She smiled cheekily. “I’m touched, that you would subject yourself to the horrors of delicious cake for me.”
Ethan looked irritated, and her smile broadened, feeling more natural. He really was incredibly easy to wind up, and the way his forehead scrunched up into a little scowl was pretty cute.
“It’s okay,” she said, holding her hands up. “I actually do appreciate that you took me somewhere that you thought I would like. And who knows – maybe they’ll have some carrot cake or zucchini tart or tofu crumble or something that you won’t mind too much.”
Part of her was pretty sure that he would actually cram the biggest piece of chocolate cake imaginable into his mouth if he thought no one was looking, but she thought that maybe it was best to let him have the remains of his dignity.
He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could get any words out, another voice interrupted.
“Hi there! Can I tell you about today’s specials?”
Chloe looked up, to see a different woman in an apron. This woman was several years older, short, with dark hair, and obviously quite heavily pregnant. Chloe felt a little alarmed to see that she was working – she looked like she was ready to pop at any moment! – but she seemed cheerful and relaxed.
Chloe glanced at her nametag, which read ‘Sylvie’. That explained it, then – Chloe had known enough small business owners to know that a lot of them lived for their work, no matter the circumstances.
“I would love to hear about the specials,” she said. And it was absolutely true – despite the massive meal yesterday, she was pretty sure that she was ready and willing to devour her entire weight in baked goods.
Sylvie beamed. “Well, here goes then.” She began counting off on her fingers. “First of all, we’ve got sourdough donuts,filled with fresh rosewater custard and topped off with crushed pistachios.”
“Oh, yum,” Chloe said. She was definitely going to get one of those! Even Ethan looked interested, though he was obviously trying hard to hide it.
“Second, we have kanelbullar – Swedish cinnamon buns with cardamom and pearl sugar,” Sylvie went on.
Well, crap. Now I have to get both of them,Chloe thought in anguish.Maybe Ethan will go fifty-fifty, so we can try them both?
“And our third special today is an oldie but a goodie,” Sylvie concluded. “Warm cherry pie with lavender and vanilla bean ice cream.” She winked. “Though probably notquitetraditional in every sense. Unless you make your cherry pie with Chinese five spice and pomegranate juice, plus a few other things that I’m going to have to keep as a professional secret.”
“Oh my God.” Chloe rubbed her hands over her face. “Are you really trying to make me choose? And these are just the specials! I haven’t even looked at the regular cakes yet!”
“Sorry,” Sylvie laughed, not sounding particularly sorry.
Even as Chloe contemplated rending her garments in despair at the choice she had been presented with, deep down, she knew that she’d already chosen.
Because what on the entire planet went down better on a cold, dark, foggy fall day than a big, warm serving of cherry pie?
“I’ll take the cherry pie,” Ethan said suddenly, jerking Chloe out of her reverie. She stared, shocked, but he looked serious. She supposed that he was justifying it as fruit content.
Would it be weird for me to order the same? Will he think I’m copying him? This is my opportunity to try a range of options, after all.
But no, she really,reallywanted the pie.
“Make that two,” she said. “And would I be able to get an Earl Grey tea with milk as well?”
“Of course,” Sylvie said with a smile. “Anything to drink for you, sir?”
“I’ll have a black coffee,” Ethan said, and Chloe bit her tongue before she could sayOf course you will. The fact that he was willingly ordering cherry pie and ice cream was pretty impressive – she didn’t want to give him a complex!
Sylvie bustled – well, as much as shecouldbustle with a belly like that – back to the counter, and Chloe turned back to Ethan and Curtis, the latter of whom had remained silent so far.
Is it rude to eat delicious cake in front of ghosts?she wondered, though it was a bit late now. She hoped Curtis wasn’t feeling left out even more than he must be already – being invisible to everyone except Ethan and Chloe meant, of course, Sylvie hadn’t even known he was there to ask if he wanted anything.
“So, uh, what’s the plan?” she asked, as she looked between them. “Did you remember anything, Curtis?”
Curtis shook his head a little mournfully.~Not a single thing, Miss Chloe. I have ruminated on everything I looked over with Miss Margot yesterday, but I am afraid I still simply have no idea what it is I’ve been sent here to accomplish.~
“I was thinking that perhaps we could walk with Curtis around Girdwood Springs,” Ethan said. “We tried driving around yesterday, which didn’t achieve much. But maybe looking at things more in-depth will work better.”
“That’s definitely worth a try,” Chloe said with a nod. “Do you expect that you’ll know what you’re looking for when you see it?”
