“I wouldn’t know,” Kristine said under her breath.
“What’d you say, sis? Hey, will you hurry to get Devon. If you’re not there soon, they’re going to tack on a late-pickup fee to my bill. Oh, I have to go. Chad is here and we’re leaving…” The line went dead.
Minnie stepped into the large room and frowned. “Lori again?”
Kristine nodded. “She needs me to pick Devon up from daycare.”
Minnie pinned her with accusing eyes. “You need to stand up to that sister of yours, once and for all. You’re going to collapse if you don’t get some rest.”
Lori spread her hands and shook her head. “I…”
“Need to grow a backbone,” Minnie asserted, and then sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re my employer, but you’re also my friend. Kristine, you’re wasting away to nothing. I doubt you weigh more than ninety pounds.”
Kristine couldn’t argue with her. Her weight had plummeted of late, but she barely had time to breathe, let alone plan and cook wholesome meals. And by the time she prepared dinner for her mother and sister, and doled it out, she was too tired to eat. And then there were dishes to do… And laundry… And bill paying… Forget it. Food was the furthest thing from her mind.
“May I talk to Lori for you?” Minnie asked sweetly. As a mother of two daughters, close in age to Kristine, she often took a motherly tack with her young employer. “I promise you I’ll get through to her,” she added menacingly.
“I’ll talk to her,” Kristine promised.
“Will you?”
She forced a cheerful smile. “I will, I promise.” She made an apologetic face. “Do you mind finishing up here? If I don’t pick up Devon in the next ten minutes, we’ll have to pay a penalty fee for late pickup and they really add up.”
Minnie sent her off with the flutter of her hand. “Go, go.”
Since their mother was footing the bill for Devon’s daycare, Kristine was determined to make it to the daycare before they could assess any additional fees. It wasn’t as if Lori would cover it. She wasn’t particularly inclined to part with a dime. Since she’d moved in, she hadn’t contributed to the cost of groceries or utilities. Her mother owned her home, but that didn’t mean Lori had the right to expect to live there for free. She paid her mother rent. And as much as she wanted to confront her sister and have a lengthy conversation about everything troubling her, she knew it would create a rift between them, which would add to her mother’s burden. As such, she simply bucked up and took what her sister dished out.
Kristine hurried to her car and drove to the daycare where Devon had spent part of his day. Despite the fact that she wasn’t working a steady job, Lori had put him in after-school care. Kristine couldn’t understand why her sister didn’t spend every moment with her son that she could manage, particularly since he had started first grade in September and was gone six hours a day in school.
Kristine resolved that if she was ever fortunate enough to be a mother, she would spend every moment she could with her children. She simply couldn’t wrap her mind around Lori sending Devon off to the care of others, particularly when she didn’t work often enough to justify it.
As she pulled up to the daycare, she noted the parking lot was nearly empty. The other parents had already picked up their kids and gone on their way. She jumped out of her car and rushed to the front door. She pulled it open and immediately spotted Devon waiting for her by the front counter of the reception area.
“Hey, sweetie,” she called. “How was your day?”
“Okay,” he said. “Where’s my mom?”
“I’m afraid she has somewhere she has to be,” she said, smiling his way as she signed him out for the day. “So you had a good day?” she prompted.
He shrugged as he walked toward her. When he reached her, she draped an arm over his shoulders. She nudged him playfully, hoping to garner a smile from him. He was such a quiet little boy, and seemed to have the weight of the world on his thin little shoulders.
When he still failed to smile, she tickled his side. Still no response.
“Hey,” she said, watching him with concern. “Are you okay?”
He shrugged. “I don’t like daycare,” he told her.
She opened the back door of her car and helped him into his booster seat. After closing the door behind her, she hurried to climb into the driver’s seat. She glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “Why don’t you like daycare, honey?”
“Mike is mean to me,” he said, jutting out his lower lip.
“Can you tell me more about that?” she asked. “Is Mike your age?”
“Yes. He’s in my class at daycare. Today, I was playing with my Spiderman game and he took it away from me. When I told the teacher, she said I needed to learn to share.”
Kristine considered his words. “Did Mike ask you permission to play with your Spiderman game?” She knew he treasured that game, which she had gotten for him for his last birthday.
“No. He just took it. And he threw it across the room.” His lips began to tremble. “He broke it.”
Kristine watched his sad little face. “Listen, I’m going to talk to your teacher. And Sunday…” she added, in a sing-song voice.
He glanced up, his expression expectant.
“Sunday, we’re going to drive to Ridgeway, you and me, and we’re going to get you a new Spiderman game.”
He broke into a smile. “Really? You’re going to get me a new one?”
“Yes, I am. I know how much that game means to you.”
He looked stricken. “Mama said if something happened to it, it’s my fault.”
“You mean, because you chose to take it to daycare with you?”
He nodded and suddenly began to cry. “I can’t take my new one to daycare...”
“Honey…” she said, wishing she could wrap her arms around him and comfort him at this moment. “If you take it back to daycare, Mike might break it again.”
“But…”
“What, sweetie?”
“My game feels like…”
“What? What does it feel like?”
“It feels like home.”
She frowned, unsure what he meant. “Devon, I don’t understand.”
“It makes me think of you.”
She smiled. “You mean, because we play the game at home.”
“Yes.”
Her heart broke for her little nephew. His world had been turned upside down. His parents had split up years before, but he had retained a relationship with his father. Unfortunately, his dad had met someone and had recently moved out of state to be with her. He no longer seemed inclined to take advantage of his visitation with his son. To make matters worse, his mother was more concerned with spending time with her boyfriend than him.
Kristine wished she could do more for Devon, but she was practically working around the clock.
“Auntie Kristine,” he said softly.
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to go to after-school daycare anymore.”
“I know.”
“Can I go with you to the bakery after school?” His voice became more animated. “My school is really close to the bakery and I could just walk there.”
“Honey, you’re only six. It wouldn’t be safe for you to cross the street on your own.”
“I’m big enough!” he cried. “And I promise I’ll be quiet at the bakery. I won’t get in your way. And I’ll help you. I can sweep the floors and wipe the counters, and maybe you can teach me how to bake stuff.”
Kristine’s heart tugged. She knew the incident with the Spiderman game wasn’t Devon’s first troublesome incident at the daycare. He was such a sensitive kid that he’d been the target of bullying by older children. When Kristine had discussed it with Lori, she had been dismissive of the bullying. “He has to learn to stick up for himself,” she had said matter-of-factly. “If he doesn’t learn to fight his own battles…” She’d shrugged. “What can I do?”
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“Protect your child!” Kristine had shouted. Lori had refused to speak to her for a week after, until she needed a favor, and then the silent treatment had ended.
“Please Auntie Kristine,” Devon implored. “I don’t want to go back to daycare.”
“I’ll talk to your mom,” she said. “We’ll see what we can do.”
As she drove, she reviewed a mental checklist of the things needing done around the house. When she arrived, she climbed out and hurried to help Devon from the car. She took his hand. “Let’s run,” she cried, and the two ran full out to the front porch. They took the steps two at a time.
Devon tapped the door with his hand. “I beat you. I won!”
“Yes, you did,” she said, smiling his way. “I don’t get it. You always get to the door first, even though we’re holding hands.”
He shrugged. “I’m really fast.”
“You really are,” she said, as she pulled open the door. To her surprise, her mother greeted her at the door, dressed and ready for the day and wearing a bright smile on her face.
“Mom,” she said, her expression incredulous. “You look…”
“Almost human,” she said, her expression rueful.
“You look great,” she assured her. “You’re feeling … better?”
“I am,” she said crisply, pulling Devon into a quick hug.
He smiled widely at her, surprised at the change in his grandmother. Kristine was stunned, and couldn’t help wondering what had precipitated the change.
“Kristine, I understand you had a visitor today,” she said, her eyes bright and eager.
“I … did,” she said, and then frowned. “You’re talking about…”
“Joe! Yes, Joe Lancaster. He paid me a visit too. He mentioned he’d stopped by the bakery and saw you.”
“Yes…”
“He came by here shortly after. He brought his beautiful dog with him,” she said. “She’s part pit bull. Imagine that. I’ve never been particularly fond of the breed—was frightened of them, really—but this dog was so beautiful and precious.”
Kristine was uncertain how to respond. So Joe had paid a visit to her mother. She couldn’t help but wonder why, but then surmised he had probably hoped to see Lori.
“Joe has come home to run his father’s business,” she informed. “I understand he sold a business out-of-state. I’m afraid his father is having health issues.”
Kristine nodded, still unsure why her mother had suddenly come out of her depression. She suspected it might be short-lived, but it was wonderful to see her more like herself.
“Grandma, can I have a cookie?” Devon asked.
“Sure, honey. You’ll find some of your favorites in the cookie jar.”
Devon turned toward Kristine. “Did you bring them home from the bakery?”
“I baked them, silly,” his grandmother said. “Now run along. You can have two. I don’t want you to spoil your dinner.”
Devon beamed with pleasure and with a glance from his grandmother to his aunt, and back, he bolted toward the kitchen.
Kristine watched her mother with cautious optimism. She uttered a quick prayer that her mother would retain this sunny disposition and that she was finally on the mend after losing her husband.
“I’m so glad you’re feeling so much better, Mom. Would you like to follow me into the kitchen and visit with me while I start dinner?”
She waved off the offer. “Oh, honey, you don’t have to cook tonight. Joe brought an entire chicken dinner.” Her eyes twinkled. “What do you want to bet he’s hoping to rekindle his relationship with Lori?” She clasped her hands gleefully. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful? He’s such a nice young man. I always liked him.”
Kristine stared at her mother, uncertain how to respond. Her mother knew that Lori was dating Chad and that the two were apparently serious. Lori had certainly told them as much, but then, she wasn’t the most reliable of sources.
But if Lori and Chad really were serious and heading toward some sort of permanence in their relationship, how was Chad going to feel if Lori suddenly broke up with him? She might break his heart. Kristine sighed. It wouldn’t be the first time her sister had left a grown man in shambles.
Chapter Five
Friday came and went in a flurry of activity. Kristine was relieved when Saturday came, because Sunday followed, and she was desperate for a day off. Sunday’s arrival was always the icing on the cake.
Sunday morning, she managed to wake early for church, and after having attended the early service along with her mother and nephew, she hurried home and claimed the couch.
As she pulled her favorite throw blanket up to her neck, and reached for the television remote, her mother surprised her by sitting down at the end of the sofa.
She was grateful her mother was still doing well, having dressed and readied each day since Thursday. Kristine prayed her improvement would continue and she would soon rejoin her at the bakery. She hesitated to broach the subject, however, and opted to leave it for later. Besides, it appeared her mother had something to tell her.
“Honey,” she began tentatively. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. It’s … important.”
Kristine read the seriousness to her tone and abruptly sat up. “Are you okay, Mom?”
“I’m fine,” she said, smiling reassuringly. “It’s just…”
“Yes?”
She sighed and forced a smile. “Listen, after Joe’s visit the other day… Well, he and I got to talking and later, it really got me to thinking…”
“About?”
“Honey, I’m just going to say it. I think we should sell the business.”
Kristine felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. Sell the family business? Her mother had taken her by complete surprise. Particularly since she had always said she would never sell the business, which represented a legacy for her children. She had always envisioned her grandchildren and their grandchildren working in the bakery that had been in the family for generations.
“Mom… I don’t understand? Why now?”
She smiled and spread her hands. “I feel like a change. I really do. And I think it would be good for you too. You’ve been bogged down by the demands of the bakery for years. Honey, don’t you ever wonder what else is out there—in the world—waiting for you?”
Kristine couldn’t deny the thought had occurred to her, but she couldn’t really imagine parting with the bakery. It was a huge part of her life. It was her life. She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. “Mom, I don’t get it. What brought this about?”
“Talking to Joe, I guess. He sold his business…”
“…And is now running his father’s commercial construction business. It’s not as if he changed his career. He simply made a lateral move,” she said, struggling to retain a calm and cool demeanor. How dare Joe come along and upset the apple cart? Who did he think he was?
“But still…” Her mother gave a dismissive wave. “Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately—Lord knows, I’ve had the time—and I realized, I need a change. I married your father when I was barely nineteen and he was my world. When I lost him, I … lost me.” She reached for Kristine’s hand. “I want more, and I want more for my girls.”
“More?”
“Live your life, Kristine. Your life, for you. Find your own happiness and don’t look to a man to provide it for you.” She drew a shaky breath. “Because if you lose that man, you’ve lost everything.”
“Mom, you have Lori, Devon, and me.”
“Oh, I know that,” she was quick to assure her. “And I love you all to pieces, but you’re all going to eventually move on.”
“Mom, I’m not going anywhere. Obviously, my livelihood is between the four walls of the bakery.”
She smiled softly. “Honey, are you sure? It’s fairly apparent Lori isn’t interested in working there. And you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
She squeezed her hand. “Don’t you see, Kristine? I’m setting you free. This is your chance. If you want something different—to do something different—you have my blessing. We can post a ‘for sale’ sign first thing tomorrow morning.”
“May I think about it? I really need time to think.” She yawned. “Frankly, what I need more right now is a nap.”
Her mother watched her sympathetically. “You’re killing yourself, Kristine. You work far too hard, and owning a business is a twenty-four-seven proposition. Think about that as you make your decision.”
“I will.”
“I love you, honey.”
“I love you too.”
***
Kristine was left stunned by the conversation she’d just had with her mother, but she was simply too exhausted to properly process the implications of that conversation. She needed rest, and then she would attempt to sort it out and make sense of it.
She closed her eyes and promptly drifted off to blissful, dreamless slumber. Not even the sound of the doorbell a couple hours later managed to awaken her.
“Auntie Kristine is sleeping,” Devon told the visitor, whom he had just allowed into the house.
“Devon, who’s at the door?” his grandmother called out.
“I don’t know, but he’s inside now.”
Ruth came running out of the kitchen, a dishrag in her hand and an alarmed expression on her face. “Oh, hello, Joe,” she said with relief, as she gave Devon a quick, chagrined glance. “Devon, you know you’re not supposed to open the door to strangers.”
“Sorry, Grandma.”
She turned her attention to Joe. “How are you, Joe?”
“Good, good,” he said. “I just thought I’d stop by and…”
“See Lori,” she finished for him, and then shook her head regretfully. “I’m afraid she isn’t here.” She perked up. “I expect her home around six. Would you like me to call her for you? Or, I could give you her number.”
“Actually, I’ve come to talk to Krissy,” he said.
“Krissy?” Devon said, breaking into laughter. “Do you mean Auntie Kristine?”
The Icing on the Cake Page 4