Chapter 11
The last week or so between Halloween and Thanksgiving flew by. I spent most of every day in the kitchens, baking cakes and pies to fill the plethora of orders we’d received, which at least helped me get my mind off that kiss! I wasn’t going to comment on the two cakes I’d burned or the custard that’d stuck to the bottom of the pot and instead of a bright vanilla flavor had reeked of burned eggs, whole milk, and cream.
Thank all that was holy Char and I had the insight to hire several more hands for the holidays, or we’d have never filled all of the orders. As it was, the kitchens had operated all day with our normal business and some of the excess, and we’d implemented a night shift that came in to prepare some of the special orders that’d been scheduled for the next day. It’d been madness, and I was completely exhausted! I’d need to sleep for a week to gear up for Christmas.
My offer on the building in the East Village had been accepted. My uncle’s favorite architectural firm, Gardiner Architecture, was drawing up the plans for the bookstore and the new Buttercream Beanery. While Zio had been one of my uncles, Edward Gardiner was the other. He and his wife Margaret had been around when I was growing up and I still spoke to them often, but they spent most of their days busy with their children as well as the company they’d started not long after they’d both graduated with their architecture degrees. Uncle Ed was nothing like my mother, his sister, which made me grateful. At least I had some family I could rely on now that Zio was gone.
This morning, I’d had an early morning call from Mary. We spoke on most holidays, even if she had to call before our parents were awake. Since I was persona non grata, they’d technically forbidden Mary from any communication with me, but what they didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt them.
That said, Mary was insisting on staying put for the moment. As much as it made my stomach tighten leaving her in that house, I couldn’t exactly remove her by force.
Now, I stood in front of a penthouse door in the posh Hunsford Building. Char’s girlfriend, Annie, was hosting Thanksgiving, and I’d agreed to come. The café was closed for the holiday, so I hadn’t needed to worry about that for the day. Even so, my eyes were heavy from how busy we’d been as well as the lack of sleep I’d had.
I was going to bitch-slap William Darcy next time I saw him. What right did he have to kiss me and completely screw over my life? Now, whenever I closed my eyes, he was there, those soulful blue eyes closing in just before his lips claimed mine and shattered my ability to concentrate.
I shifted the weight of the cake box I held in my left arm while I lifted my right to knock. When the door opened, Char wore a huge smile and held out her arms.
“Happy Thanksgiving!”
“You can’t claim you’re English anymore if you’re going to get so excited about Thanksgiving.”
She took the cake box and ushered me inside. “Hey, any holiday that revolves around food can’t be bad. Besides, Annie came out to her mother two days ago.”
My eyes widened. “Oh my God, how’d it go?”
“The old biotch told Annie not to come back home, but that’s okay. She has an inheritance from her father and this apartment was part of it, so she’s fine. I’m also moving in, so you can rent out my apartment if you want. Now that we’re in the open, there’s no reason to hold off.”
“Oh,” I said with a start. “This is a bit more convenient to the new location.”
Annie’s apartment was in the East Village and within walking distance.
I nodded. “We’ll talk about it on Monday.” The café was open tomorrow and would be busy with everyone out Black Friday shopping. We’d have our own specials that day, but we’d go in early in the morning to prepare. Saturday and Sunday we’d both taken off. If we’d learned anything, there was always a lull after the holiday. People came in for coffee and sometimes sweets, but rarely had special orders.
As soon as I entered the kitchen, Annie grabbed a glass from the cabinet and poured me a huge serving of red wine. “I’m glad you could make it, Lizzy.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind everyone drinking?” I asked. Annie had Rheumatoid arthritis and couldn’t drink due to her medications.
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Please, enjoy yourself. Even if I can’t drink, I’m not going to keep others from doing so.”
As I picked up my glass, I leaned on the counter next to her. “How are you doing?”
She glanced at Char. “Char told you.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but she shook her head. “No, it’s okay. Everyone coming knows, and I told them about my mother just in case they wanted to steer clear of her bad side. I wouldn’t blame them if they did.”
“What was the response?”
“They’re all still coming,” said Annie with a choked voice and shiny eyes.
Char nudged my upper arm with her shoulder. “I never mentioned it, but Annie’s mom is Catherine deBourgh.”
My eyes bulged. “I’ve heard of your mother, of course, but I had no idea the two of you were related.” I’d never seen Annie at any of the same events as Catherine deBourgh, but from what I understood, Annie had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis a few years ago, and from what Char had told me, it’d taken some time to figure out her medication regime. She may have also not cared to be a part of that scene. Char had never mentioned her partner’s last name. Since Annie wasn’t out at the time, I’d never asked either.
Annie lifted a shoulder. “I was always closer to my dad. I’d talked to him and more or less came out to him before he died. He left me in no doubt that he loved me no matter what. I was fortunate to have inherited everything that was his. My mother had her own business interests, and I don’t need anything from those, and my father ensured I’d never need to rely on my mother. I won’t ever have to work if I don’t want to, and I can afford the best medical care at home should I require it.”
The buzzer for the front door of the building rang, and Char hurried out.
“Char’s been great,” said Annie as she poured herself a glass of water. “If I didn’t have her, I doubt I’d have been able to go through with telling my mother. I’m not that brave.”
I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I disagree. You face every day and whatever comes with your chin up. I admire that about you.”
Annie swallowed a sip of her water and smiled. “Thank you. By the way, Char’s told me some of what’s occurred between you and William Darcy.”
“Yeah, what about it?”
Annie dipped her chin a bit. “You do know—"
A moment later, Char entered with her eyebrows lifted. Before I could ask what that meant, Will Darcy, his cousin Richard, and Gigi followed her into the kitchen.” What Annie had been about to say hit me like a brick. She was not only related to Cruella de Bourgh, but also Will. Had Char known?
“We’re going to need to move this party soon, or there’ll be too many to fit in here,” said Richard.
“Lizzy!” Gigi rushed over to give me a hug. “I’m so excited you’re here. I didn’t know you knew Annie.”
“I’ve known Annie for a while. Char is my best friend and assistant at the café. Annie comes in from time to time, and we’ve had dinner at my house twice and a couple of times here as well. She was just about to tell me how she’s related to you.” I gave Char a death glare. She had to have known. How dare she not tell me sooner!
“Speaking of the café,” said Annie, “What did you bring? Char said you’d insisted on baking even though she’d told you not to.”
“A pecan caramel cake.” I looked to Gigi. “Char told me to make it gluten-free.” More proof that Char knew of Annie’s cousins before today.
“Hi,” said Will.
My cheeks burned like they were pressed to a stovetop. God, how I prayed my face wasn’t as scarlet red as I suspected. I’d replayed that kiss way too many times to count, and my traitorous imagination had even added to it. Will’s shirt and pants might have been discarded somewhere along the way before he sprawled me out on the desk in the library. . .but I’d never tell him any of that!
Richard stepped forward and kissed my cheek. “Lizzy, I didn’t know you’d be here. What a relief! I thought I’d be stuck with a bunch of sticks in the mud for the day.”
He winked as Gigi backhanded his bicep. “William’s the one who’s worn a sour expression for the past week or so. The rest of us aren’t exactly chopped liver, you know.”
Richard wrapped an arm around Gigi’s head and gave her a noogie. “I wasn’t including you, squirt.”
Gigi shoved him away and rushed out with a huff, probably to the bathroom off the hall to check her hair. Richard laughed.
“Don’t be a dick,” said Annie. “That old nickname might resurface.”
I glanced between them. “What nickname?” Thank heavens the attention was no longer on me! Char was watching me with an appraising look I’d seen before, but as long as no one else noticed, I was good. I hoped, anyway!
“Annie used to call Richard ‘Dickie’ when he behaved like an ass,” said Will.
“Hey, Gigi needs a big brother figure,” said Richard. “You’re more like her father than her brother.”
I crossed my arms over my chest with the glass still in one hand. “By necessity, I’m sure. For all intents and purposes, he’s had to fill both roles, hasn’t he?” Everyone turned. Annie’s eyebrows were lifted, and Richard wore an insufferable crooked grin that made me shrivel in place. Shit! “It’s just an observation.” If only I hadn’t been so emphatic in Will’s defense. I mean where had that come from? The last time I’d seen Will, I’d berated his officiousness, and now, I was standing up for him? Make up your mind, Lizzy!
Char chuckled. “A valid point, I’m sure.”
Crap, crap, crap! I took a large drink from my wine and swallowed hard. Char could read me better than anyone—other than Zio—and I’d just given myself away.
“Who wants wine?” Annie called out.
“We don’t have to drink,” said Richard. “What’s the fun if you can’t join us?”
“As I told Lizzy, I’m good. I want everyone to enjoy today. I’m celebrating. It’s not every day that I stand up to Cruella de Bourgh—”
I almost choked on my next sip.
“And I fully intend to revel in it.” Annie poured glasses of wine for everyone, including Gigi who’d just entered, then held up her water. “To living free,” she said. We all touched our glasses to hers before taking sips.
I set down mine on the counter and clasped my hands. “How can I help?”
Annie poured me more wine. “Relax. Char put the turkey in the oven early this morning, all the sides are baking, and what she didn’t bake beforehand is prepped and ready to go in the ovens after. I may not fit through the door after this meal she has planned.”
“It may be Thanksgiving,” said Char, “but we’re, more or less, having a traditional English Christmas dinner.”
Will straightened a bit. “Sounds brilliant to me.”
“She’s even made the Christmas pudding,” said Annie. “Along with pumpkin pie, apple pie, and homemade ice cream. Gigi, the desserts are gluten-free, as is the stuffing and dinner rolls.”
“Thank you for considering me,” said Gigi.
I glanced around. “Are we expecting anyone else?”
“A few friends will come and go,” said Char. “Most had plans with their families today, so they can’t spend the entire afternoon, but wanted to come by for a glass of wine or dessert.”
Annie laughed. “Of course, they want to come for dessert.”
Richard rubbed his hands together. “I’m looking forward to it after Gi’s birthday cake last month. If your baking, Char, is anything like Lizzy’s, we’re going to be in big trouble. You might need to roll us all out of here at the end of the night.”
“Let’s move into the living room,” said Annie. “We’ll be more comfortable and out of Char’s way while she cooks.”
Before I could escape, Char grabbed my sweater. “I do need Lizzy for one thing. The rest of you go ahead.”
I winced. “Do we have to?”
Char shoved me into the pantry, followed me in, and shut the door behind us.
“It’s dark.”
With a growl, she flipped the light switch. “What the ever-loving fuck was that?”
I took another gulp of my wine. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Bullshit.”
The last of the wine flowed down my throat with ease. “That day you brought Will up to my library?”
“Uh huh?”
I shifted on my feet. “Well, he may have kissed me.”
Her eyes nearly popped from their sockets. “May have?”
I groaned. “Okay, he did kiss me.”
Char crossed her arms over her chest. “What happened to ‘he’s an asshole,’ ‘he’s a tosser,’ he’s a—”
“You said he’s a tosser.”
She pointed at me. “Like you never thought it! I also tried to tell you he liked you, but nooooo, that wasn’t possible, was it?”
“I don’t want to do this right now. It’s bad enough I’ll be forced to spend the day in the same room with him. How long have you known he’s Annie’s cousin?”
She shrugged. “A couple of weeks or so, but that’s not important. What happened when he kissed you?”
I lifted my hands. “How am I supposed to know? One moment we’re arguing over his officiousness, and the next, I’m about to cry and he’s kissing me. You should’ve told me he’d be here.” My lady parts tingle at just the mention of that kiss. Great googly moogly, my body had never come alive like it did when he locked lips with mine. My thighs erupted into flames, and the memory was enough to inspire how many fantasies? Stop it, Lizzy!
I strode out of the pantry and uncorked the bottle to pour another glass of wine. This wouldn’t help me cool off, but maybe it’d help me unwind a bit. Besides, I had an entire day of Will Darcy’s company to anticipate. Oh, goody!