21. Piper
Chapter 21
Piper
W e crossed the street to Something Sweet, and I could already tell Dana had nothing to do with the decorations. I’d already paid her for half of what she spent, and the sign and flower arrangements on the sidewalk had definitely cost more than I had given her.
The new handwritten chalkboard sign welcomed us into the doorway, spelling out “Welcome to Something Sweet! Grand Opening Today!”
Ren and I exchanged a glance and smiled, feeling the excitement bubbling between us.
I let go of his hand as I stepped inside. I was in awe. I spun around, taking in the soft glow of fairy lights strung across the ceiling as they cast a warm and welcoming glow to the space.
We had a few small tables in the front area for cake tasting. Each was adorned with delicate lace tablecloths and elegant floral arrangements bursting with pastel roses, my favorite pink peonies, and baby’s breath. The sweet fragrance of the flowers mingled with the rich aroma of freshly baked cake. It was like heaven in here.
The centerpiece of the bakery was a wedding cake display that Dana and I had chosen together before everything went to shit.
Weeks ago, I had created an elaborate, multi-tiered fake cake with intricate sugar flowers and delicate piping as an example of what we offered, and it sat proudly in the center with more miniature cakes and pastries, that Dana must have baked, arranged artfully around it, each one a mini masterpiece of its own.
I had chosen the color palette of blush pink, ivory, and gold for the bakery, and the temporary opening day décor enhanced it.
Soft instrumental music played in the background, and I saw Dana behind the counter preparing trays of tiny cake samples and small shot glasses filled with chocolate milk.
No one else was here. We had arrived first, though this wasn’t a scheduled party with invitations and such. It was just a day to show off our new business with free samples to lure in Honeybrook Hollow locals and show them what we could do.
“Who did all of this?” My whispered question was answered when my mother entered through the open front door. “You?” My eyes filled with tears. “Mom? You’re back?”
“Surprise.” She rushed toward me, pulling me into her arms. “I couldn’t miss your opening day, could I?” She pulled away, gesturing to the decorations. “But this was all your sisters’ doing. They snuck in here last night. It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? But, honey, why didn’t you call me? I would have rushed straight home if I knew what was happening with Richard and—everything.”
“You were finally on your epic Hawaii girls’ trip. I was not about to interrupt it. I’m fine.”
Her eyes found Ren, and she smiled as she introduced herself. “I’m Marilyn, Piper’s mother. You have to be Ren. I’ve heard all about you from Paige. Call me Marilyn, honey, please. After what you did for my Paige, I’ll love you forever.”
“Nice to meet you, Marilyn. I've heard a lot about you, too.”
Mom beamed, her eyes shimmering with pride. “It's wonderful to see this place come to life finally. You've done an incredible job, Piper.”
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked around the bakery, my heart swelling with a mix of emotions. “Thank you, Mom. It means the world to me that you're here.”
“Me too. Let's focus on the positive. This is your day. I want you to remember that.” She hugged me again and then wandered off to explore the rest of the place.
“Maybe Richard won’t show up,” I whispered to Ren once my mother was out of earshot. “God, I hope he doesn’t.”
He leaned in, sliding an arm around my waist. “I’m not worried about your ex, sweetheart. I’ll shake his hand with the same hand I just got you off with. He’s nothing, and if what Jake has planned works—which it will, he never loses—they’ll both be out of your life for good very soon.”
“Your hands. Oh god, you have to wash your hands,” I pulled him down to hiss in his ear. “I mean, I’m glad we did what we did, I don’t regret it, it was fun, and awesome, and amazing, and I want to do it again—but—oh my god, Dana’s back there. Should I go talk to her? Jake told me to be cordial but distant. Should I say hi? What am I even talking about?”
“No. You’re okay. Stay with your mom, and I’ll go to the restroom and wash up. I meant to do that first anyway. I don’t want anything to worry you today. I’m at your command.”
“Thank you.” I knew my cheeks were red, and I took a huge breath to try and calm myself down before I spiraled out of control and went into orbit.
Violet walked in with the baby, and Ren steered me in their direction. “Hang out with Violet,” he whispered in my ear. “And try to forget that I still have your panties in my pocket.”
“Oh crap.” I yanked him close by his lapels. “Can you tell I’m not wearing any underwear?”
He laughed darkly. “No, lucky for you, you chose a long dress today.”
“Who even am I?”
“A siren, tempting me to take you with me to the bathroom to make out with you and possibly get you off again with my magic hand.”
“You’re a nut and a horndog, and I love it.”
“Piper!” I watched my grandparents and sisters walk through the door, their faces beaming with joy.
“Good, there are plenty of buffers. I’ll be right back.” His laughter faded as he headed off to the restroom. I tried to shake off the embarrassment and focus on the guests arriving. The room was filling up, and there was a buzz of excitement in the air as the familiar faces of my hometown waved and smiled as they circled around the room, taking it all in.
Violet approached me, shifting the baby in her arms. “It’s so pretty in here, Piper. I’m happy for you! Jake is working, he said to congratulate you and keep you away from Dana.”
One of my grandma’s friends walked up, joining our impromptu circle. “Hey, sugar! When are we going to see you with Cody at the dog park? We miss you.”
I forced a smile. “Soon, I hope. Things have been busy lately, with the bakery opening and everything.”
She nodded understandingly, her eyes scanning the room. “I totally get it. This place is going to be great, Piper. Everyone in town will love it. I’m going to grab a sample. It smells so good in here.”
“Gah! I’m sorry,” Violet whispered. “Jake will have this all handled soon, I know it.”
“I hope so. He told me he’s filed papers and thinks I have a good chance—oh shit.”
Richard appeared at the door with Cody, and my eyes welled with tears. “Violet. Oh. Look. It’s Cody.” Tears filled my eyes, and I blinked several times to get them to stop. “What’s wrong with me?” I laughed to cover my emotional response. “He’s okay. I know I don’t have to worry, but?—”
“Call him,” she bit out.
“What?” I swiped a hand beneath my eye, sending Paige and my sisters a tremulous smile as they headed my way.
Dana rushed from behind the counter, making sure I saw her as she headed to greet Richard and Cody. “Thank you, Richie! You brought my baby to see my big opening day!”
“ Her baby? That witch,” Paige muttered, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“ Her big opening day?” Lucy snarked. “I’m bringing Larry by later for a snack.”
“Do it, Piper. Call Cody,” Violet repeated.
“Oh yeah,” Grandma agreed. “Call him now. Or I will.”
As friendly as ever, Cody stood at Richard’s side, looking around the room with his tail wagging furiously as he recognized many of his human friends from the dog park.
“Cody,” I called, smiling when he started excitedly barking. “Cody!”
He barked louder, started whining, and tugged at the leash. He yipped frantically until he got away and made a beeline for me, the leash trailing behind him.
My heart leapt at his enthusiasm. He was my doggie soul mate, and I had missed him so much. I knelt, holding my arms wide as he bounded toward me. He jumped, wiggling and bopping around me, licking my face with his tail wagging so fast it was a blur.
“I missed you, too, boy!” I laughed, hugging him tightly as the room filled with warm laughter.
“Guess we’ll be seeing you tomorrow at the dog park, sugar!” Grandma’s friend hollered.
“You sure will,” I called back. There was no way I would let him go home with Richard. It was my damn turn now.
“It was so nice of you to keep Cody while Piper set up the bakery,” My mother said, sidling up to Richard’s side. “Especially after everything that happened. I love how you’re keeping it classy.”
“Uh, yeah. It was no big deal,” he muttered, exchanging a glance with Dana.
At that moment, Ren returned to my side. “Hey, Cody.” He knelt next to me to pet him.
Cody barked happily at Ren. As he scratched behind his ears, I stood up and brushed off my knees, feeling a calmness in my heart that had been gone for far too long. I’d missed him so much.
Ren rose to his feet, giving Cody one last pat as he picked up the leash and held it firm, signaling to Richard not to argue. “We’ve got him now,” he addressed Richard. “It’s time for you two to relax. Take it easy.”
“Yeah.” I smiled at Dana. “Thank you for watching him for me. And thank you for making opening day so lovely.”
“We’ve got it from here,” Lucy chimed in.
“Yeah,” Eliza added. “Why don’t you two take the rest of the day off?”
“Go get some lunch or something,” Cara suggested. “The Pennywhistle has spotted dick on special—it’s a British theme today. I think you’d love it.”
“Nice, Cara,” Richard grumbled as Paige burst out laughing.
“You stole my line,” Paige said through her giggles.
“What?” Cara shrugged innocently. “They do.”
“Let’s go, Richard,” Dana said, grabbing his arm as she shot daggers at me with her eyes.
Richard nodded, covering her hand with his as he guided her towards the door. “Fine. Lunch it is.”
As they walked away, my whole body seemed to sigh. I was almost giddy with relief. This is what today should have started like. Dana had no place here anymore, and maybe now she would finally see it and let me take over.
I spent the next few hours serving cake samples and chatting with people who came in to check the place out. My family and Ren stayed with me for the duration while my sisters took turns watching Cody. Lucy was currently taking him for a walk at the dog park.
Ren smiled at me through his mouthful of cake. He leaned back against the counter, eyes shining with amusement. “You know, you’re great at this. People love chatting with you. They love your enthusiasm. And the cake is excellent.”
“It will be even better once I’m the one baking it. Although she used my recipes.” I grinned. “This is almost exactly what I wanted.”
“So, you’ll be here tomorrow?” he asked.
“No, but I’ll be here all the time once Dana is gone for good.”
Paige laughed. “Piper will do all the big orders, that’s her favorite. Like, when someone wants to spend a few grand on a cake, now they know where to go.”
“What?” His eyes grew big. “People really spend that much?”
“Yep.” My mother beamed with pride. “Piper’s cakes require architecture and sometimes smoke and lighting effects. She’s come a long way from her cupcake cart days.”
“Really?” He wrapped an arm around me, tugging me into his side. “This I have to see.”
“Oh, you will.” I arched an eyebrow, as thoughts of what I could bake to impress him entered my mind. The blueberry muffins I’d baked the other morning were child’s play compared to what I could do.
“What about the cake samples? Are they going to be a regular thing?” Eliza asked before stuffing a piece of chocolate cake into her mouth. “I’d come here every day for a tiny piece of cake.”
“The samples stay.” I grabbed a tiny piece of lemon chiffon from the tray. “The best part of a wedding is the cake. And the best part of planning is the samples—it’s what everyone talks about. Like, some of us never want to get married, right?” I joked. “Now we have a place to go.”
Ren pulled away, his smile fading at my joke. And I cursed myself for being so careless.
I needed to watch what I said, especially since I wasn't even sure I felt that way anymore. The idea of getting married again wasn’t as scary as it once was. Meeting Ren was tearing down the walls I’d built.