by Elsie Davis
“Will do.” Diana turned to see who had come into the bakery.
“Good morning, Brandon. I’ve got your order ready,” Amanda greeted the young officer.
“Good morning, Amanda.” He stomped his snowy boots on the welcome mat.
“I’m just heading out, but Diana can take care of you.” Amanda turned back to Diana. “That’s the order under the counter in the white bag. I’ve already totaled it up and deducted for the police department’s discount.”
“Gotcha.” Diana waved the bag in the air to show she’d located it.
Amanda zipped up her coat, put on her cable knit hat, and wrapped her scarf around her neck to ward off the cold. She walked the short distance to Sally’s and pushed open the front door, the bell jingling above her head, offering her a warm welcome.
She glanced around the diner, taking note of several familiar faces. Her gaze froze when it landed on Kevin and a strikingly beautiful woman sitting in the corner booth. The woman’s hand lay across his arm as they leaned forward to speak to each other, the gesture all too familiar and lover-like.
Amanda shook her head, trying to fathom what she was seeing. It was like déjà vu. Her breath caught in her throat. She needed to leave. If she stayed, he was sure to spot her, and that was the last thing she wanted to happen. She’d been a fool to let her fancy take a whimsical turn and think he cared more than he did.
No wonder he wanted a secret date.
How about no date? Amanda turned and fled from Sally’s, unwilling to let Kevin see her and try to come up with some lame explanation. In no time at all, she was back at the bakery, safe from prying eyes.
All except Diana’s, that is. The young woman looked up at her and frowned, her gaze dropping to Amanda’s empty hands.
“I thought you went for food?” Diana asked hesitantly, as if sensing something was wrong.
Except Amanda didn’t want to talk about it. “There was a really long line, and I was worried you’d get more business than you can handle,” she made up the first excuse that came to mind.
“That’s fine. Your pastries are far better in my book anyway.” Diana had the good graces not to call her out on the lie, but they both knew the bakery was never that busy anymore.
“Thanks. I’m sorry.” Amanda shrugged and handed Diana her money back. “My treat next time.”
“You’re on.” Diana smiled, making her way over to the case and picking out a pastry for breakfast.
Amanda spent the rest of the morning baking and prepping the next day’s pastries. Each time she picked up the knife, she forced herself to focus on what she was doing, not wanting her anger at Kevin to cost her a finger. He wasn’t worth it.
Each time she tossed the dough onto the counter, the flour sprayed up, dusting her blouse and face. Tears threatened to escape, but she brushed them away with her forearm before they could spill over. She forced herself to think of something positive. Like winning the contest. Today was the cutoff for the finalist’s selection, and the judges would soon start the taste testing part of the contest.
Try as she might, her thoughts drifted back to Kevin and the gorgeous woman. She slammed the oven door closed, retreated to her office and closed the door. Amanda knew exactly what she needed to do. She pulled out her phone and called Kevin, timing it so that he should be leaving the high school and heading to pick up the girls. It would keep the conversation short. Not sweet, but short.
No answer. Drat. Amanda hung up the phone. A text was the next best thing.
Amanda: “I changed my mind about tonight. And with regards to your secret relationship suggestion, I’ve changed my mind and I’ll pass.
A text breakup may not be the classiest thing to do, but perhaps this was the easiest. And considering the situation, it was more than acceptable. An incoming text notification alerted her to his quick response, something she hadn’t expected.
Kevin: “I agree. About tonight and in the future. You deserve more than a secret status, something I can’t give you. Sorry.”
Darn right you can’t give me what I need, because you’re too busy entertaining other women. Good riddance.
Although deep down a part of her was hurt by the fact he hadn’t even tried to change her mind, it was the right ending to a bad situation.
Chapter Seventeen
With each day that passed, the announcement of the contest winner drew closer, and the ache in Amanda’s stomach intensified. It was one thing to be positive and excited about the possibility of winning, quite another now that the anticipated moment was days away. So much was riding on the outcome.
Amanda loved the bakery and prayed she could save it, but the bank had been clear. There would be no more extensions for her to catch up her payments. And without the online advertising campaign, there was nothing she could do to make the amount of money necessary to stall foreclosure. And even if she could, it would only delay the closing, not prevent it. The prize of the ad campaign would be a proactive way to increase business by mail. After having done extensive research, she was confident she could make it work, but everything hinged on her winning.
Amanda set the timer on a batch of old-fashioned baked donuts. She sipped a cup of coffee, her thoughts drifting to Kevin and the girls. As much as she hated to admit it, she missed spending time with all of them, the night of the twin’s birthday a reminder of what it felt like to have a family. It was only now she also admitted the reason she’d agreed to his insane proposal. She’d secretly been hoping it would grow into more. Her silly heart never stood a chance when it came to Kevin and she’d fallen for him even when she didn’t want to. It was the only reason she would have agreed to the arrangement in the first place.
Unfortunately, Kevin didn’t have the same problem. He was too busy playing games with people’s hearts, all in the name of honoring the agreement with his wife. Amanda understood the love he had for the girls and the lengths he would go to keep them out of the fray with his ex, after all, it was one of the things she loved about him. Correction. Liked.
But that’s where she drew the line. The last thing Amanda needed, was to become one the casualties in his strange arrangement with Victoria.
The door opened, the bell jingling to announce a customer. She looked up, surprised to see Lacy and Macy charging through the door, a couple of friends in tow, and a few adults trailing not far behind them.
“Hey, Miss Amanda. We came to see you. You promised to help us with Daddy’s cake. He’s got an after-school meeting, so this is the perfect time. We want to keep it a surprise. These are some of our new friends. They wanted to come and get some of your pastries.” Macy beamed; her eyes lit with excitement.
Lacy made her way around the counter, followed by her sister.
“It’s great to see you, girls. I was just thinking about you.” Amanda leaned down to give each one of them a hug, her heart overflowing with joy to see them. She smiled at the children who’d come in with the twins, recognizing each one of them.
“Why don’t you come over anymore?” Lacy asked the dreaded question.
“Remember, I told you from the start, your dad and I are just friends. Friends don’t see each other all the time.” She shrugged, willing them to understand. Especially since, as far as she was concerned, Kevin wasn’t precisely the kind of guy she wanted for a friend anymore. Their values were completely different when it came to relationships, something she would never concede on if she ever found herself wanting to date again, which she didn’t.
Most girls dreamed of walking down the church aisle for their special wedding day with a man she loved. Amanda wasn’t any different, she’d just never been lucky enough to meet the kind of man who instilled that kind of devotion, and she was tired of trying and failing. Kevin had tripped her up a bit, but now that she knew his true colors, Amanda’s heart armor was firmly back in place.
“I see. Are we friends?” Macy asked.
Amanda smiled. “Of course, I’ll always be your friend.”
> “Then you can come and see us once in a while. And then you can come and see Daddy once in a while. Then we would see you twice as often. Problem solved.” The twins high fived each other, laughing at Macy’s line of reasoning to get what they wanted.
Amanda reached out to hug them both close again. Now that they were on the same team, she couldn’t get enough of them, making her resent Kevin that much more. It wasn’t fair that he had made her start to wish for things she’d shut out of her life. “I’ll see what I can do. You’re always welcome to visit me here.” That is if she could keep the place open.
“These are our friends, Claire and Lori, and their moms.” Lacy pointed to everyone by way of introduction.
“Yes, I know the girls and Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Jennings. They are regulars here at the bakery. It’s nice to see you all again.” Amanda smiled at the two women she’d gone to school with. Both happily married with children. Something Amanda had not managed to figure out how to do.
“Nice to see you, too. The twins begged us to bring them here so you could help them with this cake for their dad. It sounds as though no other cake in the world would do.” They all laughed, but not the kids. They looked on as if the grownups had lost their minds.
“You know how kids can be once they get their minds set on something. I’d love to help them. Can I get you some coffee, and chocolate for the girls? I’ve got freshly baked pastries you might enjoy while you wait, compliments of the house.” Amanda moved behind the counter as she spoke, grabbing four mugs and plates.
“We are always more than willing to pay. Your treats are worth every penny. Take your time, we’re in no hurry,” Barbara said, stepping up to the register. “That bakery in Glen Haven has nothing on you. Are the contest results coming out soon? We’re rooting for you to win.”
“Oh, you heard about that. Yes, the results should be announced on Sunday.”
“Who hasn’t heard about it? The silent-chef auction and the Anything Chocolate contest have been the talk of the town. And then, of course,” Janet stepped closer and leaned in, “there’s the rumor about you and Kevin Thompson.” Thankfully, the twins and their friends had moved off to check out the wide variety of desserts in the glass case.
“Whatever do you mean? Kevin and I are friends.” Amanda shrugged, preferring not to discuss the only topic the town seemed to dwell on these days. It was amazing how fast the gossip had spread; too bad the retraction was slow or non-existent as far as she could tell. Country living at its finest.
“That’s not what’s on the rumor mill.” Barbara grinned.
“Well, the rumor mill is wrong. People need to find something else to talk about. I can assure you, neither one of us is interested in dating.” Why wouldn’t people just accept the truth? The gossips of Hallbrook needed something other than her and Kevin to dwell on, and Amanda hoped whatever it was, it would happen sooner versus later.
Amanda rang up the order and made the change, handing it back to Barbara.
“That’s not what Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are telling everyone. They saw you two over in Lancaster at the Table Divine holding hands and looking all cozy,” Janet whispered.
Amanda flinched, trying to school her features quickly. Kevin would be upset if he knew they’d been caught out. He’d helped her that night and now she might have brought trouble in a heaping dose on his shoulders. “They must’ve misunderstood. We went to dinner as friends to discuss some things about the twins and the recipe mix-up.” She was fighting a losing battle, but she had to try. Only time would make this go away.
“So, there’s nothing to the fact that Mrs. Crabtree saw Kevin kissing you on your doorstep the same night.” Janet quirked one eyebrow up, her grin ear to ear.
A lot of time. Amanda closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was a disaster.
“I promise you, it’s not what it seems.” She shook her head. “There’s nothing between us.” No matter what she added, no one would believe her. Heck, she wouldn’t believe herself against the eye-witness reports.
“Or at least nothing you’re willing to tell. Yet.” Janet ginned.
“Leave her alone, Janet.” At least Barbara believed her. “Any fool with two eyes in their head could see the connection they had when they met at the auction. Give them time to figure it out.”
Or not.
The women were talking as if she wasn’t here. “Let me know if there’s anything I can get you. I should get started on the cake with the twins.” Amanda walked away, putting together a plate of scones and a variety of other pastries for the group to enjoy.
“Ready, girls?” she asked the twins as she delivered the plate to their table.
“Ready,” they spoke in unison.
They followed her into the kitchen, and Amanda picked up the recipe and held it out to them “Read this, while I get out the ingredients. It’ll give you an idea of what we are doing.”
“This looks easy enough,” Lacy said.
“I know we’re making the chocolate cake because it’s Daddy’s favorite, but can we do something special for a topping, kind of like what you did for us?” Macy asked.
“Absolutely. What do you have in mind?” Amanda wanted this to be their special gift to Kevin, not hers.
“I don’t know. What do you think we should do?” Lacy’s expression was one of sweet innocence as she asked the question. They could be up to something, but maybe they really did want ideas. There could be no harm in helping.
“I’m not sure. Let me think. We know he’s a geeky chemistry teacher, and he likes to be outdoors. He’s got a great sense of humor.” It was his heart that was the problem. She wasn’t sure he had one. No, that wasn’t true. He showed his love for the girls in everything he did. She was finding it hard to stay mad at him, even though he’d hurt her. “I’ve got it,” she exclaimed.
“What?” both girls asked, their faces lit with excitement.
“In my decoration kit, I’ve got small, cake-sized men. One of you could use a marker and make the hair the same color as your dad’s, and then you can draw some glasses on the man. Make it look like your father. I’ll get something that resembles a beaker jar and we can put coffee in it, and then glue it to his hands. We can use some chocolate sticks and different colored frosting to make a campfire. It’ll appear as if your dad is trying to cook a beaker of coffee over the fire.” The image was irresistibly silly, causing her and the girls to laugh.
“That would be funny,” Macy said.
“And totally something I can see him doing,” Lacy added.
“Totally. Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
The three of them finished mixing up the cake, getting more of the flour on themselves and the floor, than what made it into the cake. Amanda slid the cake in the oven and set the timer. The twins went to sit with their friends while it baked, leaving Amanda to clean up and finish fixing the Kevin geek doll.
“When did you say his birthday is again?” she called out to the girls.
“Tomorrow.”
“Well, how about I finish this up, and you can stop by and pick it up tomorrow after school? Or I can drop it off at your house.” Amanda preferred them to pick it up, eliminating any chance of her running into their father.
Macy joined her behind the counter. “I’m not sure if we can get here again. Maybe it would be better if you drop it by the house.” Macy shifted and looked away as if uncomfortable, or up to something.
Amanda was betting on up to something. “Okay. Consider it done.”
Macy nodded; her gaze once again fixated on Amanda. “Did you know our mom showed up for a visit?”
Victoria was here? In Hallbrook. Amanda tried to school her expression, but shock wasn’t easy to hide. “I didn’t. Did you have a pleasant visit?”
“She didn’t stay long.” Macy didn’t seem overly happy considering she’d just seen their mother, leaving Amanda to wonder what was wrong.
It explained who the woman was Amanda had seen Kevin wi
th, but she wasn’t sure the knowledge didn’t make it worse. After all, most divorced couples wouldn’t be sitting arm in arm having an intimate lunch, even if it was Sally’s Diner. Were they reconciling? Was that the reason for Kevin’s sudden change of heart? It made sense.
“We think she was in town more to see Daddy,” Macy added, lowering her voice so the others couldn’t hear.
“I’m sure she loved seeing you.” Who wouldn’t love spending time with the girls? They were fun, energetic, and full of laughter. Once you got to know them, she smiled inwardly, remembering the rocky beginning.
“Well, we only saw her for like an hour. She gave us our birthday presents and then told us she had to rush back to Paris for another show today. She’s got a boyfriend, you know?”
Amanda did know, but she couldn’t tell the girls, or they’d wonder how she’d found out. And all trails would lead back to Kevin. Macy was referring to a current situation, so perhaps Kevin and their mother hadn’t reconciled, or not that they were telling the girls.
“I bet her gifts were lovely. And a boyfriend? How do you feel about that? Not long ago, I know you wanted them to get back together.” It was a few weeks ago, but who was counting?
“She gave us these new coats. Fresh from a designer in Paris. We do love them, but we were hoping for more time with her. We used to hope our parents would get back together, but we realized they’re happier without each other. And that’s okay, but we think it stinks we’re affected by the split. I mean, like, our mom not being here or spending time with us.”
“I’m sorry, honey. Sometimes things don’t work out that way. People get together and later find out that maybe being together is not the best thing. That it was a mistake. I think it takes a brave person to admit they made a mistake and move on. That’s what your parents are trying to do.” Kevin probably wouldn’t appreciate her interference, but she wouldn’t sidestep the issue.
“Does that mean that Lacy and I are mistakes?”
“Oh, no, honey. I’m sure neither one of your parents think that. I know how much your dad loves you, and I’m sure your mom does, too. What’s not to love? I imagine it’s difficult for her being so far away. But for some people, careers are important, and unfortunately, hers keeps her in Paris.”