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Chapter 1
Colleen carried the new tray of food to the table, arranging it as the party continued around her. A voice caught her attention and she felt her heart stop as the person attached to it came into view. She nearly dropped the tartlet as memories played through her mind and she hurried back into the sanctuary of the kitchen to get herself under control.
“You look like you just saw a ghost Leen,” her assistant Meredith said catching sight of her white face. “Don’t tell me you’re getting sick. We have a full schedule coming up the next few weeks. I don’t know what it is about spring and babies but it certainly does us good.”
“No, I’m not getting sick.” Colleen’s voice shook as she finished preparing the cupcake cake. “I just saw my ex-mother-in-law out there.”
“Holy shit, did she see you?” Meredith asked hurrying over to her side as she lowered her voice despite it being just them in the room.
“No, thank god.” She stopped before she toppled the cupcakes over as her hands shook again. “Why do I have to see her now for? I was just getting past everything finally. I’m finally in a decent spot between the catering and Tommy. I do not need the past drudged up again, especially not in the middle of a baby shower.”
“Okay, calm down,” Meredith said rubbing her shoulders to stop her from having a full-fledged panic attack. “I’ll check on the trays in the party while you finish arranging the cupcakes and then I’ll take them back out there. No one will see you in here I promise.”
“Alright.” Colleen took a few deep breaths as she let her friend head out to ensure their food was being eaten. She hated parties where it wasn’t touched despite it being delicious.
Meredith came back in a few minutes later with a smile on her face. “Everyone loves the fruit tartlets; it was a good call to make them.”
“Good, let’s hope they continue to refer me to friends so we don’t go broke,” she mused with a grin finishing the cupcake platter.
“Uh Leen, you know I’m not the steadiest when it comes to trays.” Colleen saw Meredith studying the precariously placed cupcakes that created a gorgeous rubber ducky.
“I know, but I’m okay now.” She strengthened herself to get through the shower. “I know I almost flipped out but considering everything that happened between Avery and me…I just didn’t expect to have it all flash back through my mind.”
“You’re sure?” Meredith asked and Colleen nodded pushing away all the memories that she never wanted to live through again. “Okay, ready to reveal all to the mommy-to-be?”
“Yup, let’s do it.”
Meredith pushed open the door to the kitchen area to let her walk through and she couldn’t help but pick out the voices of not only her ex-mother-in-law but also her ex-sisters-in-law. Of course, all three of them would be at this party they never did anything alone.
“Mom, you have to try this cherry tartlet, it’s better than anything I’ve ever had,” Alana said taking one over to her.
“You know I don’t like tartlets any longer,” Julia stated looking at her oldest daughter.
“Just try it Mom, I swear nothing compares to these,” Addison added and she watched out of the corner of her eye as Julia took a delicate bite of it.
“This…no, it can’t be,” Julia said shaking her head and Colleen knew she recognized the flavor of it. She had made it the first time Avery introduced them. She had been a shy, quiet twenty-one-year-old anxious to meet the woman who would become her mother-in-law and the only place she felt at home was in the kitchen.
What she wouldn’t give to go back and change all of that, especially her marriage to Avery, the man who swore to love and cherish her till death do they part. Instead, the marriage only lasted until he found someone else, someone prettier, someone more glamorous and older than her. It might not have hurt as much had he went for someone younger than her, she could have turned it all onto Avery then—that he simply wanted youth, but he hadn’t. He’d chosen a woman nearly his age to go to, claiming he no longer wanted her, no longer loved her, and no longer had any desire to be near her.
She pushed away the dark memories that came after that and moved the cupcakes to the table, setting them down as the party planner got the room’s attention. Sabrina stopped her before she could leave as she excitedly took off the top cupcake after a few photos with the cupcake cake and her.
“These are almost too cute to eat,” Sabrina told her as the room watched her unwrap the cupcake. “The surprise is really inside it isn’t it?”
“It’s not a surprise otherwise is it?” Colleen smiled and Sabrina laughed taking a bite. She waved her hand excitedly when she saw the pink center as she finished her bite. “Congratulations Sabrina,” she told the woman who hugged her tightly.
“It’s a girl,” Sabrina told the others happily, as Colleen tried to sneak back to the kitchen.
“Colleen?” Julia said stopping her, and she saw the surprise on the little groups’ faces.
“Julia, Alana, Addison, excuse me, I have to get back to the kitchen,” she lied taking a step towards it.
“What are you doing here?” Addison asked looking her outfit over. “You’re working?”
“Yes, excuse me,” she said again moving into the kitchen, her entire body shaking this time. The blackness was threatening the edges of her vision and she stepped out onto the balcony to let the cool air stop it. She blinked back the tears and let the shake run through her as Meredith cupped her shoulders and hugged her.
“It’s okay honey, it’s all okay,” Meredith promised waiting until she was calmer before going back out to check on the food again. She saw the majority was gone and took the last trays out, seeing the way a group of three women watched the doors eagerly. She wanted to march over to them and tell them to leave Colleen alone, but she couldn’t, it would hurt the business to be rude to guests of the people paying them.
Colleen finished packing their things to go, leaving out enough boxes to pack the food to either leave or drop off at the shelter. Meredith moved around her making sure she didn’t go off the deep end she was sure, but it was soothing to know her friend was there for her.
