The Bakery Sisters (73 page)

“I want to get my mom a pair of earrings.” He didn't mention that for the past five years he hadn't bothered with a gift at all. He'd been too angry, then too lazy to bother. Another relationship that needed mending, he thought. Although Paula had been completely open to his apologies.

Jesse followed Matt inside the jewelry store. The beautiful pieces glittered and winked from behind their protective cases. At least everything was locked up so she didn't have to worry about Gabe bumping into a display or picking up something breakable. She relaxed her death grip on his hand, although still kept him close.

Matt walked up to the salesman behind one of the counters. “I'd like to see what you have in black Tahitian pearls,” he said firmly.

Jesse blinked. Okay, so he was a man who knew what he wanted. She wasn't sure she even knew what Tahitian pearls were.

“Right over here, sir,” the man said and moved to his left. He opened the back of the case and brought out several pairs of earrings.

She stared at the deeply colored pearls. They were lovely and sophisticated. Some dangled, some had diamonds. Matt pointed at the pair with the largest pearl, each set off by a sizeable diamond.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“They're exquisite,” she told him. “The dark pearls will be beautiful with Paula's coloring.”

“Good. I'll take these.”

Jesse noticed he didn't bother asking the price. She knew he could afford whatever they were. Five years ago he would have writhed and hesitated. Not because he was cheap but because he'd never spent the money he earned. He'd been too busy being a computer nerd. He'd been sweet and honorable and he'd made her feel safe. If she had to say what she'd missed the most when she'd left, she would have to admit it was how right she'd felt in his arms. Like she belonged. As if nothing bad would ever happen.

“Mommy, look.”

Gabe pointed to a display of diamond bracelets. Several of them looked expensive enough to cost the same as a small car.

“They're pretty.”

“I like that one.”

She looked at the white-gold bangle with graduated diamonds.

“It's very nice.”

Matt moved next to her. “Which one do you like?” he asked Gabe.

The boy pointed.

“You should try it on, Jess.”

She took a step back. “No, thanks.”

“Not your style?”

It was too beautiful for her to say that. “I don't have anywhere to wear it.”

The salesman pulled the bracelet out of the case. “Today women wear bracelets like this all the time.”

Not in her world, she thought, releasing Gabe and tucking her hands behind her back. “I'm okay. Thanks.”

“Just try it on,” Matt told her. “See how it looks.”

As if it could look bad. “I'm—” All three of them were staring at her. She sighed. “Fine. I'll try it on.”

“This is a Journey bracelet. Two carats of diamonds set in white gold.” He put it around her wrist.

It fit perfectly and looked amazing. Jesse had never tried on anything this lovely before. The diamonds seemed perfect, so bright and practically casting a rainbow when they caught the light.

“We'll take it,” Matt said.

She gasped. “No, we won't.”

“Why not? You like it. It looks good on you.”

“It's insane. I can't take this.”

“Your bracelet is pretty, Mommy,” Gabe said.

It was too much. It implied…she wasn't sure what, but something. It had to.

Matt leaned toward her. “A man giving the mother of his child a gift is traditional.”

“There's a stretch,” she muttered. “I can't. And even if I could, this is too extravagant.”

“Your gift with interest. Please, Jesse. I want you to have this.”

“It doesn't prove anything,” she whispered. “It's not going to make me like you more.”

The words sounded more harsh than she'd intended, but before she could apologize, he nodded.

“I know you well enough to believe that. Take the bracelet. Because it's nearly as beautiful as you are. Please.”

His dark gaze seemed to see inside of her, to the place that still wanted to believe in him.

“Matt, I—” She nodded. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

He looked pleased. Not victorious, but happy. Which shouldn't have made her feel better, but it did.

 

S
ATURDAY MORNING
, B
ILL
took Paula out to run some errands so the rest of them could get ready for the party. Matt arrived right at ten-thirty, his arms filled with bags and packages.

“I still have the cake in the car,” he said as he put everything on the kitchen table. Then he grabbed Gabe and swung him in his arms. “How's my best boy?” he asked.

Gabe laughed. “We bought ice cream.”

“I had to hide it in the back of the freezer,” Jesse told him, trying to keep things light, trying not to show how good it was to see him. “Why don't you go get the cake and I'll get this unpacked?”

“Sure.”

He ruffled Gabe's hair then went back out to his car. Jesse unpacked the various bags. He'd bought everything she'd asked him to. The three-foot sub sandwich she'd ordered, the matching paper napkins and cake plates. There were two sprays of flowers from the florist in Woodinville, a small wrapped package that was his mother's present and a bag full of cheesy birthday banners and party favors.

She set out the latter and had Gabe separate them into piles so they could fill goodie bags. Matt returned with the cake.

They worked together, setting the table, then slicing the sandwich. Matt blew up balloons and hung the banner. Gabe mostly got in the way, but Matt was patient.

Together they loaded the dozen or so goodie bags for all the guests. Matt held them open while Gabe dropped in the silly prizes. Jesse watched them, seeing the similarities in their eyes, the way they moved. Love filled her, for the boy and the man. Then she reminded herself what the man had done and turned away.

Paula and Bill got back at noon. Jesse, Gabe and Matt, joined by neighbors and Paula's friends, hid in the kitchen, then jumped out, yelling, “Surprise!”

She actually looked startled, then delighted. “A party for me? I haven't had one in years.” She gave them all a hug before they sat down to lunch.

Afterward, before Paula opened her presents, Bill took Jesse aside.

“How you doing?” he asked.

“Better.”

“Still hurting?”

She shrugged. No one wanted to hear the truth. She didn't want to live it, but it was impossible to escape.

He put a hand on her arm. “I don't know if this is the time or not, but I'm going to ask Paula to marry me tonight. When I take her to dinner.”

Jesse laughed. “Seriously? That's fast.”

He looked both pleased and chagrined. “I knew it was right the second I met her. We're old enough to know what we want and that's each other. I talked to Matt about it. Not to ask his permission, exactly, but to let him know my intentions.”

“What did he say?”

“That he was happy for us both.” Bill squeezed her arm. “I'm going to sell the bar. Paula and I have talked about getting a big RV and driving around the country for a couple of years. We'll come back here to see you and Gabe every couple of months, then settle here permanently when we're done seeing what we want to see.”

Jesse didn't want to think about them being gone, then reminded herself they were her friends and of course she wanted them to be happy.

“I told Matt,” Bill continued. “He wants to buy the house and give it to you. So you'll always have somewhere of your own. Paula and I will get our own place later.”

She didn't know what to think. “He can't buy me a house.” She'd thought the bracelet was too much.

“It's about making things right. He wants to take care of you and Gabe.”

Jesse couldn't believe it. “He got to you?”

“There's no getting. He made a mistake. It's going to be a long time before I trust him with your heart, but that doesn't mean he can't try to do the right thing.”

Was it doing the right thing or was it just for show? “I can't believe in him again,” she whispered. “I just—I need a second.”

She pushed past him and walked outside.

The air was quiet, the temperature warm. It was still summer, but soon the days would shorten and it would be fall. She'd already signed Gabe up for preschool. Time continued to flow, no matter how much she wanted to turn it back.

She heard footsteps behind her, then strong hands settled on her shoulders.

“You all right?” Matt asked.

He was so close, she thought longingly. All she had to do was relax and she could lean on him. Just let him take over and manage her life. The thought was tempting and very foolish.

“Bill told me that he's going to ask Paula to marry him,” she said.

“You're not out here because of that. You're upset about the house.”

She turned to face him. His hands fell to his sides and she desperately wanted them back on her. “You can't do that. You can't buy me things and expect it to be okay. It's not.”

“I want you to be taken care of. My mom will want to sell the house and you need a place to live. It's not like you're going to come and live with me.”

No, she wasn't going to do that. “Matt,” she began.

“I'll put the house in Gabe's name, if that will make you happy,” he said, cutting her off. “It can be in a trust fund until he's twenty-five. I want you to know you always have a place to go.” He cupped her cheek. “I can't take back what I did, but I'll do whatever I have to so I can prove myself to you. All I need from you is a chance. You still love me. I'm the father of your child. We belong together, Jesse. I'm not going anywhere. I'll prove it to you.”

She desperately wanted to believe him, but she couldn't. She knew that he would get tired of trying to win her and move on.

She turned away, but he grabbed her and pulled her close. Then his mouth was on hers, so hot and sweet she couldn't help but give in. She closed her eyes as his lips pressed against hers, claiming her, making her want him more than she wanted to breathe. Passion flared, then grew. She trembled with need and hope and finally with despair.

She drew back.

His eyes were dark with fire. His breathing was as fast and ragged as her own.

“You used up all your second chances already,” she whispered. “There's nothing you can say or do to make me trust you ever again.”

“I won't give up. I've spent the past five years missing you. I did my best to distract myself, but it didn't work. I love you, Jesse. I'd rather spend the rest of my life trying to change your mind than be with anyone else. I'm not going away. You'd better get used to that.”

She was too surprised by his words to move, so he got to be the one to walk away. She watched him return to the house, then closed her eyes and prayed that he meant everything he said and that she could one day forgive him.

“M
ATT'S MEETING US TOMORROW
morning,” Jesse said as she loaded the last of the dinner dishes in the dishwasher.

Paula stored the leftovers in the refrigerator. “Are you sure?”

“He called earlier and said he'd be there. He said he bought a new digital camcorder, so he can capture the whole event.” He'd also offered to make her a copy so they would both have Gabe's first day at his new preschool to view in the future.

Paula straightened, then frowned. “But the worldwide launch of his company's latest game is at eight in the morning. There's a simultaneous release around the world. They've been planning the event for months. It's been on the news.”

Jesse didn't know what to say. She'd known there was a new game in the works, but there was always a new game. “Why is this launch so special?”

“It's the sequel to some game from a few years ago. Apparently it's a big deal. People have been waiting for months. There are going to be launch parties all over the world and the ones sponsored by his company are being televised to each other. So if you're at the Seattle party, you can see people in London and Tokyo. According to
Business Week,
this game is supposed to increase profits at least thirty percent over last year. I can't believe Matt would miss all that.”

Jesse couldn't either. “He never mentioned anything to me,” she said slowly. “He's the president of the company. He should be there for that.”

“I guess he wants to prove a point,” Paula told her. “That family is more important than anything.”

He'd been doing a lot of proving lately, she thought. Showing up exactly on time for his days with Gabe, never returning him a second late. In the past few weeks, Matt had been attentive, caring and friendly, without pushing. There'd been no repeat of the kiss, a fact that should make her happy. She didn't trust him, right? But she sure missed his kisses, along with other things.

Jesse excused herself and went into her bedroom. Gabe was already in bed, probably dreaming about his first day of preschool. He was excited about starting school, about his teacher and making new friends. She was lucky—he'd always been a social kid, which meant she didn't have to worry about him not fitting in.

She booted up her computer, then went online and did a search for recent articles on Matt's company. There were a few press releases about the new game launch and the party. It seemed to be as big a deal as Paula claimed. There were also mentions of a recent stockholder meeting where Matt had arrived late. A few of the stockholders had taken issue with that and complained publicly.

Jesse checked the date, then compared it to her calendar. The afternoon Matt should have been at that meeting, he'd been with her and Gabe, buying their son new shoes for preschool. Now he was missing the launch of his company's biggest product all year because of Gabe's first day at school?

She picked up the phone and dialed his number.

“Hello?”

“Are you crazy?” she began. “You can't keep doing this. You can't miss important meetings at your company because of me and Gabe. I know we have a schedule for visitation and you want to be a part of things, but you're being ridiculous. Honestly, Matt, we could have rescheduled shoe shopping. I can't help the start of preschool, but I can take the camcorder and it will be just like you were there. As for the other stuff, we can always change the schedule. Or do you think I'm such a bitch, I can't be reasoned with?”

He was quiet for a second before saying, “I don't think you're a bitch at all. I'm not doing anything I don't want to do.”

“You missed your stockholder's meeting.”

“I was late, there's a difference.”

“This is your career. Your company. Your life.”

“It's not my life,” he told her. “Not the part that matters most. I want you and Gabe to know how much you matter to me. There may come a time when I feel comfortable moving things around, but for now, that's not going to happen.”

Was he insane or just plain stupid? “You have to be at the launch party.”

“I will be. I'll get there an hour late.”

“Everyone will notice. They'll write it up in the press.”

“No one who plays my games gives a damn about me being at the launch party.”

He might have a point about that. “You're making some really bad choices here.”

“Not from my perspective. I'm making the choices I should have made before.”

What was she supposed to say to that? “Okay, but don't linger tomorrow. You can stay until he's in his classroom, then take off.”

“I thought parents got to hang around for the first hour or so.”

“They do.”

“Then I'll be there.”

“You're a very stubborn man,” she grumbled.

“If you're saying I don't give up, you're right. I don't. I still miss you, Jess. And I love you. That hasn't changed.”

She clutched the phone tightly in her hand. Magic words. Words she desperately wanted to hear. But could she believe them? Trust them? Trust him? “Matt—”

“I know,” he said. “You want me to let it go. Only I won't. I won't stop telling you how I feel. I want us to be together, as a family. I'll wait as long as I have to—until you're willing to give me another chance.”

“And if that never happens?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

“Then I'm going to spend a lot of time missing you. See you in the morning.”

He hung up, leaving her alone in her room, listening to silence and wondering if she was doing the right thing or turning her back on the best offer she'd ever had.

 

A
FTER
G
ABE HAD CHARMED
his new teacher and made friends with nearly every kid in his class, Jesse drove to the construction site where she was meeting Nicole so they could review the new bakery's progress.

In the nearly three months since the fire, the rubble had been cleared, new plans drawn up, permits approved and a foundation poured. Rebuilding had moved at lightning speed, mostly due to the publicity the bakery had received. Every agency had cooperated, the insurance money had flowed freely and now they were only a few months away from a grand opening.

She parked beside a couple of construction trucks, next to Nicole's luxury SUV. When she got out, she saw both her sisters were there.

“How did it go?” Claire asked. “How was Gabe? Robby starts tomorrow. I don't know if he's going to cry, but I think I will.”

“He did better than me,” Jesse admitted. “He just sailed into the classroom and started talking to all the other kids. He doesn't get that from me. Or Matt. Somewhere in our past is a very chatty, outgoing relative.”

“Eric was only a little clingy,” Nicole said. “I thought Hawk was going to lose it, though.”

“I have everything on DVD,” Jesse said. “Or I will. Matt recorded everything and will make copies. If you're interested.”

“I am,” Nicole said. “We have Eric's big day recorded, too.”

“We'll do the same,” Claire said. “So maybe this weekend, we should all get together and relive the moment?”

Jesse laughed. “Sounds like a plan.” Who would have thought, after all this time, she and her sisters would finally find their ways back to each other? “So what's going on with the construction?”

Nicole groaned. “It's going fine, but the equipment is going to kill me. Do you know how much those new ovens you want are costing us?”

“Yes, but they're energy-efficient and they'll make back the difference in a year.”

“They'd better. For that price I also expect them to fluff and fold my laundry.”

“You're getting those fancy display cases,” Jesse reminded her. “I get my big specialty ovens.”

“And mixers.” Nicole turned to Claire. “They have enough horsepower to moonlight as Jet Skis. Plus there's custom packaging and a new logo. She's sucking up money faster than it's coming in.”

“We'll make it back,” Jesse said, confident in her decisions. “You'll see.”

“I'd better. At least the construction is going well. On time and under budget. It's like a miracle from God.”

“More money for equipment then,” Jesse teased.

“No and no. Did I mention no?” Nicole glared at her. “I swear, Jesse.”

“Yes? You swear what?”

Nicole groaned. “Talk to her,” she told Claire. “Make her see sense or hit her or something.”

Jesse grinned. “You love me.”

“I do, but some days—”

Jesse continued to smile. Oh, yeah. It was good to be home.

“How's Matt?” Claire asked.

Jesse's smile faded. “That was a subtle subject change. He's fine.”

“It's been over two months,” Claire said. “How long are you going to punish him?”

Jesse glanced longingly at her car. If she made a run for it, would her sisters follow? “I'm not punishing him. I'm being smart.”

“About what?” Nicole asked. The twins exchanged a look.

That wasn't good, Jesse thought. Obviously they'd been talking about her behind her back.

“We aren't trying to interfere,” Claire began.

“Yes, you are.” Jesse was clear on that. She just didn't know how to stop it.

“Fine. We're interfering,” Nicole said. “Matt screwed up. He more than screwed up. He was a total asshole. But he's obviously sorry and he's doing whatever you say. He's hung in there when most guys would have walked away.”

“That's it?” she asked, outraged. “He's already won you over? You don't care about what he tried to do?”

“Of course we care,” Claire said. “He was awful and stupid and he totally didn't think things through. But when he realized what he'd done, he took it back. We all make mistakes. We all screw up. We shouldn't be judged on the ways we mess up, but on how we try to make things right. Isn't that the true measure of who we are?”

Jesse didn't want to think about that. “Fine. He's sorry. He's trying. But for how long? It's been a couple of months. So what? He'll get bored eventually and go away.”

“Is that what you're waiting for?” Claire asked. “Is that what you think is going to happen?”

“I don't know.” Jesse just knew she didn't trust him. “He wanted me to fall in love with him so he could rip out my heart. Now he claims he loves me. How am I supposed to ever trust him?”

“You take a leap of faith,” Claire said. “You give him a chance. Jesse, you love him. Even after all this. You're trying to punish him, but the person you're hurting most is yourself.”

“I'm very comfortable with that,” Jesse muttered. “I won't risk it. I need to be sure about him.”

“Which is the real problem,” Nicole said. “Because the person you really don't trust in all this isn't Matt. It's you.”

Jesse opened her mouth, then closed it. “That's just crap.”

“No, it's not. You're terrified that if you give your heart to him again and he tramples all over it, you won't survive. You don't think you're strong enough to handle the rejection, so you take the safe way out. You don't bother trying. But by doing that, you may be cheating yourself out of the best thing that ever happened to you. You love him, Jess. It's been five years and you never stopped loving him. He's Gabe's father—he's not going away. So your choices are simple. You accept that every relationship comes with risks or you turn your back on him. You walk away and spend the rest of your life regretting all the things you weren't brave enough to go for.”

Nicole stared at her. “You're not a quitter and you're not a coward. Giving up isn't like you. You take risks and to hell with the consequences.”

“Look where that got me,” Jesse said.

“Yeah, look.” Nicole shook her head. “You raised a great kid totally on your own. You came up with a business plan, a killer brownie, you got your AA degree. You thrived. I'm so proud of the person you've become. Look what my baby sister did all by herself.”

Jesse's eyes burned with unexpected tears. “Don't you dare get all mushy on me,” she whispered.

“Why not? You earned it. I love you, Jess, but you're going to hate yourself forever if you don't give Matt another chance.”

Jesse wasn't sure who moved first, but suddenly she and Nicole were hugging.

“I love you,” she whispered fiercely.

“Not as much as I love you,” Nicole told her.

“Group hug,” Claire said, throwing herself at both of them. “I just love having sisters.”

“Me, too,” Jesse said, feeling their affection wash over her.