She reached the van first and pulled open the back doors. The cargo space acted as a perfect place to transport cakes. She laid down a grippy cabinet liner on the floor to help keep the cake from sliding around during the trip on the winding Deep Haven roads.
“Did I tell you there will be a magazine photographer there?”
“Only about a hundred times. I figure I have about a hundred more before I’ll need to ask you to stop.”
Sammy’s teasing chased the chilled February air right out of her.
“It’s just a big deal for me, you know? A photo in the magazine could lead to more business. More business puts Fox Bakery on the map. Maybe I can prove to everyone that I can do it on my own. Reclaim some of my old panache.” TheLa Patisseriecontest flitted through her mind, but she pushed it away. She’d done her best; now it was up to the magazine photographer to decide if she was worthy.
Something black-and-white flashed in the corner of her eye. Must be that pesky cat again. She did a quick check to make sure there was nothing on the shelves in the van that would slide off during the drive. “Okay, you can put it in this space.” She moved to the side to give Sammy access to the cargo area.
He stepped forward. “Whoa.”
Sammy leaned back as the cat twined itself around his legs.
He stepped forward and the cat moved again.
The cake wobbled.
Oh no! She’d forgotten the center dowel to hold it in place. Oh well, no harm done. She’d fix it in a minute.
Only—
Sammy overcorrected and the cat pushed up against the back of his legs.
In slow motion horror, Robin watched Sammy twist over backward, his foot slipping, his hand shooting out to steady himself.
The cake flew into the air.
In a heartbeat a million years long, he landed on the ground with emerald-green chunks spread over and around him.
And all her hopes and dreams lying in a mess on the pavement.
* * *
Sammy was lyingin a ruin of cake with the cold parking lot under his back.
Robin’s cake.
Robin!
Something soft and warm on his face. He turned to see that cat licking his cheek.
Someone was crying. He wiped a hand over his face and it came away…green.
“Robin.” He sat up, his head spinning a little. He pushed to standing and moved toward her. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.” He reached out to her.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
He didn’t know if she was trying to convince him or herself. She held her arms tight to her body, face white.
“We can figure this out.” He put his hand on her upper arm. “Let me help you fix it.”
She kneaded her hands together. “No, Sammy. There’s nothing you can do. I’m on my own in this one.”
He gently squeezed her arm. “You don’t have to do it alone. I want to be your partner here.”
Finally, she nodded once. “Fine. You’re right. I could use the help.” Her shoulders relaxed a fraction, and she turned and slammed the van doors shut.
