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“Good. I’ve got some bad news.”
“Oh?” He could tell by my tone that it wasn’t that terrible.
“Yeah, they were all out of your favorite cookies at the little Valley supermarket, so I’ll have to go to the main one near the square.” It wasn’t quite a lie, it was just that I’d also failed to get the rest of the groceries as well.
“Well, that is bad news. Tragic.”
I tilted my head to the side, noting my dad’s eyes twinkling.
“You have to go back to the main one near the square, you said?”
“Yes, Dad. The same place it’s been for the last fifty years,” I replied with some amusement.
“The same square that has that lovely little cakeshop, run by that girl you went to school with?”
“Ooooh, I see where you’re going with this. I’m guessing it’s some of her red velvet cupcakes you’re after, is it?”
“Sure is.”
I chuckled. “I can be back in half an hour. Can you wait that long for coffee? That way you can have it with cake.”
“Perfect.”
Feeling a rush of love for my dad, I stepped forward and with my hand on his thin shoulder, got up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Love you, Dad.”
Smiling in surprise, he ruffled my hair. “Love you too, Em.”
“Rest in your chair for now. I’ll be back shortly.”
“All right.”
I felt immeasurably lighter when I left the house, much calmer as I turned the key in the ignition and backed out the drive. This was what it was all about, right? Looking after my dad, knowing that I could care for him better than anyone. Knowing that just by being here, I made a huge difference to him. Jake could go take a flying fucking leap, for all I cared. I had a life to live, and it wasn’t going to revolve around him, so there!
I liked the energy that thought gave me, so when I stepped into Poppy’s Ice Cream Parlor & Cake Shoppe, I had a pep in my step. It was such a cute little place, with polished wooden flooring, gleaming glass cabinets housing all the sweet treats, the ice cream counter at the far end, everything edged in pink.
“Emma!”
I turned to see an old friend from high school smiling at me. “Maya! Holy shit, I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?”
She looked terrific, tall and slim with emerald-green eyes and long, brunette hair. “I’m great. How about you? I feel like I hardly ever see you these days.”
I told her a bit about my dad while we waited in line, and in return she told me a bit about her work as a park ranger. When it was our turn to be served, Maya called out, “Hey, Poppy?”
Poppy came out from the back, gesturing to the cashier that she’d take our order. “Yeah?” “We still on for Friday night, right?”
“For sure.” She ran her hand through her short, dark pink hair and smiled at me in greeting. “Lemme guess. Two red velvet cupcakes, yeah?”
“Yes, please.”
“You don’t mind if Emma comes along on Friday, do you?”
“Of course not! I’d love that. It’s only going to be about half the usual crew,” Poppy said apologetically, “but that’s better than nothing, right?”
“Oh, that’s sweet, but I wouldn’t want to intrude.” Maya and Poppy were part of an eight-girl friend group that went all the way back to the start of high school. They’d be fun to hang out with, but I didn’t want to crash the party, no matter how much I’d love to.
“Intrude nothing. We’re just going to Lacey’sfor a couple of drinks, nothing too fancy. Come on, don’t say no.”
“Seriously, I’d love to chat to you for more than five minutes about something other than cream cheese frosting,” Poppy chimed in.
