The Forget-Me-Not Bakery

by Caroline Flynn

  As far as Cohen was concerned, it was handled. Paige knew where he stood on the matter, and Bryce now knew that he had no need to concern himself with anything regarding Cohen’s personal affairs. Bryce was a kid, one that would never get caught up in the things he had been accused of. And Paige, well, she was a friend that he didn’t have as much in common with as he thought.

  If Cohen kept telling himself that, maybe he would eventually believe it.

  After the movie ended, Cohen did his best to smooth things over. He hadn’t yelled at his son, but a loud, stern voice was pretty much the equivalent in the Beckett household. Bryce rarely heard it, and Cohen rarely had to use it. And now he felt guilty about talking to his son in that tone.

  Which was why he let Bryce coerce him into taking Jazz for an extra-long walk. It was later than usual thanks to the length of the movie, but Cohen relented. It would be good for them, as well as the dog, to get out and get some fresh air.

  The pier was eerily quiet, especially considering how many people milled about, either strolling along the boardwalk or standing at the water’s edge to watch the moon rise steadily in the sky, casting a distorted reflection across the rippling lake.

  Bryce was quiet, too. He focused on Jazz as they walked, which was exactly how Jazz preferred it. Cohen didn’t try to force the conversation, intent to let him do short sprints with the dog and laugh when she lopped along like a deer instead of the canine she was.

  Let him be a kid, Cohen told himself. That’s all he ever wanted for the boy. To have a decent, normal childhood. He had been so young when tragedy struck. When he lost his mother. Cohen was determined to counteract that with as much love and devotion as he could while he had the chance. He didn’t think it was possible to love his kid too much, but he wasn’t afraid to try.

  Which was exactly why he had such a damn hard time understanding Paige’s stance on the supposed theft at her bakery. Paige had said herself that she knew Bryce was a good kid. So, how in the hell could she justify accusing him of something that suggested the polar opposite of that? He didn’t get it. He sure didn’t appreciate it, either.

  Still, he knew he had been rash in his reaction. Okay, he had outright overreacted. Guilt tainted the anger he still harbored toward her because he knew he had been quick to shut down on her, and even quicker to leave. Now that he’d cooled off a bit, he knew he could have – hell, he probably should have – stayed and tried to talk it through. He could have made her see how wrong she was about Bryce.

  Except, Paige had been adamant in her convictions. That had only hurt Cohen more, which in turn, he expressed as anger. It was no excuse, but he had been plagued by fatigue and unprepared for a conversation that pointed fingers at his one and only son as a common thief. What he had been prepared for was to confess his feelings for Paige. Instead, he’d had to protect his son from her accusations. Her false accusations.

  So, in the end, he had taken it out on her. Blamed the ruining of a perfectly good and romantic evening on her because she’d wrongly signaled out Bryce.

  And she was wrong. She had to be. That’s why Cohen hadn’t even bothered to question Bryce about it. There was no need to put him through that when the whole idea was completely ridiculous.

  And it was ridiculous.

  Why, then, was he so damn petrified to question Bryce about it? Why did guilt ball up in his stomach like lead every time he thought about the things he said to Paige?

  He knew why. It wasn’t that he hadn’t bothered to question Bryce about Paige’s allegations, it was that he couldn’t bring himself to. He wasn’t sure he could handle knowing he had unfailingly defended his son against the one person who had been his friend, his partner in fundraising crime … and potentially his something more, and ruined everything, purely because he wasn’t brave enough to face the whole situation head on.

  Cohen let out a defeated sigh. There were some things he just wasn’t ready to face tonight. Things he couldn’t bring himself to face. Instinctively, he dug into his pocket to clutch the small, smooth stone he had carried there faithfully for almost a decade. It wasn’t there. The second his brain registered its absence and where the stone was, he groaned loudly.

  Without it, Cohen felt a sense of lostness he couldn’t put into words. Paired with the absence of Paige, however, the combination created a vast wave of sadness he hadn’t expected. Which was suiting, seeing as he hadn’t expected Paige Henley at all in the first place.

  It seemed Paige had left his life in the same unexpected way she had come. And, if he was honest, he had no one to blame for it but himself.

  Chapter 21

  Paige

  At the grand opening of The Cakery so many weeks ago, Paige wouldn’t have been able to come up with one good reason why her bakery wouldn’t be open and ready for business on a weekday. It was in her blood, the need to run her business smoothly and be reliable and available to her customers on a daily basis. She never liked to let anyone down.

  But she didn’t want to let Allison down, either. That was why, for the first time since she had opened her shop, Paige had turned the sign to Closed early, locking the door at noon so she could meet up with her cousin and go dress shopping in North Springs. By the end of the afternoon, a gorgeous white wedding dress and pretty bridesmaid dresses would be chosen.

  Paige anticipated the outing more than she would admit. The idea of sifting through all the satin and chiffon and silk to unearth the perfect gown for her cousin’s big day was both whimsical and romantic to her. She loved the idea of hearing Allison say ‘This is the one!’ and seeing the excited gleam in her eyes. Paige wanted that for Allison.

  Someday, Paige wanted that for herself.

  But today wasn’t that day, and every time she reminded herself that this wasn’t about her, and that she was going to try extra hard to make this outing perfect for her cousin, Paige’s mind managed to conjure up Cohen again. It was a sad, sad reminder of the state of their friendship.

  Was it even that anymore? She didn’t know. Dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything, and letting it ruin her day with Allison wouldn’t solve anything, either. Paige planned to keep the conversation as far away from the attractive veterinarian as possible. She wouldn’t mention his name. Instead, she would focus on the fabric swatches and multiple dresses she’d need to try on while making memories with her cousin – that was going to be Paige’s day in a nutshell.

  Too bad she hadn’t made Allison aware of her plans. The first thing out of the woman’s mouth the moment Paige opened up the car door and got into the passenger seat beside her was, ‘Ready for our girls’ day?’ When Paige responded with an enthusiastic nod, Allison didn’t hesitate to follow it up with, ‘Good, now tell me everything that’s going on with you and Dr Cohen.’

  Paige groaned, loudly and on purpose. ‘Allison …’

  ‘She’s been going on about it since I got in the car.’

  Paige whirled around to find Allison’s friend, Kait, in the backseat. She had forgotten there would be another person on this outing, which was silly on Paige’s part. She had known she wasn’t the only member of the wedding party on the bride’s side, but somehow her muddled brain hadn’t put two and two together.

  That meant there were more ears to hear the sordid details of her argument with Cohen.

  ‘Oh, hey, Kait,’ she said politely, having only met her briefly once or twice before, and only in Allison’s presence. The woman’s straw-colored hair was up in a twist on top of her head, and her emerald eyes shone, highlighted with dark mascara. She looked light and carefree in her paisley peasant top and denim skirt, ready to hit the town. ‘I love your outfit.’

  ‘We both love her outfit,’ Allison interjected hurriedly. ‘Now, we’ve got a fifteen-minute drive ahead of us, Paige. Twenty if we’re lucky and there’s midday traffic. Start talking.’

  ‘Like I said,’ Kait cut in, leaning forward between the front seats. ‘She’s been relentless about this since I got in the car.�
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  Paige sighed. Only Allison would think getting stuck in traffic would be lucky, giving them more time to talk. ‘Can’t we just talk about something fun instead? I don’t really think—’

  ‘Kait’s lips are locked tight, if that’s what you’re worried about. She won’t say a thing. I only surround myself with the best people in the world, you know that.’ Allison peered into the rearview mirror, giving her friend a cheeky grin.

  ‘Well, thanks for that,’ Kait said. ‘But, yeah. Anything said today stays between us. I promise.’

  Paige appreciated the oath of confidentiality, but that didn’t make it any easier. ‘I appreciate it, you guys. I do. I just don’t want to dampen the fun of today by talking about an argument that happened days ago.’

  ‘So, you do admit there was an argument.’ Allison didn’t miss a beat. ‘And that it happened days ago. That’s the problem, isn’t it? You’re my cousin – the maid of honor, for God’s sake – and we’ve both been busy enough that we haven’t even had a chance to talk about this yet. Until now. Besides, if you don’t talk to us about it, who are you going to talk to?’ She cast a quick glance toward Paige, knowing she had hit the mark with her statement. ‘Now, do us all a favor and get it off your chest. I know you well enough to know it’s been eating away at you.’

  ‘Allison, I don’t want—’

  The woman scoffed. ‘Is it because I said I would murder him if he hurt you and make it look like an accident? Because I didn’t mean it.’ She stole another glance at her passenger. ‘Unless he did hurt you. Then, I did mean it.’

  ‘Allison, no one’s murdering anyone.’

  ‘You’re right. Gotta keep my lips zipped on that. You guys could be arrested for being an accessory if I’m convicted.’

  ‘Allison!’ Paige’s eyes were about to bug out of her head. ‘Geez, you’re officially banned from watching true crime shows on TV.’

  Kait giggled in the backseat, but Allison just waved a dismissive hand. ‘Fine. All I’m saying is, talk about it now, in this car. Once I park at the bridal boutique, the topic can be tabled and we won’t discuss it again if you don’t want to.’

  She was right. Her thoughts of Cohen had been eating away at her, and the days that had passed without so much as a word or even sight of him did little to ease her mind. Maybe talking about it would help. ‘Once we’re out of the car, you’ll let it go?’ Allison was like a dog with a bone. She knew saying she would table the subject of Cohen was different than actually doing it.

  ‘I promise.’

  Paige glanced over at her cousin, then into the backseat where Kait sat quietly with her hands in her lap. ‘Fine.’

  At first, Paige’s words came out jumbled and all over the map. She didn’t know where to start. Didn’t know how to put into words the course of events that led her to the pain her heart was feeling. After a few pauses, sighs, and attempts at starting over at the beginning as Allison patiently suggested, she began to find her rhythm and the truth began to fall from her lips. She went from struggling to explain to not knowing how to turn off the tap. Everything – how good things had been going between them, the romantic candlelit date at the ice cream shop, the teamwork as they prepped for the fundraiser, the events that led her to suspect Bryce and his friend, as well as the ensuing argument about it between her and Cohen – poured from her like she had been awaiting the chance to let the dam break open.

  ‘And you’re sure Bryce and Hunter were the only ones who could’ve done it?’ Allison asked. Paige could hear her trying to tread lightly, but she didn’t take the question as a rebuke.

  ‘I didn’t see them take the tarts and squares, but the fact that I watched that table so closely that day, mixed with their actions as they left the shop … yeah, I’m sure. I wouldn’t have said anything, otherwise.’

  ‘Then you were right to go try to talk to Dr Cohen about it,’ Kait piped up from the backseat.

  ‘Definitely,’ Allison added with a nod.

  It felt good to hear others agree with her choice. It meant she hadn’t been completely off base. ‘I mean, it’s not like I was telling him I was going to charge the kids or something. All I wanted to do was talk.’

  ‘Dr Cohen has been a pretty protective dad—’

  ‘Overprotective,’ Kait insisted, cutting Allison off.

  ‘I’m not saying his reaction was appropriate,’ Allison added quickly. ‘I’m just saying I could see how he would struggle with hearing that Bryce did something like that. He’s such a good kid.’

  ‘I never said he wasn’t a good kid!’ Paige threw up her hands. That wasn’t what she had been insinuating at all. ‘I was trying to be open and honest. Isn’t that what people do when they’re—’ She stopped abruptly, her cheeks flaming up in an instant.

  Allison snapped her gaze sideways. ‘Dating? No wait … in love?’ A devious grin spread across her face. ‘Please tell me that’s what you were about to say.’

  Paige remained silent.

  ‘In a relationship. Maybe that’s what she was going to say?’ Kait sounded like she was trying to help Paige get her foot out of her mouth, but again, she remained quiet. All she could think was that Allison owned the coffeehouse and Kait worked full-time at the diner on the other side of Main Street. Yes, they had both guaranteed secrecy of the topics brought up in the car, but Paige couldn’t fathom how humiliated she would be if the gossipmongers got a whiff of the word love being tossed around.

  ‘I’m just saying I thought openness and honesty was a good idea,’ she replied, defeated. ‘Obviously, I was wrong.’

  ‘You weren’t wrong.’ Allison pulled up to a red light, the first double-laned intersection Paige had seen in a while. They were getting close to town. ‘Cohen got his hackles up about the situation. It’s been just him and Bryce for so long that Bryce is just as much his best friend as his son. So, he didn’t take it well to hear he’d done something Cohen didn’t know about. That’s not your fault.’

  ‘When’s the last time you talked to him?’ Kait asked.

  Paige turned. ‘At the fundraiser.’

  ‘Well, that is your fault,’ Allison stated bluntly, punching the accelerator when the light turned green. ‘You need to go talk to him, Paige.’

  ‘And you need to keep your eyes on the road,’ Paige insisted. ‘Your driving is starting to freak me out.’

  Allison rolled her eyes, changing lanes with the skill of a race car driver. ‘No need to worry. Dale Earnhardt has got nothing on my mad skills. But seriously, you need to try to talk to him again.’

  ‘The dress boutique is right there!’ Kait called out, tapping viciously at the window beside her. Allison veered into the turning lane, taking the turn fast enough that Paige gripped the handle on the side of the passenger door.

  ‘Where did you get your driver’s license, in a Happy Meal?’ The car came to an abrupt halt in a parking space just outside Bianca’s Bridal Shoppe. It was a quaint little shop with only one tiny front display window. The long, lacy wedding dress in it was absolutely to die for. Surrounded by sparkly diamond tiaras and jewellery, with two pale peach strapless dresses on mannequins at each side, the display was lovely, evoking every little girl’s dream.

  Despite the high anxiety amongst the women in the car because of almost missing their turn, and coupled with Allison’s questionable driving skills, Paige wasn’t the only one who let out a sigh of appreciation toward the storefront display.

  Allison turned the key, killing the engine. Her eyes never wavered from the front window of the store. ‘We’re really doing this.’ The words were barely audible.

  Paige smiled, reaching over to give her cousin’s hand a squeeze. ‘You’re really doing this,’ she corrected. ‘You’re going to marry the man of your dreams, and Kait and I will be right there by your side when you do it.’

  Kait unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward, squeezing Allison’s shoulder. ‘Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Allison.’

  ‘And I woul
dn’t want anyone else there with me.’ Tears brimmed Allison’s eyes, which only summoned up tears in Paige’s eyes, too. She blamed her raging emotions.

  The collective pause that ensued needed no words. It was a defining moment in Allison’s life, but it was a memory that both Paige and Kait would hold on to tightly as well. They relished it, giving Allison the time she needed to compose herself.

  ‘Okay, girls, we said we were going to make this a girls’ day, so let’s do this.’ She sounded like she’d put herself back together, so Paige patted her hand and began to unbuckle her seatbelt, too.

  Excitement was reverberating off Kait in waves from the backseat. ‘Judging by the front window of that shop, Allison, we’re going to be doing this in style.’

  Paige was starting to feel a little bad for the bridal consultant. Three hours and what felt like a gazillion dresses later, they were still no closer to finding the perfect dresses than when they had arrived.

  The consultant’s name was Mira, and she had been exuberant in their initial greetings as they got started with the overwhelming task of making Allison’s dreams come true. It had been three hours since the introductions, however, and Mira was looking more frazzled and frustrated than buoyant. Her perfectly styled red hair now exhibited flyaway strands, and Paige heard the sighs she tried to hide under her breath.

  Paige was beginning to feel a little bit like that herself, but she understood both sides. The bridal consultant was trying her hardest to find dresses that matched the requirements Allison outlined for her – her wedding dress would be simple but long and classy, not revealing too much skin and not harboring a lot of bling, and the bridesmaids’ dresses would be long and simple as well but in a deep gray color. Basically, she would know the perfect dresses when she saw them.

  ‘Allison, you looked stunning in that last one,’ Kait assured her, pointing at the discarded pile of creamy satin slung over a chair. There were dresses everywhere, draped over every bench and chair and surface around them. The change room area looked like Cinderella’s ballgown closet had exploded. A wedding warzone.