Si probably wasn’t wrong aboutthat.
“Alright, but I can’t say long,” I warned him as I let him pull me a few feet down the sidewalk and in the door. “I have things to unpack, and a staff meeting at the school tomorrow, and…and…”
Holyshit.
If the place smelled good from outside, it was nothing compared to the absolute fragrancewonderlandinside. It was buttery, sugary perfection. And I barely noticed the cute little tables and chairs arranged in front of the lace-curtained windows, because my attention was caught by the dizzying array of baked goods in the glass case at the front counter. There were intricately decorated cakes, muffins as big as my head, and rows of cupcakes in different flavors. A tray of cookies sat atop the counter, so fresh they were stillsteaming.
My empty stomach gave an embarrassingly loud rumble. I hadn't even thought Ilikedsweetsanymore.
“I can’t quite tell if you like me, Everett Maior,” Si said, his voice a joking whisper in my ear and his arm still firmly around my shoulder. “But I know your stomach does. Did you ever remember to eat before you metme?”
I tried to pretend the shiver that went down my spine was purely from hunger and that I wasn’t as much of an attention whore as mycat.
“So we’re thinking Bronwyn for a girl and Blakely for aboy!”
I looked away from the baked goods with difficulty—my preciousss!—and finally noticed the other people in the shop – two men behind the counter, talking to a man and woman standing in front of the cash register. The woman – who wore sky-high heels and a dress that stretched around her tiny baby bump, flicked her long, blonde hair over hershoulder.
“The good thing about the last nameMartin,”she said, “is that any first name sounds good with it.” She clutched the arm of the man next to her and beamed up at him. “That’s why I marriedyou!”
I waited for one of them to laugh, but no one did. The men behind the counter – a ginger who was about my height, and a dark-haired, broad-shouldered giant – exchanged a speaking glance. The other man – Mr. Martin – smiled down at heradoringly.
The redhead turned his attention to Silas with something like gratitude. “Hey, Si. I thought Maura said you’d already been intoday.”
“You know I can’t stay away,” Si joked. His hand drifted from my shoulder to my back and he pushed me forward slightly. “This is Everett Maior, Henry Lattimer’s grandson. He busted his car on his way into town, so I’m helping him out by showing him around. Ev, this is Cal James. He owns thebakery.”
The redhead lifted his chin in greeting. Not unfriendly, but not particularly warm and fuzzy, either. Iapproved.
“That’s his boyfriend Ash Martin,” Si continued, pointing at the giant, who gave me a broad grin I couldn’t help butreturn.
“This is Ash’s younger brother Mackie.” Si lifted a hand to the man on our side of the counter, who gave a short, good-natured wave. “And that’s Mackie’s wife,Karen.”
Karen stepped forward. “KarenMitchener-Martin,” she said, holding out her hand palm-down, like maybe she expected me to bow and kiss it. I shook itinstead.
“Nice to meet you. Call me Ev,” I told all ofthem.
“You’re here to teach, right?” Karen said, rubbing a hand over her belly. “Art orsomething?”
Were they all briefed on my birthday and shoe size,too?
“Yes, art,” I agreed. “At GarnettElementary.”
“And what are your qualifications?” shedemanded.
I blinked. Was this a job interview? “I have a Master of Fine Arts fromTufts.”
Cal whistled. “Impressive.”
But Karen was not impressed. “And yourteachingqualifications?” sheinsisted.
“Uh, well. The principal helped me qualify for a transitional teaching certificate. I have to take some classes over timeand…”
“So, you’re really not qualified to be teaching my child.” She rubbed her stomachagain.
I would be long gone from this town by the time Karen’s child was ready for finger-paints, but for some reason I was hesitant to sayso.
“Not unqualified,” I informed her. “Possibly overqualified. And you can take your concerns to theprincipal.”
“Karen,” Ash interjected. “Maybe we could finish planning Bronley or Blakewyn’s baby shower before you start worrying about their education,hmm?”
