“Well, you had problems of your own.” She paused. “Evie never knew it, but I was a little mad at her right after the divorce.”
“What? That makes no sense.”
“I know. It didn’t last long, but for a little while there, I blamed her.”
“Why? Did you think she played matchmaker? She didn’t do anything to encourage that relationship.”
Addison laughed out loud. “No, Jake. I never imagined that she would have.”
“Then what did any of it have to do with Evie?”
“Nothing. But you were so broken down and I kept thinking that I couldn’t believe Evie had let you marry Channing. Channing was her cousin. Evie had to know how she was and should have warned you. How could she have let her come into our lives?”
Though he knew Addison couldn’t see him, Jake shook his head. “Addison—”
“I know. Don’t try to school me here. You couldn’t have been stopped. Channing dangled her magic in front of you and you were gone.”
Fairy dust. Magic. None of that was real. Even in stories where it was, there was always a price.
“It wasn’t fair, but I kept thinking if Evie had just been more assertive, had tried harder, things might have worked out differently and none of us would have ever ended up in that mess to begin with.”
Jake was completely lost. “Tried harder to what?”
“Oh, come on, Jake. You know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t, Addison. I swear I do not.”
“Evie’s in love with you.”
If only. “I can promise you she is not.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know it. She’s always been in love with you. She probably heard your baby babble when she was in the womb and fell for you then. Probably came out looking around for you, hoping you’d be there to greet her.”
His heart rate increased. “She told you this? That she loved me?”
Addison laughed. “Evie? With the way she plays things close to the vest? Of course she didn’t tell me. I’d wager she’s never told anybody, but everybody knew it. Well, apparently, everybody but you.”
Could it be true?
“I’m amazed you’re that dense,” Addison said.
Dense. What was it his mother had said when she’d been telling him not to get involved with Evie? That surely he wasn’t dense enough to think Evie would hurt him, that he would do the hurting?
“Well, hell.” It was a lot to take in, but it made sense—sweet, eager to please Evie, who’d always had a smile and time for him. There had been no hesitation from her the first time he’d kissed her. No wonder she’d been ready to have sex—only it wouldn’t have been just sex for her. It would have been making love. She’d been waiting for it. And he’d messed everything up. At that point, what would it have been for him? He didn’t even have to ponder that. Sex. Maybe not just sex. Maybe sex on the way to something else, but sex nonetheless. But not now. He’d traveled a million emotional miles since then.
“You really didn’t know?” Addison brought him back to the present.
“No.” He took a deep breath. “I almost asked her out once. Later I thought it was just as well. Evie’s so smart and focused. Like a million other guys, I just wanted to play pro hockey. I had no backup plan.”
“Turns out you didn’t need one,” Addison pointed out.
“I was lucky, but it looks like I used all my luck up on hockey. As far as Evie goes, I’m hip deep in hell over here.”
“How’s that?”
“I have fallen in love with her.” He’d never said it, even to himself, but there it was.
“Jake!” Addison sounded elated.
“And she won’t have me.”
“Oh.” Her tone hit rock bottom. “That’s no good.”
“No. No good at all.”
“Why won’t she have you? Even with the way you’ve been acting since the divorce, it’s hard to imagine you doing something bad enough for that.”
No way was he going to give Addison chapter and verse of what had gone on with him and Evie. Luckily, she was not as hungry for details as their mother.
“Let’s just say I did something stupid.”
“Then fix it. Do something smart—but only if you’re sure. This can’t be a ‘let’s see what happens’ kind of thing.”
Her words left him cold. Wasn’t that exactly what he’d tried to do?
“I’m sure, Addison. I didn’t know the meaning of the word until now. But maybe I shouldn’t do anything.” This went beyond what he wanted. It had to be what Evie needed.
“Why shouldn’t you?” Addison asked.
“I’ve hurt Evie and, apparently, not just lately if what you say is true. I’ve hurt her with my stupidity, oblivion, and careless disregard for her feelings and our friendship.” The truth of that went straight into his gut and sucked him dry. Maybe he should ask for a trade so she never had to see him again, maybe ask for a team in the coldest climate he could get. That’s what he deserved. “Who’s to say it wouldn’t be best for her if I just left her alone?”
“Not you,” Addison said. “You’re not the one to say. And I think that asking the question says a lot. Don’t make decisions for Evie.”
“She’s made her decision.”
“Has she? Or was she hurt and mad?”
“What’s the difference?”
Addison laughed. “Oh, brother. You have a lot to learn. You should try again. Give yourself another chance, and give her a chance to say yes. As I said, do something smart.”
“What is this smart thing I need to do?”
“Jake, I don’t know. Make a gesture—something big, grand, and wonderful. She’s wanted you her whole life. Make her believe you really want her.”
“Such as?” Addison might be on to something.
“I know! Go on the jumbotron at a game and tell her how you feel. She would love that.”
“She would?” He didn’t think so, but Addison had been spot on until now. Maybe she knew something he didn’t.
“Of course. I would. Any woman would.”
No, not any woman and most especially not Evie. She would be livid. “Evie isn’t going to games,” he said gently.
“Oh,” Addison said. “How about a trip? Somewhere romantic.”
Somehow he doubted that Evie was in any state of mind to go anywhere with him right now—even if he could go.
“I can’t take a trip, Addison. I have games.”
“Yeah, right.” She hesitated, and then burst forth: “Then a hot air balloon ride! Have champagne. And chocolate.” The more Addison talked the more excited she sounded, and why not? These were things she would like—not Evie. “Oh and, Jake? This is the best idea. Get her an engagement ring and make sure it’s bigger than Channing’s, if that’s possible.”
“Don’t you think that would be a little presumptuous of me? Considering she doesn’t even want to talk to me?”
“Since when do you care about being presumptuous?”
She had a point. That sounded like something he might have done at one time. That had been part of his problem.
“Addison, I don’t think...”
“Okay, okay, okay. No engagement ring. Get some other kind of a ring. Emerald and diamond. Or a bracelet—something really nice. And put it in a Louis Vuitton bag. Give it to her in the balloon.”
Despite the state of his heart, Jake had to smile. How many romantic comedies had Addison seen? Nonetheless, she’d been helpful. She was right about the gesture, just not the details of what it needed to be.
Jewelry was tempting because it was easy, but the gesture had to be something hard, something he couldn’t buy.
“Thank you, Addison. You’ve helped me clear my head and given me some good ideas.”
“Great. Just a second.” The
re were voices in the background. “Jake? I need to go. Somebody needs me. But if you want any help picking a bag and some jewelry, call me.”
“Sure thing, sister. Love you.”
“Love you back, brother.”
That was one consultation he wouldn’t need. He could only imagine Evie’s reaction if he tried to make her climb in a hot air balloon full of presents.
Inasmuch as he knew what not to do to win Evie, he didn’t know what to do. Mindlessly, he moved to the stove, picked up his dirty egg skillet and ran water in it. Evie had said, in no uncertain terms, to never put it in the dishwasher.
He stopped and slowly looked down at the skillet.
And the wheels in his brain began to turn.
Chapter Thirty-One
It had been two weeks since Evans had sent Jake away.
Now she was on Claire’s doorstep with no idea why she’d been summoned. Not where she needed to be with twenty-four hours until fall fest.
She was fairly sure Claire didn’t know about her confronting Jake in Hammer Time or she would have heard about it by now. Maybe she was going to be chastised for failing to attend hockey games. If so, that was just too damn bad. She could not sit in that arena right now and watch Jake play hockey. Possibly after the first of the year—or never.
“Come in, Evans,” Claire said warmly. Maybe she wasn’t going to chastise her. It could be a surprise catering job. Evans would rather be chastised.
Evans handed Claire the bakery box she carried. “We’re doing a test run on the miniature pies for the fall festival Saturday. I brought you a little sample.”
Claire opened the box, looked at the four tiny pies. “Evans, these are exquisite.”
“There’s cranberry pear, honey apple, chocolate chess, and pumpkin with candied ginger.”
“They are almost too pretty to eat. You did a beautiful job, as always.” They were decorated with scarecrows, pumpkins, leaves, and witches riding brooms.
“I can’t take credit. Ariel decorated them. She has a real knack and she’s fast.”
“You’re letting Quentin and Ariel make crusts?” Claire looked pleased—and surprised. “Are theirs as good as yours?”
Evans laughed. “I’m not going to give up my title as crust queen, but they’re good. I should have done this a long time ago. They have great ideas. We’ve added slab pies and rustic tarts to our rotation, and Quentin is a genius at recipe development.”
“That’s great to hear.” Clair held up the box. “Shall I brew some coffee to go with these?”
“None for me,” Evans said. “I’ve sampled enough new recipes lately to put me off pie forever.”
“Then I think I’ll just save them for a treat later.” She set the box on the foyer table. “Come on in.”
As usual, a fire blazed in the living room. Claire wasn’t above cranking up the air to offset the heat because she enjoyed the ambiance of a fire, but she didn’t need it today. It was so beautiful and crisp out that no one would have guessed it was raining in Evans’s soul.
“Can I get you anything?” Claire asked.
Just the reason for being here when I have pies to make. “No, thanks. I’m fine.”
“All right.” Claire sat in her usual chair and reached for her planner. Oh, hell. It was going to be a catering job. She knew it.
Evans sat across from her on the sofa.
“I’ll get right to the point,” Claire said. “I ran into John Hollingsworth at Rotary.”
Claire paused a moment to let it sink in, but it was a moment Evans didn’t need. Frozen pie hell had come home to roost.
“I see,” she said.
“He mentioned that his reps were having no luck in getting you to return their calls about a deal to mass produce a couple of your pie recipes. He wondered if you were being evasive, hoping for a more lucrative offer.”
This was bad—worse than she could have imagined. Did the universe have to bludgeon her with everything at once?
“That must have been embarrassing for you. I’m sorry.”
“No. Not embarrassing. I’m seldom embarrassed. Especially when it comes to money.
“I told him that, while I do know you well, I didn’t know what your thinking was on this. Which I do not, of course, because I have been given to believe that no one from the company has tried to contact you.”
Claire waited. Evans tried and failed to read her. That woman ought to be in Vegas playing poker.
Finally, Evans spoke, weighing her words as she went. “I shouldn’t have been evasive with you, and I’m sorry. But it’s not the money. This isn’t something I feel good about. I don’t want to do it for any amount.”
Claire frowned. “I’m not sure I heard you right.” But she carried on anyway. “Art for art’s sake is one thing, but you make pie. Why would you not want to be all that you can be? You’re not lazy. You work as hard as anybody I know. You deserve the payoff—and it’s sitting right there for the taking.”
Evans almost looked at the floor, wanted to cover her face with her hands. But something stopped her. It was now or never, and she was tired of not speaking her mind. She didn’t have the energy to play dodgeball anymore.
She met Claire’s eyes head-on. “Yes, Claire, I do make pie—pie that you buy on a regular basis to serve your guests. And your standards are not what I’d consider low.”
“My point exactly. Your pies are perfection.”
“Yes. And that’s what I want—to be the best. I don’t need to be the biggest. I’m proud of what I do, of what I’m teaching my employees to do. If I put my name on some mass-produced product, I might get a big paycheck, but I won’t be proud of it anymore since the quality won’t be there. Because you can be damned sure they won’t use European butter and locally grown fruit.” If Claire withdrew her support, so be it. “And one more thing. I don’t want to cater.”
Claire was a hard one to surprise, but Evans had accomplished it. “And you’ve always felt this way?”
“Yes.”
“Then, why? Every time I’ve suggested something, you’ve said yes or put me off, saying it was a great idea for the future.”
Yes. There was that word again.
“I said no to the pastry press,” Evans pointed out.
“And, if you’ll recall, I accepted your decision without question.”
Evans took a deep breath. “You did, and I should have given you more credit, but I know you want me to expand and I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“It’s immaterial to me whether you expand or not, Evans. You have led me to believe that’s what you want—the catering, the deal with Hollingsworth. I have simply been trying to guide you in that direction.”
“The irony is,” Evans said slowly, letting the realization set in, “that I was too controlling in the Crust kitchen, thinking I had to do everything myself while, at the same time, I wasn’t willing to step up and control any other aspect of my life.” She sat up straighter. “But I’ve been working on that—less control in the kitchen, more control in my life.”
Claire nodded, but said nothing.
“You gave me a chance and helped me do what I could have never done at my age without your backing. I wanted to repay you by being successful.”
Claire shrugged. “And you think expanding equals success?”
“That’s what you’ve done and you’re the most successful woman I’ve ever known. You’re always trying something new and making it work.”
Claire shook her head. “Evans, what I wanted was a unique, top-quality bakeshop in Laurel Springs. I’ve got that. As long as you’re making a living to keep yourself in the manner that meets your standards and are content and fulfilled in your work, isn’t that success?”
“That’s what I think,” Evans admitted.
“Then I have to wonder why you want
to please me so much? Why do you try to guess what pleases me?”
Yet again, the yes girl was trying to get good girl points.
“I’m sorry. I am content with my work. Would I like to earn more? Of course. And I expect to. But I’m no fool. I know I’m incredibly lucky to be turning the kind of profit I am after being in business for this length of time.”
Claire smiled. “I think it has more to do with ability and hard work than luck, but that’s a philosophical point and a topic for another time. Have you given any thought to what you might like to do to grow your business?”
“Some,” Evans admitted, “but mostly rambling incomplete ideas about things that I end up deciding wouldn’t work anyway. Unless I’ve got a rolling pin in my hand, it seems I’ve never been enough for myself.”
Claire paused before she spoke again. “Most people have a hard time being honest with themselves about what they want, but I think you know exactly what you want, always have.”
You could preach a sermon on that, Sister Claire.
“It’s other people you need to be honest with. How can your expectations be met if you never voice them?”
Good advice.
If a little too late.
“So.” Claire picked up her pen. “It’s time for you to be honest with me about what you want and I’ll be honest with you about whether I can help you get it.”
“I do want to expand, but in my own way,” Evans said.
“That’s the only thing that will work,” Claire agreed.
“I don’t want my pies mass produced and sold in grocery stores. I want to make special, artisan pies of the best quality.”
“That’s what you’re doing.”
“While catering was too time-consuming and kept me from what I love to do, I would like to do more large special orders—like the Fairchilds’ Christmas Gala. I might even want to provide pies for some restaurants down the line.”
“Those are good ambitions.” Claire wrote in her book. “I assume you feel better equipped to do those things since Quentin and Ariel have taken on some of the work.”
“Yes. I’m even willing to think about delivering.”
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