I’d once believed loneliness was something I’d never endure. Patrick and I grew up together, and we were each other’s first everything. Hell, we were among the state’s first married same-sex couples, waiting at the courthouse for the ruling validating our love.
Loretta must have noticed my expression because she reached across the table and patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t give up,” she said firmly, lending me the strength to believe that maybe things could be different for me too. “I know it hurts to lose someone after so long together, but you’re too young to spend the rest of your life alone.”
“Thanks,” I murmured softly, standing up and tossing some money on the table and grabbing the to-go container before venturing out into the night. She meant well, but somehow her “pep talk” left me feeling even worse than when I’d walked in.
2
SHILOH
The sweet scentof key lime and fresh buttercream filled the air as I piped a swirl of frosting onto the last cupcake. My grandmother’s recipe had become one of my most popular creations at Shiloh’s Sweets, and I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride every time someone requested them. These were for an order I’d deliver once I locked up for the day.
“Hey, Shiloh!” Waylon’s deep voice came from the front of the bakery, accompanied by the familiar jingle of the doorbell.
“Be right there,” I called back, wiping my hands on my apron.
I stepped out from behind the counter to find Waylon and Jasper browsing through the glass cases filled with what was left of today’s treats.
“Wow, these look amazing,” Jasper said, his eyes lingering on the tray of pecan sticky buns. He’d been one of my best customers since the day I opened and had since become one of my closest friends. He was always up for trying out new recipes I was tweaking, not that you’d know by looking at his lithe body.
It wasn’t fair someone like him stayed skinny no matter what he ate and I had to carve out time to exercise every day so I didn’t wind up the size of a house. I tried to not let my bitterness show. Besides, my grandpa always said you should never trust a skinny cook. So, at least I’d have that going for me if I decided working out was too much of a hassle.
“Thanks,” I replied, unable to suppress a grin. “I started out with my grandma’s recipe for those but I switched up the recipe a little to make it my own. Do you want one?”
“Your grandma’s red velvet cake is still my favorite,” Waylon admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as if confessing a guilty pleasure.
I knew how much Waylon loved that cake. I’d flushed as red as the cake itself the day he told his mom that my red velvet cake was better than hers. Ms. Ruth had given me a playful scowl before agreeing whole-heartedly with her son.
“Her recipes are truly something else, aren’t they?” Jasper agreed, turning to me with a sincere smile. “You’ve done a great job finding a balance between traditional and modern around here. I bet she’s proud as hell of you.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by his words. “It means a lot to me that you get what I’m trying to do.”
This late in the day, I finally had a chance to breathe. We’d survived the morning and lunch rushes, and my right-hand-woman, Lacey, had made the place look as good as it did when we unlocked the doors before she headed out to pick up her little boy.
“Let me know the next time you’re playing around with recipes,” Jasper suggested as they continued to peruse the offerings. “I’m always up for a taste test. And you know I won’t be blinded by the sugar. I’ll tell you what I think for better or worse.”
He gave Waylon a knowing look. Waylon simply shrugged. We both knew his sweet tooth made him a horrible tester. Everything he’d tried ranked just below the red velvet cake.
“Will do,” I promised, already thinking about the next recipe I wanted to tackle from my grandmother’s binder. Her presence lingered in this bakery even though she was hours away in her own kitchen. “I should have some new recipes to try out early next week. I haven’t even had time to breathe lately, as busy as we’ve been.”
“Business is good then?” Waylon asked. Jasper rolled his eyes, smacking his biceps as if his boyfriend had just said something ridiculous. It wasn’t Waylon’s fault he didn’t know he’d just stepped on a landmine. Jasper was the only person who knew how thin I was spread lately.
“Yeah, it’s good,” I answered simply. “Busier every week it seems. I keep waiting for the fire inspector to stop by and tell me I can’t have people waiting inside for their sandwiches at lunch.”
It was crazy to think back to this time last year when I’d worried I’d made a huge mistake opening a bakery so far from home. I’d considered throwing in the towel and heading back home so I could help my grandparents until they were ready to retire. Then again, the family had been waiting for that announcement as long as I could remember. I was pretty sure Grandma would be there until it was physically impossible for her to keep baking.
I leaned against the counter. Now that I wasn’t in the kitchen, every muscle in my arm started tensing. Most people didn’t understand how much of a toll icing a big order of cupcakes could be. “All joking aside, I’m having issues with not enough space. Business has been good, but I need to expand to keep up with demand. When I leased this place, it felt huge. Now, the kitchen is cramped and I’m not sure we could get another table out here.”
Waylon scanned the welcoming interior of the bakery. I wondered what it looked like to his eyes. Did he notice the scuffed floors that needed sanding and a fresh coat of stain? Could he appreciate the white, brick-edged walls adorned with vintage decor and art from a local painter?
“Expansion is always a tricky thing,” he said as his gaze continued tracking across the room. “You don’t want to overdo it and end up with too much debt, especially when you’re still paying off the original loans.”
“I know, Waylon,” I replied, rubbing a hand through my hair. He was a great guy but sometimes it seemed like he viewed me as a kid playing at being a business owner. It was annoying as hell, especially since he was still trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life despite being in his mid-forties. “But if I don’t do something soon, I won’t be able to keep up with the orders coming in. It’s just... frustrating. It’s like the ultimate catch-22. If I don’t expand, I risk people starting to go somewhere else for lunch. Then, I won’t have the money to expand. But if I expand, what happens if a new place opens and people start going there anyway?”
“Hey, I might have a solution for you,” Waylon offered, brightening up. “You remember Teddy, right? My buddy you met last year at the Harmony Grove Harvest Festival?”
“Teddy...” I mused, trying to recall our encounter. The festival had been a hectic blur of customers, leaving me little time to socialize. “I think I remember him. Quiet guy, seemed to keep to himself mostly?”
“Yep, that’s him,” Waylon confirmed, nodding. “He’s really talented when it comes to renovations, and I think he could help you with your expansion cheaper than any of the big companies. The other half of this building is just sitting empty. You might be able to get a deal on leasing the entire space.”
