Chapter 37
37
DORIE
T he drive back from Atlantic City felt endless. The traffic was ridiculous thanks to an accident that had brought everything to a standstill.
I was so grateful for the nice, comfy ride and the AC. My body was heavy with exhaustion, my mind still buzzing from the whirlwind of the weekend. It started out a disaster, but it ended on a very high note. I still couldn’t believe it was real.
Did he really like me? Geez, I sounded like a tween girl. Does he like me? I rolled my eyes at my own silliness.
I didn’t know where things were going, but I knew there was something and that was all that mattered. What it looked like after the wedding and he went back to New York was still to be determined, but I had hope. We could make it work. The guy owned a jet. He could fly up to see me a few times a month.
I laughed aloud, shaking off the thoughts. I was getting ahead of myself. For now, I just needed to focus on getting Eliza’s cake made, which meant I needed an oven to do it. I hoped like hell the oven wasn’t going to choose this week to completely break.
I drove straight to the bakery. I unlocked the door and flipped on the lights, the familiar scent of dough and yeast greeting me. It was comforting. This place was my sanctuary, even when it felt like it was falling apart.
Which it most definitely was. I kept telling myself I was going to spring for some new equipment once things got a little better. Unfortunately, every time business got better, there was another priority. Taxes, supply cost increase, or whatever it might be. There was always something and now the oven was letting me know it was time. It was tired of being ignored.
“Alright,” I muttered.
I tried to turn it on first, hoping there was just some fluke, and it was going to work just fine. “Come on, come on.”
I waited. Nothing.
“Shit.”
I rolled up my sleeves and knelt down to inspect it. I could see the issue almost immediately. A loose wire, a frayed connection—nothing catastrophic, but enough to make me nervous. I grabbed my tools and got to work, my hands moving on autopilot as I tightened screws and reconnected wires. If the bakery went belly up, I could get a job as a repairman. I could fix the equipment in successful bakeries.
I finished the repair, plugged it in, and took a second. “Please, work. You can do it. Just a little longer.”
I turned it on, and the oven hummed back to life. I knew it was a band-aid fix. This thing was old, and it was only a matter of time before it gave out completely.
I sighed, sitting back on my heels and wiping my hands on a rag. “Hang in there, buddy,” I muttered to the oven. “Just a little longer.”
I stood and watched it. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to happen—would it explode? Become brand new?
Nope. It was just doing what it did.
The sound of the door opening pulled me out of my thoughts. Toby walked in, his girlfriend Kelly trailing behind him. Toby was carrying a box of supplies, his face lighting up when he saw me.
“Hey, boss,” he said, setting the box down on the counter. “How’s the oven?”
“Alive,” I said. “For now, at least. I think we’re on borrowed time with this thing.”
Toby frowned, walking over to inspect my handiwork. “You think we need to start looking for a replacement?”
“Probably,” I admitted. “But let’s get through this week first. We’ve got a wedding cake to bake and orders to fill. We’ll deal with the oven after that.”
He nodded, then glanced over at Kelly, who was leaning against the counter, scrolling through her phone. “Kelly’s here to help, by the way. She’s got the day off tomorrow, so she offered to lend a hand. She’s interested in seeing what we do here.”
I smiled at Kelly, who looked up and gave me a small wave. “Thanks for coming,” I said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugged, tucking her phone into her pocket. “It’s no big deal. I like hanging out here. Plus, Toby promised me a cinnamon roll if I helped.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Well, I think we can manage that. Assuming this oven actually cooks things. We might end up with raw dough.”
We spent the next hour moving things around the kitchen, reorganizing supplies, and going over the game plan for the week. Toby was in his element, talking a mile a minute about how we could streamline the orders and still have time to focus on Eliza’s cake. Kelly chimed in every now and then, offering suggestions and helping us carry heavy trays of ingredients.
As I watched them work together, I couldn’t help but notice how in love they seemed. Toby would glance at Kelly when she was focused on something else. He had the look of love in his eyes. And Kelly—she had this way of smiling at him, like he was the only person in the room. It was sweet, almost too sweet, and it made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t expecting.
They were young and in love. There was a certain confidence a person had when they were in love. It was knowing you always had someone as backup. Someone to catch you when you fell. It was the equivalent of moving through life with a safety net. And a cheerleader.
I wanted that, obviously, but after spending time with Eliza and Cullen, I saw the joy in her life. And now I was seeing it with Toby and Kelly. And I got a tiny taste of it with Kaisen.
I was hooked.
At one point, Toby caught me staring and grinned. “What?” he asked.
I shook my head, trying to play it off. “Nothing. You two are just cute. That’s all.”
Kelly laughed, her cheeks turning pink. “Oh, stop. We’re not that cute.”
“Yes, you are,” I said. “Admit it.”
Toby wrapped an arm around Kelly’s shoulders, pulling her close. “Fine, we’re cute. But seriously, Dorie, this girl is it for me. I’m going to marry her one day.”
Kelly’s eyes widened, and she swatted his arm. “Toby!”
“What?” he said, laughing. “It’s true. You’re stuck with me, Kelly. Forever. You may as well just accept it. I’m going to be following you around for the rest of your days.”
I watched them, a strange mix of emotions swirling in my chest. Toby had always been a bit of a romantic but hearing him talk about Kelly like that—it was different. He sounded so sure, so confident. Like he’d found his place in the world, and it was right here, in Cape May, with her.
“Stop,” Kelly joked.
“I’m serious,” Toby said. “We’re going to be ninety and walking down the boardwalk. We’re going to be the Cape May couple. People are going to see us shuffling around and talk about the preschool teacher that fell in love with the baker.”
That was when it occurred to me he could see his whole life in front of him. And that life was here.
“You really love it here, don’t you?” I asked, my voice soft.
Toby nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah, I do. My whole family’s here, Kelly’s here. It just feels like home, you know? Like I was meant to be here.”
I smiled, but there was a pang in my chest that I couldn’t quite shake. I’d always thought I’d end up back in New York City, where I’d gotten my start. Cape May had been a pit stop, a place to regroup and rebuild after everything that had happened. But now I wasn’t so sure. The thought of leaving felt heavier than it used to, and I didn’t know why. Cape May was beautiful. I loved it here, but it didn’t really feel like home. I didn’t feel settled.
I didn’t voice any of that out loud, though. “I’m happy for you, Toby. Really. Both of you guys. I have a feeling you will be legends. They’ll paint murals of you two.”
He smiled, his arm still around Kelly. “Thanks, Dorie. That means a lot.”
We finished up a little while later. Kelly headed out to get ready for her workweek. Toby stayed behind to help me clean up.
“So, I heard the T-shirt shop a couple doors down sold to that firm,” Toby said.
“Yes, I know.”
“Any updates on what they’re going to do?” he asked, his tone casual but his eyes serious.
I understood why he was asking. He just laid out his life plan and working here at the bakery was a part of that plan.
I shook my head, wiping down the counter. “Not really. They’re still pushing, but I’m not selling. This place is mine, and I’m not giving it up.”
Toby nodded, his expression relieved. “Good. I was worried you might cave. Those guys are relentless.”
I laughed, though there wasn’t much humor in it. “Not a chance. This bakery is my baby. I’m not letting anyone take it away from me. They are not going to bully me.”
He laughed. “That’s my boss. Stubborn as hell.”
“Damn right,” I said, grinning.
By the time I got home, I was completely drained. I kicked off my shoes, dropped my bag by the door, and fell face-first into bed. The week ahead was going to be insane—Eliza’s wedding cake, various other orders, and who knew what else. There always seemed to be something that popped up. Someone needed a birthday cake on short notice. Or five dozen cupcakes for an impromptu party. I couldn’t turn the business away. Especially not now. I needed a new oven. My mixer was on its last legs as well.
I needed to start baking tomorrow, but right then, all I wanted was sleep.
Rick hopped onto the bed. He sat down and scowled at me.
“I know, I know,” I said. “I’ve been busy. It’s not like you spend a lot of time with me when I am here. You’ve got plenty of food. Water. Don’t act like you haven’t enjoyed having the place to yourself. I saw all those empty tuna cans.”
He cocked his head to the side. I could only imagine what was running through his head. I never thought of myself as a cat person, but when I met Rick at the shelter, he just seemed like the guy for me. I didn’t know if I would call our story a match made in heaven, but we bonded.
He must have been satisfied with my explanation because he turned around and took his usual spot at the foot of my bed.
I reached for my phone, intending to text Kaisen, but my eyes were already closing. Just as I was about to drift off, my phone lit up with a notification. I squinted at the screen, my heart skipping a beat when I saw his name.
Back in NYC tonight for work. I’ll see you tomorrow night. I want to take you out on that date we won at game night. Get some rest, Dorie. You’ve earned it.
I smiled, my fingers hovering over the screen as I tried to think of a response. But sleep pulled me under before I could type anything, my phone slipping from my hand as I drifted off.
Tomorrow was going to be another long day, but I let myself get the sleep I so desperately needed.