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Chapter 4
I was exhausted all the next week from the wedding festivities, so it was a relief to not have any social engagements and get back to my normal routine. My morning donut, my afternoon breaks and trips to the library, my dinners with Natalie and sometimes Em, my visits with Linley as her apartment filled up with various wedding props.
“I think I’ve made a huge mistake,” she said when a shipment of flameless candles for the rehearsal dinner tables came in.
“Did you mean to order this many?” I asked as we looked at the shipping label.
“Uh, no. I don’t know what I was thinking. But I guess we can just…I don’t even know. Hand them out?”
“You could return some,” I said.
Linley groaned and sat down on the couch.
“I can take them to the post office for you,” I said, wanting to be helpful.
“No, you don’t have to do that. Gray will take care of it. He keeps asking me how he can help, and I keep telling him that I have it covered, but I really need to let him help. You were right about that wedding advice. I have to let him love me.”
She gave me a tired smile. She was pale, and I was a little worried about her. Between the wedding and her work hours, she was stretching herself too thin. If I could help at all in the actual baking part of the bakery, I would.
“You need to let him help you. You need to let all of us help you. Your mom would step in for anything. She’d die of happiness,” I said, sitting down next to her among the towers of boxes.
“I know you’re right. I’m just having a hard time not being in control of everything, you know?”
I did. I absolutely did.
“This wedding is supposed to be a celebration, not a stress,” I said.
“I wish I could feel that way,” Linley said. “I’m so happy to be marrying Gray, and I love everything that we’re doing, but it’s just…it’s a lot.”
“I know.” I gave her a hug.
“I’m just tired. I’ll get my shit together, I promise,” she said.
“You don’t have to. The bride is allowed to fall apart and be taken care of,” I said.
“Thanks, coz. You’re the best.” She rested her head on my shoulder.
Gray came home and was quickly apprised of the candle situation and promised he would take care of it. Easy as that.
Linley started showing her appreciation and I took that as my cue to exit.
* * *
In the spirit of asking for help, Linley asked me to run some documents over to The Honeysuckle Inn while she was swamped with a bunch of birthday cakes that had gotten delayed in baking due to a missed shipment of sugar.
“I don’t know why we can’t sign them electronically, but whatever,” Linley said as she piped HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JASON! on a cake with perfect calligraphy.
“No problem. I’ll run over right now,” I said, keeping my voice casual.
On my way out, I grabbed a little box of treats that was by the counter. It was a sample pack with one of the chocolate chip cookies, a mini strawberry shortcake cupcake, a lemon coconut square, and a tiny cherry-filled pastry.
* * *
Even though it was the middle of the day, the place was bustling with activity. People checking in, kids running around blowing giant bubbles in the yard, someone vacuuming the carpet by the entrance.
I crept to the front desk and had to wait for the attendant to get off the phone.
“Checking in?” she asked, her fingers flying across the keyboard on her computer.
