Chapter 16
The Christmas season was chugging along at a frantic pace. Novel Books was packed every day with shoppers searching for gifts. We had extra crews coming in after closing to restock and clean. Meanwhile, the Beanery was way up on profits for another year. The holiday cakes I’d planned were selling like hotcakes to those wanting a slice with their coffee, and we’d had orders galore for whole cakes as well. We’d even agreed to furnish desserts for several office parties coming up, so we’d been prepping what we could in advance so we weren’t slammed at the last minute.
This afternoon, we’d just finished a huge order for one party that would be picked up at four. My feet were killing me, I had a crick in my back, and I desperately needed a hit of caffeine.
“Mia, could you ask Henry to make me a latte, please?”
“Salted caramel?”
I nodded and headed back to my office to remove my apron. After tossing it in the hamper, I logged off the computer. Mia would be doing the deposit later, and I’d created log-in information for her. She was learning all of the management duties without faltering—not that she hadn’t been running what happened behind the counter for the past year or two. Now, she merely had more authority behind her.
When I returned to the front, the steaming cup was put into my hand, and I could’ve melted at the aroma wafting from the rich brew. The salted caramel syrup was mixed in well and the flavor exploded on my tongue when I took my first sip.
“How could you?”
When I brought the cup down, Gigi was standing in front of me. “Hi, Gigi.” Even if I hadn’t heard what she’d said, her red eyes and blotchy face showed she’d been crying. “Richard must’ve told you that I turned your brother down. I’m sorry—”
Gigi scrunched up her face, her chin drawn back. “What are you talking about? I mean going to my brother about Greg.”
Oh, shit!
I held up a finger. “Before you say anything else, come with me.” I could see this getting ugly, and the floor of the café wasn’t the ideal spot for any confrontation.
Thankfully, Gigi didn’t fight me as I took her hand and led her into the back. The stockroom manager’s office was empty, so I pulled Gigi inside and closed the door. “I suppose it’s safe to assume your brother enlightened you concerning Greg.”
She threw her hands up. “Oh, he had all sorts of things to say about Greg. William told me about how you came to him after I visited the bakery with Greg. Why would you go to my brother behind my back?”
I set down my coffee and grasped her by the shoulders, but Gigi wasn’t having it. She whipped back from me. “Don’t treat me like a child.”
“I have no intention of doing so. But you have to remember back to that day in the bakery. Would you have listened if I’d told you my suspicions?”
“What do you mean?”
“If I’d pulled you aside and said that Greg gave me the heebie-jeebies, would you have listened? I had a gut feeling with no proof. He was slick—too slick—and you were blind to that fake move of him reaching for his wallet. He had no intention of paying.”
She sniffled. “You don’t know that.”
“Do I know exactly what was running through his mind? No, no one can know that, but I’ve had people who used me to get to my uncle. When I was in college, people would behave as though they were my friend, then want to meet Zio. It never took long to figure out who was legitimate and who could’ve cared less for me. It’s a skill you need to learn, which is why I was angry with your brother for arranging matters as he did without cluing you in on Greg. Did he tell you that? Let you know what Greg is really like?”
Gigi deflated and a tear tracked down her cheek. “William had police reports. Greg was arrested when he stepped off the plane at Heathrow. Apparently, he drugged and raped several girls in London. He’d also conned some woman—pretended to marry her somehow—and accessed her bank accounts. He took her for close to a million. Between all the charges, he’ll go to jail for a long time.” She dropped into the chair. “I’m such an idiot. How was I so blind?”
I knelt before her and took her hands. “You trust what people are saying is the absolute truth. In an ideal world, it’s a beautiful, endearing quality, but with your wealth and privilege, it’s dangerous. I don’t want you to lose what makes you you , but I also believe you need to be more careful in whom you bestow your trust.
“I’m sorry for not saying anything to you in the moment, but he never left your side. If I’d followed you to the ladies’ room, you would’ve thought I was being creepy.”
She hiccupped a light chuckle through her tears.
“You also mentioned your family history with the man, so I thought your brother would know whether my instincts were correct. Wickham is also a bit old for you, don’t you think?”
Gigi rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but he’s hot. It was flattering having a male model who was interested in me—well, who I thought was interested in me.”
“I bit my cheek. “I’m going to ask you a personal question. You don’t have to answer.”
She nodded.
“Did you have sex with him?”
“No,” she said shaking her head. “He tried, but I wasn’t ready.”
A huge exhale whooshed from me. “Good. The last thing we needed was to take you to the doctor to check for diseases.”
“He probably would’ve poked holes in the condom. If he wanted my money, how better to tie himself to me than by getting me pregnant.” I hated the dejected tone she had as well as the way her body almost caved in on itself.
“Okay, enough of this. I say we go into the café, pick out some sweets, and take them up to my house. We can binge on them and drink coffee or hot chocolate. Whatever you want.”
“I suppose,” she said as she dragged herself up to stand. “Your cakes are better than the ice cream fest I’d planned at my friends’ apartment.”
We returned to the bakery, and I took out a cake box. Gigi picked out two types of cake and the cheesecake brioche doughnut while I threw in some macarons and snowman cake pops, making sure we stuck to the gluten-free displays. Gigi was still red around the eyes when we walked to the elevator and took it up to my house.
Those same eyes widened when she gaped at the foyer of the house, the biggest of the Christmas trees nestled in the curve of the staircase.
“This is amazing. Don’t get me wrong. I love our penthouse, but it’s so modern. Will moved out of our parents’ house when I was younger and bought where he lives now. Even after they died, he never moved back.”
“Maybe the memories are too much for him.” I could understand that feeling. I had it from time to time living here.
“Probably. He told me I could move into Mom and Dad’s one day if I wanted, but if I left the penthouse, he’d be all alone.”
I set down the box of baked goods on the coffee table in the living room and texted Mrs. Hill, who bustled in a moment later.
“There you are, dearie.” She paused at the sight of Gigi. “You look like you could use some cheering up.”
“Mrs. Hill, this is Gigi. She’s William Darcy’s sister.”
The older lady clasped her hands together. “Now that you mention it, I can see the resemblance. You both have the same eyes.”
“So, we’re pigging out on cake and whatever Gigi wants.”
Mrs. Hill nodded. “Would you like some hot chocolate, or maybe a cup of tea? I can make coffee drinks too, but they’re not nearly as good as those from the café.”
The corner of Gigi’s mouth turned upwards. “Hot chocolate sounds perfect. I’ll make myself sick within an hour or so.”
I patted her back. “We’ll pace ourselves. Do you want to watch something?” I handed her the remote. “I have a cabinet full of DVDs on that wall, and I have more than one streaming service. Just pick out whatever you want to watch.”
“You don’t have an opinion?” she asked.
“If you pick out a movie or show I object to, I’ll let you know.” I shrugged. “In the mood you’re in, it’s not like you’re going to go watching horror movies. I like most rom-coms and comedies.”
Gigi plopped down onto the sofa and pulled the cake box closer. I reached and pulled the coffee table toward us.
Mrs. Hill returned with napkins, forks, and spoons. “We have ice cream too if you’d like some.”
I opened the boxes, and Mrs. Hill’s eyes widened. “Never mind. I believe you’re all set.”
While she hurried back into the kitchen, I passed Gigi her utensils and I dug into the Southern Pecan Caramel Cake. The moistness of the cake drenched in caramel accompanied by the caramel buttercream and pecans all but melted into my mouth. I’d always adored cakes, and I made enough different varieties that I never seemed to get bored eating them.
“I haven’t tried that one yet,” said Gigi. She moaned when she took a bite. “I don’t know how you make cakes like this. I wish I knew how.”
“It’s not that hard. Why don’t you come over one day, and I’ll teach you.”
“Really? Now that we’re on break, I’d love to do that.”
“Why not between Christmas and New Years? That way things will be a little slower at the café. I’m going to be digging myself out of buttercream by Christmas Eve.”
“Yes, but those pies in the display, with the cut-out ornaments on the crust, were beautiful. You and Char put so much into all you do, and it shows.”
“Because we love it. If we didn’t, we’d constantly complain—not that we don’t ever complain. Some days are long and exhausting, and some customers don’t want to be pleased. But put flour and a bowl in front of me and let me create, and I’m content.”
“That’s why I’m studying music. It’s my happy place.”
I picked up the remote and set it next to her. “What did you want to watch?”
“Oh!” She flipped through until she picked The Princess Bride , which happened to be one of my favorites. Before she hit play, she let her hand rest on the table. “Lizzy, what did you mean about turning down my brother.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Suddenly, I became extremely interested in the cake and shoved a huge bite in my mouth.
“Did he ask you out?”
Damn! Why couldn’t I look her in the eye? I did my best to chew and not give myself away.
“He did! But why would you say no? He may not always handle matters in the best way, but his heart is in the right place. He’s a great brother.”
I picked up my now cold coffee and took a sip to help me get down the enormous bite I’d taken. “He may be, but we haven’t always gotten along.”
“But it’d be awesome to have you as a sister.”
Her enthusiasm brought a smile to my lips. “I agree, but why don’t you let me and your brother sort out our own messes? It’s more than likely that neither of us belongs with the other.”
She lifted the remote. “Okay, but I disagree on that.”
“You’re allowed to disagree. As long as you don’t start matchmaking.”
She hit play. “I’m not making any promises. After all, ‘true love is the greatest thing, in the world—except for a nice MLT—mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They’re so perky. ’ [1] ”
I grinned at her bad impression of Miracle Max from the movie and poked her in the ribs, making her shift to the side. Gi would be okay. She had enough people in her corner—including me—to make sure of it.
After way too much cake, cake pops, macarons, and doughnuts, we succumbed to a sugar coma—Gigi more so than me. She fell asleep before the second movie we turned on was over, a grey throw tossed over her legs.
Mrs. Hill crept in when the movie ended. “The poor thing was worn out from crying. I hope she’ll be okay.”
“I think so. She’s got her brother and a couple of cousins to take care of her. I believe they’re all close. One of the cousins is Char’s Annie.”
“I like her.”
“You do.” I gathered the utensils and handed them to her while Mrs. Hill gathered the boxes and napkins. “Her brother can be overprotective, which was why she was upset.”
“That’s hard,” said Mrs. Hill. “He’s probably doing what he thinks is best without realizing that he’s making decisions for her or treading on her toes.” A ding from the foyer made us both straighten.
Mrs. Hill glanced at her watch. “It’s nine o’clock. Who could that be?” She rushed off while I brought the trash into the kitchen and threw it away. As I was putting the utensils in the dishwasher, Mrs. Hill walked in and placed her hand over mine on the counter. “That would be the brother. I’d wager he’s looking for her.”
“With the state she was in, I’d guess he was worried and assumed she came here. I’ll take care of it.”
“Don’t be too hard on him, dearie. Your uncle could be officious when it suited him as well. Don’t forget that he never told you about his will or the trust set aside for you.”
“That was different.” Wasn’t it? Sure, it was a shock when the truth of the matter was revealed, but Zio wouldn’t have done it without good cause.
“Your uncle was the best of men, but no man is perfect. They all have their foibles. Some of their faults are more endearing than others, but you must admit women are the same.”
I feigned affront by putting my hand on my chest. “You’re saying I have faults? I thought I was ‘practically perfect in every way.’ [2] ”
Mrs. Hill giggled. “Okay, Mary Poppins, go greet your guest.”
I entered the foyer right as the elevator doors opened, and Will Darcy stepped out. His hair was adorably tousled, although otherwise, his appearance was almost haggard. His eyes had a wild quality about them.
“Is Gi here? Usually, she goes to see Richard or Annie when she’s upset, but they haven’t seen her. You’re the only other person I could think of.”
I stepped forward and put my hands on his shoulders. “Will, breathe. She’s here. She’s sleeping off two slices of cake, a cake pop, a doughnut, and hot chocolate in the living room.”
His entire body deflated. “Thank God!”