He huffs, but he shakes back.
I head to the door when I remember he had something to discuss. I turn back. “You wanted to talk about something?”
He still looks shell-shocked, but he clears that away, his expression all businesslike. “Right. I do. RememberRomance Beach?”
How could I forget? “Of course.”
“I was in touch with them,” he explains, and I have no clue where this is going. “And then Ronnie started posting about you two and mentioned you to them. They emailed me today asking for your contact info. They want the two of you to come on a reunion episode and serve some cake.”
If I had a cup of coffee it’d spill right now.
40
WHEN YOU’RE VENGEFUL
MABEL
I’m not saying the universe still has it out for me. But Iamdefinitely saying that having to bake a cake for a reality TV show one day and a few cakes for my mother’s faculty luncheon the next is both an embarrassment of riches and immensely stressful.
But obviously, I’m not turning down either opportunity.
After we close Afternoon Delight in the early evening, I round up the crew for a review of the plans. Aisha’s here, along with Corbin and Charlotte.
We settle in at a table and I go over the marching orders for tomorrow, mostly for Aisha, reviewing the schedule for the morning deliveries, then the items we need for a huge birthday cake order for next weekend. “Just double check that we have everything. I put the ingredients down in the task-management list.”
“Buttercream frosting, fondant, raspberry filling. It’s all there. I’m looking at it now,” says the world’s most self-sufficient middle schooler as she reviews everything on her phone.
Aisha smiles from the counter, tapping the top of her laptop. “I see it all too. If you want to come by and help though, Charlotte, you’re always welcome.”
“I’m happy to work.”
“She’s offered a few times already,” I say to Aisha. “Not surprised, knowing who her dad is.”
Corbin points at his daughter, going all stern daddy. “You need to focus on school. And you’ll be with your mom.”
“I know, but I’m like you, Dad. I’m pretty good at doing it all.”
I smile at how very much like him she is, then return to my tablet and the plans for tomorrow. That’s when Corbin and I will head to the Webflix studios in the city. There we’ll bake a gorgeous Valentine’s Day heart-shaped cake for severalRomance Beachalums, including Dax, who won his season. But the thought of seeing my ex doesn’t bother me like it might have months ago. He’s so far in the past, he’s out of the rearview mirror visibility. I’m excited to prove him wrong, though, and show the world I have my act together.
That includes running this shop smoothly. We need to hire more help, and I’ve placed some ads, but won’t be able to do any interviews until I get through the mountain of tasks over the next week.
I close my tablet and busy myself with organizing the merch better on the shelves. A few mugs are out of place. “We’re about to get busier with the Valentine’s season coming up, plus we have a dog adoption event next weekend.”
“Orders are coming in left and right, and we’ve been asked to supply a couple other restaurants and cafés,” Corbin puts in. “What can we do to speed up hiring help?”
Charlotte sticks her hand straight in the air. “I can assist.”
“Girl, you have school and homework,” Aisha says with a laugh, taking the words straight out of Corbin’s mouth.
“Fine,” Charlotte says with a huff. “What about Audrey? She worked at the Green Pantry during the summer and just returned to town. She’s looking for work, but the Green Pantry doesn’t have any openings at the moment.”
“She’s hired!” I shout.
Corbin hums doubtfully. “Maybe not that fast.”
“But if Charlotte knows of someone and she’s worked in food services before, why not?”
Aisha reaches across the table and squeezes Charlotte’s shoulder. “If you don’t become a vet, be an HR director. You’ve got VP written all over you.”
