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“That’s the one. Get a pen and paper; it’s time I shared my recipe with you.”
“You said that recipe was only for his wife.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
I reached over and pulled open my nightstand drawer to get the paper and pen. The box my engagement ring was hidden in was a glaring reminder of what was at stake. I wanted Ryder to place the ring on my finger again. I swore if I wore it again, it would never come off. I grabbed the paper and pen and put her on speaker. “I’m ready when you are, Miss Jolene.”
“Quit calling me Miss Jolene. I’m Momma Jo to you.”Chapter Twenty-One“I think I should taste test that for you.” Emma was already licking her lips, staring at the whipped cream frosting with mascarpone that clung to the beaters while she sat at the breakfast bar to keep me company.
I grinned and popped the beaters off the mixer. I held up both between us. “I mean, I do want this cake to be perfect.”
I was not only nervous about making the famed Prescott Chantilly lace and berry cake, but about delivering it to Ryder. I had only seen him once since we got back from our backpacking trip and it was brief. He and Bobby Jay had showed up last night after I taught the dance exercise class that took everything out of me. My thighs were still on fire and my side was sensitive from the wilderness excursion.
I was looking like a holy mess when Bobby Jay and Ryder conveniently showed up to give me back my basket and the empty jar of peach jam, which was apparently well loved. Ryder asked about my side. The bandage was in plain sight since I was wearing a half tank top to teach in. All that really passed between us were some pleasantries before he excused himself to get some work done.
Emma grabbed one of the beaters from me and practically drooled over it. “It’s not cheating if we both eat sugar, right?” She had been so good about our detox even though it was killing her.
“Right.” I swiped a bit of frosting off the beater with my finger, debating whether I should lick it off or not. Being off sugar for several days could make it taste overly sweet. On the other hand, it could be like a gateway drug and have me falling off the detox wagon.
Emma dove right in and licked the frosting straight off the beater. She closed her eyes and looked as if she were having a moment when she sighed, “This is right up there with sex. Don’t tell Sawyer I said that,” she quickly added.
I giggled before joining her. I licked the sweet frosting off my finger. It tasted like home and happier days filled with promises and dreams. I wanted all those dreams back with Ryder. “What’s the verdict?”
“You’re a goddess.” Emma took another lick. “If he doesn’t take one bite of this and marry you, he’s a bigger idiot than I thought.”
“You think he’s an idiot?”
“He’s not here, so yes.” She set her licked-clean beater on the counter. “Promise me something.”
“All right.” I set my own beater in the sink.
“Don’t lose your dignity chasing after him. I get you made a mistake, but don’t let him punish you for it. You need to quit punishing yourself for it while you’re at it. You don’t deserve it. I can understand him needing some time to come to terms with the circumstances, but he knows how you feel and that you’re sorry. It’s time for him to decide to forgive you or let you move on. That’s the fair thing for both of you.”
I nodded. “You’re right. It’s easier said than done, but you’re right. Do you think taking this cake to him is a bad idea? I promised his momma I would.”
Emma stole one of the strawberries I had washed and hulled for the cake. “I think it’s sweet, and he better appreciate it.”
I hoped he would too. It was a fussy cake to make, with raspberry and apricot jam, fruit, and frosting between the homemade almond cake layers. Then you had to make sure the frosting was just right and the berries on top had to be arranged in such a way that was pleasing to the eye.
Dressed in a light blue romper I knew Ryder would love, I walked the finished product over to his cabin with trepidation, hoping he would be there. I rehearsed what I would say to him. My plan was to keep it short and sweet but leave no doubt about my intentions. I wanted a second chance. If this cake didn’t say that, I didn’t know what would, other than me coming right out and telling him how much I loved him, which I was sure wasn’t the right thing to do. But Emma was right. I couldn’t and wouldn’t keep chasing after him if it’s not what he wanted.
