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The moment he broke my trust was the moment I was set free.
I’ve decided to take what Ashley said to me the other night to heart. It’s okay for me to be okay.
I may have had my heart broken, but I’ve turned my sadness and anger into determination. I want to succeed. I want to prove to myself that my dream is the most important thing right now. I need to do something for myself instead of dwelling on past decisions.
Twisting my hair up into a top-knot bun, I make a mental note to schedule an appointment at the salon in town sometime soon. I need a haircut and maybe some fresh highlights.
The sun I got this past weekend has given my skin a light golden glow, and I feel like I look livelier than I have in quite a while.
It’s a little of the Pine Cove effect too, though. The moment you set foot here, your body relaxes, and you see life as something to be lived, not just a collection of passing days.
Grabbing my purse, I head out, and seeing how nice it is, I decide to walk. It’s only ten minutes down and around the block, and the early morning air is warm with a slight breeze. I breathe it in, and look around at the other people walking along Main Street, all smiling and enjoying the end of summer weather.
“Hey, Courtney,” I greet, walking through the door. “What’re we making this morning?”
“Today is donuts. Blueberry with lemon glaze, and maple bacon.”
“Sounds delicious.” I smile, putting my purse away and donning my favorite apron I brought with me. I got it a few years ago as a secret Santa gift from Ashley. It’s white, and says ‘I like big buns and I cannot lie’ with a big cinnamon bun in the middle. I freaking love it.
I grab one of my cupcakes from the case and hand it to Courtney. “These are my double chocolate cupcakes. Devil’s food cake base, and a fudge icing.”
Taking it, she peels the wrapper down and takes a big bite – her eyes immediately closing, and a look of pure bliss taking over her face. Just the look I was going for.
“So good,” she mumbles around a full mouth.
“Thank you.” I smile, feeling giddy that she approves.
“Did you make enough to sell today?”
“Yup.”
“Did you set one aside for Tyler yet?” she asks, taking another bite.
“Yes,” I say casually, taking out the ingredients I know we’ll need for donuts.
“He’ll love it. You know the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Jack fell in love with me the moment he tasted my cookies,” she says.
“I’m sure he did,” I deadpan, and she laughs, finishing off her cupcake.
“So freaking good,” she moans, licking icing off her fingers.
After washing her hands, she puts on her ‘kiss the cook apron’ that’s covered in red lips, and grabs the rest of the ingredients we’ll need.
“He really did fall in love after one taste,” she continues, a wistful smile on her lips. “We met on my second day here. I wasn’t open for business yet, but I had a batch of cookies in the oven I had planned on handing out as samples to the businesses in town. But I was busy cleaning the front of the café and completely forgot about them. And by the time the burning smell got to me, it was too late. The fire alarm was already set off.” She laughs.
“Jack came walking in like a hero to save the day, and the moment I saw him in his gear, I was a goner. He was the sexiest man I had ever seen, and still is,” she says, smiling wide. “I was mortified, though, that the new owner of the bakery set off the fire alarm. It doesn’t bode well in my opinion. But I explained myself, and I promised him if he came back the next day, I’d have a fresh batch of cookies for him and the firehouse.”
“And that was that?”
“Pretty much,” she says through a laugh. “He asked me out on the spot, and I knew after our first date that he was the one. I moved here, started a business, and fell in love in a matter of days.”
“Holy shit,” I breathe.
“I know. Crazy, right? When I hear myself say it out loud, it sounds pretty unrealistic and made up. But shit like that exists,” she tells me, her eyes holding a knowing secret.
“Good to know,” I tell her sincerely. “But my love life begins and ends in this kitchen. And right now, I want to learn how to make some donuts.”
“If you say so.” She shakes her head, and we get to work.
