by Lauren Boyd
Eric laughed.
“I’m turning in early,” Jess told him. “I’m wiped out from the expo.”
Cecilia put her hand on her fiancé’s back. “I’m retiring early as well. Tomorrow is my bridal shower, remember?”
“That’s right. I guess I’m on my own tonight.” He paused. “Maybe I’ll stop by the hotel’s jazz bar before I leave.”
Todd returned and laid a small folder on the table. “I’ll take this whenever you’re ready.”">“Why wouldn’t it be?”reo
Eric looked inside. “We each owe fifty bucks.”
As Kate opened her purse, she caught sight of Jess’s hand under the table. She’s holding two twenties. Kate met her friend’s gaze.
You win, Jess mouthed.
Kate smiled…and took the money.
* * * *
Cecilia kissed Eric. “Call me later,” she told him.
“Will do.”
She stepped into the taxi, and Eric closed the door behind her. He tapped the roof, and the driver pulled away. Immediately, Kate felt her blood pressure returning to normal.
Jess yawned. “I’m going back to the room to call Mark and hit the hay. Thanks again for meeting us, Eric.”
“My pleasure.” They exchanged a hug.
Jess looked at Kate. “Hope you enjoyed your dinner.”
“It was the best ten dollar meal I’ve ever eaten.”
“Hussy.”
Kate burst out laughing as Jess walked toward the revolving doors of Marquise. Before entering, she glanced over her shoulder. “Enjoy your carriage ride.”
“If you want to come with me, you can pay for that, too!”
Jess flipped her off and entered the hotel.
Still laughing, Kate turned to Eric. He appeared confused. “What was that about?” he asked.
You’d be the last person on earth to appreciate it—no wait, that’d be Cecilia. Kate shook her head. “Nothing.” She took a deep breath to regain her composure. “So you’re heading back inside to the jazz bar?”
“Actually, I was hoping to tag along with you.”
“Why?” Kate blurted out.
“I’d like to talk. You and I didn’t talk much at dinner.”
I’d rather you didn’t come. Kate shrugged. “Whatever you want to do.” Maybe you’ll take a hint.
“Great, thanks.”
Kate suppressed a frown. Clearly, my hint was too subtle.
“How will you know which carriage is yours in Central Park?” Eric asked.
“The reservation office told the concierge to have me meet the carriage at West 59th Street and 7th Avenue.” Kate glanced up at a nearby street sign. “I’ve just got to figure out where that is.”
“I know exactly where it is,” Eric smiled proudly.
Kate couldn’t help but return his smile. “By all means, lead the way.”
Eric took them around the corner and down a sidewalk. On the left, Kate could see inside The Pronged Fork through the very glass wall she’d stared out earlier.
“There’s the carriage,” Eric said.
She looked across the street and saw a horse-drawn carriage at the perimeter of the park. Excitement filled her anew. This is going to be great, even if Eric is with me.
They dashed over to the driver. “I’m Kate Sullivan,” she told him. “I have a nine o’clock reservation.”
The man nodded a greeting. “I’m Joe. Hop in, and we’ll get going.”
Eric extended his hand to Kate. “I’m sure climbing into a carriage while wearing heels is a tricky feat, no pun intended.”
Kate smiled graciously and accepted his hand gaze shot to reo . She stepped up into the carriage and sat down, followed by Eric.
Joe clicked his tongue. “Giddy-up, Sugar!”
“Your horse’s name is Sugar?” Kate asked.
“Sure is. You like it?”
“I own a bakery, so yes, I like it.”
Joe chuckled. “She’s a good horse.”
They entered the park, and Kate looked out her side of the carriage. Light shined from lampposts on either side of the path, illuminating the way. People sat on benches, talking or using technological devices. Bikers and runners shared the path with their carriage. People lounged in the grass, listening to music or eating dinner.
Kate shook her head in awe. “I can’t believe all of these people are out this time of night.”
“New York is the city that never sleeps.”
“I believe it.”
The carriage made a right-hand turn, and a pond came into view. It shimmered with the reflections of not only more lampposts, but also the brightly-illuminated buildings skirting the edge of the park. Joe glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll be crossing Gapstow Bridge shortly.”
A breeze started to blow, making the brisk night even cooler. Kate shivered.
“You cold?” Eric asked.
“Sort of.”
“You want my coat?”
“You might get cold.”
“I’ll be fine.” Without giving Kate time to respond, Eric slipped off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Thanks,” she said softly. She took hold of the lapels and closed the coat around her. As chivalrous as ever.
They rode in silence for a few minutes before Eric spoke again. “I need to tell you something.”
She met his gaze. “You’re already cold?”
“No. I need to tell you the real reason I crashed your carriage ride tonight.”
The tone of Eric’s voice made Kate nervous. “Is everything alright?”
“Not really. I have a confession to make.” He paused. “I think it’ll be easiest if I just put it out there.”
“Okay.”
“I fell in love with you during our senior year of high school.”
Kate blinked. “What?”
“I was still in love with you the summer I came back to Hillsborough, the summer after my freshman year of college.”
He’s probably just messing around. “Are you joking?”
“No.” The stoic expression on his face affirmed his words.
Kate didn’t speak, didn’t move, didn’t breathe. She tried to assimilate his words, tried to comprehend what he’d said, but couldn’t. She felt nothing, knew nothing. His revelation had thrust her into a void, leaving her completely and utterly…numb.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kate felt herself emerging from the void with a response: anger. It filled every square inch of her body—and then, it erupted. “How could you not tell me at the time?” she yelled. “Didn’t you think it was a big deal?”
“I didn’t think you felt the same way, so I knew if I told you, I risked ruining our friendship.”
“You should’ve told me! I—” Kate caught herself. How can I tell him I loved him…love him? He’s marrying on the outside of the bag. "> Sullivan another woman. “I can’t believe this.” She cursed the notion that she and Eric had missed out on what might’ve been. If one of us had spoken up, we could be dating right now. We could be engaged right now. Her stomach twisted. We could be married right now.
“I’m sorry to say it gets worse.”
Kate stared at Eric in disbelief. How could this get any worse?
“The night I came to Sullivan’s to ask you to make the groom’s cake red…” He exhaled sharply. “I realized that night I still have feelings for you.”
Tell him! “Eric—”
“I know our friendship has always been a flirty one,” he went on. “However, because of my unresolved feelings for you, I’m ashamed to admit I’ve been flirting with you even more these days than I normally would.”
“It’s fine. Eric—”
“I haven’t been acting like the engaged man I am, and I owe you an apology for that.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do. The way I’ve treated you and talked to you over the last few months has been inappropriate and unfair, both to you and Cecilia—including pretending to
put a wedding ring on your finger at the pre-rehearsal.” He sighed. “I got caught up in the moment…but that’s no excuse.”
“It’s okay,” Kate said quietly. “I got caught up in the moment, too.”
“While I’ve been aware of my feelings for you for months, I’ve only recently come to this realization about my behavior.” Eric paused. “I hope you’ve noticed a difference in the way I’ve been treating you lately.”
That’s why he hasn’t been saying, Hey, you, or making playful remarks. “Yes, I’ve noticed. Look, the way you feel about me—”
“I know it makes you uncomfortable, and I apologize—but you don’t have to worry. I’m as committed as ever to my relationship with Cecilia. She and I grow closer every day; I want it to work with her. My feelings for you will fade with time…hopefully sooner rather than later.”
No. Sadness and disappointment rushed in and crushed Kate, leaving her barely able to breathe.
Eric’s eyes bore into hers. “I need you to say something. Would you please say something?
I love you…but it doesn’t matter. You chose Cecilia.
“Kate?”
She turned her head away, and tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.
“Say something better than that.”
You picked the wrong woman. “I wish you nothing but the best.”
She felt Eric’s hand on her back. “Thanks. That means a lot.”
As they continued through the park in silence, turmoil started to rage within Kate. He still has feelings for me. Does that mean it’s not too late for us? If I told him I love him, would he change his mind about marrying Cecilia? Would he give us a chance?
“Were there any fights at the bridal expo today?”
With Eric’s words, Kate felt the final door of opportunity slam in her face. “No, there weren’t.” She continued to stare out gaze shot to reo her side of the carriage, unseeing. Several tears escaped their confines, and she subtly pushed them away.
“I’m surprised,” Eric commented. “I would’ve thought at least one woman would’ve started a fight over a dress.”
“There did come a point where I wanted to fight the woman who kept bidding against me.”
“Wait, you were bidding?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Kate snapped her head around and met Eric’s gaze with narrowed eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant, why were you bidding on a wedding dress when you’re not engaged?”
“It was the one.”
“Did you win it?”
Kate welcomed the reason to smile. “Yes, I did. Once the other bidder recognized I would stop at nothing to win that dress, she gave up.”
“Sounds about right.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve always been a woman who gets what she wants.”
Yet, ironically, I’ve lost the one thing I want most.
The carriage came to a halt. “We’re back,” Joe announced. Kate looked around and realized they were indeed back where they’d started. She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet.
“I’ll pay for hal
Chapter Twelve
Thursday, May 31
Kate was unwrapping the thawed cakes that would compose the tiers of Cecilia and Eric’s wedding cake when she heard the front door of the bakery being unlocked. A few moments later, Jess pushed through the swinging door. “Morning.”
“Morning, Jess.”
“How are things going?”
“Great. The cakes were thawed when I got here, and the buttercream frosting is coming to room temperature now, so we’re on schedule.”
“That’s music to my ears.” Jess started to gather cake decorating equipment and tools from around the kitchen and assemble them on the work table.
Kate reached for another cake. “I haven’t turned on the coffee machine yet because, oddly enough, I haven’t felt the need for caffeine.”
“Probably has to do with all the adrenaline pumping through your system right now.”
Kate laughed. “Probably so.”
Jess moved the boxes of fondant flowers from the counter to the work table. “Can you believe it’s time to decorate their wedding cake?”
“No. It seemed like this day would never come. Now that it’s finally here, it’s surreal. I mean, this is it.”
“This is it. Are you ready?”
Kate scanned the surface of the work table. It was barely visible for unwrapped cakes, bags of frosting, equipment, and boxes of decorations. A smile crept across her face. “Hell, yeah, I’m ready.”
* * * *
Pale yellow buttercream frosting flowed through Kate’s round decorating tip and onto the top tier of Cecilia and Eric’s wedding cake. She maintained even pressure on the pastry bag as she piped the intricate lacework. Once finished, shcan remain fri
Chapter Thirteen
Friday, June 1
Kate and Jess had almost finished cleaning up the previous day’s mess in the kitchen when Jess’s phone rang. She hurried to her purse and pulled it out. “Hey, Mark. Okay, I’ll be right there.” She turned to Kate. “Mark’s here. I’ll go let him in.”
While Jess went to open the front door of the bakery, Kate pulled the stopper from the sink so the dishwater could drain. She wrung out the rag and started wiping down the work table.
“Hey, Kate.”
She looked over at the kitchen door. “Morning, Mark.”
Jess came in behind him. “Mark, would you move the van from the front parking lot to the back?”
“Sure thing.”
Jess tossed him the keys. “Be sure to leave the air conditioning running when you get out. We need the van cool for the cakes.”
“You got it.”
She turned to Kate. “You need any more help cleaning up?”
“Nope, we’re done.”
“Great.” Jess opened the back door. “I’ll watch for Mark.”
Kate filled her thermos with coffee for the road. As she twisted on the lid, she heard the van approaching the back door. She followed Jess outside to join Mark—and sighed in exasperation. “It’s only eight-thirty in the morning, and it’s already humid.”
“Why does it matter if it’s humid?” Mark asked.
“Humidity could cause condensation to form on the cakes because they’re cool from being inside the bakery.”
Mark stared blankly at her.
“It could ruin the decorations.”
“Gotcha.”
Kate wiped beads of sweat from her forehead. Hope our luck isn’t starting to change.
“The van will be cool shortly,” Mark told them. “Is there anything I can load in the meantime?”
“You can grab our suitcases,” Jess said. “They’re inside by the back door.”
“Okay.”
“Is the bakery set for the weekend?” Kate asked Jess.
“Yep. I flipped the sign on the front door to ‘">He tossed up his hands in a surrendering motion.htpiece ofClosed’ and changed the outgoing voicemail message to say we’re closed for the weekend and will reopen Monday morning at nine.”
“Great, thank you.”
“The bags are in, and the van is cool,” Mark announced.
“Let’s load the cake boxes,” Kate instructed. “If you guys will bring them out, I’ll get in the back of the van and position them.”
“You got it,” Jess replied.
“Don’t forget to bring out the groom’s cake last, since we’re going to the Wynnfield Inn first.”
“Will do.”
Kate opened the rear doors of the van and climbed inside. Moments later, Jess and Mark emerged from the bakery carrying the largest box. They set it on the floorboard, and Kate pushed it toward the front. “One down.”
When Jess and Mark brought out the next box, Kate met Mark’s gaze. “Thanks in advance for your help this weekend.”
�
�No problem. I’m glad I’m able to help y’all and still be Eric’s groomsman.” He and Jess went back inside and returned with a third box, which Kate positioned on the floorboard.
“Speaking of Eric,” Kate said, forcing a casual note to her voice. “Have you talked to him lately?”
“Yeah, he called me a few days ago to make sure I knew the schedule for the weekend.”
“Did he sound excited?”
“Not really.”
Kate’s brows flinched. That seems strange.
“Maybe he’s nervous,” Jess offered. “Don’t most guys get nervous about their wedding?”
“Not all guys,” Mark replied. “I’m not nervous about marrying you.”
“Aww.” Jess planted a kiss on his lips. “I think you’re just trying to get out of carrying more boxes.”
“Me?” he gasped in mock surprise. “Never!”
Jess laughed and took his hand. “Come on. Let’s get back in there.”
While loading the rest of the boxes, Kate’s mind was on Eric. He’s getting married tomorrow, so why isn’t he more excited? Is he indeed nervous, or is there more to it? Has something happened between him and Cecilia?
“That’s everything, Kate.”
She snapped her attention to Jess.
“The cakes, the repair kits, the marzipan fish—it’s all in the van. I’ve got your workbag and thermos, too.”
“Thanks.” I have to get Eric out of my head. I’m not going to call him or look for him at the Wynnfield Estate to ask him what’s going on, so there’s no need to waste another second thinking about him. Determined to stay focused on the task at hand, Kate forced all thoughts of Eric Wagner from her mind. “Time to hit the road,” she said.
Jess and Mark hopped into the van while Kate closed the rear doors. She took her seat behind the wheel, and they started their 211-mile escort of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
* * * *
Kate pulled up to the gatehouse and rolled her window down. “May I help you?” the guard asked.
“We’re here for the Prescott-Wagner wedding,” Kate told him.
“Of course spending Spring Break with S.” He handed her a stack of pamphlets. “Here’s a map of the estate and information about the establishments throughout the property. Accommodations are at the Wynnfield Inn, and the wedding is at the Wynnfield House tomorrow.”