Baking Love (16 page)

Mark’s gaze slid to Jess. “Uh…”

Kate frowned. “What is it?” She looked at Jess as well.

Jess stared at her for a long moment. “Cecilia and Eric didn’t get married.”

Shock seized her, rendering her nearly speechless. “They…didn’t get married?”

“No.”

I can’t believe this!
“Why not?”

“We don’t know.”

“Cecilia and Eric didn’t show up for photos,” Mark told Kate. “No one seemed to know why, or where they were.”

“I was getting dressed for the wedding when Mark called and told me,” Jess said. “I just assumed they’d decided to take photos after the ceremony, so I went on to the Wynnfield House.”

“What happened there?” Kate asked, hanging on her friends’ every word.

“The place was packed, people were smiling, music was playing—everything seemed fine.”

“Around five o’clock, the wedding party gathered in the foyer to line up,” Mark explained. “Cecilia and her father weren’t there, and neither was Maryanne, so we started lining ourselves up. About that time, Maryanne came down the hall, frowning and mumbling to herself. She walked right past us and down the aisle. She said something to Reverend Wilson and the musicians, then turned to the guests and announced there wouldn’t be a wedding.”

Kate met Jess’s gaze. “He didn’t get married?”

“They didn’t get married.”

Kate forced herself to process what Jess and Mark had told her.
Eric didn’t exchange vows with Cecilia. He didn’t put a wedding ring on her finger. He isn’t waking up to her this morning.

Eric isn’t Cecilia’s husband.

A smile crept across Kate’s face.
Maybe I still have a chance with him after all.

Shame stung her.
These two people found each other, fell in love, and pledged to give their hearts and lives to one another, only to have that pledge shattered in the final hours before their wedding. How could I celebrate that for a second?
Kate felt tears welling up in her eyes.
Eric should’ve had his happily ever after. It’s the least he deserves.

“I wonder what happened to the cake,” Mark mused.

“Mark!” Jess snapped.

“What?”

“That’s insensitive!”

Insensitive or not, part of me wonders the same thing.

“It doesn’t matter what happened to the cake,” Jess scolded him. “What matters is we did the job we were hired to do.”

“Now it’s time to go home,” Kate added. She and Jess finished packing, then followed Mark out of the room.

As they headed downstairs to check out, Kate’s mind spun with questions.
Who called off the wedding, and why? Where is Eric? Is he alright? Will I ever see or hear from him again?

They stepped up to the front desk and handed their room keys to the receptionist. She smiled brightly. “How was your stay?”

“Unforgettable,” Jess smiled back.

The woman typed on her computer for a moment, then looked up. “Which of you is Kate Sullivan?”

“I am,” Kate said.

The woman handed her a letter-sized envelope. “This was left for you earlier.”

“Thanks.”

She smiled again. “You’re all set. Have a great day.”

“You, too.”

They walked outside, and Kate stopped on the terrace. She tore the envelope open and pulled out a folded piece of paper. A second piece fell to the ground, and Jess picked it up. “What’s that?” Kate asked her.

“A check from the Prescotts for the remainder owed on the wedding cake.”

“Awesome,” Mark piped up.

Kate read from the piece of paper in her own hand. “‘Dear Kate and Jess, Thank you for a job well-done. Feel free to use us as references. Sincerely, Walter and Loraine Prescott’.”

“References?” Jess repeated with excitement in her voice. “Having the Prescotts as references for Sullivan’s is almost better than the check—almost.”

“Yeah,” Kate agreed absent-mindedly.

“What?”

Kate folded the note and slid it in her back pocket. “Something about Cecilia and Eric doesn’t add up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did they call off their wedding at the last minute? I mean, if they were having problems, why not call it off in the weeks before? At least that way, they could’ve spared their parents’ wallets and their guests’ time.”

“Maybe they weren’t having problems,” Jess replied thoughtfully. “
Maybe
something happened this weekend that led them to call it quits.”

“Maybe you’re both right,” Mark chimed in.

Kate and Jess looked at him.

“Maybe they were having problems, but the final straw didn’t come until this weekend.”

Kate, Jess, and Mark stood staring at each other. It was entirely possible they would never know which one of them was right.

* * * *

Kate lay on her sofa, staring out the window at the sunset. Eric was on her mind, and had been the entire drive home from the Wynnfield Estate.
I want to let him know I’m here for him—but how? I could call him on his mobile since I don’t know where he’s staying. No, he probably needs some space right now. I could leave a message for him with his parents…

Kate’s gaze slipped to her phone lying on the coffee table.
Would he be glad to hear from me, or would a message do more harm than good? Would he and his family think I’m merely trying to be nosy?

Eric’s face flashed again in her mind, and her decision was made.
I’m calling.

She reached over and scooped up her phone.
I’ve dialed Mr. and Mrs. Wagner’s number so many times in the past, dialing it now is like second nature.

The line rang four times before the answering machine picked up. “Hello, you’ve reached Frank and Ellen Wagner. We can’t get to the phone right now, but if you’ll leave your name and number, we’ll return your call as soon as possible. Have a nice day.” The beep sounded.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Wagner. This is Kate Sullivan. I hope you’re doing well. I’m actually calling with a message for Eric, so forgive me for leaving it on your machine. I’m just not sure where else to leave it.”
Stop rambling.
“If you could let Eric know his friends are thinking about him and are here for him if he needs anything, we’d appreciate it. Thanks, and have a good evening.”

Kate ended the call and immediately second-guessed her decision to leave a message.
I hope I didn’t just make matters worse.

Tuesday, July 3

As Kate sat at the work table making fondant roses for a birthday cake, Jess came through the kitchen door. “I need your help,” she told Kate.

“Okay.”

“I have a customer who wants to order a cake.”

Kate frowned. “Why do you need my help?”

“You’ve handled an order like this before.”

“What does the customer want?”

“He wants a red velvet cake…only he wants the cake to be blue instead of red.”

Kate dropped the fondant rose she was holding. “Is it Eric?”

Jess smiled.

“Is Eric out there?” She jumped off her stool and pushed through the door.

He stood on the other side of the display case.

Kate’s heart beat wildly. “Eric.”
I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again.
“How are you?”

“Not bad.”

She walked out from behind the counter and realized Eric was wearing a suit…
and
a tie.

“It’s nice to see you,” he said, his hands in his pockets.

“You, too.”

“How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Good. How are Jess and Mark?”

“They’re fine.”

“Good.” He paused. “I came by to ask you if you want to hang out and talk sometime.”

“We can talk now, if you like.”
I’m so eager to hear what you have to say.

“I would, but I’ve got a job interview in half an hour.”

That explains the suit.
“How will you make it back to Manhattan in half an hour?”

“My interview isn’t in Manhattan. It’s in Hillsborough. My life in New York is over.”

Of course. His main ties to Manhattan were cut: he graduated from college, and he parted ways with his fiancée.
Kate suppressed the urge to cringe.
Wish I’d thought of that before I opened my mouth.
“I hope your interview goes well.”

“Thanks.”

“To answer your question, I
would
like to hang out. What are you doing for the Fourth?”

“Not a thing.”

“Why don’t you come to my house? We’ll go down to the watering hole and have a few beers, maybe grill some burgers.”

A smile of seeming realization spread across Eric’s face. “You own the farmhouse now.”

Kate returned his smile. “I do.”

His eyes twinkled. “I’ll be there.”

“Perfect.”
I can’t wait.

Eric’s gaze slid from Kate to the clock on the wall. “I’d better get going. I don’t want to be late.”

Would it be out of line to hug him before he leaves? Probably so.
Kate extended her hand.

He frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Waiting to shake your hand.”

“Why?”

“You said you have to go.”

“I know, but why do we need to shake hands first?”

“I would hug you, but I don’t know if I should.”

“Do you think I’ll break?”

“No. I’m just not sure if hugging you would be appropriate at this particular juncture.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

You might still be in love with Cecilia.
“I don’t want to do anything disrespectful.”

Eric pulled his hands from his pockets. “Come here.”

Kate closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around him. Her face pressed against his silk tie as she hugged him tightly.
I wish I knew what to say to make you feel better.

“Hey,” he said softly.

She looked up and met his gaze.

“You made the groom’s cake blue.”

Kate couldn’t help but smile. “Did you like it?”

“It was the most awesome thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe you did that for me.”

“I’d do anything for you.” She quickly continued. “We’re friends, after all.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Thanks, too, for the message you left with my parents. It made my day.”

Now I’m glad I left it.
Kate pulled away from Eric and noticed his tie was crooked. She started to straighten it. “I thought you hated ties.”

“I do, but I really want this job.”

“Ah.” She lowered her hands. “There.”

“How’d you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“That I hate ties?”

“You were my best friend for five years. How could I forget?”

A smile tugged at the corners of Eric’s mouth, but he didn’t reply.

Don’t make him late.
“Good luck with your interview.”

He blinked. “Right, thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you then.” He left, and Kate ran toward the kitchen. She couldn’t wait to tell Jess that Eric Wagner was back in Hillsborough…for good.

Wednesday, July 4

Kate and Eric sat at the edge of the watering hole, their legs dangling in the warm water. The evening was sticky and hot, and Kate could see storm clouds brewing in the distance.

She and Eric had made small talk earlier while grilling burgers, but Kate knew those conversations weren’t the reason he’d asked her to get together. She figured the reason had everything to do with his cancelled wedding, but by no means was she going to broach that subject. Whatever he wanted to talk about was his conversation to start. Meanwhile, she would listen to crickets chirp in the grass and watch dragonflies hover above the water. “You want another beer?” she asked Eric.

“Sure.”

She pulled the last two bottles from the cooler. They were wet from melting ice, and they dripped onto her shorts. She popped off the caps and handed a bottle to Eric, then took a drink from the other.

“I called off my wedding.”

Kate nearly choked on beer. “You did?”

“Yeah.”

Her heart pounded in her chest.
Tell me why, tell me why.

“Cecilia was insecure in our relationship.”

Insecure?
“What do you mean?”

“She didn’t trust me around other women. I finally got tired of it.”

Eric is the last man on earth who would cheat. Why was Cecilia concerned?

He took a drink. “I started noticing her insecurities after we got engaged. Whenever I’d talk to other women, Cecilia would give me the silent treatment or make snide comments later. She even felt threatened by the women in my study group. I spent so much time and energy trying to prove my love for her, yet my efforts never seemed to be enough. It was exhausting.”

Wow.
“I see.”

“I could tell Cecilia also felt threatened by you.”

“That makes sense, seeing as I’m a woman.”

“Actually, I think it had more to do with the fact I’d had feelings for you in the past.”

“How’d she find out you’d had feelings for me?”

“In the course of getting to know one another, she and I talked about high school—you know, just comparing experiences. I mentioned my friendship with you, and Cecilia asked me point-blank if I’d ever had romantic feelings for you. I didn’t want to lie to her, so I told her I had.” Eric shook his head. “I should’ve lied.”

“She gave you hell?”

“She did when the time came to pick a baker for our wedding cake, and I told her I wanted to use Sullivan’s.”

“Oh.”

“She immediately assumed I was just trying to be near you again. In truth, I wanted to use Sullivan’s as a way to honor my hometown on my wedding day.”

Kate’s heart melted.
Wish you could’ve heard that, grandma.

“Once Cecilia finally gave in and met with you, it seemed like all she could talk about from that point on was how she didn’t think you’d really be able to make the wedding cake she wanted.”