Southern Sweets (Midnight)

by Cori Williams

  Danny’s gaze burns holes through me as I finish up my call with Tanner and I hold up one finger. “Hey Tanner, I gotta go. She’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “What was that about?” Danny questions as soon as I hit end.

  “Nothing.” I shrug. And that’s exactly what it was: nothing. He was talking about taking Paisley to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow but he was having second thoughts because he didn’t want to get stuck again.

  “Sure didn’t sound like nothing,” he mutters. “You know, if you want to go back with him, don’t let me stop you.”

  “Danny, I don’t know why you’re acting like this. He called to talk to Paisley, not me. It’s normal for them to talk. If I stop and talk to him for a minute or two about Paisley, that shouldn’t be an issue.”

  “The hell it shouldn’t be,” Danny groans in frustration. “I’m sorry, Amelia but you can’t blame me for being jealous. You two have a lot of history together. I just don’t want history repeating itself and me looking like the dumb jackass for trusting you.”

  “Danny…”

  I take a deep breath, trying to smooth out the heightened situation. I can understand why he feels this way but I’ve done nothing to warrant this behavior out of me. Plus, we haven’t really even slapped a label on our relationship. Should I tell him to mind his own business? No, that probably wouldn’t be the best idea.

  “I don’t know what exactly we’re doing here, but I’m solely invested in a relationship with you and only you. If and when I talk to Tanner, it’s about Paisley, and truthfully we talk for maybe a total of five minutes a week to each other on the phone, basically working out details for visitations and what not. He’s going to be in my life because he’s a part of Paisley’s. It’s taken me some time to cope with that so I guess I understand you having some difficult understanding that, too.” I pull both of his hands into mine. “But I could tell you that nothing’s going on until I’m blue in the face. You just have to trust me and if you can’t do that, I don’t know how things are really going to work between us.”

  His eyes briefly squeeze shut before he reopens them and shakes his head. “You’re right, Amelia. I’m sorry, it’s just…I want this to work between us and I can’t help but feel some sort of suspicion. But I promise to let it go. Forget I said anything. Please,” he adds and I nod.

  “I think I can do that, but just talk to me if you need to. Don’t let things build up—I of all people know that is never a good thing.”

  “Alright,” he says in a slow drawl, a grin spreading. “Now how ‘bout we go see that movie you’ve been talking up a storm about? Maybe we can head to my place afterwards?”

  “I like your thinking.”

  Chapter 35

  Amelia

  “Hey, where do you think you’re going in the middle of the day? On a very busy holiday?” Monroe pops her head out of the door to her studio as I walk by, heading in the direction of my car.

  “Um…I just need to run an errand. There’s a sign on the door and this is my slow time, Mom.”

  “Oh, please don’t compare me to your mother,” she mutters before tipping her head forward. “What’s in the box?”

  I hug the box closer to my chest, narrowing my eyes at her. “These aren’t for you. I promise I’ll bring something by later.”

  “Fine,” she huffs, “but can’t you at least tell me who the lucky person is that’s getting it?”

  “They’re for Danny.”

  “Oh,” she answers in a sing song voice. “Danny, huh? Just the way you say his name sounds like you’re in love.”

  “No it doesn’t,” I scoff. It’s way too soon for that word to be thrown about. I’m not ready for love and all that comes with it. “I told him I would bring him some cookies today, since it is Valentine’s Day and all.”

  “Well he’s gonna love it…and you,” she tacks on at the end with a laugh. “What a perfect day to say it, too. Love is in the air.”

  “Stop it,” I warn over my shoulder, fighting a smile. “I’ll catch up with you when I get back.”

  “Alright, I’ll be waiting! I need to get your input on some stuff anyway.”

  “Will do!” I wave over my shoulder, humming on my way to my car. My drive is short luckily and it’s how we’ve been sneaking time together during the days without it getting in the way of our careers. I’m starting to set up interviews for help in the bakery too; I know I definitely need it, especially with the subscription of my monthly boxes being almost out of control. I can barely keep up, but being busy is a good thing. I smile as I get out of my car and grab the box, thanking an elderly gentleman for holding the door of the doctor’s open for me and I step up to the front desk. “Hey, Victoria. How are you?”

  “Amelia! It’s so good to see you! I take it Danny’s expecting ya? I was wondering why he cleared his schedule this afternoon.” Victoria and I haven’t really been in contact much recently since I’ve been so busy, but I really need to make some time. She was such a good friend when I was pregnant with Paisley.

  My cheeks hurt with how wide my smile is. “Yeah, he was expecting me.”

  “Well go on around then, sweetheart. If he’s not in his office just go on in and wait. He’ll be there shortly. By the way, we need to have dinner or something soon!”

  “I know, I know—we’ll figure something out soon, I promise. Thanks.”

  I grip the box as I walk down the hallway, thinking about how Monroe was teasing me. Am I in love with Danny? I’m certainly happy. Things are going smoothly, we spend plenty of time together, although I chose not to bring him around Paisley just yet. So instead, we’re together when she’s with Tanner and when she’s with me, we sneak time together during the day, either at his office or at the bakery. We are making things work. He’s hinting towards taking things to the next level, whatever that means, but I’m hesitant. My heart feels like it’s still made of glass and I don’t want to do anything to risk shattering it.

  I think Monroe was right, though. Maybe I’m in love with Danny and maybe he’s in love with me. Now, just to say those words out loud…I don’t think I’m ready yet but I think that I at least show him. The cookies of course are always a way to his heart. How that man stays physically fit after sampling just about everything I bake is beyond me.

  I knock on his office door but get no answer so I slowly push it open with one hand and reach around the wall to turn on the light switch.

  I wish that I hadn’t.

  I wish that I’d never come here.

  I wish that I could unsee what I’m looking at.

  “Amelia,” Danny calls out from behind his desk, sprawled out in his chair, his tone not of one who has been caught—no, in fact he sounds… proud of himself? I gasp when the girl on his lap jumps to her feet, trying to cover her bare breasts with her hands in an attempt to appear decent I suppose. Betrayal and confusion slice through my heart as my hands begin to tremble. My mouth opens and closes several times, completely lost for words. What in the hell is going on? I feel as if I walked into an alternate universe. This can’t be real.

  “Amelia, what are you doing here? I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Danny had a visitor coming in. This isn’t what it looks like.” Sophia’s hands tremble—the same Sophia that came into the bakery with her mom at least once a week. The same Sophia that was co-oping at Danny’s office.

  “A visitor?” I ask, dumbfounded. I look back and forth between her and Danny, crossing my arms over my chest. “Did he force you? She’s underage!”

  “I just turned eighteen,” she squeaks.

  “You’re still in high school!”

  I don’t know why I’m still standing here. I should be running straight out the door. But I at least deserve an explanation to something that’s completely blindsiding me. I suck in a breath. Danny would be the last person I ever expected to do something like this.

  “Um…” She’s at a loss for words. “Did you have an appointment?” she asks.

  �
�No,” I scoff. “I brought him these.” I throw the box onto his desk and watch as red and pink frosted cookies tumble out. “But I didn’t think his girlfriend really needed an appointment. He knew I was coming.”

  “Girlfriend? What? I thought…you told me…” she sputters, her cheeks blazing red before she bends down to scoop up her discarded dress and hastily pulls it over her head. “I’m sorry, Amelia,” she murmurs, casting her eyes away from me as she scurries by. “I didn’t know you two were back together. He told me he loved me,” she adds with a wail, slamming the door behind her. I want to run after her, comfort her. She’s so young. He took advantage of her, plain and simple.

  I twist around, narrowing my eyes at Danny, who’s at least had the decency to button his pants. His eyes remain on the door, a hint of pain before flicking them towards me. “Pay backs are a bitch, aren’t they?”

  “What?” I hiss. “You did all of this as payback? Are you kidding me right now? She’s a child, Danny,” I screech. “But that’s beside the point. You let me believe we had something real—you’re the one who sought me out.” I shake my head, realization slapping me across the face. “That was on purpose, wasn’t it? You’ve been playing me the whole time, haven’t you?”

  He shrugs nonchalantly, folding his hands together. “I’m not really sure. You know,” he sits up straight, “I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. I was going to ask you out that night at the party and then Franklin set eyes on you and I didn’t have a chance. You were too stuck up to notice me; all you saw was Mr. All-American Golden Boy, not some dweeb who didn’t have a penny to his name. My how the tables have turned now. You know that Franklin dropped out of his school and his parents completely cut him off? He came asking me for my money. I told him no,” he states proudly.

  “Then you and I lost contact, but I still thought about you and wondered if I had lost my chance. Victoria bringing in cupcakes from your bakery changed everything. It was a sign, really.”

  My nose flares, but I remain silent. I don’t know why I’ m putting myself through hearing his twisted story but I need to hear it. Maybe this will help me learn a lesson—never to have another thing to do with men in my life.

  “Everything was perfect at first, but then I found out what you’d been keeping from me, what you’d been keeping from yourself, really.” He points a knowing finger at me. “You were in love with Tanner, not me, and he was in love with you. I tried everything to make you forget about him but it didn’t work. You still went for the asshole. What do women see in the bad boy?”

  I roll my eyes. “Tanner isn’t a ‘bad boy.’ And I didn’t break up with you solely because of him. He was still married at the time. I just didn’t think things were clicking. Clearly I should’ve followed my gut instinct the first time around, then maybe I wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the process.”

  “You, hurt? How do you think I felt? You can’t treat people like that and think it’s okay.”

  “But it was okay for you to do this to me? To make me think that we were happy together and I was finally starting to get my life calm and drama free? I didn’t ask for this! Why couldn’t you have just left me alone?”

  “Amelia,” he sighs loudly, pushing to his feet, “we can still work things out. Even though, truthfully, I know you’re still in love with him. We can get passed that.”

  “Are you fucking insane?”

  “What?” He purses his lips, shrugging. “You forgave Tanner. I’m sure you can forgive me.”

  “That was completely different. And I don’t know who I need to talk to about what you were doing with that girl, but I’ll find out. You have wool pulled over everyone’s eyes, don’t you?”

  “Speak one word of it and I’ll make your life a living hell.”

  I snort. “I don’t take kindly to threats so please keep them to yourself.” I turn on my heel but then think better of it, snatching up the box that I had thrown. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving those behind.

  “Amelia,” he says in a warning tone, his jaw tight, “I wouldn’t say anything if I were you.”

  “Shut up, asshole,” I spit before racing out of his office and slamming the door behind me.

  The nerve of that man! For me to walk in on him when I thought our relationship was going well, with a high school student no less, and he threatens me to keep my mouth shut? I have no idea who I can even talk to but just the fact that he told me to keep quiet has me fuming even more.

  I shove the cookies towards the receptionist as I’m leaving and she looks at me, confused. “Wha—”

  “Don’t ask. And I think you need to be checking up on who is in the good doctor’s office. I don’t think it’s very appropriate and I don’t believe his patients would like it much if I aired his dirty laundry.”

  “What? What are you talking about?” she sputters, and I know she has no idea.

  I don’t answer. I just need to get the hell out of here and away from this mess. If there’s one positive outcome from this whole damn situation, it’s that I never involved Paisley in it. At least she didn’t get hurt by that man’s actions. Me on the other hand, I just feel like giving up. I can only get beat up by life so many times before I decide quit.

  Chapter 36

  Amelia

  I avoided other humans, besides Paisley and customers, for two weeks straight. Honestly, I was ashamed. How could I have been so stupid? Relationship after relationship for me was wrong.

  “I’m swearing off men,” I announce to Monroe as soon as she steps into my apartment, a bag of takeout in her hands. I’ve finally decided that I’m not going to let the break up—or whatever it was—affect my life any longer.

  “What? Why?” she questions, kicking off her shoes. Paisley attacks her the minute she’s done and I head into the kitchen with our takeout as a tickle fest ensues.

  “Phew, thanks for leaving me,” Monroe says as she comes into the kitchen, patting her mess of a hair down. “That girl has some energy. I think it’s time she gets into dance classes.”

  “Really, you think? Aw, that would be amazing. Think of all the cute little tutu’s and leotards I could get.”

  “It doesn’t matter what she wears,” Monroe grumbles, snatching the container of beefy mushrooms out of my hands. “Back off, those are mine.”

  “You’re not going to share?”

  “Nope.”

  “Fine then I won’t share any of the cream cheese brownies that are just about ready to come out of the oven.”

  “Ugh, seriously?” She pushes the container back into my hands and I scoop some onto my plate.

  “Thanks for picking this up. I wasn’t ready to leave the house yet.”

  “Yeah, what’s that all about? You’ve been avoiding me. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. I’m taking it has something to do with you saying you’re swearing off men. Why didn’t you call me sooner? What happened?”

  I sigh loudly and then tell her what exactly happened, even though I hate rehashing the story. I just want to forget all about Danny and the twisted game that he played with my heart. Maybe I’m overreacting—I don’t know—but judging by Monroe’s reaction, she’s just as shocked as me.

  “What the hell?” she questions, sitting back in her chair, completely stunned.

  “Mama, more noodles please.” Paisley runs into the kitchen and I hold up a finger at Monroe before fulfilling her request.

  “Here you go, ma’am. Go finish watching your show, me and Aunt Roe will be out in a minute with dessert.”

  I sit back down, picking up my fork to stab at my food. “I don’t really know. I never expected anything like that from him, clearly. I feel so stupid.”

  “You’re not stupid.” Monroe shakes her head furiously. “He is. A stupid asshole whose house needs to get egged and TP’ed.”

  I roll my eyes. “We are not egging his house.”

  “Just think about it,” she instructs. “What are you going to do about the whole Sophia situation?”


  I chew on my lip. “I think I need to talk to her mom. Marcia comes into the bakery all the time—sometimes with Sophia. It’s going to be so awkward.”

  “Can I be a fly on the wall when that happens? Please?”

  “It’s not funny, Monroe. I feel like I’m going to throw up just thinking about it. If someone came to me with the same situation regarding Paisley when she’s that age…I would kill him with my bare hands and then bury him.”

  “I’d bring the shovel,” she chimes in. “What about the other doctors at the practice he’s with? They might want to know what he’s doing with a high school student that’s supposed to be working there.”

  “I don’t know…I don’t know if I’ll do that just yet.”

  “Well if you change your mind about the egging thing, I’ll have a few dozen at the ready just in case.”

  “Good to know,” I say, laughing for the first time in a while. We chat for hours, watching Disney movies with Paisley and painting our nails while stuffing our faces with brownie after brownie.

  It’s good to feel normal, even if just for a little while.

  Chapter 37

  Amelia

  I blow out a breath, exhaustion setting in, but there’s still one more stop I need to make before Paisley and I head home. My mom dropped her off a couple of hours ago so she could hang out with me at the bakery and to say that was a bad idea is an understatement.

  “Mama, my cookies are ready!”

  “Oh yay,” I mumble under my breath, trying to not let my nose wrinkle. She put every ingredient under the sun that she could find into her batter and I’m sure she wants me to taste them.

  The door jingles and I grin when I see Monroe bounce through the entrance. How that girl has so much energy after whipping around the dance floor all day is beyond me. “Hey! I thought I saw this cute little blonde running around in here.”

  “Well I wouldn’t say I was running…”

  “Mama, she means me!” Paisley corrects. “Come here, Aunt Roe. I made cookies!”