We recently hired a new pastry chef—the last one left because she met her husband and moved to another state—and today was his first day.
It’s looking to be his last, too.
“Are these my only options?” The bride points to the tray of desserts in front of her. Two kinds of cookies, two kinds of cupcakes, and three cakes.
All of which she has not enjoyed.
Neither the bride nor the groom has. Usually, the groom is easier to sell, but not today.
I sit up straight and think over my words carefully.
This part of owning a lodge is my least favorite. I prefer to be behind the scenes for everything, handling the financial side of business, but as long as my family owns this place, that’s not how it works.
My grandfather started Lovers Lodge decades ago, building it to the name and reputation it has to this day. He then passed it down to his son Henry—who is also known as my father, but he lost the privilege of me calling him that long ago—the only heir, who maintained the image. Now, my brother Gavin, sister Grace, and I assist in running it under Henry’s guidance. My youngest sister, Wren, will more than likely take her place here once she returns from college, whenever that may be. Being the baby of the family, the pressure of this place will most likely never be on her.
Until then, it’s a rule that Grace, Gavin, and I all work together to run and make a presence in all areas of the lodge. The months I spent in housekeeping were the worst, but we’ve all done it. Thankfully, some areas were eventually taken off our list once we experienced them long enough to understand how they work most efficiently. However, when it comes to weddings and other events, we all fill in.
Mostly known as being a wedding venue for some of the rich and famous, Lovers Lodge is also one ofForbes’s top-three vacation destinations. Per their latest article, we are an elegant lodge that sits on a lake tucked away in the small town of Lovers, Wyoming, surrounded by lush mountains. Between the four-story main lodge and the dozens of surrounding cabins, Lovers Lodge is the best place for families to get away, celebritiesto hide out, and the perfect place for the wedding of your dreams. A true vacation that will make you feel right at home.
I threw up in my mouth a little when I first read that article. They weren’t wrong, per se, but my favorite line might have been when they said that the townspeople’s kindness will make you feel like you’ve lived there a thousand years.
Ha, they clearly didn’t meet Mrs. Whittaker, who takes gossiping as if she’s paid for it. Or Barty, Marty, and Phill, who sit on the bench in the middle of Main Street and people-watch all day long. And they sure as hell didn’t meet Brooke Sloan when they were at the bakery, because if they had held the kind of conversations I have with her, they wouldn’t be calling her treats delectable.
Fuck.
Sadly, they’re right about that, too.
If only the new chef had half of Brooke’s skills, I wouldn’t be sitting here worried that one more bite might cause our client to choke to death.
Magazines would just love that. They’ll ruin the reputation of our business quicker than we can build it.
“We can certainly take note of different flavors you’d prefer and schedule another tasting,” I say when words finally come to me.
The bride nods, floating a hesitant look at her groom.
“Will they be made by the same person?” he asks.
Shit. If my chef can’t meet their standards, I’ll be left with only one other option, and trust me, it’s the last thing I want.
“Our pastry chef is a new staff member and has a full schedule. Perhaps rescheduling another tasting would give him time to become more comfortable in our kitchen and deliver the preferred cake of choice.”
“I …” the bride starts and then groans. “I don’t know if you dothis or are open to the idea, but since we arrived two days ago, we have been…”
No.
“... to the best …”
Pleasedon’t say it.
“... little bakery in town named...”
No. No. No.
“B’s Bakery, and we’d love for them to make our cake.”
I keep a smile on my face.
There’s a hopeful gleam in her eye that I’m going to say yes.
