“I think he’s over at Mitch’s. I saw Daphne heading there a few minutes ago, and you know she doesn’t like antiques. How’s the dishwasher running?”
Bethany gazed at the sparkling dishes and tried not to think about Daphne chasing after Hank. Since high school, Daphne had become a notorious flirt who wasn’t bashful about using her considerable charms to seduce men she viewed as rich and powerful. If Hank was looking for a night of fun, Daphne would be sure to give it to him. “Hank didn’t lie about his fix-it-up capabilities. Whatever he did seems to have increased the power of the spray.”
“He also fixed the creak in the back door.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and the uneven floorboard and the broken shelf in the pantry.”
“Well, he’s ensuring his investment is in good shape, that’s all. Listen, it’s almost quitting time. After I finish unloading these dishes, I’m going to make a batch of chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Can you check on the girls? If Rosie needs a break, I can keep them busy in the kitchen.”
Travis shuffled his feet. “I don’t think you need to worry about thegirls.”
Bethany glanced up from where she leaned over the dishwasher. “What do you mean?”
“They’ve been trailing our maintenance god all afternoon. I was finally able to bribe them away with the promise of tacos.” He held up two small plates filled with a taco, apple slices, and a snickerdoodle. “I’ll deliver their meals, then help Rosie with cleanup.”
Bethany stared after Travis as he left the kitchen. A self-centered actor would not put up with two little girls hanging on his tail for long. Sooner or later, he would grow bored with his pint-sized audience and drop the maintenance man act. And when he understood Bethany was not putting out, he would return to the city of angels, and she could get back to normal.
She finished unloading the dishwasher, washed her hands at the sink, then pulled out ingredients. Her entry was due by midnight Friday night, and she wanted to make certain the recipe was as tasty as she remembered.
She boiled water and then whisked the dry ingredients together in the mixer. Then she added the wet ingredients and the boiling water to the cake batter. She poured the chocolate batter into the cupcake tins, popped them into the oven, then moved on to tackle the vanilla buttercream frosting.
“Wow, smells great in here.” Rosie came through the kitchen door, carrying a tray of dirty dishes.
“Cupcakes are in the oven. If you and the girls want to stick around, I’ll let you try one.”
“We’d never pass up your chocolate cupcakes.” She put the dishes in the dishwasher. “You’re planning on joining us for princess movie night, right?Beauty and the Beastis on the menu.”
“You know I never miss it. Tell you what, why don’t youtake the girls home and get them into their PJs. I’ll follow with the cupcakes. It’ll be a fun surprise.”
“Perfect. Um, there’s something I ought to mention first.”
“What’s that?”
“Well. . .” Rosie wiped her hands on the towel. “Well, the thing is. . .”
Bethany stopped whipping the frosting. “What?”
“I invited Hank along.”
A tingle swept through Bethany’s body. “You didn’t.”
“I did, and I’m sorry. I know this is our tradition, and he might sell Grandma Lou’s out from under us. But he’s been so kind to the girls, and despite being famous, I think he’s lonely. We don’t have much to offer someone like him. I thought it would be a simple thing the girls and I could do to repay his kindness today. He let them pound nails into boards and screw in light bulbs. They can’t stop talking about it.”
Bethany added more powdered sugar to the mix and resumed stirring, but her mind was far from the task. “He actually said yes?”
“He did. I was as surprised as you, but the girls begged him to come along. I think he misses having family around.”
“Does he know I’m going to be there?”
“Sure. I told him it was a weekly thing for us. He said he didn’t want to intrude, but I told him he wouldn’t be. Are you mad?”
She should refuse the invitation. She’d promised Elizabeth she would stay away from Hank. Would Elizabeth consider Bethany’s acceptance a breach of their bargain?
Tia and Tana came flying into the kitchen with Travis not far behind them. “Miss Bethany. Miss Bethany. You comin’ to our princess party?”
Bethany wiped her hands on her apron. “Um, I don’t think?—”
