Chapter Eleven
Mel
"So, what did you think?" Aunt Dorrie asked as I handed her the drink.
"It's delicious," I said, swirling the ice around in my drink. "Cammie makes a great barista."
"Oh, come on, Mel-Bell, that's not what I meant, and you know it."
I really didn't know what she was asking, though. At least I hoped I didn't, because if I had been that obvious about my attraction to Cammie, then I might die of embarrassment... if Mattie didn't kill me first.
"No, I actually don't know what you're talking about."
She rolled her eyes, saying, "Come on, what'd you think of Busy Bee's?"
"It was cute," I said carefully. It was an older two-story building with high ceilings, light yellow walls, and a lot of plants. It smelled like honey and brewing tea the moment you walked in. The scene was inviting, and the scents wafting out drew you in. The only thing missing was the people.
"And dead?" Aunt Dorrie asked. I shouldn’t have been surprised she’d cut to the chase. She wasn't known to beat around the bush.
"It didn't exactly live up to the busy in its name." I reluctantly admitted. "Is it always like that?"
"More often than I'd like," she admitted.
"Midweek mornings are especially bad, but it's almost never packed.
That idiot ex of hers with his head in the clouds convinced her it would be a great idea to sink all of her money into the bakery, though, and then ran off with the rest of the money she had. "
"Her money?" I asked, hoping I didn't hear right.
"I'm not going senile yet. You heard me right, just hers. She sunk all her money into the cafe they were going to share, and then he ran off with what little was left of her money. He didn't stick around much longer after the opening."
"I can't believe he left her like that."
"Neither can I. I never liked the boy, but she did. Tried my best to like him for her, but there was something off about him. Call it Auntie's intuition, but hearing he skipped town with her money and a barely legal blonde was the least surprising thing that's happened in this town in a long time."
I'd already hated her ex for a long time after seeing and hearing how hard she tried to put on a brave face every time Mattie called her after they fought. Then I’d hated him more for how much of a mess she was when he left, but I had no idea he'd stolen her money, too.
Mattie had known how badly Cammie was hurting, and I was glad he was having me help her.
We couldn't really help her with how she was feeling, but her bakery was something concrete that we could do something about.
If Mattie had the freedom I did to leave the city for as long as he wanted like I could, I was sure he would be here too, but he wouldn't accept money from me, and I knew she wouldn't either, so helping out was the next best thing I could do.
"To be fair, I'm guessing not a lot around here surprises you," I teased.
She chuckled at that, "An old woman has to have her hobbies."
"Old? Come on, you're barely past 60."
"Well, fine, a past mid-life diva has to have her hobbies."
"Getting in everyone else's business isn't a hobby."
"It has to be a hobby, since it's not my business," she quipped, and I couldn't stop the laugh from coming. "And hey," she continued, "Ethel and Iris love the hot gos I bring them even more than they love Cammie's tea."
"Hot gos?" I asked through wheezing laughter. "Who even are you?"
She was grinning but smacked me on the shoulder, saying, "Hey, respect your elders."
"Elder? You're ridiculous," I said, still laughing.
"Kids these days," she said with a dramatic sigh, taking out a pastry and biting into it with a sigh.
"Justin might've been the worst, but he wasn't wrong about Cammie opening a bakery. Pine Grove needed her talent. She's a whiz with a whisk."
"A whisk-ard," I joked, causing Aunt Dorrie to start choking on her pastry.
"Girl, you're trying to put me in the grave," she said after a moment when she regained her breath.
I loved Aunt Dorrie, but she was, without a doubt, a drama queen.
"Keep up the sass, and Cammie might be my new favorite adopted daughter."
I laughed at that before saying, "I'm glad she has you."
"I'll always be here for her, of course. She's family to me, but she needs more than me. She really needs someone nice who will make her feel special and treat her right."
I pushed away the thought I shouldn't be having that I could treat her right and said, "I'm sure she'll find the right guy, eventually."
"Guy, girl, non-binary person, I'm not picky."
I laughed before saying, "You might not be, but she probably is."
Aunt Dorrie's eyebrows rose at that. "Your gaydar needs a tune-up if you couldn't tell from a mile away that that girl is pan."
"She is?" I asked quickly, knowing I shouldn't be asking about Cammie’s business, but not able to stop myself.
"She is, which is why I have no idea why she ended up with such a trash partner when she had so many options, but I keep telling her she's young and beautiful and kindhearted.
She'll find someone better in a heartbeat.
Hell, she could throw a stone anywhere in town and hit someone who'd treat her like the treasure she is. Half the people who do come into Busy Bee’s try to get her number, not that she's really been noticing anyone.
The shop was her dream, and it would kill me to see it fail. "
I was still digesting the bomb she'd dropped on me that Cammie wasn't straight, but after a moment, replied, "Well then we can't let it fail, especially since you apparently already have one foot in the grave."
She laughed at that, before saying, "Seriously though, I wish there was more I could do. I could afford to help her financially, but she wouldn't let me. Having you help was the best I could do. I'm honestly surprised she's willing to let you help in the first place."
"I'm not. She knows Mattie wouldn't have gone back to the city knowing she was struggling if she hadn't agreed to let me help."
"Fair enough. He's such a sweet boy. It's a shame you two kids didn't work out, although maybe not so much of a shame since you're here and available for Cammie."
I choked on my sip of tea, and when I was able to breathe again, I saw she was smirking mischievously.
"You mean available to help her?" I quickly clarified.
"If that's what you want to go with, then sure."
I was utterly and completely screwed. When Aunt Dorrie got an idea in her mind, she got quite stubborn about it.
The last thing I needed was my meddling busybody of an Auntie trying to set me up with my best friend's sister, whom I couldn't help having inappropriate thoughts about.
From the twinkle in her eye, though, I was wondering if I was already too late to avoid falling into her trap.