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When I pull the mayonnaise out of the fridge, Madeline arches her brow at me. “Mayonnaise? In cupcakes?”
“Janine swore that using mayonnaise instead of oil was what made her cupcake so good. And they were good.”
Madeline and I whip together the ingredients for cupcake batter. I find a cupcake tin and even some old paper cupcake fillers.
“I wonder why he has all these already?” Madeline asks.
I’m pretty sure that Theo has dated a baker or two in his past, but I don’t say that.
Pretty soon, we put the cupcakes in the oven, and their sweet smell permeates the kitchen. I’m not sure they have overcome the burnt scent of pork loin, but it hasn’t hurt.
Just as the buzzer goes off to let us know the cupcakes are done, Theo comes through the door.
“There are interesting smells in here,” he says, coming to the kitchen. “Are you baking, Oliver?”
I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms. “Not me. Madeline’s baking.”
Theo’s brow arches at her. “You?”
I hope he doesn’t make some derogatory comments about her baking or cooking.
He steps up to her, pulling her into his arms. “Your baking could be a problem.”
“Because I’m a terrible cook?”
He shakes his head. “No, because it’s tough to live with perfection.”
I want to say, “I told you so,” but I don’t because they’re clearly having a moment.
She gives him a radiant smile filled with love that makes me a little bit envious and happy for them both. But then they’re kissing, and it’s like I’m not even here.
“I’ll just go to my room now.” I make my way out of the kitchen and toward my room. But a knock at the door stops me. Going to the door, I look through the peephole, and I’m surprised to see Charlotte.
I open the door. “Charlotte.”
She smiles, but I can see nerves in her eyes and in the way her fingers play with each other. “Hi, Oliver. I was wondering if maybe we could talk?”
I can’t imagine about what, unless, of course, she’s rethought my proposition. But I can’t believe she would. Charlotte is too sophisticated and intelligent to engage in a silly game of deception just so I can get a job.
“Sure, come on in.” I hold the door open for her to enter.
“Who’s at the door, Oliver?” Theo asks as he appears in the lobby.
“It’s Charlotte Everling.”
Theo’s eyes widen in surprise, and he looks at me accusingly. I work to give Charlotte an imperceptible nod to let her know that I haven’t told Theo about what happened between us.
Madeline appears in the lobby as well. “I don’t think we have the right sugar for frosting, Oliver.” She stops and smiles as she sees Charlotte. “Hi, Charlotte. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Thank you. I just had something I wanted to talk to Oliver about, but I can come back later if that’s a–”
“I-”
“It’s fine. Come on in. Theo was just about to take me to dinner and find me ingredients to make the frosting,” Madeline says over my response.
Theo looks at Madeline in surprise but then nods. “I guess I’m taking Madeline out to dinner. So you’re on your own tonight, Oliver.”
Aren’t I always?
