William Jarvis - Sky Valley 03 - Mayhem at the Mansion (3 page)

“I know!” He said. “I always try to explain that they’re different from the usual kind of pastry but people do not seem to listen to me.”

“I know,” Emmy laughed. “Some of them also think that macarons and macaroons are the same!”

Emmy felt a little better talking to this guy. Somehow, she felt like she was in Paris again and that it’s okay to not think about anything crazy and just focus on what she has right now. She has never felt that way in a long while.

“Sorry for acting crazy earlier.” She said. “I didn’t really mean it. It’s just…things have been pretty hard recently.”

“You don’t have to explain.” He smiled. “Although, that Daniel guy still seems to have a thing for you.”

“It’s complicated between us.”

“Ah!” Frank said. “You know, complicated is a vile word.”

She smiled lightly. “I can’t say I don’t agree.”

“Maybe, you’ve been too caught up in your world with him a little too much and you need to explore some more. You know, get out there, just forget about things that are dragging you down…Remember how Paris is like, this world of its own? It made me feel like I am capable of anything and I’m sure you know what I mean.”

She nodded her head. Paris has always made her feel like there are a lot of great things in the world and that she could achieve what she wants to achieve. It made her feel like she’s capable of being the woman she always dreamed of becoming. She loved Sky Valley, yes, but recently, it had proven to be quite the opposite of what she remembered it to be. It drove her crazy and it made her just want to go back to Paris but it’s not as simple as that anymore. It’ll never really be simple anymore.

And maybe, this Frank guy is right. Maybe, she has to start thinking like she’s back in Paris again so she could feel great about herself again.

“I couldn’t agree more.” She smiled.

“So…does this mean that you’re coming to the party?”

She took a deep breath. “I guess so.”

“Perfect!” He exclaimed and gave her a hug. “Oh and…can you give me a favor?”

“What?”

“Can you bake some pastries for the event? Maybe, some macarons and all those? I know you could do it.”

“Oh, I’m not so sure about that. I mean, my baking life has not exactly been rosy recently and I’m sure people are going to talk—“

“Nonsense.” He said. “It’s my party and I’ll be there. Plus, why would you let them get to you? You can start again. You can show them that you can do this.”

“The last time I tried doing that, I failed and someone died.”

“Just because it happened before doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.” He answered. “You have to trust yourself again, Emmy. I’m here. I’ll be here for you. I know we still don’t know each other a lot but we’ll get to that and…and I believe in you. You can do this.”

Emmy took a deep breath. She thought about how she let the opinions of other people rule her life in the past couple of months and how it affected her and she really didn’t want to live the rest of her life that way. She knew that she was bigger than all those things and even if there were still a lot of problems, she couldn’t really let those put her life on hold.

“You know what?” She said. “Maybe, you’re right. Maybe, I really should try again.”

He smiled. “I knew I could count on you.”

She smiled back. It was nice to have a new friend, after all.

“So…” he said, “See you at the mansion?”

She smiled. “Sure.” She said. “See you.”

CHAPTER
5
SHE’S COOKING AGAIN

Emmy didn’t waste any time. She went to the grocery after that conversation with Frank and bought some ingredients that she could use to make some pastries and sweets. She filled her shopping bags with sugar, flour, fresh fruits, flavorings, and everything else that could help her. She even bought some new boxes and ribbons that she could use for packaging and even some utensils that would make baking easy for her. She never felt this excited in so long.

As she made her way to the front door of the house, she noticed that some of the neighbors were looking at her. They were looking at her many shopping bags, noticing that what she bought was meant for cooking.

“Oh look!” One of the neighbors, Mara, a 50-something lady with red curls who loved to wear maxi dresses said. “She’s cooking again!”

“If I were her, I would continue to lock myself inside that house. People might die, you know!” They laughed.

Emmy took a deep breath. She knew that she had to say something but she could no longer tolerate this. These people were just too much.

“Hey.” She said. “You know what? If I were me, I would punch the hell out of you.”

Mara and her friend were dumbstruck and they walked back a bit.

Emmy went on. “You don’t know what happened at that coffee shop or at the resort. No one really knows. But sooner or later, the truth will come out and all of you will be dead to me. All you’re good at is spreading rumors and I am so much more than that. So back off. Oh and just so you know? Yeah, I’m cooking again. Scared now?”

Mara bit her lip and rolled her eyes. She then went back inside of her house with her friend which made Emmy smile. She instantly went to the kitchen and prepared the things and ingredients that she needed to make some Mango Macarons.

She beat the egg whites until they were foamy, then added cream of tartar, salt, and sugar. Then, she stirred in the mangoes and the food coloring and she folded them in until everything was well-blended. She also added mango juice and buttercream and mixed some more. Then she placed the filling in a piping bag and piped perfect circles on a baking tray.

She placed the tray inside the oven and waited for the macarons to be baked. Then, when they were done, she took them out and looked at them. The smell of mangoes enveloped the room and for the first time in a long time, she felt happy with herself.

“That smells great!” Troy’s voice boomed into the room.

“Hi Daddy!” Emmy said as she greeted her dad who just came inside the room.

“Wow, you made macarons?” Troy said. “You’re baking again!” He exclaimed. “That’s amazing.”

She laughed. “Thanks, dad.” She said. “I actually saw Frank at the park earlier today…”

“Frank? Frank who?”

“You know, that guy who sent that invitation.”

"Oh! That Frank. So, how was that?"

"It was good, actually. He was nice and apparently, he also lived in Paris for a while. And, well, he asked me to make pastries for the party."

"Wow! That's great, honey!"

She grinned. "I know!" She said. “Well, at least I kind of feel like I can now start over again.”

“Don’t worry too much.” Troy said. “It’s going to be fine.”

“I do hope so.” Emmy said. “Oh, I really hope so.”

CHAPTER 6
PARTY AT THE MANSION

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Audrina!

I really wish you were here. I feel pretty crazy right now. I mean, I haven’t been to any parties in a while and I’m making the desserts for this one so you know…Gaaaaah! I seriously have no idea what to feel. I’m kind of freaking out.

Xx

Em

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Emmy, Emmy, Emmy.

You still haven’t changed!

I know life has been full of stumbles and crashes recently but you got this, love. Kill them with those pastries.

I mean, well, you know what I mean.

Audrina

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Everyone thinks I’m already going to kill them, you know. Lol

Come back soon! Or are you thoroughly enjoying Guatemala?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Well, Guatemala’s lovely but yeah well, I miss Sky Valley some days. Anyway, you haven’t told me much about this Frank guy. Is he cute?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Now that’s the Audrina I know! Lol

Yeah, well, he looks great. He seems cocky at first but he’s actually nice. He even lived in Paris for a while so that’s something we have in common. It’s nice to make friends again.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Really? Just friends?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Just friends, Audrina. And oh! I really should get going now. Don’t want to be late. I’ll tell you what happened later, okay? Hopefully everything will be okay.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: the party

Just relax. You got this.

Emmy made her way to the party. She entered the back door of Frank’s house so she could make her way to the kitchen and line up the pastries that will be served. Luckily, Frank had a couple of maids who willingly helped her.

Finally, everything was set up on the dining table. There were French Mango Macarons, Pistachio Peanut Butter Cups, Apple Pecan Pies, Strawberry Macarons, Layered Lava Cake, and even Spicy Chocolate cake. Emmy was happy seeing them like that and so she decided to change clothes at one of the many bathrooms in Frank’s house. He toured her earlier in the day.

Then, once she finished dressing up, she looked at herself in the mirror and saw how great the velvety red dress that she was wearing fit her. She thought she did her make-up well. She looked poised and elegant—like she was perfect for this occasion.

“Hello beautiful.” Frank said as he saw Emmy coming out of the bathroom. “Look at you. You look great.”

Emmy couldn’t help but smile. “You look great yourself!” She said. “I mean, look at you. And look at this place!” She stood at the foot of the stairs and realized that she hasn’t exactly allowed herself to be in awe of how lovely the place was. She felt like she was in her own castle and that she was a princess. She loved how the stairs were carpeted, how there were big shining balls above, how the chandeliers were all grand and festive and how beautiful everything was. In fact, she did not feel like she was in Sky Valley.

“Thank you.” Frank said. “And your pastries are amazing!” He said. “I won’t deny that I tasted some before everybody else.” He laughed.

Emmy found herself laughing as well. “And did you like them?”

“Did I like them? No!” He said which made Emmy confused. “Actually,” he said, “I loved them. Are you kidding me by asking me that question? I mean, those macarons were on point.”

She smiled then found herself laughing lightly again. “I’m glad you liked them.”

“I feel like I just want to hire your services all year!”

She laughed. “You’ll get tired of those pastries.”

“Oh I don’t think I will.” He smiled.

Just then, music enveloped the house. Paolo Nutini’s “Million Faces” played and Frank and Emmy found themselves looking each other in the eyes.

“May I have this dance?” Frank asked.

Emmy smiled. “Yes.” She answered.

She placed her hands on Frank’s shoulders as his hands encircled her waist. They slow-danced to the music.

“I wish I met you earlier.” He said.

“Really,” Emmy said, “Why?”

“I don’t know.” Frank said. “Do you ever meet people and feel like they’re actually people who can be a big part of your life? Like, somehow, you’re connected?”

She took a deep breath. “That’s well…it’s too early to tell if we’re connected.” She smiled. “But you know…to be honest, I haven’t been friends with anyone in a while. It’s been such a long time, actually. I’m just glad I found you because at least, I don’t feel so alone anymore.”

“That’s good to hear.” He smiled. “And you know what?” He said. “I think it’s high time that people outside know who made those desserts. I mean, they’re all great and you deserve all the praise.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I mean…they may not really appreciate it if they knew that I’m the one who made all those desserts.”

“Don’t be silly.” He said. “You’re here. You have to stop hiding.”

She took a deep breath. She thought about how she planned of taking a stand, and show she actually fought for herself against those gossip mongers at home. So, why can’t she do it now?

She can. She knows that she can.

“You’re right.” She said. “I shouldn’t really be scared.”

“And I’m here.” He said. “I’ll be with you.”

She nodded her head. This night already seemed perfect. Nothing should go wrong.