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But she had a wedding cake to make.And more than a few other responsibilities.So, knowing that he’d have her to himself on Sunday, and that he was a grown adult perfectly capable of patience, he settled for keeping the conversation light and enjoying dinner with her.
* * *
Maddie
It was full twilight by the time Rick dropped me home.He walked me up to the porch, kissed me with a fierceness that made everything inside me ache, and then disappeared into his own house.
I wanted to linger in the memory of our talk, of the taste of him, but I couldn’t.I had serious work to do, starting with the top tier of Cathy’s wedding cake.I made enough mixture for two versions, and I’d pick the best
Aunt Laurie had convinced us to increase our order from the wholesaler for tomorrow’s delivery, seeing as I wouldn’t have time to make as much stock, and I wassograteful.Some of the staples that got shipped in from the commercial bakery, like cinnamon buns and shortbread, were our bestsellers.
Once the first part of the wedding cake came safely out of the oven, I could relax, at least a little, and I started on a batch of pork sung buns to sell tomorrow.While I was here, I had an ideal opportunity to test out my Asian and Asian fusion baking on a brand-new audience, and I’d let myself get too busy to make the most of it.That ended now.
With baking playlist turned up high, and set out the correct tins, weighing ingredients.I had a cheat sheet for converting American and British measurements, so I could be sure nothing was left to chance.
Everything inside me settled when I started baking.Making food really was my happy place.I didn’t have to worry about anything else.Thoughts came and went as I worked; mostly thoughts of Rick, but he was always on my mind these days.
When I was in the zone, my world narrowed to ensuring the measurements were correct and that I mixed and folded and stirred properly.Nothing else needed to enter my frame of mind for this time.I made myself a huge pot of tea, knowing I’d need the caffeine.I ran on tea.That and my favorite brand of imported soya milk that I had first tried on a visit to my dad’s family in Hong Kong.It arrived warm, in a tall glass while we rested our aching feet in the cafe area of a busy city market, and it had been love at first sip, but there wasn’t an Asian grocery around here, and it felt very frivolous to order it in when I wouldn’t be here that much longer.
The little spike of fear that shot through me when I thought about being far, far away from Rick unbalanced me, so I made myself push that aside.
Two hours later, two trays of pork sung buns, the rolled bread filled with generous helpings of pork floss, spring onions and my own fusion addition, grated apple, sat on the counter, fresh from Jess’ second oven.It wasgreatto stay in the house of someone who also not only adored cooking but also cooked for a living.
I’d taken pictures of the buns at every stage, including just before baking when the dough was glossy with egg wash and sesame seeds, and now, with everything cooling, I sat down to upload it all to my social feeds, making sure the branded pastry brush and dough slice that a London company had gifted me were clearly in shot.It could be tough, remembering all these little details, but I was never so happy as when I was baking, when I was creating, and if sponsorship allowed me to do it, well, I was all for it.
Thinking of the few companies who’d sponsored me in exchange for featuring their products reminded me of Seb.He’d often insinuated that when we were married, I could give up the sponsorship, as he had more than enough money for us both.
I’d always laughed, thinking he was jokingly trying to assure me he could take care of me, although I didn’t need taking care of.
How could I have been so blind?
Rick was totally different.Even only knowing him a little under two weeks, I could never imagine him trying to control the steer of my life, even if the direction I took ended up to his detriment.
I wondered how he had felt after tonight.He’d still invited me over on Sunday.Anticipation of that coming day curled, hot and heavy, in my stomach.The warm pull of attraction was a living thing inside me.Compelling, irresistible.I had to push him from my mind to concentrate hard on anything.
I finished the uploads, and replied to comments on the videos I had shared recently.Nothing more from Seb, thankfully, and only a few borderline-hateful comments about our break-up.It never failed to astonish me that some people felt they could behave however they pleased just because they were saying it with a keyboard and not to my face.
At eleven in the evening, too exhausted to work anymore, I logged off my laptop.
I sank into sleep like a stone.
My last thought was of Rick’s soft, warm smile, as he told me not to work too hard.I wished he was here to curl around me.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Thursday was acompletemess.I slept through the alarm and only woke up to Jenny pounding on the door.
“We’re gonna miss the wholesaler delivery!Wake up!”
I scrambled out of bed and we loaded the pork sung buns into her car.I glanced at the two versions of the top tier of Cathy’s wedding cake.I was relieved to note that they looked good, although one was a smidge less wonky, so that one would make it to the final cut.
Jenny drove like the wind.As it was only six in the morning, we made it to the bakery in a couple of minutes, just as the wholesaler’s delivery truck pulled up.I almost up-ended the tray of buns on to the ground in my haste to get the bakery keys out of my purse.
The rest of the morning didn’t go any better.I spilled coffee on myself.Jenny started to come down with what appeared to be a horrific cold, and she said her throat felt like she’d swallowed a pack of razor blades.Aunt Laurie had been planning to come in for an hour or so to give us a lunch break, but I wasn’t sure Jenny or I would last that long, and I told her so, hoping she’d get the message.
The saving grace was that my experimental pork sung buns with the additional grated apple had sold out within the hour.Someone from the grocer’s had bought one to try it, loved it, and spread the word.The empty display dish made my heart soar, and I texted my parents with the news.My mum replied with three heart emojis.My parents were my biggest fans and my best cheerleaders, even if they were still a little apprehensive about my desire to work in the creative industry.It was a harsh world out there.I lived it every day, putting content into the world to be judged by strangers on the internet.But when it worked, when you connected with others and made them happy with what you did, it was everything, and I knew unequivocally that I didn’t want anything else.
By eleven o’clock, I had sent Jenny home.I was about to start packing up, thinking I’d cut my losses even if we missed the lunch crowd, when Molly stepped inside.I took a second to place her, seeing as I’d only met her the one time when I’d played pool with Rick.That seemed so long ago, now.
