Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty - Six
October
Zara
A udrey and I were hiding in the kitchen, scarfing down a plate of pumpkin mini-muffins that Audrey claimed were a little overdone. It was just an excuse to eat them ourselves, though. Now that Audrey’s morning sickness was gone, her appetite was in overdrive. I was merely her enabler .
We weren’t hiding because of the mini-muffins, though. We were hiding so that we could have a moment alone together to celebrate the big decision we’d made .
“He starts on Tuesday,” Audrey whispered. “Seemed mean to start him on the weekend. I don’t know why, though. He’s going to be working weekends .”
“Not every weekend,” I pointed out. “We’re still going to alternate Saturdays and Sundays .”
Audrey patted her baby bump. “I know! And I don’t care! I’m just so happy that he was okay with working the early shift four days a week .”
Truly, it was an impossible luxury. Our first full-time employee—Roderick—was a single guy. He didn’t even have a girlfriend. And he hadn’t blinked when we’d told him the hours he’d be working. “I’m a baker ,” he’d explained. “If I didn’t want to get up early, I’ve made some terrible life choices .”
He was going to be great. I could just tell. “How many days of training do you think he’ll need ?”
“It’s really hard to say!” Audrey tossed another mini-muffin in her mouth and grinned. “He’s my first full-time employee. I’m so proud .”
“You’re a goof is what you are.” I eyed the muffins. Eating another one would really be overkill. “So… Who’s going to tell Kieran? I’ll flip you for it .”
Audrey’s eyes sparkled “You tell him. I’ll watch .”
“Tell me what?” Kieran’s deep voice asked as he stuck his head into the kitchen .
I swear, we both jumped when we heard him. “Um…” Audrey hedged .
“We hired Roderick,” I said, biting the bullet .
“What?” Kieran’s face darkened. “He couldn’t possibly be the best choice .”
Audrey and I exchanged a glance. Roderick was an excellent choice. Impeccable resume. Great experience in the bakery at King Arthur in Norwich. And—not that we would say it out loud—hot as hell .
“Buddy,” Audrey said slowly. “ Why don’t you like this guy ?”
“He’s a dick,” Kieran said quickly .
“Based on what, though?” He’d been Mr. Charming as far as we’d seen. “How do you know him ?”
“High school, right?” I guessed. Kieran was a little younger than I was, but I had a vague memory of teenaged Roderick .
“Yeah,” Kieran said .
“So…” Audrey offered the plate of muffins to Kieran, who shook his head. “Is he still a dick? I mean, I don’t want to hire a dick. But is he presently a dick or might he have outgrown it ?”
Kieran made a face like he’d tasted something bad. “I dunno. I have to wipe down the machines and get going .”
At that, he disappeared .
“What do you think?” I whispered. “Should we be worried ?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Audrey replied in the same hushed tone. “Kieran has been surly for months. And he didn’t give us much to go on , here .”
He really hadn’t. “We checked Roderick’s references. They love him in Norwich. His baking blog has a big following .”
“And we already hired him,” Audrey said, brushing her hands of muffin crumbs. “It will either work or it won’t. Let’s not worry .”
“Okay.” This was why I loved Audrey. She didn’t do drama. She was the sunshine that reminded me not to be gloomy. “I guess we’d better get back to it.” I headed out of the kitchen. It was a quiet afternoon, and Audrey was due to go home .
“Now if I were you,” Audrey said, following me. “I’d be looking for flights to New York in three weeks or so. There’s a window of opportunity here—this baby will come in twenty weeks whether we’re ready or not. So go visit your man while you still have the chance .”
“Wow.” I got a shiver just thinking about it. This was really the first moment when that had seemed possible .
“How’s he doing, anyway ?”
“Good,” I said. I’d watched a livestream of one of his pre-season games last night. “He’s in Philadelphia right now. Nicole and I will probably Skype with him on the weekend .”
“Both of you? That’s not the Skype call I’d be having with him.” Audrey winked .
“Oh, stop.” We’d had only G-rated Skype sessions. I’d shown him all the furniture I’d bought for the house. Purchases that had become easy the week after he’d left, when a check had come in the mail for me—more money than the coffee shop had earned in its first year. The memo line had said: Child Support Lump Sum Payment .
That stinker had managed to pay for my furniture, after all. And I’d put a down payment on a used car Alec found for me .
And, sure, I always called him when the baby was awake. I told myself that it was good for him to remember that we were a team—that I wasn’t just an erotic fantasy of his. But it also kept us from having the big conversations. I don’t think I’d realized before this moment that I’d been doing it on purpose .
“I’m still holding him at arm’s length,” I said slowly. “I am, right? Jesus .”
“ Honey ,” Audrey said. “If you keep it up, he’ll always be at an arm’s length .”
“I don’t know how to stop,” I said, realizing what she’d said was true .
“Buy a fricking plane ticket, go wrap yourself around him, and tell him how much you miss him. It really is that easy .”
“You’re probably right .”
“I know I am.” She grabbed her phone out of her pocket. “Jet Blue flies to JFK. Let’s just see what the flight times are …”