I Only Have Pies for You

by Shyla Colt

  “Hey, boss lady. What’s going on?”

  Rosaleen laughed. “I’m good. How are the cutest littles in the world?”

  “Adorable. Now that they’re asleep,” Julie dead-panned.

  “Rough day?”

  “Rough month? Nothing serious, just adjusting to being back in school full time. I think we’re all missing the summer freedom. Enough about me, tell me how the shop is doing, Ms. Entrepreneur.”

  Rosaleen sighed as some of the joy leeched away. “Not as well I’d like. The sales are dwindling. I saw a spike with opening week and a few following the auction and the press from the local paper. It’s been a steady decline since then, though.”

  “Folks are still playing the outsider card?” Julie asked.

  “I think so. I have a chance to get in good with the locals again.”

  “Huh. Why am I sensing a but?” Julie said.

  “It might complicate things with Alaric,” Rosaleen admitted.

  “Captain America? How?” She laughed at the nickname her friend had given hero due to his uncanny resemblance to a certain Avengers actor.

  “There’s a pumpkin bake off. It’s a popular fall event.”

  “You have to do it, dude.”

  “His mother is the reigning champion.”

  She heard Julie cringe. “Oh, that does make for an awkward situation. Are you still keeping the relationship on the low?”

  “Yeah. The worst part is, she’s adopted him as her fill-in since she broke her ankle and needs to take it easy.”

  “Did you ask him about it?” Julie inquired.

  “No. I hadn’t even considered entering until Steph mentioned it to me an hour ago.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask you a question, and you have to answer honestly with the first thing that comes to mind.”

  Rosaleen exhaled. “Shoot.”

  “What do you think about the bake off?”

  “It’s necessary.”

  “Why are you hesitating then?”

  “I don’t want him to feel like I betrayed his trust.” She dropped her head heavily on the down pillow.

  “From everything you’ve told me, your Alaric is an amazing man. I think he’ll get it.”

  “I hope so. It’s going to be strained enough as it with us on the opposite sides of the rolling pin. If he’s angry at me, it’s going to be even worse.”

  “Sounds to me like your mind is already made up. If you want my opinion, I think you should go for it. One, it’ll be fun as hell. Two, you really do need the publicity and sense of community. You never told me what the prize was.”

  “Basically, you become a local celebrity. You get to ride in the parade, light the first bonfire, and have bragging rights for the rest of the year.”

  “There’d be no denying you were one of them after this.” The excitement in Julie’s voice caught like a spark to dry kindling, igniting her own.

  “I’m already dreaming up potential recipes,” Rosaleen admitted sheepishly. Together, they plotted, and she allowed herself to be swept up in the possibilities.

  ALARIC

  “I’ll be right back, Mom. I’m going to grab the sheet for you to fill out.”

  His mother nodded as she continued her conversation with her friend, Gladys. Moving away from them, he made his way to the table where volunteers provided him with a registration sheet and a list of dishes they’d be preparing this year. He paused on his way when a familiar face caught his eyes.

  “Rosaleen?”

  She lifted her gaze to meet his and smiled. “Hi.”

  “Why are you here?” he asked, confused.

  “I’m going to sign up.”

  His heart rate sped up. “No. Don’t tell me that,” he groaned.

  She lowered her voice, glancing around carefully. “You don’t even want to bake.”

  “I know, but ...” he sighed, thinking of his mother; he hadn’t seen her this happy since the accident, “it means everything to my mom.”

  “I know. I hadn’t even considered this until last night.”

  What happened last night? He opened his mouth to ask.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” His mother’s voice was akin to a record skip.

  This is not how I wanted this initial meeting to go. Rosaleen’s eyes widened.

  “Of course. Mom, this is Rosaleen Plath. Rosaleen, this is my mom, Joan Bulley.”

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Bulley.”

  “Oh, please, no need to be so formal.” His mother waved her away. “Just call me Joan, dear.”

  “All right.” Rosaleen smiled. “I have to say, Alaric’s been a godsend since I moved here.”

  “He’s spoken very highly of you,” his mother replied. His face heated. “I wanted to thank you for the box of goodies. They were delicious. “

  “Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed them. I was so sorry to hear about your injury.”

  “You can’t keep a good woman down. I’m still keeping busy. Are you here to support Alaric?”

  “Always. But I’m also here to enter the contest.”

  “Shame on you, keeping this to yourself, Alaric,” his mother scolded.

  “I didn’t know.”

  “I had no plans of joining until my employees urged me to.”

  “Oh, it makes sense given your profession,” his mother said with an understanding nod. “It’s too bad that you’ll be our top competition. The Bulleys have held the title for the past five years, and I plan on keeping it that way, darling.”

  “Mom.” Embarrassed, he shook his head.

  “It’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly rivalry,” Rosaleen said, seeking to soothe him. He nodded, apologizing with his gaze.

  “She’s right, honey. Now, stop fraternizing. Until the competition is over, I’m afraid Alaric is going to have to be off limits.”

  He sputtered. “M-Mom, really?”

  “She understands. We’re up against enough odds as it is.”

  Dumbfounded, Rosaleen glanced from his mother to him, seeming to ask, Is she serious? Nodding mutely, she watched as his mother hobbled toward the table.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll call you tonight,” he said as he followed in her wake. Her lips twitched, and he watched as she doubled over in boisterous laughter. At least one of us thinks this is funny. Turning his attention to his mom, he mentally counted to ten. She might be tiny, but her personality was anything but, and she’d channeled all her energy into this contest. When she wasn’t quizzing him on how to make the best loaf of bread, she was showing him a potential recipe for their pumpkin pie.

  “You don’t think that was a bit much?” he asked dryly as he grabbed the papers and they headed back to their table.

  “We’ve never had a competitor like her. I can’t have you letting those big, brown eyes distract you.”

  “I know how important this is to you, Mom. I promise I’m going to give it my best. But Rosaleen is a close friend. I don’t want her feeling insulted.”

  “We find inspiration in everything around us. I’m sure your friend is a lovely lady, but this is war, and you could unwittingly share things with each other. It’s not personal, baby.”

  When I’m with Rosaleen, the last thing I’m thinking about is baking.

  “I get it. But still, overkill.”

  “Hmm.” She studied him carefully before she eased her way into the chair.

  “Growing up, I always envied the women who became the Pumpkin Queen. Seeing them riding through the town, waving in their sash and lighting the bonfire was etched into my brain. It really signals the start of fall to me. It was my secret wish for years to join their ranks.” She smiled. “I never thought my baking was up to par, so I never tried.

  “Five years ago, I figured what do I have to lose? Imagine my surprise when I won.” Her face lit up. “When you get older, you move into a different season of your life. Carving out a new identity and finding new things to look forward to can be
difficult.”

  “Baking gave you a new voice,” he said, empathetic of her passion.

  She nodded. “I love all the duties that come along with the title. For a small time, I’m the town’s ambassador. For a few months after, I’m on cloud nine.”

  Her words explained so much. His gut twisted. He didn’t want to let her down or steal the spotlight Rosaleen desperately needed for her business to flourish. There were no easy answers. Rosaleen appeared amused so far, but he wondered when that would change. Why didn’t she tell me the minute she decided? There has to be a good reason.

  “Thank you for sharing that with me, Mom.”

  “Thank you for listening to an old lady prattle on about her interests.”

  “Stop it. You’re not old.” He spotted Rosaleen walking toward the hall in his peripheral vision. “I’ll be right back. I need to use the little boys’ room.” Excusing himself, he walked as fast as he could without drawing strange looks.

  Seeing her disappear, he called out, “Hey.”

  She turned toward him and stopped, smiling at him. “Hey.”

  Pulling her into an alcove, the words tumbled out before he could stop them. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to sign up?”

  “I told you I wasn’t.” She sighed. “I was looking over the weekly reports when Steph suggested it.”

  “And you didn’t think to share that so I wouldn’t be blind-sided? A simple text would have done the job.” His eyes had nearly bulged out of his skull when he spotted her. His neck heated as he remembered his mother’s response.

  “I spent all night debating it, Alaric. I couldn’t tell you what I didn’t know, and a text seemed like a subpar way to tell you. I didn’t want you to be upset with me.” She shook her head and paced the length of the tiny kitchen. “The truth is I need this. My business has to pick up if I want it to have a successful launch.”

  “And I get that. But you’re placing me in a difficult position, sugar. You must realize that.”

  “I do.” She huffed. “I didn’t take you for the type to shy away from a little challenge.”

  “We both know it’ll be a massacre,” he muttered.

  She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Why are you so upset?”

  “Because it matters to my mother. I want to win this for her.”

  “Then you’d best bring you’re A-game.”

  He shook his head. “This is not how I wanted the two of you to meet.”

  Her brow furrowed and she gaped at him. “You’re seriously upset with me?”

  “No. I’m upset with the situation I find myself in.”

  “You know, from here it’s hard to tell the difference.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Don’t do that.” I’m handling this poorly.

  “Do what? Be offended by your reactions?”

  “Yes.”

  She shook her head. “I knew this would be awkward. But I also figured you of all people would understand why I needed to do this. You’ve seen me struggle to be accepted here. Every time I think I’ve cemented myself as a part of the community, I’m shown just how wrong I am. If things don’t change, For Cake’s Sake might not last. I can’t have that.”

  “I don’t want that.” Stepping closer, he grabbed her hand. “Hey. I am with you every step of the way in Granville.”

  “Then you’ll find a way to get through this with me.”

  Her eyes pierced him like lasers. “For someone who sprang this all on me, you’re expecting a lot at once. Give me a minute to wrap my head around it and decide how best to proceed for everyone involved. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  Rosaleen threw her hands up in the air. “No one is asking you to choose sides.”

  Except they are. “My mother doesn’t know how much you mean to me, sugar. It makes her believe she has the high ground, and with everything she has going on, I don’t think now is the right time to reveal that bit of information. This is the high point she looks forward to yearly. In the midst of healing and rehab, it’s a ray of light. I can’t take that way.”

  “I get that,” she assured him.

  But do you? “Now I feel like you’re the one upset,” he said.

  “It’s complicated. Like the rest of our relationship.”

  “We both agreed to keep things to ourselves when it started. We had no way to know how this would all turn out.” He grabbed her hands. “It’s a few weeks.”

  Lowering her gaze, she exhaled. “It’s getting late. I’m sure your mother is wondering where you are.”

  Don’t do that. “I don’t like the way we’re leaving this. You know how much you mean to me.”

  “Do I?”

  Her words were a one-two punch to the solar plexus. Stepping closer, he cupped her face. “You should.” He brushed her lips with his own. “You’ve become vital to my happiness.”

  Closing her eyes, she sighed.

  He bent down and kissed her forehead. “Let’s give each other a minute to cool down and revisit this?”

  She nodded. “You’re not the only one who needs time to process.”

  “Fair enough.” The words stung. How had things gone to hell so fast?

  Chapter Eight

  Rosaleen

  A silly smile lined her lips as she entered River Road. Alaric had asked her to meet him in person, making the first move toward calming the choppy waters they’d landed in. Despite the passage of time, the uneasy feeling had yet to subside between them. Ordering a caramel macchiato, she took her beverage to the corner table. Alaric appeared a few moments later, slightly disheveled. His hair fell across his forehead, and the white T-shirt, worn jeans, and red and black plaid shirt boasted a few swirls of wood shavings. This was Alaric in his element. And I’ve never been more attracted. The man has a way with his hands. Biting her bottom lip, she remembered the feel of his calloused fingers moving her skin. She waved, catching his eye. A blinding smile followed. Her stomach flipped. This gorgeous man was all hers. After ordering, he made his way over.

  “Hey,”

  “Hi,” she whispered. They exchange sheepish smiles.

  “How’s your day been?” he asked.

  “Steady. How about yours?”

  “Busy. The cradle is ready to stain.” His eyes sparkled with excitement. “I want you to be the first to see it once it’s finished.”

  “I’d love that.” Being included in something so personal endeared him further.

  “The next time I head over to Charlie and Trisha’s, you’ll have to come with me. They’d love to finally meet you.”

  “You told them about me?”

  “Of course. I’m not hiding you, sugar. This was about keeping our business out of the gossip circle, not hiding it from the people in our lives.” He cleared his throat. “I know we left things on a sour note the other night. I want to reset. Can we do that?”

  She studied him quietly. “I think so.”

  “We have something special and I’m not willing to let it be detailed.” His firm, matter-of-fact delivery added to his sincerity. He was trying. She didn’t expect to be placed about his mother, but she wanted to be on the same playing field.

  “I think so, too.”

  “Yeah?” His shoulders relaxed. “I know this is still new. But I feel like I’ve known you for years.”

  “I feel the same way. It’s almost scary how easy things are with you.”

  “Maybe this is the way it’s meant to be.” He peered at her through the fringe of hair. Reaching across the table, she brushed the strands out of his eyes. “I’ve been searching for a relationship like this for years.”

  Pretty words didn’t always mean much, but she felt these to her soul. He’d slipped in and become such a necessary part of her life.

  “Am I alone in that feeling?”

  She shook her head, the curls brushing her shoulders. “No.”

  “We can take this as slow as we need to, but I’ve never been one to bite my tongue. Life is sh
ort, and I try to avoid regrets.”

  “Where did you come from?” she asked playfully. He wasn’t someone she would have chosen on her own, but he seemed to be exactly what she needed.

  “I’m surprised to see the two of you here together, considering ...”

  She bit back a growl at the sight of Kasey smiling at them like the cat who ate the cream.

  “What do you mean?” Rosaleen asked.

  “I take it neither of you has seen the local paper?”

  She glanced at Alaric and raised an eyebrow.

  “Hang on.” Alaric rose and walked over to purchase a paper.

  “If I was you, I would’ve made the auction date count. You could’ve gone to the Oak Room.” Kasey shook her head.

  Rosaleen shrugged. “This worked better with our busy work schedules.” And I don’t need to buy his time. If you knew how often we were together you’d choke on the fakeness you’re wearing like make-up.

  “I hope you realize what a great guy Al is.”

  “Oh, of course,” she said, nodding emphatically as she played along.

  “He goes out of his way to help others. I hope you’re not mistaking his kindness for more than it is. We’ve all heard about your ex problem. It was nice of him to pitch in and help you.”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Tall, blond, and immaculately dressed? Doesn’t ring a bell? He dropped ten-grand on you at the auction and threatened Al at work.” She clicked her tongue. “It’s sad when people can’t get the picture, isn’t it?”

  Pot meet kettle, wench. Her saccharine tone and smile that didn’t reach her eyes irked Rosaleen. Anger burned her from the inside out. Why the hell didn’t Alaric tell me?

  “What are you talking about?” she asked evenly.