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Satisfied she was okay on her own, I started to ice my tray of cupcakes. These were chocolate on chocolate. One of my favorite combinations.
I wondered if Mark had a favorite cupcake. The thought of baking for someone, not just my customers, was deeply appealing. I didn’t think I could date anyone who eschewed sweets. Mark was into working out, so he might not like it. But he’d never said anything.
I got lost in the music playing on my phone and the comforting routine of icing one cupcake after another. Then I moved on to the second tray of birthday cake cupcakes. I switched to vanilla icing and got out the confetti I sprinkled over the top. These were a favorite for parties, and I always had orders for them on the weekends.
By the time I’d finished both trays, my back ached.
In the time I finished two trays, Kendall was just finishing up the one.
“Do you have someone you could bring cupcakes to?” I asked her.
She looked up at me. “Maybe Drew?”
Mark leaned against the doorjamb.
“Oh, I didn’t realize it was so late.” The clock on the wall indicated it was after four. The bakery would be closing soon.
“I had a lot of errands to run,” he said to me. Then to Kendall, “I don’t think we should give all the cupcakes to Drew.”
“Oh?” Kendall asked as she looked up.
“We should take them home. Give some to Grandma and Grandpa.”
Kendall lifted her head, her eyes full of excitement. “Do you think they’ll like them?”
Mark hesitated and then met my gaze over the counter. “Of course, they will.”
But I knew from his expression he wasn’t sure they would. Praise wasn’t something they were known for. But I knew Drew and my dad would love them.
“You should bring them to family dinner on Sunday,” I said, eager to get the subject off her grandparents. They were a source of stress for Mark. I hated how he could never please them. A child should be encouraged and praised.
Mark raised a brow. “Are you inviting us for dinner?”
“Kendall’s friends with Drew now, and—” I wasn’t sure what else to say. He’d been over once as a friend, but now we were more. The only thing was, Kendall had no idea our relationship status had changed. For the first time, I wondered if Mark had any plans to tell her.
“I love your family,” Mark said gruffly.
“You’re always welcome. No invitation needed.” That’s how it was when we were dating.
“You’re so lucky you have so many sisters,” Kendall said.
“I didn’t realize you wanted siblings,” Mark said.
Kendall rolled her eyes and then licked the icing off her finger. “Of course, I do. It’s boring being an only child.”
She was lonely. I wasn’t sure what the situation was with her mom, but if she worked, then Kendall might have been alone or left with others in the summers and after school. I’d never been alone when my mom was alive, and I always had my sisters.
“Our house was always full and loud. Probably too loud.” I had fond memories of my sisters chasing each other around the dinner table and my dad telling us to stop, yet his voice was full of so much affection. There was no question we were loved.
“It was a little overwhelming when we first started dating,” Mark said quietly.
I sensed that he was being honest so that Kendall could see that he struggled with things, too.
“I never noticed. You just seemed to fit right in.” Looking back, he might have used our family as an escape from his, but I couldn’t blame him. Anytime I saw his parents, they were cold or were reminding him of his responsibilities.
Kendall was watching us carefully. Did she sense there was something more between us than friendship or just the remnants of an old relationship?
I wasn’t sure we should tell her. We hadn’t even defined our relationship. Was this just a way to pass the time until Kendall’s mother came back? Or was it the start of something? Hope bloomed big in my chest, threatening to burst.
