9. Chapter 9
The cloud I’ve been on since last night with Liam is showing. I’m humming while I bake, and find myself dancing along to the songs I have playing.
“Someone is still awfully happy.” Emma says stealing one of the blueberry muffins I just made.
The amount of times the Keaton siblings come in the kitchen to steal baked goods as soon as they’re out of the oven makes me think there’s a camera in here.
“I am. Liam is everything I remember as a friend.”
Emma stares at me with a knowing grin, “A friend, huh?”
“I mean. I don’t know. What if last night was just a fling?”
“Trust me. Liam doesn’t have flings. Ever. He isn’t like other guys, and I don’t just say that because he’s my brother. Wyatt is absolutely like other guys!” She laughs at her brother’s expense. I can see him being the playboy.
“In New York, it’s always Larry’s set ups. The rich guys who only want me to come out to dinner and be shown off with them for their own gain so Liam is nothing like the other guys I’ve ever dated. I mean he’s the nerd of the bunch really. His version of the perfect date is dinner by the fire, followed by books and reading. I just…don’t know what’s going on between us.”
The kitchen door swings open and Liam walks in, slapping a book on the island where I bake. A deep scowl on his face.
Shit. Something happened.
Emma runs out of the kitchen after Liam, leaving me stunned, holding a hot pan of cookies in my hand.
I place the cookies down on the island, and go over to see what book Liam brought in.
Of course it’s one from my favorite series.
“I tried Violet. He left. He only heard part of our conversation, and he’s running away instead of listening.” Emma hangs her head in defeat. “He thinks we were talking bad about him.”
“And he just believed we would do that?” My jaw drops open. How could he believe that after our night together? After all the times we had together as kids, he knows me better than anyone, or so I thought.
“It’s what he’s used to. Even now girls approach him to get to our brothers. He’s never the one that gets chosen. He’s going to Rebels. Go talk to him. Maybe he’ll listen to you. ”
I toss my apron on the island and run upstairs to change quickly.
I text Liam before I left the inn, but by the time I get to Rebels he still hasn’t responded.
I take a deep breath and walk inside, ready to face him.
“Hey, Violet!” Roman waves from behind the bar.
“Hey, you know where Liam is?”
Roman grimaces in response. “You sure? He’s kind of being an ass tonight.”
“I think that’s my fault, so yeah, I’m sure.” I give him a weak smile.
Roman points me in the direction of the corner of the brewery. I spot a table that’s kept hidden and know immediately this is Liam’s booth. Hidden from the world, and not having to make conversation with a soul.
I was feeling confident until I see a blonde with massive boobs hanging out of her shirt at his table. I can’t see his face so I don’t know if he’s staring, but I bet any man would be.
This shakes my confidence a little. How could he already be with another woman?
“Well. Guess it doesn’t take you long to move on.” I announce my arrival after the blonde sees me coming.
Liam doesn’t even turn to look at me before answering, “Pretty easy when you don’t know what’s going on between us, and I’m just the nerd of the family.”
“Mmm I can see that. You totally are.” The blonde stares him up and down, shrugging her shoulders. I can’t help the jealousy that flares inside me. Who the hell is this chick?
“Seriously?” At least he seems annoyed with her too.
“Could you give Liam and I a moment? ”
“I was here talking to Liam about something very important.” She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her boobs up further.
I roll my eyes at the action, she’s clearly trying to get Liam’s attention. I shoot a glance at him wondering if this is really what he’s looking for.
“Listen, I don’t want either one of you here. So, you can both go.”
Ouch. I wait for Liam to change his mind, but he just keeps staring between us.
Blondie gets up and walks away with a huff, and I take my own cue. I’ll go to the bar and eat some dinner, maybe he’ll change his mind and come talk to me.
I plop into a seat at the end of the bar near Roman feeling defeated.
“Failed at getting the resident asshole to cheer up, huh?”
He slides a cider down the bar for me.
“Not with bimbo boobs over there.” I toss my thumb over my shoulder to the woman who has now moved on to a different man in the bar.
“Oh, yeah, Tiff. She would for sure put Liam in a bad mood, even if he was in a good one to start. She’s a little obsessed with Wyatt, but Wyatt dumped her, and she won’t accept it. She attacks any Keaton that walks in my door.” He shakes his head.
“Well that makes sense. She doesn’t seem like Liam’s type at all. She was awfully chatty.” I scrunch my nose. How did I not see that? Oh right, I was letting the jealousy take over.
Roman grabs my food from the kitchen and hands it to me. The pizza in front of me is still steaming, and smells heavenly. Clark made me a white pizza with pesto and prosciutto. I’m obsessed and it’s quickly become my favorite meal.
I dig into my pizza and eat in silence while Roman works, Liam still hasn’t come to see me but he’s still sitting and sulking at his table. My patience is waning with him though.
Roman leans down in front of me, resting his elbows on the bar.
“How’s that pizza?” he asks laughing as I snag the last piece off my plate.
“Delicious as always. Can I ask you something?” I wipe my hands on my napkin.
“Sure thing. Shoot.”
“Why is Liam the resident asshole as you called him? I mean I remember him being quiet and reclusive, but never a jerk.”
“He’s had a tough time with the inn. And his siblings. I think his perception of things is worse than they really are, but you should ask him about it. It’s not my story.” He winks at me.
“Got it. Can I ask you one more question?”
He chuckles. “Sure.”
“Want to get me a brownie sundae with peanut butter sauce?” I smile big, trying to get him to do my dessert bidding.
“You got it.” He points to me and heads back to the kitchen himself.
I glance back to see Liam while I wait, but he’s gone. I never saw him leave and he never came to say goodbye. Now I’m pissed at him. It’s one thing to be grouchy, it’s another to believe I would say that about him and refuse to talk to me.
At least now I can read my book and not have to share my chocolate.
I woke up in a grumpy mood today after tossing and turning, thinking about Liam all night. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.
And of course, everything that can go wrong, is going wrong this morning. I wanted to make a quiche, but I didn’t have enough eggs. So I had to run to the store, and now I’m behind. While the quiche bakes I start on the batter for cinnamon roll pancakes that I’m making tomorrow for the guests.
Emma sent out a flier with the check-ins and every single guest has said they will join us for breakfast. I am even going to fold the bacon into a heart shape for the holiday.
My anxiety is on high alert waiting for Liam to come in, but as the morning passes he still hasn’t. Only Emma has come to see me to go over some of the plans for Valentine’s Day and to get more social media content.
Emma is shooting a video of me mixing the pancake batter when she scrunches her nose. “What is that smell?”
I sniff at the air. “Oh shit!”
I run over to the oven and pull out my quiche with a blackened top.
“Great. Just what I needed today.” I toss the offending quiche onto the island and lean forward, resting my elbows and rubbing my eyes with the heel of my hands.
I can feel the tears of frustration burning the back of my eyes.
“Is everything okay?” Emma says softly .
“No. I don’t know. Liam won’t talk to me. He hasn’t texted me back, he won’t listen to me, and clearly he doesn’t trust me or know me enough to not believe that I’d say something like that about him, behind his back nonetheless! And now he’s avoiding the inn.” Emma rubs my back. “I just, everything is going wrong this morning. I just need a break. I’m going to head out to buy more eggs. Again.”
I stand, shutting off the oven and head out to get my coat and walk into town.
Maybe I need a coffee from Emerald Roasters. That will boost my spirits. It has to.
The cold walk to town is already improving my mood. But the second I walk in and inhale the aroma of freshly brewed coffee beans the last bit of my bad mood goes away.
While I’m in line, I see their special Valentine’s Day menu featuring my baked goods. I feel more proud seeing the sold out stickers over my pastries than I ever did in culinary school. That’s how I know I made the right choice dropping out and coming to Balsam Cliffs. Even if the resident grump is directing his anger at me today.
When I get up to the counter, Franklin is taking orders.
“Good morning, sweet Violet. It’s a nice surprise to see you this morning. Where is Liam?” He looks behind me and instantly my bad mood is back.
“He’s busy,” I answer curtly.
Getting the hint, Franklin asks for my order.
“Can I have the chocolate covered strawberry cold brew, please?”
“Sure thing.” I move to the end of the counter and Esther comes out from the back with Gran .
“Oh my beautiful girl!” Gran squeezes my cheeks together and kisses my forehead.
“Good morning!”
“We were just doing some planning for the Valentine’s Day dance. Do you want to hear our ideas?” Esther offers.
“Yes! I have some too. I was at Rebels last night and have big plans for the space over by the fireplace.” The three of us go over to a table and Esther tells the barista where to find me for my drink.
“What are your plans first?” I ask, wanting to make sure that I don’t step on their toes since I’m only here because of Gran and this is kind of their signature town event.
“We were thinking that we could use you youngins’ to make a video and tape everyone’s love story that started in Balsam Cliffs! There are lots of people who come every year just because this is where they met. Maybe you and Emma could put something out on social media to get people to submit their love stories!” Esther and Gran take turns filling me in on this plan.
You can tell they’ve been friends for so long by the fact that they can finish and start each other’s sentences without even noticing.
“That sounds like a great idea. It’d be perfect to put on the televisions around the brewery. But I bet it’d be perfect to put on the television by the fireplace where the big overstuffed chairs are! People can sit and watch while they cuddle up with a dessert bar. I think a dessert bar over there would be the perfect cozy touch.”
“I love a good dessert.” Franklin joins us patting his tummy, “Especially if that dessert is provided by you and Margaret. ”
My Gran beams at me, “It seems my girl here has made quite the impression on this town with her baked goods. And I’m getting a much needed break.”
“So are you two going to be the first ones to film a video?” I ask Esther and Franklin.
They are high school sweethearts and have been married for a long time. They are approaching their fiftieth anniversary soon. Gran and my Granddad would be there too if he hadn’t had a heart attack when I was a little girl. My Gran never found anyone else to fill his shoes.
She claims that she could never find a man with big enough feet to fill his shoes and I used to think Liam could be that for me in the wistful way a thirteen year old girl thinks about her crush. But after last night, I don’t even want to think about him.
I just need to get my heart on board with that thought process.
“Oh Franklin, that would be lovely! What do you think?” Esther leans her head on his shoulder.
“Whatever makes you happy, dear.” He kisses the top of her forehead.
I sigh. That’s what I want to find.
“Okay well, this has been fun, but I need to get some eggs. I burnt a quiche this morning.”
“Violet,” Gran holds her hand to her chest in mock horror. “A burnt quiche? What’s wrong? You’ve not burned anything since that summer you were distracted by Liam and burnt a whole batch of cookies setting the bakery’s fire alarm off.”
My cheeks blush at the memory .
“Oh, I think that was the problem again this time.” Esther laughs.
“It was another Keaton thank you very much.”
I turn and leave after kissing Gran’s cheek and let them try and figure that out. Of course they’ll never guess that it was Emma, and still Liam. Just not for the reason they think.
Okay time to get my head straight. I need eggs. And I need to finish prep for the weekend with our guests.
No Liam. Just baking.