I broke the eggs and poured the yolk into the red mixing bowl. I hoped the cupcakes I planned to make would both get my mind off of my mother and satisfy my craving.
Just as I finished the batter for the lemon meringue cupcakes, I got a call from Cane.
“Hey,” I said. I hadn’t used my voice since I started crying, so I wasn’t at all surprised when it started to crack.
He turned down the music in his car and picked up the phone. “You good?” He asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You’ve been crying.”
“Hormones.”
“Mhm, ok. Why are you in the bakery so late?”
“I had a craving.”
“You’re lying to me, Snow.”
“No.”
“I wasn’t asking if you were lying. I know you are.”
“I’m not,” I whined.
“Ight, Snow.” He said before hanging up. If I didn’t need the alone time, I probably would have called back. I checked on my cupcakes, then got started on the icing. When my phone lit up, I reached for it. A part of me hoped it was my mother. I needed to hear an apology. I needed to hear that it was a mistake and that she was ready to get help because I could afford to give her that now. It wasn’t her, though; it was Cane.
Cane: open the door.
“What are you doing here?” I asked once I unlocked the door to the bakery.
“You needed me.” I wanted to deny it, but the moment he hugged me, I fell apart all over again. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” He asked as he pushed the curls from my face and rubbed my cheek. He seemed concerned, but right under that was rage. A rage that would hurt anyone who hurt me. So, I couldn’t tell him what happened. I couldn’t let him hurt my mother.
“Come help me ice these cupcakes,” I said as I led him to the back of the shop.
After he washed his hands, I handed him the bag of whipped frosting. “Start from the middle and then go around.”
“Like that?” He asked.
I nodded, “There’s more frosting than cupcake, but I see the technique,” I said.
“You like doing this?” He asked.
“Yeah.”
“This is what relaxes you?”
I nodded. “And distracts me.”
“And what exactly do you need to be distracted from right now?”
“Please don’t ask.”
“I have to ask. Your well-being is my responsibility. So, when you have tears in your eyes, it’s my job to stop them. Now tell me what’s wrong so I can take care of you, Snow.”
“My mom did something I didn’t like.”
“And what was that?”
