by Shyla Colt
Holding her breath, she placed the two batches of risen dough into the oven. All the hard work came down to this span of eight hours. The first turn in was nine o’clock. She wanted everything fresh, so she’d gotten up at three this morning to get things started to create a new batch of her pumpkin spice latte bread.
She closed the oven door, set the timer, and carefully backed away. Tapping on the back door drew her attention. Who could that be at this hour? Her body tensed. Did Ryan come back? Grabbing a knife, she walked to the back door and peered out the peephole and screamed. After unlocking the door, she flung it open.
“Julie!” Her friend’s hazel eyes widened as she opened her jacket to reveal her Team Rosaleen T-shirt. “Expecting a robber?”
“Oh.” Rosaleen put the knife behind her. “Just a little safety precaution. Ryan has been skulking around, popping up like a mole you can’t kill.”
“Ego maniac.”
She gestured for Julie to enter. “Come in. I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Like I was going to miss your big day. Alex and the girls send their love. He’s on daddy duty this weekend for me.”
“I’ll be sending you home with an extra-large helping of thank you goodies,” Rosaleen said, setting her knife down on a counter.
“They’ll love that. The girls made you pictures, too.”
“I love my little nieces.” Rosaleen smiled, thinking of their cherubic faces and big, hazel-colored eyes.
“The feeling is so mutual.”
“Come on, let me take you upstairs and show you around. The building is older but beautifully done. The tile designs and colors are to die for.”
“So right up your alley,” Julie said.
“Oh, totally. There are things I’d like to update later on down the road, but for now I’m as happy as a clam.” Walking up the stairs, she unlocked her door and led her inside.
“Oh look at this vaulted ceilings, crown moldings, and that tile is gorgeous.” She spun around as they walked through the entry and kitchen area. “I love what you did with the breakfast nook.”
“I use it all the time. You know I’ve always wanted that booth-style seating.” Rosaleen led her from the white and turquoise styled area to the main living space.
“Shut up. You have a fireplace?” Julie turned to her, shaking her head.
“I do. I can’t wait to use it!”
She offset the cream-colored carpets with rose-colored velvet furniture, a floral love seat with pops of pink flowers, and white accent chairs with green leaf patterns. Dark wood accent tables balanced out the bright colors.
“I love this. It’s so Bohemian chic, and you!”
“I’ll be honest, I had so much fun putting this together with only my taste to worry about and time to pick just the right pieces.” Julie nodded. “Wait ’til you see the bathroom and the built-in shelves and closet in the bedroom.” Grabbing her hand, Rosaleen ran through the rest of the room, sharing her plans and showing off her place like a teenager.
They ended the tour in her closet. “Jackpot. Have you thought about what you’re wearing today?”
“My uniform?”
“Oh no. I want Alaric to be unable to take his eyes off you. We know he’s worried about your baking skills. We also need to remind him how lucky he is to have such a beautiful woman.”
“You’re brilliant.” Rosaleen wrapped her in a hug. “I never even though of that.”
“I know, it’s why I’m here. You’ve focused all your attention on winning. Let me take care of some of the smaller details. Fire up those hot rollers and let me at this closet, ’cause Mama’s got some work to do.”
Surrendering to hurricane Julie, she allowed herself to be treated to a facial mask and an eye mask. Her smartwatch was set to alert her ten minutes prior to the oven going off, so for now she’d center herself before
“You need to be sexy without trying,” Julie said as she rifled through the clothes on hangers. Julie hummed as Panic in the Disco played on her Bluetooth speaker.
“Jeans make you look cool and show off that banging ass of yours. Not all of us are so blessed, you know?”
“Says the woman who doesn’t look like she’s birthed two children,” Rosaleen supplied.
“You’re so sweet,” Julie said.
“Around here we say bless your heart.”
Julie laughed. “Is my Midwest girl moonlighting as a southern belle?”
“Maybe.”
“I love what this town has done to you,” Julie whispered.
“What do you mean, Juls?”
“Before you were always burned out and worn thin. I know you were getting ahead with your career, but your life was on hold. Your eyes were dull. I think you forgot how to live. I know the adjustment period has been rough here, but the sparkle is back in your eyes, and you’re having fun. You’ve participated in more things in the past few months than you did in an entire year previously. I know you’ve been wondering if you made the right choice coming here and putting everything you had into For Cake’s Sake. I think you did.”
“That really means a lot to me, Jules. And why the hell did you wait until I couldn’t see you to lay this on me?”
“You know we don’t do a lot of chick flick moments.”
“Thanks, Deanna Winchester,” Rosaleen said drolly.
“Okay, Cinderella, time to peel off that mask, and eye patches. I’ll have your ensemble ready when you return.”
“I trust you, fairy godmother.” Standing, she peeled everything off and headed to the bathroom. After rubbing the rest of the moisturizer into her dewy face, she admired the life breathed back into her skin. It was all too easy to neglect self-care. Don’t pimple up on me. I swear I’ll do better, skin.
Washing her hands, she returned to the room to find a comfortable pair of jeans, a V-neck white T-shirt, and a knee-length heather gray cardigan. The icing on the cake would be the black heels covered in orange pumpkins.
“It’s perfect.”
“We’ll curl your hair up big beauty queen style, and do a natural make-up. You’ll be slaying them in more than baking.”
“I love your confidence. For all we know he’s turned into the pumpkin terminator and is about to hand me my whisk.”
“Girl, please. You cook from your heart. He might be cooking in the name of his mother, but it’s not the same.”
“We’ll see.” Her alarm chimed. “Time for me to take my bread out of the oven to cool.”
“You go see to your cooking, and I’ll dig through your makeup.” She tapped her fingertips together like a mad scientist.
“If I didn’t know you so well, I’d be terrified right now,” Rosaleen said as she walked down to wait in the kitchen to deliver her food baby. She’d added a swirl of vanilla latte cream cheese swirl in the center for a different flavor to shock the judges taste buds into overdrive. Pulling out the golden-brown loaves, she rested them gently on a cooling rack. Make mama proud, babies.
“Are these the entries?” Steph asked as she entered.
“Yes. I’m going to let them cool and then decorate.” Her stomach fluttered. “I’m nervous as hell. My best friend came down this morning and surprised me. I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s going to make sure I look like a million bucks.”
“Today is your day. I can feel it,” Steph said.
“From your mouth to God’s ears,” Rosaleen whispered.
“You go get beautified. I’m going to get the shop in opening condition. I think we’re going to be packed with people. The Pumpkin Bake Off is a huge deal, and you’re the star picked to win it all. They know you’ll be making your entries here so they’ll be trying to catch a glimpse.”
“Whatever brings them in, I’ll take it,” she said, waving as she walked upstairs.
HER HEART KNOCKED IN her chest as she drove down the street with Julie at her side, cradling the pumpkin bread like it was an infant.
“Don’t forget to breathe. You got this,
boss lady.”
“I got this.” She nodded as they pulled into the parking lot.
“No, we’re going to walk in there like we’re the Mikaelsons from The Originals, and everyone is beneath us, darling,” Julie said with a British accent.
Laughing, she shook her head. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
“You could. I’m just making it a more colorful experience.” Jules winked. “Now come on, Pumpkin Queen, it’s time to let them know you’ve arrived to ascend to the throne.”
“Girl, you’ve been reading too many historical romances.”
Julie snorted. “Girl, this is my Game of Thrones speak.”
Exiting the car, they made their way into the community center where they were intercepted by volunteers.
“Welcome, Rosaleen. We’re so happy you decided to join us this year.”
“I’m excited to be a part of it.”
“To keep things fair, the judges won’t know who has baked what. The room is clear, and we’ll place it onto a glass pedestal. At nine-fifteen the judges will come in, sample, deliberate, and make their final judgment, which they will announce at ten. Then the next deadline for the pumpkin roll will be due at one o’clock. Good luck.”
“Thank you.” She smiled. Now the only thing left to do was wait and bake.
“Do you ever feel like you need a drink but you know you can’t have it?” Rosaleen asked.
Julie laughed. “Oh, yeah.” Julie linked their arms. “Come on. I’ll keep your brain occupied.” Relinquishing her baby and hoping for the best had her fit to be tied. What if something happened on the way to the pedestal? Would they like it? Her brain filled with a dozen questions she couldn’t answer. Pausing in front of the door, she found herself staring at Alaric through a glass.
“Hello, Captain America,” Julie whispered.
Alaric opened the door. “Hi.”
“Hi, Alaric. This is my best friend, Julie. She came in from Cincinnati to cheer me on. Julie, this is Alaric.”
“Nice to meet you, Alaric,” Julie said grinning.
“Likewise.”
His mother cleared her throat. “And this is my mother, Mrs. Bulley.”
“Mrs. Bulley, it’s nice to meet you.” Julie nodded.
“You as well,” Mrs. Bulley said. No Joan today I see. “We should get our– your entry in, Alaric.”
“Right. If you’ll excuse us.” He held the door open for his mother as they stepped back.
‘You look amazing,’ he mouthed as his mother carefully maneuvered through the door on her crutches.
‘Thank you,’ she mouthed back before continuing on.
“Mission accomplished, babe,” Julie said. “Did you see how big his eyes got? Don’t look now, but he’s still casting glances back here. If he’s not careful, he might lose his bread.”
She giggled. “This is a lot more fun with you here.”
ALARIC
“She may have won that first round, but the contest isn’t over yet. This pumpkin roll is sure to be a show stopper.”
They waited impatiently in line for their turn to enter the room where they’d be judged.
Images of Rosaleen in her white shirt and form-fitting jeans haunted him while he prepared his pumpkin roll with maple cream filling and dusted it with powdered sugar, he’d turned in nearly an hour ago. She’d been with him the entire day in spirit.
“Mom, we did the best we could. Hers just happened to be better. You have to admit the idea of a pumpkin spice latte bread is ingenious. This contest is going to turn out how it’s supposed to.”
“You’re right. She’s as clever as she is beautiful. I’ll give her that.” She paused. “I have to admit, this year has been the most exciting yet.” She grinned, and he laughed. Maybe she’ll be okay when I drop the bombshell.
“I’m glad, Mom. It’s all I wanted.”
“Don’t get me wrong, my boy, I want to win, but the real gift has been getting a chance to spend so much time with you sharing something I love.” She patted his hand, and he smiled.
“Thanks, Mom. It wasn’t as painful as I thought after I got the hang of it.”
“Are you ready to go back in there for another grueling round of judging?” she asked.
“Is anyone ever really?”
His mother laughed. “No.”
The line moved forward. “Did I detect some interest between you and her?”
“What?” Tell her now.
“I’m just curious because Kasey mentioned something.”
The mention of his ex ruined the moment they’d created. “Mom, why are you talking to her about me?”
“She was concerned when she kept seeing you together. She thought maybe Rosaleen was pumping you for information.”
“And if you had asked me, I could’ve told you it wasn’t like that at all. When we’re together, we avoid any talk about baking. We were friends before this, Mom. Our shops are literally on the same street. Of course we’re going to be seen together. I’m not interested in Kasey. I never will be. I used to think we could be friends, but she continues to push past my boundaries.”
“She said things between the two of you were shifting again.”
“She would, Mom. I’m really tired of being caught unaware and being placed in this awkward position. I adore you, Mom. I’d do anything to see you happy and safe, but you need to learn to step away from my love life.”
She blinked repeatedly. “I ... I didn’t realize I was stepping on your toes. I’m sorry.” His mother stammered. Her face flushed slightly.
“It’s my fault for not speaking up sooner. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” He shook his head.
“Always be honest with me. I’m your mother. I can take it.” She squeezed his arm.
“Yeah. I can see that.”
“I’m not a shrinking violet. I know I give you a hard time about grandbabies, but that’s a parent’s right. You’re our only shot at it, you know?”
“I do.” A million-ton weight was lifted off his shoulders as they cleared the air. He smiled. The line moved, and they found themselves inside of the room where the ruling came down. Ushering his mother to a seat up front, he found his gaze coming back to Rosaleen over and over. She sat laughing with her friend who wore a pink T-shirt that said Team Rosaleen across the front, and From Cake’s Sake across the back.
Full of joy, her beauty was undeniable. He’d never seen her hair so bouncy. Large spirals framed her face and tumbled around her shoulders. Her skin seemed to glimmer as if it had been kissed by the sun, and her lips were slightly glossy and tempting. Forcing his gaze away from her, he watched as the five judges entered.
“The moment of truth has arrived.”
Amy, an elderly woman with curly, gray hair, stood. Her houndstooth suit made him feel like he’d fallen smack dab in the middle of a British baking competition. “This was an extremely tough call. You truly baked some delicious pumpkin rolls. The flavors were creative, and the decorations were stunning. After careful consideration, we’ve decided the winner of this round is Alaric Bulley.”
“I’m sorry, did they call my name?” he asked his mother.
Applause filled the space. His mother beamed at him. “Go on, get your ribbon.”
He stood, dazed as he made his way over to Katherine for her to pin him. Shaking hands as he was congratulated. As he brushed the orange ribbon with Best Pumpkin Roll, he glanced at Rosaleen. On her feet, she cheered louder than anyone. Grinning sheepishly, he walked back over to his mom.
“Looks like you got the baking gene after all.”
“I had an excellent teacher.” He patted her hand. “Ready to give ’em hell in the final round?”
“You know it. We’re on a streak now.” Pumpkin meringue pie was their secret weapon. The pie should be cooled and ready for them to finesse the meringue within an inch of its life. Even if it didn’t earn him the title, he’d won already. Helping his mother stand, he handed her the crutches.
; “I knew you could do anything you put your mind to, but this is incredible.” Kasey battered her eyelashes.
“You know, we really need to stop meeting like this,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Kasey asked.
“Your attempt to get back into my good graces isn’t appreciated or working. Stop trying to worm your way in via my mother, too. It’s okay if you want to be her friend, but she’s not a spy for you.”
She sputtered like a car running out of gas. “W-What do you m-mean?”
“You know what I mean.” He lowered his voice and leaned in closer. “I’m done being nice about this.”
She blinked, and her lower lip quivered slightly. “I was just trying to—”
“Make something work that never would. We’re done, Kasey, accept it, and keep your distance.”
Turning away, Kasey hurried off, red-faced and cursing him under her breath.
“I think your issues with her have just been solved.”
“God. I hope so, Mom.”
“I’ll be battening my hatches where she’s concerned. She was always such a sweet girl. It felt natural to maintain our relationship.”
“Mom. You don’t need to do that.”
She frowned. “Yeah, I do. No one lies on my baby and gets away with it. Now let’s get home. We have a contest-winning pie to finish off.”
“You just want to wield the torch.”
“It is one of my favorite parts of the process.”
HOLDING HANDS WITH his mother, they awaited the final ruling. Their pie was a work of art. A succulent masterpiece piled high with golden meringue. He couldn’t have put any more love into it. Who knew baking could be so satisfying?
“You did good, Alaric. Whatever the outcome.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Leaning over, he kissed her cheek.
“We’ve had a number of unforgettable submissions this year! Who knew there were so many ways to prepare pumpkin pie? If we could, we’d name more than one winner. You’ve all made this a thoroughly rousing bake off.”