me to go with her to her Pilates class, and not in a ‘let’s get together and have fun’ way, you know?” Caroline glances up at Amanda and then back down. “More in a, ‘you need this exercise so leave the cookie baking to those who can handle it without eating a hundred’ kind of way.”
My entire body goes rigid, flushing with heat. “No. She didnotsay that.”
“Oh, Miss Callie, don’t you worry about it. I can handle mean comments from a lady like her.” She puts a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze before laying out more lacy napkins. “But it sure would be nice if our goodies put hers to shame, wouldn’t it?” Caroline looks up at me with a wink.
My fists clench at my sides, and I’m overcome with the urge to punch Amanda in the face. I don’t know if I’ve ever even felt that way about Brielle. “I’m so sorry. She had no right to say those things.” I turn back to Caroline. “You are the most perfect mom in the world.”
Caroline blushes. “Oh, stop it, honey. I’m sure your mom is a wonderful person.”
“She is.” I swallow. “But . . . she’s not . . .”
Just then, Zeke comes back with the last armload of boxes and sets them down behind Caroline, a back-up for when the treats we’ve set out (hopefully) sell out. I can smell the chocolate and caramel from here.
“That’s all of them!” Zeke says with a grin for his mom. His eyes never once turn toward me, and the lump in my throat hardens.
“What did Amanda say about a podium?” I move behind the table to stand beside Caroline. It’s almost time for the doors to open and the sale to start.
“Oh, at the end of the sale in a few hours, there are some prizes and gift cards for those who raise the most money for the church,” Caroline says.
Zeke straightens from setting down the last box. “Apparently Miss Amanda is on the podium every year. Her cookies are always number one sellers.”
Caroline stares at the redhead wistfully. “Sure would be nice to give her a slice of humble pie.”
I reach out and squeeze Caroline’s hand. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Our treats are sellinglike crazy, and I’m thrilled. Moms with little kids are buying up the unicorn cookies like they’re going out of style, and the delighted squeals are music to my ears. Watching the kids take a bite and smile is the best thing ever.
I mean, I knew I could bake. But getting this feedback in real time . . . this is heaven.
In between laying out fresh treats and handing out samples, I text back and forth with Suzy, who’s asking where I am. I send her the address to the church, and she texts back a thumbs up.
Caroline winks at me as she passes two brownies to an older man and his granddaughter. They walk away, happily tearing open the wrappers, and the smell of rich, fudgy chocolate fills my nose.
“You are something special, Miss Callie,” Caroline says.
I’m glowing. I just wish . . . I don’t know. If my parents could see this . . . Wow. Maybe Mom would change her mind about my baking habits. They know I’m here helping Caroline out, and they’re glad I’m doing something good to raise money for a church, but they don’t know quite to the extent that I have helped with this. I doubt Mom’s even going to come by to check out the fundraiser. She’s probably with a client.
“I have to agree with that.” Zeke nudges me with his elbow.
I look at Zeke, surprised. He gives me a tiny smile.
“Can things be okay between us?” I whisper. Caroline is busy helping a customer, so she doesn’t notice. “It’s killing me that you won’t look at me today.” I gulp, wondering if the words are too vulnerable, too real.
“I’m sorry,” Zeke says. “You’re completely right. I was . . . I was feeling awkward and wondering if I had hurt you. I want things to be normal between us, too.”
I smile back at him, and he nods at me before turning to grab another box of sugar cookies from behind us. The knot in my chest loosens a little.
I glance over at Amanda’s stall, and she seems to be doing well. I stiffen when I notice Brielle standing next to her, pasting a fake smile on her face and handing out samples of cookies.I knew it.There’s no way to tell if we’re outselling them or not. Not yet.
Suzy walks down the aisle and pauses to check out some hand-embroidered bags. I wave and call her name. “Suzy!”
She smiles when she sees us and hurries over. “Callie, did you make all this?” Suzy’s eyes go enormous, and she reaches for one of the samples we have set out. She takes a brownie square and closes her eyes. “Holy crap.”
