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He replied as I was pouring Aunt Laurie and I our third glass of wine, which I was absolutely going to regret tomorrow morning when I was at work early.
Rick: Great to hear.I’ll come by the bakery and see you tomorrow.
ChapterNineteen
I wasn’t at my best the next day.Only the knowledge that Rick would be coming by made me wash my face with extra care.Luckily, my hair needed close to zero fiddling with, and Aunt Laurie had some tinted moisturizer that made me look much less zombie-like.
Downing a cup of coffee before leaving also helped.
To her credit, Jenny didn’t laugh when I showed up at the bakery early in the morning, less than perfect.She’d been about to sip her cup of coffee, but she wordlessly handed it to me instead.
“Wow.Is it that bad?”
“How many glasses of wine?”
I winced.“Can you speak quieter?And at least three.”
Jenny bit back a smile.“Sit.I’ll do most of the prep.”
I gingerly set myself down on one of the stools in the back area of the bakery.“Will you marry me?”
She mixed something in a bowl that smelled of cinnamon and vanilla.A recipe in my aunt’s handwriting was laid out on the counter.“For a British passport?Of course!”
I sipped the coffee.It was pure ambrosia.“I’m not sure it works that way anymore.”I let my gaze take in the kitchen.“You already made the chocolate cookies?”She’d laid them out on a sheet and they looked fabulous, chocolate chips thick and glossy.
“Yep.Got a head start.”
“Jenny Callahan, is there nothing you can’t do?You should come on prescription.”
She flushed.“Stop.”
“Seriously.Any company would be lucky to have you if you decide to start job hunting when Toby’s a little older.”
Like a pro, she started scooping the batter from the bowl into laid out cupcake cases.“I sure can’t live with Rick forever, great as he is.”She sighed.“And I can’t go live with my parents, either.They’ve done their time with us, and I can see my Dad getting older by the day.Since the stroke, he’s seemed to age a decade.”
“Oh, Jenny.”I set my coffee aside and caught her in a big hug.She pressed her face, eyes wet, against my neck.“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nah, or not right now.I’m hormonal, is all.I promise, I’m happy.And it’s sonice to be needed.Like when I got your text last night.I’m so looking forward to the makeover montage, I’ve even got a playlist for while you try on clothes.”
I laughed.“Excellent.”
“I think I just haven’t been this happy since I moved back, you know?I mean, I seem happy all the time, because I’m naturally an optimist, but sometimes, I feel really fucking lonely.”
Hugging her tighter, I kissed her hair.“If the other women in this town don’t see what a fantastic friend and person you are, more fool them.And more Jenny for me.”
She squeezed me back, and I knew that whatever happened, I wanted to be friends with her always.
We got back to work, Jenny in a lighter mood, and me filled with nervous, giddy anticipation at seeing Rick.I had to stop myself from jerking my head up hopefully every time someone approached the front of the bakery.
* * *
Rick texted later that morning.Seeing his name flash up on my phone gave me a stomach full of butterflies.
Rick: I’m working near a dumpling place.Want me to bring you some?I’m almost finished up here.
My mouth watered just reading his text.Redwing Falls was many lovely things, but culturally diverse was not one of them.Even though it had been four years since my last visit, the only non-Western takeout was still Han’s.
Me: PLEASE.Do they have xiaolongbao?
