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He trailed off, maybe because he couldn’t find words.Neither could I.
“It was,” I agreed, spreading my palm over his chest.He was solid and warm and made a wonderful pillow.
I dropped into a dreamless sleep.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
We stayed in bed until the wee hours on Monday morning, only venturing out from between the covers for food—buttery scrambled eggs on toast, which Rick made.
Expecting to have to get up and prep food for the bakery opening, I was surprised when I blearily checked my phone at three a.m.only to find a text from Jenny.
Jenny: Take the day off.Laurie and I have it covered.Enjoy what, or whoever, you’re doing.
I swear I had a whole-body blush reading that, especially aswhoI was doing was Jenny’s brother.She seemed remarkably not grossed out about the whole thing.
Rick arranged to start work late and meet his apprentice, Eddie, at the job site at eleven, confident that Eddie would handle the wood that needed to be cut prior to Rick finishing off the parts that needed finer manipulation.
Taking the time as intended, Rick and I spent ninety percent of it curled around each other, learning each other’s bodies with lips, hands, tongue, and teeth.He made love to me on the bed, in the shower, against the wall.
We talked and talked.I told him about how my Asian fusion baking had started as a way to express myself and celebrate my mixed-race heritage.I felt lucky to have grown up in London, a melting pot of race and culture.I went to school with kids from diverse backgrounds, and we’d all had something different to share with each other at lunch.
Rick told me about how his desire to see something outside this little town had led him to join the Army when a recruiter had come to his high school.He’d all but bitten their hand off, even though he’d shown an aptitude for carpentry when his dad had tried to train him.
“I was young an’ full of piss an’ vinegar.I wouldn’t be told.The Army gave me friends, an extra family, but also made me learn how to be an adult.”
He’d started helping out his dad when he was on leave, and ended up liking it.He enjoyed seeing old friends, re-connecting with the town he was born in, and making something with his hands.After that, when Bill had a stroke, it seemed only natural to take over.
He took me into the garage to show me the wooden toddler-size car he was making for Toby’s Christmas present.It wasgorgeous,all sleek but cute with it.He planned to paint it a sunny yellow with blue race car style stripes and emblazon Toby’s name on it.My heart melted.Then I realised that I wouldn’t be here to see him receive it, and I felt a pang in my chest.
After Rick left for work, I let myself back into Jess’ house and started work on the seventieth birthday cake, triple-checking I used all the correct flour and such for the allergies of those who’d consume it.
Three hours later, it was iced, and I snapped some photos, pleased with the result.The “70” was constructed of gingerbread and iced in a snazzy turquoise, the birthday boy’s favorite color, so I’d been told.The glittery gel icing sparkled under Jess’ overhead kitchen lights.
I texted Rick to see if he’d finished work yet.He replied with a photo of himself on my doorstep and the caption: WAS JUST ABOUT TO KNOCK.
I rushed to the door, opened it, and, grinning, dragged him inside by his dog tags.
He took his time tasting the smile on my face.
We went straight to bed.
* * *
Rick stayed over, but he got ousted at five on Tuesday morning when I got out of bed for my final shift atCake Away.He was adorably grumpy when woken up, pulling the pillow over his head and begging for five more minutes.
When I walked up to the bakery, I saw Aunt Laurie through the window, but I went around the back anyway.The door was open, and she waved when she saw me.
Two stand mixers whirred in symphony with each other and the smell of the ingredients was divine.
“What’re you doing here alone?”I demanded.
“One of the college girls is on her way,” she replied, shrugging, incorrigible as always.“Wanted extra money, and Jenny’s tired.Toby’s got a tooth coming through.”
I winced in sympathy.“What can I do?”
She nodded to the door.“Wholesalers are due any second.I ordered some extra stuff, iced buns and such, so I’m just mixing a batch of rainbow cookies.Can you unpack the order when it arrives?”
We worked seamlessly together now.By the time today’s college girl arrived, the wholesale order was unpacked into the window displays, leaving space for the rainbow cookies and Madeleines that Aunt Laurie had mixed.I carefully spooned them into the correct trays and slid them into the oven.
