8. Harrison #3
“Why didn’t you tell me more about Katie when we talked online?” Mallory asked, her voice softer.
“I guess I’m old-fashioned,” he admitted. “But it would have felt like I was sharing her private feelings with a stranger, even though you never really felt like a stranger to me. But now that she knows you and likes you, it doesn’t seem like such a betrayal to tell you that I’m worried.”
“I’m glad I got to know her on her own terms first,” Mallory said. “Of course you’ll always worry since you’re her father. But just think, she’s hanging out with another little girl right now, one she only met this week. I’d say she’s making a lot of progress.”
“She had so much fun with you last night,” Harrison said, his voice gruff. “I haven’t seen her like that in forever.”
“I had a really good time too,” Mallory said. “And wow, that concert you gave us. I had no idea you were a man of so many talents.”
“I guess you bring out the lighter side in both of us,” he said. He still couldn’t believe he’d acted the fool last night just to see her smile.
“I’m glad,” she told him, her voice more serious now. “You two brightened up my week too.”
That was a vague reference to that stupid friend of her brother’s, he just knew it. How could any man fail to notice Mallory? How could a man choose any other girl?
I can’t ask her out, he reminded himself. She’s too young and too sweet, and I’ve got Katie to focus on.
But when she lifted her green eyes to meet his gaze, his heart throbbed in his chest and he opened his mouth to do it anyway.
“Dad, Dad, Dad,” Katie yelled, blasting in the door of the bakery and sending the bells jangling.
Harrison quickly let go of Mallory’s hand and looked up to see Sam and Amelia gazing in the window.
When they saw he was looking they gave a wave and headed back in the direction of the center.
“Amelia has to go home now because she has a school project,” Katie panted. “But we can finish our movie another time, right?”
“Definitely,” Harrison told her.
“What’s that?” Katie asked, pointing to the beautiful board of cut-up scones.
“Oh, I’m glad you’re here,” Mallory told her. “I’m having people do a taste test for me so I can decide which one to make more of. Would you like to try them?”
“Okay,” Katie said, her face lighting up as she slid into the seat next to her dad.
“Now, this one is lemon with a light glaze,” Mallory said, pointing to the light-colored choice on the left. “It’s simple and sweet with a hint of tart.”
“Yum,” Katie said.
“And the other one is brown sugar pecan,” Mallory said. “That’s sweeter and more rustic.”
“Rusty?” Katie asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
“Rustic,” Mallory explained with a smile. “It’s like… more of a homemade feel.”
“Okay,” Katie said.
“Go on,” Mallory told them. “Eat up, and let me know what you think.”
Katie took a piece of the lemon and closed her eyes, humming.
Harrison tried one too. The sweet glaze melted in his mouth, and Mallory was right. The fluffy little treat was the perfect blend of sweet and tart.
Katie handed him a brown sugar pecan sample and took one for herself.
This one had a warmer, sweeter flavor that made him think of cold childhood mornings, and a generous spoonful of brown sugar melting over warm oatmeal.
“Okay guys,” Mallory said. “What do we think?”
“Definitely lemon,” Katie said.
“Brown sugar,” Harrison said at the same time.
“Wow,” Mallory said. “The same thing happened when my two best friends tried them.”
“You have two best friends?” Katie asked, looking impressed.
“I sure do,” Mallory told her. “And they both have shops right here in town, just like me. Isn’t that awesome?”
“More bakeries?” Katie asked.
“Actually, Ana and her mom have a clothing store,” Mallory said. “Her mom makes a lot of the clothes herself, and Ana helps her, which is really cool.”
Katie nodded, too polite not to at least feign interest.
“And Valerie owns a jewelry shop,” Mallory said.
“Promises, Promises,” Katie said excitedly. “It has the best decorations.”
“That’s the one,” Mallory said. “Valerie makes a lot of jewelry herself too.”
“All three of you are so creative,” Harrison offered.
“I’ll be creative too,” Katie decided. “When I grow up.”
“That’s great, Katie,” Mallory said. “When you use your creativity in your work, then it feels more like fun.”
“Is that how you feel about your work?” Katie asked.
“Sometimes,” Mallory said, surprising Harrison with her honesty. “Other times it just feels like work. But I’ll bet most jobs are that way.”
“Hey,” Katie said suddenly. “Will our baklava be ready tomorrow?”
“That’s two days after we made it, so yes,” Mallory said with a smile.
“Oh,” Harrison said. “Hang on, I forgot we’re having dinner at Aunt Alice’s house tomorrow night, Katie. We can’t do baking.”
“I don’t want to go,” Katie said flatly, all the emotion in her voice gone.
“We have family here,” Harrison said. “And it will be good to get to know everyone. The cousins will be there, and that means kids, maybe Amelia will be there too.”
“I don’t want to be the new person,” Katie said.
Harrison’s chest ached. It was hard enough for her to spend the whole day in school as the new kid. But the extended family would be a blessing in her life, whether she knew it or not.
“Cassidy Farm is one of my favorite places in the whole world,” Mallory said with a dreamy smile before Harrison could say a word.
“And you get to go inside the family farmhouse. I’ve never been in there.
I’ll bet they have the biggest Christmas tree, and all the best food.
Do you promise to tell me every single thing about it the next time we’re baking? ”
“You could come with us,” Katie said, her eyes brightening a little.
“Oh, I couldn’t…” Mallory began.
“Why not?” Harrison heard himself ask. “Your helper is on duty tomorrow, right?”
“Oh,” Mallory said, her cheeks flushing a little. “Do you guys really want me to come?”
“Of course,” Katie said. “We won’t go without you.”
Mallory looked to Harrison, a little worry still in her eyes that she might not really be wanted.
“Please come,” he said simply.
“Wow, okay,” she said, turning to Katie with a big smile. “Now you have to help me decide what to bring.”
“You don’t have to bring anything—” Harrison began.
“Scones,” Katie sang out. “There will be a lot of people there, right? They can help you decide which one is best.”
“Katie Law, I just might have to make you my assistant,” Mallory said with a smile.
“How much do I get paid?” Katie asked seriously.
“I can pay you in baked goods,” Mallory said without missing a beat. “All you can eat.”
“That’s a good deal,” Katie said, thrusting out her little hand.
Mallory shook it, and Harrison felt like she was holding his heart in her hand too.
Please don’t let me lose myself over this girl, he prayed inwardly.
But he was starting to think it might be too late.