But I’d never expected it to be this perfect.
This grand.
Four tiers high, two layers were a rich, moist cake with coconut, pecans, pineapple, and a touch of almond. The other two were lemony with that perfect balance between sweet and tart. I’d gone all out on the decorations, using flowers, berries, and whipped cream to create the Italian flag on one layer. Another held a miniature Vespa—the bride’s passion apparently.
I had also incorporated some famous buildings, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa on top, next to the bride and groom. It was definitely in my top five of wedding cakes I was most proud of. It was simply stunning.
And Gia was so sweet, about the furthest thing from aBridezilla ever. Her fiancé, Carlo, was a little different. Not that he’d ever been anything but nice to me, but his eyes were hard and sharp. He scared me a little, but that was probably just my overactive imagination. I really needed to stop watching those true-crime documentaries.
After a last loving look at the cake, I stretched, yawning as my fatigue hit me. I’d been up at three to finish the cake, so no wonder I was tired. The good news was that I could get some sleep as soon as I delivered the cake. The cake was already on the carrying tray, so all I needed to do was ask Solstice, my best friend and neighbor, to help me put it in the van.
The front door of Sweet Relief, my little bakery, jingled as I walked out and popped into Daisies, Solstice’s shop. She was behind the counter, ringing up a customer, sending him her professional smile. As soon as he left, she gave me her real one, the kind that made her gorgeous, smooth skin wrinkle at her eyes.
“Cake done?” she asked.
“She’s a top-five beauty.”
“You say that every time.”
“That’s because I’m still growing in my skills. I get better with each cake.”
She patted my shoulder. “Love your confidence, darling.”
“Thank you. How did you get on with the flowers?”
Solstice had done all the elaborate flower arrangements for Gia’s wedding. No small feat considering the list of wishes, but I had no doubt Solstice had pulled it off.
“Just dropped off the bridal bouquet.” Solstice whistled between her teeth. “That’s the biggest job I’ve ever done, and it will cover my mortgage for the next six months.”
My face lit up. “That’s amazing. Yes, Gia pays well, orrather, her father does. Gotta love a daddy’s girl, when daddy’s got money.”
“I can’t thank you enough for recommending me.”
I waved her words away. “You would’ve done the same for me.”
She would have. That’s why we created Wedding Row, a series of shops on the same street that all catered to weddings. There was Solstice and me, plus Zane, who was a wedding photographer, Brexon and Jace, who designed everything from wedding invitations to menus, and of course Dolly, who owned the bridal store. Plus, Laura, a wedding planner. We all worked together and promoted each other. Since clients got a discount when they used the others, we got a lot of referrals that way.
“Anyway, can you help me load the cake?” I asked.
“Sure thing.”
For someone who was five foot four and maybe a hundred-and-twenty pounds soaking wet, she was surprisingly strong. We had the cake in the van in no time, and I closed the doors with a sigh of relief. Almost done.
“It really is pretty,” Solstice said.
“It better be for what they paid me.”
“Daddy’s got deep pockets.”
“I hope Carlo does too. She’s accustomed to getting what she wants.”
Solstice cocked her head. “Do you know what he does for a living? Carlo, I mean?”
I frowned. “I don’t think the topic came up, actually.”
Which was interesting because it almost always did. I’d made it a habit to ask questions like that, wanting to know my clients so I could make the perfect cake for them.
“He’s the owner of an Italian restaurant on the Lower East Side called Mario’s,” Solstice said.
