I smiled.
This dream was new and so damn vivid my lungs stalled, forgetting how to draw in air or let it out.Breathe.
I inhaled. Exhaled.
I liked what I saw.
I said I’d never marry again unless the guy was the opposite of Damien and had proved he was a good man. Genuine. Sincere. Truthful. Teller was all that. If I was to get stuck in Bourbon Canyon for the rest of my life, he was a nice consolation prize.
Only he was more than that.
Didn’t mean I wasn’t stuck in circumstances I couldn’t control. I’d be a millionaire, but the money from the sale wasn’t really mine. Mom needed it. I could replenish my savings, but then I’d need to invest for Flatlanders’ future. And there was my nephew. He had his trust, but I needed to run the bar to make sure he had a legacy. A better one than I’d been left with.
“You’re stuck in your head, Mads,” Teller said as we rose and followed the group to the shed.
“Just thinking about how this summer is turning out.”
“Good? Bad?”
“For being so bad, it’s turned out really good.” That was truthful. There would always be a little part of me that was sad for the girl who’d missed out on college, for the girl who’d wanted to travel farther than two hours away, for the woman who wouldn’t get the career she desired. The rest of me knew I was lucky. I had a home and a business. I was already further ahead than my parents had gotten.
He nodded, his expression thoughtful.
Mae approached us, dabbing her eyes with a lace handkerchief, but she was smiling. “What a beautiful service.” She grinned at me. “Don’t you two look sharp?”
“Thank you. I love your dress.”
She lifted the skirt of her taupe summer dress. “My son’s wedding was a good excuse to buy a new one.”
Brinley rushed to her. Mae’s smile got somehow wider and she hugged her granddaughter.
The next two hours were full of laughter and chatter. Everyone raved about the food. Then came time to cut the cake. I gripped Teller’s forearm, my nerves surging to life. This was it. Ruby had liked how it looked, but flavor was just as important.
Ruby and Tenor posed by the cake for pictures. The wildflowers made Ruby’s eyes bluer and complemented her white country dress. If I never made another cake again, I would be happy to go out on this masterpiece.
There was a small tug on my heart. Despite the stress of the week, I’d had a blast. Teller had let me take over his kitchen, and that one week was everything I’d imagined it could be. If I continued, I wouldn’t need as much practice. I could play with flavors ahead of time and cut out that step. But I was a bar owner, and what I’d told Teller held true. I’d never start a new business in Bourbon Canyon. My parents might’ve been their own worst enemies, but the townsfolk hadn’t helped. Scott had barely stayed afloat and had little leftover to pay himself.
The happy couple posed behind my three-tiered masterpiece and cut the first piece together. Lemon with raspberry swirl. Tenor carefully fed his bride the first bite. Not one single crumb smashed into her face, and Ruby smiled at him while chewing. Then she lifted a slice to his mouth. He licked across her fingertips as he took his piece.
“Save it for later!” Teller called. Laughter rose up.
Ruby wiped the corner of her mouth and caught my eye. “Oh my god, Madison. This is delicious.” She waved her arms, beckoning everyone toward her. “Come get a slice before I eat it all.”
Relief poured through me and I sank against Teller. “She likes it.” Days of obsessing over the decorations and nailing the delicate flavors were over. I was elated, but disappointment followed on its heels. It was done.
“Of course she likes it,” he murmured against my hair. “You’re excellent at what you do.”
After the others went through the cake line, I got to enjoy my creation.
Ruby stopped at our table and wrapped me in a giant hug. Her limoncello scent washed over me. “Thank you so much,” she said when she pulled away. “It’s even better than I imagined. I insist on paying you. That’s hundreds of dollars of work, not to mention the supplies you went out and bought.”
It had carved out a chunk from my last paycheck, but I’d do it all again. “Don’t worry. Really.”
“Just wait until Flatlanders’ soft opening, then,” she whispered conspiratorially.
“You just wait until I stare at your boobs like Allen would’ve.”
She chortled. “Are you worried that customers are going to complain they don’t get their tits ogled since Allen moved?”
