5. Harrison #2
In a funny way, it made Harrison feel good to be paired up with Mallory, even if it was only in the old man’s imagination.
“Don’t keep her waiting,” Reggie said, winking.
Harrison headed into the bakery before Reggie Webb could make any more assumptions.
The bells over the door jingled merrily and a warm, cinnamon-scented breeze greeted him.
“Harrison,” Mallory said happily from behind the counter.
“Hi,” he replied, feeling a little self-conscious after his talk with the man outside, and with two groups of women sitting at the little tables.
He strode past them up to the counter, where Mallory was fiddling with a stack of menus.
Is she self-conscious too?
He’d been so impressed when she sent him a knock-knock joke yesterday. He’d been absolutely blown away by their in-person meeting, but her message had felt just like before, like nothing had changed.
“What can I make for you?” she asked shyly, not quite meeting his eyes.
“I actually wanted to ask you for something special,” he said. “It’s not on the menu.”
Her emerald green gaze locked on his, and there was something almost like hope in her expression, though that didn’t make any sense. What would she be hoping for?
It threw him a little, and he didn’t respond right away.
“I’m listening,” she said after a moment.
“You know Katie’s kind of… reserved,” he said, then looked over his shoulder, realizing he probably shouldn’t have this conversation in front of strangers.
The three beautifully dressed older ladies bent over a notebook next to a plate of muffins paid him no mind whatsoever. But the two younger women in yoga gear at the other table were both stealing glances at him over their smoothies.
“You know what?” Mallory said. “I need to check on my cranberry-orange muffins. Want to come back with me for a second?”
“That would be great,” he said.
She beckoned for him to follow and he moved to join her, passing the counter and going through the door into the kitchen beyond.
It wasn’t a big space, but the kitchen was sparkling clean and bright with the ceiling lights reflecting in all the stainless steel. Better yet, it smelled incredible.
Along with the sleek lines of the steel, and the massive ovens and counters, there were hooks hanging from the ceiling with copper pots and pans that looked as old as the building itself, with plenty of dents and scratches indicating they had been well-used.
Handwritten recipes in pencil with eraser smudges hung from a big bulletin board in the corner.
The space managed to be sleek and comfortable all at once—professional yet imbued with a touch of homemade magic, just like Mallory herself.
“This is really nice,” he told her.
“Thank you,” she replied, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink. “Some days I can’t believe it’s really mine. The equipment at least.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I don’t own the building,” she said. “Just the kitchen equipment and the business. Owning the building one day is the dream though.”
“Is it on the market?” he asked.
“No,” she chuckled. “But I know the owner.”
“Is he local?” Harrison asked.
“Yes,” she said. “And he has no interest in using the space himself. So who knows? Maybe one day he’ll get tired of being a landlord.”
Harrison figured that was a long shot as long as the guy had a good tenant like Mallory. It was more likely that he would raise the rent on her once he realized what a good thing she had going, and how much she had invested in this kitchen.
The idea burned in his mind and little flames of anger licked at his skin before he could remind himself to back off.
It’s not your fight, Law.
There was just something about Mallory that made him want to protect her. Maybe it was her sunny attitude. Only the most innocent soul would believe the best of their landlord.
Or offer to show around some guy she met on the internet…
“So what’s up?” she asked, grabbing a cloth and opening one of the ovens. “You mentioned Katie?”
She pulled out a massive cupcake tray filled with golden muffins that smelled just like Christmas and set it on one of the counters.
“Yeah,” he said. “I just met with Principal Tucker over at the school.”
“Oh, isn’t she the nicest lady?” Mallory said, looking up at him with stars in her eyes. “She knows every child’s name.”
“Wow,” Harrison said, momentarily stunned.
“Yes,” Mallory said. “I was always kind of unremarkable in school. It used to make my day when she would say, Hello there, Mallory Fisher. You have the brightest smile at Trinity Falls Elementary.”
“That is nice,” Harrison said with a smile at the thought of little Mallory with a pair of fiery ponytails, beaming at the principal.
“Anyway, what did she have to say about Katie?” Mallory asked.
“Right,” Harrison said. “She agreed that Katie is really quiet, and she’s got another kid who’s going to spend time with her.”
“Which kid?” Mallory asked.
“Amelia Cassidy?” Harrison said.
“Oh, she’s lovely,” Mallory said. “She and her sister were new to town last year. She’s here a bunch since her sister works at the Heroes Center. She comes in for a cookie almost every day.”
“Interesting,” Harrison said. “I figured with the last name Cassidy she’d be one of my cousins’ kids.”
“She is,” Mal said with a smile. “She’s your cousin Wolf’s step-daughter.”
That made sense. A few of his cousins out this way had gotten married recently, but he didn’t know much about the new families. He was excited to reconnect with them all now that he was living so close.
“Wow,” Harrison said. “Is there anyone you don’t know?”
“In town?” Mallory said. “Probably not. I might not know everyone well, but Trinity Falls is tiny. And you won’t find anyone here avoiding carbs.”
Harrison chuckled at the idea, and then wondered what was going on with him. He hadn’t exactly been the chuckling type lately.
“So she’s pairing her up with Amelia,” Mallory said. “Where do I come in?”
“She also said Katie should have an activity outside of school with someone she likes,” he said. “Even if it’s one-on-one with an adult, like guitar lessons.”
“I could give you some recommendations,” Mallory offered.
“Actually,” he explained, “I was hoping you might consider giving her baking lessons.”
“Oh wow,” Mallory said. “You think she likes me?”
He blinked at her for a second, completely thrown. That was what she had taken from him asking her to offer baking lessons?
“Yeah,” he said automatically. “She said you’re funny.”
He regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. What had he be thinking?
“She said that?” Mallory echoed, a little smile on her face, like she was pleased instead of offended.
“In a good way,” Harrison said quickly. “She doesn’t really notice a lot of people. She’s kind of been in her shell.”
“Well, it’s understandable,” Mallory said, her sunny smile vanishing. “And I’d love to help. Though I’m not sure she really needs lessons if she already made ladyfingers. Did she really do that by herself?”
“I was there,” Harrison said. “But I wasn’t much help. Mostly I just reached stuff that was up high in the cabinet and checked the oven for her.”
“She’s got a gift,” Mallory said, that sweet smile back on her lips.
“She’s interested,” Harrison said. “And I love seeing her get excited about something.”
“When does she want to start?” Mallory asked.
“I haven’t talked to her about it yet,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to get her hopes up if it’s too much for you.”
“I could do two days a week after school, if she wants,” Mallory offered. “Annie Williams is here Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoons. We could start tomorrow.”
“Really?” Harrison asked.
“Absolutely,” Mallory replied. “Just text me to let me know what time works best.”
“Okay,” Harrison said, nodding.
“I know she wants to do baklava,” Mallory said. “Any idea what else she has in mind?”
“Well, she wants to do all the cookies her mom used to do,” Harrison said, pulling a worn and folded piece of paper from his pocket without thinking.
“Is that a cookie list?” Mallory asked, her eyes lighting up as she held out her hand for it.
“It’s, uh, a Christmas cookie list,” he said, watching himself place it in her open palm, though he had never allowed anyone else to touch it. “Her mom had it in with the decorations. But I couldn’t find the recipes, just the list.”
“Oh, wow,” Mallory said, holding the paper so gently, as if it were something precious. “Is it okay for me to look at it?”
“Sure, of course,” Harrison said gruffly. “I’ll text you a photo too, if you want.”
“That would be amazing,” Mallory said, her eyes sliding down Penny’s neatly written list of cookies. “This is so special. I’ll do my best to help Katie make every single cookie here. If she wants to.”
Harrison wanted to thank her, to tell her he was sure whatever she did would be good for Katie.
But emotion rose up in his chest and he couldn’t speak at all.
He could only watch the young woman fold Penny’s list back up with something like reverence in her eyes.