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My eyes widened in shock. “That can’t be right.”
“Oh, it is, I had a lawyer friend of my dad’s check it out. It’s all legit.”
“What’s all that?” I asked and pointed at the envelope he still had clutched in his hand.
He blew out a deep breath before he spoke. “Eli, I know I was such a dick to you for years, and I will never be able to fully make up for that. But we’re amazing together.”
“Babe, we’ve already talked about this. None of the past matters, and you’re right, we are amazing,” I whispered and leaned in close to him just as the waiter set our food down.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said before rushing off.
“What are you trying to say?” I asked.
He took another deep breath and handed me the envelope. “I wanted to make sure that you feel as much a part of the business as I am. We’re partners and I wanted to make that all as legal as possible. I never want you to feel like you’re not a part of it all.”
I opened the envelope to find a contract not only for the building which confirmed our rent would be exactly one dollar every month, but that also put in writing that we were equal partners in P.M. Kisses. When I looked up at Randy his eyes were already on me. “When we started this business, it felt like we sort of just fell into it. But the more we work together themore I want to work with you. I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather share this adventure with, but are you sure you want to share it? I know this business is your dream.” I waited for his answer, and realized I was holding my breath. I knew exactly how much this meant to him, and I needed him to be sure.
“Eli, you are my dream come true. A sweet guy that loves to bake. You’re the only person I could ever imagine sharing my dream with. Now what do you think? Will you be my partner?” I knew what he meant, and a part of me wished he meant a different sort of partner, and somehow, I knew someday we’d be partners in more than just business. I took his hand and kissed it making him grin while his lip trembled.
“So, it looks like we’re going to doing a lot of baking.”
He smiled then and took a forkful of brownie and put it to my lips. “Looks like. But first, let’s eat this wonderful dessert.” He waited for my reaction as I hurried to get a forkful of sticky pudding to share with him. “Mmmm so good,” he groaned.
“So good,” I agreed. We laughed and after both of us read over the contract he’d brought, we spent the rest of the time trying to deconstruct each of the desserts. Dinner was amazing, dessert was even better, but knowing without a doubt that Randy and I were on equal ground was the surprise I never thought I needed.
Epilogue
Randy
It had been a year ago that Eli had surprised me with a trip to Tahoe, now here it was the week before Valentine’s Day and the two of us were working the front counter of P.M. Kisses. It had been a year of adjustments and I’d learned just how much patience Eli had because I was not an easy person to work with.
“Three more orders of cookie nachos,” Eli said as he walked into the kitchen of our small business. The front had originally been a café, but we decided we didn’t want to deal with drinks and other foods. So, we operated more like a bakery with daily and monthly specialty cookies. So far, it had been very successful.
“On the counter,” I said and worked on the custom iced hearts we were nearly done with for the year. “I’ll have these done soonso if the customers come in to get them just yell and I’ll bring them up front.”
He kissed me on the cheek as he took the boxes from the counter. “I will.” He hurried off to the front, and I thought about the plans I’d made for us. Eli was here helping but he still worked at his aunt’s gift shop, so he’d be going there for his shift soon. Then I’d be on my own, which was fine. I’d realized I really did like working here better than at home. It was a great place to test recipes but was also so much easier to bake all the orders we got here.
Memories of last year ran through my mind making me smile. Eli always surprised me, and it had been nice to do something for him he didn’t expect by making him legally a full partner in all aspects of the business. It wasn’t a hard decision. He worked hard, and never once asked for anything in return other than the joy of seeing the business grow and succeed. And succeed it did. This year it was my turn to surprise him again. He knew we were going to Tahoe for the evening, but he expected it to be like last year. I’d actually booked the same room as we’d had last year and made reservations at the same restaurant. But this year would be different.
He walked back into the room pulling me from my thoughts and for a moment I thought I’d somehow spoiled the surprise with my thoughts alone. It hit me how important this was, and how badly I wanted to get it right.
“Okay, I think almost everyone who has an order has picked it up. No one has come in yet for the custom hearts so I’m sure they’ll be here soon. I’m going to go ahead to the gift shop.” He took off his apron and hung it on the hook we always kept them on and washed his hands. “Is there anything else you need me to do before I leave?” I pointed at my lips, and he leaned in and kissed me. “Anything else?”
“Nope, that’s all I need,” I said, and packed the custom cookies I’d decorated earlier. “These are all ready. I’ll clean up and double-check we took care of everything. Don’t forget to leave the sign on the door with my number in case I don’t hear them knock.” I worked here alone a lot, and we’d decided it was better to put a sign out front with my number so they could call rather than knocking and me not hearing them. I could relax knowing I wouldn’t miss a customer, and it kept them happy knowing they could reach someone.
“Okay, I’m off to work. Well, to my other job,” Eli said and laughed. He worked so hard, and he made it all look easy. “Don’t forget we have tomorrow off.” He kissed me again before hurrying out the front and down the street to the gift shop.
He didn’t know it yet, but I’d made a few more plans that would blow him away, one of them was the ring that was currently hidden in the bag I planned to take with me. I had it all planned out. We’d eat dinner just like we did last year, and when they served dessert, his would include a little box just to the side of his dish. Imagining his face made me smile to myself and my eyes prickle with emotion. I loved him, and if I was ever going to commit my life and heart to someone, it was going to be Eli.
“Now if I can just get everything done in time to leave,” I mumbled to myself.
“Randy?” A familiar voice was barely legible through the locked front door a while later. I hurried out front to find my sister there with her hands shading her eyes trying to look inside. She rushed in when I unlocked the door. “Do you have it all ready?”
“Yes. I have the ring already packed in my bag. I called the restaurant, and they had no problem with setting it all up. I just need to get it to them when we first get there,” I explained to Kelsey. She’d helped me plan this from the very first moment I’dhad the idea while sipping a coffee at the coffee shop she worked at.
“When you’re seated just get up and go to the bathroom, then on the way grab a waiter and explain to him you need to talk to whoever it is you set it all up with.”
“Oh, good idea.”
