The Accidental Kiss

by Heatherly Bell

  She’d never once discouraged him from being a firefighter. It was as if she understood there was no other way for him. She’d always offered him the unconditional love and support a friend would do. What would happen if years from now they were married, and she blamed him for never getting to Paris? Whoa. Where the hell had that come from? Marriage? He swallowed hard and tugged at his collar.

  But the obvious and rather pathetic truth was that for the first time in his life he was far more invested in a relationship than he’d ever been before. He wanted her to stay despite the fact that might not be the best thing for her. Either he was going to let her go, or he was going to tie her down. Neither were acceptable options.

  She should have everything she wanted and had worked for. Which meant she’d leave, and he’d stay. Stagnant. Steady as always. Fantastic. He sounded like a clock, or a metronome. But the fact was he wasn’t going to be able to pick and leave for Paris or anywhere else anytime soon. Or ever. And face it, Lake Tahoe was gorgeous, but it wasn’t the culinary hub of the world.

  “See you later.” Dylan stood and pulled his wallet out, dropping several bills on the table. “Got to get to work.”

  “I’m not on till Sunday,” Marco said. “See you then.”

  Dylan left Juan’s, the sounds of laughter and good times fading into the background behind him.

  29

  “You only live once. Lick the bowl.” ~ Charley Young

  Milly spent all of Saturday morning driving Charley out of her mind asking how she should tell Henry the truth. In what tone of voice. Should she ask for forgiveness or not? How offended should she be if he asked for a paternity test? Should she allow him to be in the delivery room if he wanted to be or should she ask for privacy? Should she let him have some say in naming the baby or just assume he’d pick a horrible name and not give him the choice?

  In the end, the final plan was that when Henry showed up and asked for Milly, Charley would simply lead him up the apartment stairs. She’d open the door, step aside, and Milly would be waiting for him on the couch, ready to do the rest.

  Word was all over the neighborhood that Sunrise Bakery now offered lunch specials, and the entire fire department showed up to order. About half of the police department followed suit. Nothing like the residents of Miracle Bay supporting a new venture.

  They’d developed a system where Charley would serve and Naomi would ring up. Charley wasn’t sure she liked it as it had too much of a fast food air to it, but for now it would have to do.

  “I will try one, my dear,” Padre Suarez said. “In addition to my raspberry crème-filled Danish. You pick for me.”

  She served him the smoked salmon. “Let me know how you like it.”

  Henry was next. Look at that, he’d actually shown up. Smoked salmon. Charley was going to make more of them next time.

  “Hey, did you tell Milly I dropped by?”

  “Yes, I did, and she said to take you upstairs to her apartment.”

  Henry quirked a brow. “She’s upstairs right now?”

  “That special project I told you about? She’s been working on that here. Upstairs.”

  “I see.”

  He so did not see. Henry had no idea how his life would change in a matter of—Charley glanced at the wall clock—ten, nine, eight, seven.... His life would be turned upside down and sideways and backward and inside out. The poor dude would probably need some antacids when all was said and done though certainly not because of her food.

  “Naomi, I’m taking a quick break and I’ll be right back.” Charley took off her apron and crooked a finger toward Henry.

  As he followed her up the creaky steps to the apartment, Charley wondered if she should tell him a little something to maybe ease the shock a little bit. Maybe if she simply told him that Milly had been on doctor-ordered bed rest that would give him a heads-up. Or maybe not.

  Right before she opened the door, Charley turned to Henry. “Milly’s had a rough time lately. I…just wanted you to know that. So, whatever she says or does, just go easy on her, okay?”

  “I-I don’t understand.”

  “You will. Everybody makes mistakes.” She took a breath. “And everyone deserves a second chance.”

  “Are we talking about the project she’s working on?”

  “Sort of.” Charley opened the door, and waved him in.

  Milly sat on the couch, Rufus at her feet. Her long hair sat in a neat and tidy bun. Blue dangly earrings and a matching necklace. She wore her stretchy yoga pants and a blue maternity top. But her best accessory was the saintly and calm Madonna and child look on her face. And yes, it was true, pregnant women glowed.

  Sometimes.

  “Hi, Henry,” Milly said.

  Charley, still standing in the hallway, shut the door.

  “My work here is done,” she said to no one. “Now back to the bakery.”

  Charley gave Henry and Milly their privacy for as long as possible. She’d been busy in the shop, but she’d never seen Henry leave so she assumed he was still with Milly hashing it out. She gave him props for not running away the moment he’d seen her baby bump. Charley assumed her own father had run when he’d heard Maggie was pregnant. At least, that’s the implication she’d been given. Unless he’d never known about Charley at all.

  Maggie had always said: “We don’t need him.”

  But sometimes, even though she’d been afraid to tell Maggie, Charley had needed him. When Charley wanted to know who she could take to a father and daughter event at school, Maggie said she’d cross-dress if that would make Charley happy. She’d laughed, although she hadn’t understood the joke. Then Maggie laughed too, and Charley knew. She’d never have a father because Maggie had made the choice for her. She didn’t want him around, whoever he’d been.

  Charley pressed her ear up against the door to Milly’s apartment and heard soft voices, so she went back to her apartment and cleaned, otherwise known as stalling. Because, c’mon! She wanted to know how Henry had taken the news. She was bored with all this waiting and cleaning two seconds after she started.

  Her phone finally pinged. Milly.

  “Hey, how’d it go? Is he still there?”

  “No, he left two hours ago. Where are you?”

  “Next door giving you privacy!”

  Hanging up, Charley crossed the hallway and let herself in. “What happened? Tell me everything!”

  Milly smiled. “He was so understanding. I mean, after the initial shock. He stared off into space and needed a drink of water but after that he started talking and everything.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Well, first he simply stared at me for several seconds which felt like hours. My big belly. Then my face. Then my big belly.”

  Charley nodded. “Putting it all together. Processing.”

  “Exactly. All I had to do was nod and say, ‘Yes, it’s your baby.’ And then he plopped down on the couch and nearly sat on Rufus.”

  “Poor dude.”

  “I know. But after all the initial awkward stuff he wanted to know how I’ve been. I told him about the bed rest. He wants to be in the delivery room.”

  “Are you going to let him?”

  “I think so.” She cocked her head to the side. “But jury’s still out.”

  “So, what happens now?”

  “He goes back to San Diego.”

  “That’s it?”

  “He’s going to ask for some time off.”

  “Did he, you know…” Charley’s voice drifted, waiting for Milly to fill in.

  “Ask me to marry him?”

  “Yes, that’s exactly where I was going. Did he ask you?”

  “No,” she said. “And I’m glad he didn’t. It would have been too much for one day.”

  Charley couldn’t argue with that. But now Milly would have support. The bean would have two parents.

  Why did she feel so sad? “Guess you won’t be needing me anymore.”

  “Oh, stop it. You
weren’t excited about this anyway. Diapers? Formula? Middle of the night feedings? Crying? Screaming? Tantrums?”

  “You’re describing a typical night working for the head chef.”

  Milly cocked her head. “And why do you put up with that, again?”

  “Because I don’t have my own bistro. Yet.” She took a deep breath. “I had a chance to go to Paris this September.”

  Milly gasped. “What you mean had? You turned it down?”

  “It was through Sean’s connections. And I don’t think he likes me very much right now. Plus, I don’t like him.”

  “I thought he was a friend.”

  Charley shook her head. “Fair weather friend. He told Dylan about Paris before I had a chance to tell him. Also, he told him we’d slept together. I never told Dylan that.”

  “Lord of the Rings! What an ass. But what about Paris? Don’t you want to go?”

  “Well, now that you’ve got Henry I could go.”

  “You could. And I don’t want to stop you.”

  “Funny, that’s what Dylan said.”

  “A good friend wants the best for you.”

  “And I always thought that was Paris. The world. That was my dream, right along with having my own bistro. But the real dream was having anything that was mine. I never felt like the bakery was ever mine. It was yours, and I went off to get something of my own. I never even thought you’d want my input or want to make a change. I should have asked but you’ve already given me so much.”

  “Funny, because I got tired of being in charge. Mama left you half the bakery for a reason. She saw what you loved and she wanted you to have a piece of that. The only real thing she could give you.”

  The thought that Coral had known what Charley needed, a place to work and cook, a place to find herself, was more than she’d ever expected. But she’d been lucky enough to have Coral in her life for a short time and would have never thought to ask for anything more. Too greedy.

  Huh. Maybe she was Coral’s daughter after all. “I’m coming in for a hug.”

  Milly rolled her eyes. “Alright, get it over with already.”

  This time Milly hugged back.

  30

  “You touch the bump, I punch the throat.” ~ Maternity T-shirt

  The next morning, the Miracle Sunday rush passed, with everyone asking whether Charley planned on offering the lunch menu at the same “buy one, second half off” price. But she refused to discount her quality ingredient paninis. Coral would probably agree. For one thing, Charley couldn’t keep up with the demand. But most importantly, offering a Panini half off meant that in order to break even she’d have to use less expensive ingredients and sacrifice quality.

  And Charley Young did not sacrifice quality.

  “I’ll come up with a special Miracle Sunday panini. That’s the best I can do.” Charley explained to Padre Suarez, who’d now become a huge fan of the smoked salmon Panini.

  Creature of habit that man.

  “Isn’t Milly due any day now?” Mrs. Luna asked.

  “That’s right. But you know her. She’s determined to make it to her due date.”

  “The baby will have something to say about that,” said Mrs. Perez.

  Lunch rush passed in a flash, Charley barely aware of the fact that the line snaked out the door this time.

  Sean had the gall to show up again. “I’m leaving early. Got a few things to settle before I head to Paris. Thought I’d say goodbye.”

  “Goodbye.”

  “That’s it?” Sean made a motion as though she’d greatly wounded him, clutching at his chest.

  “What do you want from me?” She drizzled olive oil on the plate, and added an extra sprig of garnish, hoping Sean would choke on it.

  “How about a little bit of gratitude for one.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I did you a favor. Two people who are together shouldn’t keep each other from their dreams. Anyway, you’re welcome.”

  “I didn’t say thank you.”

  “You didn’t have to.” He shoved hands in his pockets, not a care in the world as he waited to stuff his blowhole.

  She pictured shoving the entire panini down his throat, while everyone in the shop watched. Probably not good for business, and Coral had raised her to be a better person than that. Tried to, anyway. She handed his plate over to him without comment, and her best attempt at a look that could physically kill someone. It made her right eye twitch.

  “Hope to see you in Paris if you’ve got any sense left at all.” He paid and saluted her. “Call me when you change your mind, and all’s forgiven. No hard feelings. Hannigan out.”

  Charley removed her plastic gloves after she and Naomi had taken care of the last lunch customer. “I’m going to check on Milly and feed her lunch.”

  Charley found Milly in the kitchen, clinging to the edge of the counter so tightly that her fingers seemed to be losing circulation.

  “What’s up? Another cramp?”

  Milly didn’t speak, apparently so involved with that counter edge that it seemed to be taking all of her concentration.

  A moment later, she turned to Charley and gave her a smile through what appeared to be gritted teeth. “I’m good.”

  “You don’t look so good.”

  “Speak for yourself. I’m really rocking this pregnancy thing, I think we can all agree.” She gripped the counter edge again and made a sound a bit like a wolf howling.

  “It looks like it’s time to go to the hospital.” Charley ran into the bedroom and grabbed the overnight bag.

  They’d rehearsed this a couple of times, and Charley knew what to do. Call the doctor, grab the bag. Or grab the bag, call the doctor? Go get the car and get Milly to the hospital. This all had to be done with the utmost swiftness, as the baby might come quickly considering Milly’s incompetence.

  Charley grabbed her phone. “Calling the doctor.”

  “No!” Milly cried out. “I can’t have my baby on Miracle Sunday.”

  “Why not?”

  “Everyone’s going to call her a miracle baby. That’s too high of a standard for anyone, even my baby.”

  “Sorry. You don’t get to choose the day she’s born.”

  “I’m going to cross my legs. Maybe if I don’t move. Just one more day is all I’m asking. I can do this.”

  Charley dialed the doctor anyway, and the woman told her to get Milly over to San Francisco General immediately.

  “We have to go now.”

  “I’m not ready. I have to change into my ‘go to the hospital clothes.’ It’s such an ow, holy shitake mushroom, cute outfit I don’t want to, son of a biscuit, waste it.”

  She was gasping now. Rufus meowed loudly, apparently having sympathy pains, and walked in circles around the couch.

  “No time to change. The baby could be here any minute. Do you want me to call 911?” Dylan, or another paramedic from the station, would deliver the baby. Not Charley. “I can’t deliver the baby. We made a deal, remember?”

  “Yeah, I remember.” Milly lay on the bed. “But don’t worry, because I don’t think I’m going to do this. I changed my mind.”

  “About what?”

  She shook her head, hair plastered to her perspiring forehead. “Having a baby. You were right. It’s going to be hard.”

  “Too late!”

  “Maybe if I’m really super still and quiet, she won’t come out.”

  “No!” Charley pulled on Milly’s elbow and tried to lift her, but she weighed as much as an orca. Not that she would ever say that to Milly. “Get up.”

  Not listening, Milly did something terrifying. She started removing her clothes.

  “W-what are you doing?” Charley screamed at her. “You don’t have time to change.”

  “I’m hot,” she said and removed her bathrobe.

  Her shorts went next. It was as if she were getting ready for Charley to catch the baby. Which was not happening in a gazillion years. Charley wanted to kiss Dyla
n for having her put 911 on speed dial.

  “I’m afraid we don’t have time to get to the hospital and my sister is in labor,” she told the 911 operator.

  The woman advised she’d send help, then said she’d stay on the line until they arrived. “Do you see the baby’s head crowning?”

  “Um,” Charley said. “I hope not. Remind me what that means?”

  Milly rose up on her elbows and gave Charley a wild-eyed look. “My water broke!”

  The little clothes she still wore were soaked. So were the bed’s sheets.

  “Her water broke! Help us!” Charley didn’t know much, but she did know that this was very, very bad.

  “Go find some clean towels,” the operator advised. “And make sure your door is unlocked so they can come right in. They’re already on their way.”

  Charley did both those things then rushed back to Milly, still carrying the phone in one hand to keep her connection to a human being who wasn’t behaving like a crazy person. Milly now appeared to be in a type of trance, half moaning and half dozing as if this might be a good time to catch a nap.

  “Now you’ve done it! We’re not getting to the hospital on time. Thanks a lot!”

  Milly didn’t seem to hear. She made a little mewl type sound. It sent Rufus skittering back into the room where he hissed at Charley.

  “I do not have time for you!” Charley told him.

  “How is she doing?” the operator asked.

  “She seems to be napping,” Charley said, “and moaning. What do I do? Ma’am, listen. I really can’t deliver this baby. I just can’t. You don’t know me, so you’re going to have to trust me on this.”

  “You’ll be fine,” the woman’s calm voice assured her. “Just breathe. And then tell her to breathe.”

  “When will they get here?”

  “Soon. How is the mother doing now?”

  Trying to get Milly’s attention, she poked her shoulder and got right up in her face. “Are you okay?”