Chapter 18
Bailey
What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?
We arrive at one of our favorite burger joints and take a seat in a corner booth. The waitress appears, takes our order and exits as quickly as she came. After she leaves, our conversation turns to why I’m wearing this ridiculous shirt. I tell Levi about my encounter with the kid, the giant pretzel, and the resulting mustard stain on my shirt. He bends over in laughter.
“It looked horrible, Levi. Guess where the mustard hit me?” I grouse, a little miffed over his amusement about my predicament.
He shakes his head. “No clue.”
I point to my left boob. “It was like a neon arrow saying, ‘look at me,’” I say with a wince.
“Oh,” Levi replies, as a belly laugh rips from his chest. I glare at him while he laughs and laughs. His shoulders shake and he wipes tears from the corners of his eyes. “Bailey, that would only happen to you! Anyone else would have gotten the stain on their sleeve.”
I giggle. He’s right. A direct mustard hit to the bosom is bad luck at its finest. “To add insult to injury, this was the only shirt in my size. Just look at this shirt. It looks like a bedazzler went wild on this thing. And who came up with this ridiculous slogan?”
Another laugh flies out his lips. “I’ll take your word on the bedazzler comment, because I have no idea what that is,” he says. Before I can enlighten him, he adds, “You look spectacular in that shirt. Otto even commented about it.”
My jaw drops. “Otto saw me in this crazy shirt?”
“He spotted you in the stands. And I agree with him, you look fabulous in that shirt.”
“Minus the rhinestones and horrible slogan. Maybe,” I say begrudgingly. “Tell me what the scout from the Anaheim Ducks said.” Might as well get this topic over with sooner rather than later.
Levi talks excitedly and it hits me that my boyfriend has a bright future. His face lights up as he describes the conversation with the Anaheim Ducks scout. He talks animatedly for several minutes while I sit there wondering how I fit into his future.
Levi pauses, smiles at me, and my heart flips. He leans forward, excitement shining from his eyes. “Bailey, just think about it. You and me, living in California! No more snow and cold weather. My salary will allow us to afford the things we can only dream about today.” He talks about a condo, new vehicle, and trips we could take. His enthusiasm loses steam when he realizes I’m not jumping up and down and cheering. Reaching out and grabbing my hand, he says, “Tell me what’s wrong.” Concern mars his face as he gazes into my eyes.
“Levi, that all sounds lovely, except for one thing. What am I going to do in California? Can you see me as a DoorDasher? It will take forever for me to find an address in a town I don’t know,” I joke, trying to add a little levity to the conversation.
His serious expression stays firmly in place. “How about working at a bakery? They have bakeries in California, or you can open one of your own.”
I love working for Emma at her bakery. Would I love it as much if I worked for someone else? Pulling my hands from his, I fold them on my lap, not wanting to have a physical connection with Levi right now because my attraction to him addles my brain. “It’s a possibility,” I say, but there’s no excitement in my voice. This whole conversation just highlights my rather ordinary career choices, especially compared to Levi who’s already a celebrity and on his way to becoming an even bigger one.
“If you could do anything, what would you want to do?” Levi asks quietly. His caring eyes capture mine and I know that this man would do anything for me. If I had a dream, he’d help me make it happen.
What do I want to be when I grow up? That’s the million-dollar question. I’m creative and would love to come up with new cupcake recipes for the bakery, but Emma already has a suite of tried-and-true recipes that serve her well. If I had my own bakery, would I be brave enough to try out my ideas? I’d need an assistant who won’t let my creations burn, that’s for sure.
“I honestly don’t know what I want to do, Levi. I guess I’m not like you, always skating towards a goal,” I say with a shrug.
He taps the tabletop with his finger, apparently disappointed by my unenthusiastic reply. Our conversation lags, and we’re both lost in our own thoughts. Several seconds later, as if a lightbulb goes on, he grins and points his finger at me, then says, “How about you put out some feelers to mom-and-pop bakeries in the Anaheim area? You just need to see the possibilities to get excited about them.”
Trying to latch on to his excitement, I say with forced enthusiasm, “Great idea! I’ll do that.”
When I get home, I can’t stop worrying about my future with Levi. Maybe he’s right, I just need to explore the possibilities and they might surprise me. Bringing my ideas for quirky, delicious cupcakes to life might be fun. Cinnamon Toast Crunch cupcakes anyone?
~*~
Should I move to Anaheim with Levi? Do I want to find a new bakery to work for? These questions roll around in my head all night, as I toss and turn, barely getting any sleep. Rising with a headache and a bad case of bed head, I decide to seek out some advice. Maybe Nana can give me some insights. She married a hockey player once. An insistent voice inside my head reminds me that my grandmother didn’t try to push Levi and me together at the wedding, so she might not be the most objective source when a hockey player is involved.
When I arrive at Nana’s house, she greets me at the door, giving me one of her patented hugs. “Come on in! I just made that hot chocolate you used to love when you were a little girl.”
My grandmother believes that something sweet, especially something made from chocolate, helps make anything better.
“I’d love that,” I say, and she leads me into her tiny, galley kitchen. I never realized how small it is until I started baking in Emma’s spacious bakery. I’ve got it pretty good working for Emma and thoughts about working for someone else gives me hives.
After we’re settled at the dining table with our steaming hot chocolates, Nana asks, “What kept you up all night?”
Sighing, I say, “Looks like Levi is headed to Anaheim, California. The Ducks intend to draft him with their number one pick.”
Her eyes widen. “He’s a big deal, isn’t he?” Nodding my head, she continues before I have a chance to reply. “Have you fallen for him? Is that why you’re so down in the dumps?” She stares at me over the rim of her cup, pinning me in her gaze.
The truth tumbles from my mouth, as if I’ve turned on a water faucet. “Yes, I’ve fallen for him. He’s the sweetest, nicest guy I’ve ever met. I never thought I’d date an athlete, let alone fall in love with one. But I did.” I don’t mention that Levi’s kisses make me light up like fireworks on the 4 th of July and that my heart rate accelerates every time I’m near him.
“As you know, I’ve been married more than once, but I’ve come to learn that the heart wants what the heart wants, no matter if that’s not the most practical choice.”
“I’m scared to move to California,” I blurt out. “What am I going to do there? Especially when my boyfriend is out of town playing hockey.” My true feelings come spilling out to Nana.
“They have bakeries in California,” she replies.
“I’ve never even been out of New England. And I’d be living clear across the country from you,” I whisper, voicing my inner-most fears. Nana, Aunt Margaret, and Sydney have been my family ever since my mom and dad retired to Florida. Can I leave the only home I’ve ever known?
Nana reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Bailey, child, you need to spread your wings. Plus, I’d be happy to get on an airplane to visit you. It would be good for this old lady to see more of the country.”
I give her a watery smile while I blink back a few tears. Is this thing with Levi a forever love? Will it last? “I’ve only known Levi for a few months. What if he gets tired of me?”
Nana laughs. “That boy is as in love with you as you are with him.”
My brows draw together. “At the wedding, why did you act like you didn’t approve of him? It was the first time I ever brought a guy to a family event, and I figured you’d push him into proposing, or something like that. Instead, you gave him the evil-eye.”
Setting her cup down with a thump, she answers, “He’s a hockey player. I wasn’t sure he’d have sticking power. The one I married left me for one of those puck bunnies!” Her voice rises, but she takes a few calming breaths.
Shocked at her revelation, I stare at her and wonder whether the same thing could happen to me. I’ve never seen Levi take any interest in a puck bunny, but you never know...
Nana composes herself and continues. “Your Levi passed the test. The more I tried to discourage him, the more I could see him digging in, trying to win me over. You found a good one, Bailey. But it’s up to you to decide if you want to move across the country to be with him.”
Despite the soothing chocolate, my emotions are in an upheaval. I appreciate Nana being a sounding board, but I hoped that she would tell me exactly what to do. How do I decide?