The Forget-Me-Not Bakery

by Caroline Flynn

  Bryce glanced longingly at the lone éclair on the top shelf of the display case as he spoke. ‘I actually came here to see you.’

  She wasn’t quite sure if he was talking to her or the éclair, but she plucked the treat from the case and put it on a pale purple napkin, sliding it across the counter toward him. ‘That’s our little secret,’ she advised, her heart swelling a little at the sight of his eyes growing wide. ‘Now, what’s on your mind?’

  Bryce wasted no time digging into the éclair, and the cream filling was smeared across his top lip as he struggled to talk around the dessert in his mouth. ‘I have this school thing. A project about a local business. I want to do it on your bakery.’ He swallowed, then quickly added, ‘Would that be okay?’

  ‘You don’t want to do the project on your dad’s vet clinic?’ She arched a brow.

  ‘I talked to Dad about it already. He’s cool with it. Said I should talk to you.’

  She was touched. The boy had come in here on his own to ask her if he could do a school project on her business. He’d chosen her own business over his dad’s. He probably did it because of the goodies he could nab while working on it, mind you, but he’d chosen Paige’s bakery, nonetheless. ‘I don’t know what to say, Bryce. I’m flattered you’d want to.’

  ‘Just say yes. That’s all you need to say.’ He took another bite of the éclair and held out his hand.

  ‘You drive a hard bargain, Bryce Beckett.’ She shook his hand, grasping it firmly as though he was an adult. ‘You’ve got yourself a deal.’

  ‘I might need some more treats like this to keep me going while I work on the project, though. Just saying.’ He pointed to the éclair like it was the key to sustaining life. Or getting good grades on a school report.

  ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ she replied. ‘But, again, your dad might have something to say about that. Just saying.’

  He shrugged again. She couldn’t blame the kid for trying. She let him bask in the sugary goodness of his éclair as she worked on cleaning up the storefront in preparation of closing for the evening. He seemed content, which is maybe why she didn’t expect what happened next.

  ‘Dad likes you.’

  Paige looked over at him from across the storefront, where she’d just turned the lights off inside the glass display cases near the window. ‘Yeah?’ She was caught off guard but did her best to test the waters of what the boy was really saying. ‘Well, I like your dad, too. He’s a nice man.’

  ‘Like, more than friends, though, right?’ He seemed genuinely interested in her answer. ‘Because I think that’s the way Dad likes you.’

  This was uncharted territory for Paige. She didn’t know the protocol when it came to dating in general, much less the ins and outs of dating a man with an inquisitive son. Her instincts told her to cut him off at the pass, advise him as politely as possible that this wasn’t something they should be talking about. But Paige felt as though Bryce had something he wanted to say. She gave him the safest opening she could. ‘And how do you feel about that?’

  The boy looked bewildered that she would consult him, but his hands came up as he spoke, fingertips covered in chocolate and cream filling. ‘I feel like … like, finally.’

  She would have found it funny if it wasn’t such a serious matter. And if the matter didn’t concern her. ‘Finally?’

  He was as enthusiastic as ever. Once she’d allowed him the inch he needed to explain, he took the mile. ‘Like, finally Dad’s not alone all the time, you know? I know it’s because Mom died and everything, but I even heard Hunter’s parents say Dad’s lonely.’ Paige waited for him to continue. ‘I mean, we do everything together, but I go to friends’ houses and on school trips and stuff, so I can’t be there all the time. And he works all the time, I know that. But if he’s not at the clinic, then he’s just … by himself. So, maybe he won’t be now?’

  Paige felt her heart break for the poor boy. Not because he could ever want for anything more than he already had, but because he’d unwittingly taken on the role of supervisor for his father, thinking he had to try to protect him from his own loneliness.

  She wondered if Cohen had any idea that his son was trying to protect him just as much as he was trying to protect his son.

  ‘You’re such a good kid.’ She was at a loss for words but decided to stick with the truth. ‘Your dad is lucky to have you, Bryce.’

  ‘I know.’ He made a show of brushing his knuckles on the front of his T-shirt, wearing a smug grin. ‘He’s pretty cool, though. You know, for an old guy.’

  If she’d been taking a drink of the coffee she kept tucked behind the counter, she would have spat it all over. ‘Easy now. If he’s old, then I’m old.’

  ‘If the shoe fits.’

  His sense of humor never ceased to amaze her. ‘Careful, I’m going to tell your dad you called him old. No, wait, I’m going to tell him you called me old.’

  His smirk vanished and he froze, suddenly wary. ‘You won’t tell him I told you he liked you, though, right?’ Bryce winced. He was just as aware they probably shouldn’t have been having this conversation.

  She waved a hand, making light of it. ‘Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.’

  ‘Thanks, Paige.’ He crumpled the purple napkin and tossed it over the counter into the trash can with perfect form. ‘I’d better head to the clinic before Dad wonders where I am.’

  ‘Sounds good. I’ll see you and Jazz tonight, okay?’

  He stopped after slinging his backpack up onto his shoulder. ‘You’re coming for a walk with us?’

  ‘Only if that’s all right with you.’ She waited, letting him realize he had just as much say in this budding relationship as his father did. They were a package deal, and after the conversation they’d just shared, Paige didn’t want Bryce to ever feel like she was taking over in any way.

  Something shifted between her and the young boy as his eyes locked with hers. Then, he nodded, confirming whatever decision he’d come to. ‘Yeah, that’s all right.’ And just like a few hours earlier, Bryce took the same path toward the door to leave as his father had, turning at the last minute. ‘Paige?’

  ‘Yeah?’

  The corner of Bryce’s mouth curled up. ‘You’re pretty cool, too. You know, for an old person.’

  Chapter 14

  Cohen

  Once the sun dipped into the horizon, it became chilly enough that Cohen was actually starting to feel bad for inviting Paige out with them. Bryce didn’t seem to notice the briskness of the evening air, bundled up in a hoodie over a long-sleeved shirt and jogging pants as he pretended to have mini fifteen-step races with Jazz, much to the dog’s delight. But Cohen noticed. One glance at Paige, arms wrapped around her middle as she struggled to hold in the warmth from her thin jacket, confirmed she noticed, too.

  ‘Oh, to be a kid again, huh?’ They had been talking comfortably off and on since they rounded the corner and left Main Street, but there was a lull so he focused on the one thing he always reverted to – Bryce. He meant it as a joke, but Paige’s answer was laced with sincerity.

  ‘I wouldn’t go back,’ she said. ‘I think it took me too long to get where I am.’

  Interesting. ‘In Port Landon, you mean?’

  ‘In general.’ She faced him as she walked. ‘I don’t feel like I wasted all those years in New York City, but there is a relief that comes with knowing I made it through them and ended up where I should be. Here.’

  ‘Everything happens for a reason, right?’

  ‘Exactly,’ she replied. ‘There was a winding, concrete jungle path to get here, but I finally made it.’

  ‘You’re that content with Port Landon?’ Cohen didn’t mean to sound skeptical, but most people their age had either sprinted for the town limit sign long ago or were still hoping for the day they could. He’d lived away from here, so he believed that’s what made him appreciate the vast differences.

  ‘Of course.’ Paige’s forehead crinkled. ‘For the m
ost part, anyway. I will admit there are days when I still think I’m crazy for uprooting myself the way I did. And when I still think there’s no way some city girl is going to make it in a little town like this without a whole heap of luck. But it’s turned out pretty well, don’t you think?’ Thinly veiled amusement quirked at the corners of her mouth. Cohen decided that that kind of smile was his favorite of hers.

  ‘I couldn’t agree more.’ He had the strong urge to reach out and wrap his arm around her shoulders, to hold her close and keep her warm. Keep her safe. Or he could entwine his fingers with hers and hold her hand again, bask in the warmth of her fingertips. Anything, as long as she was close to him. But that might be too much, too soon after the incident at the bakery. Or misconstrued that way. He was acutely aware she had yet to mention their almost-kiss, or to reach for his hand, either.

  ‘Did Bryce tell you he came to visit me today?’ She stared far ahead, watching the antics of his son and the brindle boxer as Jazz sniffed at a spot near a large maple tree, and Bryce tried without success to steer her away from it.

  Cohen nodded. ‘I told him he had to ask you himself about the project. He was pretty shocked when I suggested he could go to the bakery alone to ask you, though.’

  ‘I was a little surprised, too.’

  He nodded, trying to act nonchalant. ‘I hold on tight, I know that. But every now and then I remember that he’s growing up and he’s not a baby anymore.’

  ‘He’ll always be your baby,’ she said simply. ‘There’s no shame or blame in that, Cohen.’

  ‘You’re a woman after my own heart, aren’t you?’ The phrase slipped off his tongue before he realized he’d said it out loud. He couldn’t be sure in the fading light, but he was almost certain Paige was blushing in response.

  ‘You’re a good dad, Cohen,’ she replied. ‘And he’s a good kid. I’m sure everyone around here would tell you the same thing.’

  ‘Yeah.’ He nodded, watching as Jazz stopped trotting along like a miniature horse long enough to make sure they were following. ‘But their opinions don’t seem to matter to me the way yours do,’ he confessed. ‘So, thank you.’

  Yeah, Paige was definitely blushing now. ‘You’re welcome,’ was all she managed to say. Her loss for words left a satisfied grin on Cohen’s face. It was nice to know he could affect her the same way she affected him.

  ‘So, I take it you agreed to be Bryce’s project subject?’ He thought maybe it was better to get back onto more solid, platonic ground.

  ‘I did,’ she said. ‘After I confirmed you were okay with it, of course.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I can handle knowing my son thinks you’re cooler than I am.’

  ‘Oh, I am,’ she teased. ‘For an old person, anyway.’

  Cohen stared at her, eyes wide. ‘What?’

  ‘Your son’s words, not mine.’ She laughed.

  ‘He said that to you?’ He pointed ahead, where Bryce was tugging on the leash to try to keep Jazz from being too curious about Mrs Appleton’s tabby cat, confirming they were talking about the same kid.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry, you’re old, too,’ she added. ‘We’re in the same boat in your son’s eyes.’

  ‘I’m liable to put him in that boat and take away the paddles.’ Cohen shook his head. ‘What a kid.’

  ‘Come on, it’s kind of funny,’ Paige insisted. ‘Remember when we used to believe thirty was old?’

  ‘Isn’t there a song about that?’ Cohen turned his body in an attempt to block her from a particularly brisk gust of wind.

  ‘First you make a reference to Ghost, then you know the lyrics to Strawberry Wine?’ Paige’s eyebrows rose. ‘Color me impressed, Cohen Beckett.’

  ‘I’m a man of many talents.’

  ‘I’d say.’ She pulled her jacket tighter around her, tugging the collar higher up against her chin. ‘Speaking of that, are you ready to show me what you’re made of in the cupcake decorating department? Because I’ve got nearly a hundred and fifty made, just begging to be frosted.’

  The fundraiser was scheduled for Sunday morning. It was the only day the vet clinic wasn’t open, and the last thing Cohen wanted to do was help to set up this fundraiser and then leave Paige to handle the event day by herself. Being on call was another thing altogether, but all he could do was hope things stayed quiet for a few hours.

  ‘I almost forgot we still needed to do that. Between you, me, and Bryce, we should be able to decorate that many cupcakes in an evening, right?’

  Her face wore an expression somewhere in between a frustrated parent and the humor of a school teacher about to prove him wrong. ‘Cohen, that’s half the cupcakes,’ she explained. ‘I’ve made a few batches a day and frozen them. But there are another hundred and fifty or so to be baked, giving us three hundred in total.’

  ‘Three hundred?’ Cohen wasn’t sure he even knew what that many cupcakes looked like in one room. ‘Do we really need that many cupcakes?’

  Bryce had stopped once he heard the exasperation in their voices. Or maybe it was the mention of cupcakes. ‘Dad, honestly, there can never be too many cupcakes. What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘I’m going to have to side with Bryce on this one.’ There was no hiding the faint grin on her lips. ‘But seriously, if even a quarter of Port Landon’s population shows up – and you know they will – and they each buy a half dozen cupcakes – and you know they will – then we’re going to need a huge number of cupcakes, Cohen.’

  ‘Three hundred,’ he replied doubtfully.

  ‘Three hundred.’ She held his gaze. ‘I’ve done the calculations.’

  He would have completely balked at the idea if he didn’t find her so attractive as she stood her ground, shoving logic and facts at him. ‘You did the cupcake calculations. I didn’t know that was a thing, Paige.’

  ‘It is now.’ She placed her hands on her hips, amused. ‘So, tell me, Beckett, are you in or are you out?’

  Bryce, ever the cupcake confidante, stepped up beside Paige, arm to arm, facing his father with a dutiful stare. Jazz followed suit, sitting on her haunches beside Bryce, panting happily.

  He was outnumbered, clearly. ‘I’ve been betrayed by my own flesh and blood,’ he snickered. ‘It looks like we’ve got three hundred cupcakes to decorate.’

  Bryce turned to Paige, triumphant. ‘Yes!’ He high-fived her just as Jazz gave a gleeful woof of victory. ‘When?’ The boy’s excitement was vibrating through him like a sugar high.

  ‘We’ve only got a few days.’ Paige cast a glance at Cohen. ‘Are you free Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night? I’ll bet we can have everything done in three nights if we stick to it.’

  ‘Sure. Whatever it takes.’ Instinctively, his hand lowered to the on-call cellphone in his pocket. ‘As long as I don’t get called for an emergency, I’m all yours.’

  That hint of pink rushed into Paige’s cheeks once more, and she nodded. Bryce, however, rolled his eyes, scoffing at both of them.

  ‘You guys are flirting again,’ he whined.

  ‘Sorry, buddy,’ Cohen said, his eyes gleaming as they connected with Paige’s. ‘She brings out the worst in me, I guess.’ He paused, then tipped his head toward her. ‘And the best.’

  The golden lamppost light reflected in Paige’s gaze. She didn’t look away from him. ‘Ditto.’

  The next day came and went in a blur. Cohen wasn’t sure he was even thinking straight on any one topic, let alone the thousand that seemed to be whirling around in his head. Paige, the fundraiser, Paige, the clinic, Bryce’s school project, Paige, the invitation to Allison and Christopher’s wedding that conveniently showed up in his mailbox that morning – it hadn’t been mailed, just set inside for him to find.

  But the only thing he could focus on was Paige.

  She’d come quietly into town and turned his whole world on its axis. He felt like a schoolboy with a teenage crush.

  That wasn’t what it was, though, was it?

  No, there had been other women wh
o moved to Port Landon only to be caught up in Sonya Ritter’s web of matchmaking chaos. Some had been keen enough to want to date him, but Cohen had shown little interest. He wasn’t kidding when he told Paige he hadn’t completely moved on from Stacey’s death, which had left him grief-stricken and broken. He wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t know if he ever would. That’s how he had felt during each of Sonya’s matchmaking fumbles, and that’s how he felt now. He was a believer that a connection between two people couldn’t be forced. The difference between then and now was Paige Henley. She was the only one who made him want to try.

  Besides, those newcomers hadn’t lasted in the harborside town, citing big box stores and closer amenities as their reasons for leaving almost as quickly as they’d come.

  Small-town living wasn’t for everyone, Cohen knew that. But it suited Paige Henley, and he truly believed that was because she’d chosen to embrace it rather than point out the differences in her city life versus its slower, simpler counterpart. She seemed made for this kind of life.

  Made for his kind of life.

  Cohen shook his head. Get yourself together, man. He had never been one to envision a picture-perfect life for himself. He had that once and it had been torn away from him. But eight years later, for the first time in history, Cohen felt like he might actually agree with Sonya’s perspective on this one.

  She wasn’t the only one seeing Paige as the glue that just might have the chance of putting his and Bryce’s family back together. They would never have the life they’d lived with Stacey, and Cohen tried hard not to compare the two women. But maybe, just maybe, they could build a new kind of life. One different from the life he’d lost along with his wife, but one that put the broken pieces of him back together and gave him the strength to start over again. Really start over. Every time that thought niggled its way into the forefront of his brain, it hit him like a punch to the chest.

  Cohen was falling for Paige. He didn’t know how he had let it happen, but that was the kicker about these things, wasn’t it? He hadn’t let a damn thing happen. It happened regardless of how he felt about it.