The bakery was never without at least a few cars parked in the gravel parking lot, and today was no different.Tom parked us in the stall furthest away from the rest, but in the shade of a willow, with the bright-green buds of new leaves glowing along the yellow branches that hung nearly to the ground.
He met me at the tailgate, and together, we headed into the bakery, lured by the scent of cinnamon and yeast.My belly rumbled the moment we stepped over the threshold, our presence causing a small digital bell to chime.A few heads lifted, and the owner, Kari Cousins—as well as two of her employees—smiled at us.
“Hi, Danica,” Kari greeted, just as the customer at the till stepped away with a giant cinnamon bun slathered in icing and headed outside to the garden.“What can I get you?”
“Hey, Kari.”I stepped up to the counter, zeroing in on the mouthwatering pastries in the display case.I tapped my lip with my finger.“I can never decide.You guys make it so hard.”
Kari beamed, then her eyes found Tom.“Hi, I’m Kari.”She extended her hand over the till.
“Tommaso Barone,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a quick shake.
Her eyes lit up.“Oh, you’re the man with the animal rescue farm or something, right?”
Wariness flitted across Tom’s face.“Si.How do you know of me?”
“Oh, you’re the new hot topic of gossip on the island, I’m afraid.All good though.”Kari’s cornflower-blue eyes met mine.“Well, mostly.”
Uh-oh.
Kari waved her hand in the air.“Oh, don’t worry.We know the source of the negative comments so we’re not taking it seriously.”Her short, gray-streaked blonde hair glittered like gold and silver under the warm pot lights in the ceiling as she lifted her chin and smiled at the fresh batch of customers who made the door chime again.
“Brenda?Jolene?”I asked, my voice low.
Kari frowned and nodded, but didn’t say anything.
Tom didn’t seem too put out by it either, which was good.“What do you recommend,SignoraCousins?”
Kari’s already perpetually rosy cheeks grew even pinker when he called hersignoraand she batted her lashes.Kari was recently divorced, in her mid-fifties, and doing her best to continue the legacy her parents built with the bakery on the island.I didn’t feel any jealousy if she fancied Tom, and I knew he was just being kind.“Well, the cinnamon buns are a favorite.But so are the raspberry and cream cheese tarts.”
“One of each, please,” Tom said, pulling out his wallet and simply shaking his head at me when I started to protest that I could pay.
Kari’s eyes sparkled when she handed us our pastries.“Enjoy, you two.It was nice to officially meet you, Tom; and it’s so good to see you, Danica.”
“Always nice to see you, Kari.”
She shot me a wink before turning her attention to the next customers.
“The Swinging Circle is outside?”Tom asked, stopping at the console table along one wall to grab some napkins.
“SewingCircle,” I corrected, giggling.“And yes.Can’t miss them.”
With a nod, he headed through the open, white French doors onto the patio with its burbling water feature, wandering cats, and endless potted plants and flowers.The Sewing Circle held court right in the middle of the patio, but there was an empty two-top table near the cobbled path to the vegetable garden.
Not just a few, butalleyes from the Sewing Circle table followed Tom and me across the patio until we sat down.They didn’t bother hiding their curiosity.
Heat crept up my chest into my face, and I thanked the moon and stars that I was facingawayfrom them, and Tom faced them.I wouldn’t be able to handle the stares, whispers, and smiles.
“That’s them,” I said matter-of-factly.“The one and only—at least on the island.”
His head bobbed.“We will eat first.Sugar for courage.Then we will speak with them.”
His “sugar for courage” statement made me smile as I picked up the raspberry and cream cheese tart and took a bite.The moan that escaped me was completely involuntary and actually caused the people at the table closest to us to glance at me.
Tom grinned as he chewed his cinnamon bun bite.“Better than my tiramisu?”
I gave him a pleading look.“Don’t make me answer that.”
His chuckle made goosebumps break out along my arms.“This cinnamon bun is very good as well.”
