When we break apart, it takes a moment tocatch my breath. She’s grinning like she’s just solved all the world’s problems—or at least mine.
“Feel better?” she asks.
“Much, but I think we should practice that solution a few more times. You know, to make sure it works.”
With a giggle, she says, “I think that can be arranged.
When we kiss again, I don’t think about my father, my injuries, or my ex.
Rather, I realize that love takes practice, much like hockey, but is a daily choice. I’ve made mine.
However, even as I lose myself in Nina’s lips, I can’t quite shake the image of that mysterious girl, or the way Kai’s face closed off when we asked about her.
Some secrets, I’m learning, have a way of coming to light whether you’re ready for them or not.
CHAPTER 12
I’mat the Busy Bee well before dawn, which is normal, but today is anything but routine.
The Happy Hockey Days festival starts at eleven, so I’ll be able to get the morning rush handled and close a bit earlier than the usual one p.m. After that, I’ll join Jess with her famous Bundt cakes at our joint baked goods booth.
The festival has everyone buzzing with excitement, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t caught up in it too. Even though Cobbiton is a small town, it’s not just a stop on the way to somewhere else. We have the Christmas Market, a live Advent countdown, and a pageant. Plus, there’s the annual Easter Egg hunt after church in the spring. The Independence Day event is called “4thon 4th” because we inexplicably have a Fourth Street and no other numbered roads.
As I pull the first batch of festival-themed cookies from the oven—hockey pucks made of shortbread with chocolate icing—I notice something odd.
Par for the course today. When I arrived at the bakery early this morning, a man was loitering by the front door holding afancy camera. I assumed he was hoping to get a shot of Lane. Thankfully, when I opened later, he was nowhere to be seen.
The strange thing is that my measuring cups are stacked like a tower instead of being nestled together by size. Since I’m the only one here, I am certain that after I washed them, I left them to dry in the rack and would’ve organized them the usual way, not constructed like the leaning tower of baking supplies.
I also noticed the containers holding seasonal sprinkles and special embellishments for the holiday and wedding cakes were disorganized, like they’d been rifled through. Not only that, but I’d just replenished the baking soda, and it and the vinegar were strangely short. I don’t think I have a rodent problem. Otherwise, there would be more evidence. I grimace at the notion. Later, it looked like the sink was backing up as foam overflowed from the drain, but given the smell, I’d place my bets on it being a vinegar and baking soda concoction.
It could be that I neglected to leave out sweet rice porridge for the nisser gnomes this year, but that’s a bit of a stretch. Right?
The mischief could only be caused by one person: Kai. However, a lot of it occurs when he’s under my care. Unless he has an accomplice. Maybe a kid from school?
Hours later, I’ve closed the bakery for the day with a friendly sign directing visitors to the table at the festival. The proceeds are going to our local veterans’ services. I can’t afford to lose even a cent right now, but I want to give back to the town that’s given to me. The place that welcomed Bibi all those years ago.
“Morning, Nina!” Jess calls out as she careens toward me, carrying a tower of cake carriers. “Ready for festival fun?”
“Happy Hockey Days, here we come!” I’m not the kind of person to tone down my enthusiasm, especially when it comes to events in my community. Traveling to Las Vegasand undergoing hypnosis is an entirely different story. Though it seems like it’s working out okay so far. Actually, exceeding expectations. If I were polled, ten out of ten. I recommend Lucian Little for his exceptional matchmaking skills.
Once we have everything unloaded and are setting up our booth, I’m still preoccupied by the occurrences at the bakery.
Jess must notice because she asks, “Is there something on your mind?”
“Actually, yes. Have you noticed anything strange around town lately?”
“Strange how?” She arranges a dozen different Bundt cakes, each one temptingly tasty looking with a variety of glazes, fresh fruits, and chocolate drizzle.
“Small pranks, sort of. Nothing too wild. Items moved around in ways that are unusual but not necessarily mischievous.”
Jess pauses, a knowing look crossing her face. “Can’t say I have, but you’ve mentioned Kai was being a bit naughty.”
I shake my head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s not his style. The kid was mischievous when he got here, but we talked. The stuff at my bakery is straight up baffling.”
“When KJ first came to live with Liam, he took some time to adjust, especially since he was Deaf and his mother didn’t even bother to tell Liam. Even though he was much younger than Kai, changes like that can be hard for kids in ways we don’t even realize.”
“We’ve been trying to be sensitive to that.” I let out a breath, realizing that while the last weeks have been great in many ways, maybe I’m stressed and imagining things. “How did Liam handle it?”
