But perhaps if he helped out more, she’d be well rested and more agreeable and thus I could get my coffee fix. If I see him out in the driveway, I’ll give him a piece of my mind. Or at least inquire. What kind of man lets his girlfriend—not wife, as she doesn’t wear a ring...not that I checked, I just noticed once—do all the hard work on her own?
Steven chuckles at my obvious surprise at his friendliness, then hands me a little napkin. I open my palm to tiny square ofmaple icing and who knows what else. My mouthiswatering now. I shove the whole thing in my mouth in one go.
I make a sound I should probably be embarrassed about.
“Right?” Steven says.
I’m only able to get out a few appreciative curses through my chewing.
“That’s the kind of stuff she should have at the bakery,” I eventually say.
“Huh? Thatisfrom the bakery.”
“But the cookies, the little shamrocks…”
Steven laughs, “Those were made by the kids! It was one of the hands-on experiences for the day. Harper didn’t make those. Everything she makes is basically sunshine and happiness wrapped in flour.”
“Indeed,” I say, still reeling. Again, my eyes find her, the little mystery woman. Still silent, grinning, listening to what the two women around her are saying. “Why does she—”
CLANG!
The truck hits a bump, jolts up and stops. Jolts up and rolls back once more.
“Not again,” Carl grouses as he climbs down from the cab.
“Again?” I start to look around, wondering what we could’ve hit out here.
“Stuck,” he calls out to me but also to everyone. The truck collectively groans. I lock eyes with the Baker.
Another memorable event,I say with my eyebrows.
She looks away.
“Aiden, Ren, Steven, gonna need you down here.”
“Ren?” I ask my bodyguard. He shrugs.
“You know I am not getting down there, Carl,”Steven replies.
“Steven! Get down there and shove!” A woman cries. I realize it then, that the whole truck is full of women and children. Save me, Renaldo and Steven. And Carl. The latter says, “Well?”
Renaldo sighs and stands.
“And Aiden? I mean his shoes cost eight hundred and ninety-five dollars, y’all! He can’t get those in the mud!”
I slide my eyes to my left, at the man who may or may not be stalking me.
His eyes blow wide, “I’m sorry! They’re very nice, I googled them!”
“Can’t we call someone?” I ask the group while still glaring at Steven. “Who do you all normally call for a tow?”
He dips his chin at me likeI’mthe idiot here. Then everyone says in unison “Carl.”
“Come on, then!” Carl shouts at me and Steven.
I stand, grit my teeth, and survey the damage below. As I do, I hear Renaldo sink into the ground with a squish. His boots are not cheap either. What used to be a road is now brown sludge. I exhale through my nose and step down off the vehicle.
Everyone crowds around, leaning up or standing to watch me, or rather my shoes. They all wince.
