Chapter 7
THE NEXT DAY…
I decided I would close the shop early every Wednesday.
I considered it my mid-week reflection. A day I wanted to use as a reboot or to keep my energy high for the last few days of the week.
It was something I learned to do when I was an actress.
If you allowed it, being in that world would stress you the hell out.
It was a task on its own to be someone else when those cameras were rolling, then become yourself later on that night.
At some point, you forgot who you truly were.
I noticed as more time passed and with every role I accepted.
The stalking didn’t help, but neither did the idea of being a sex symbol for the rest of my life.
At some point, my mother’s cookbooks and journals weren’t working to remind me of who I really was.
That version of me didn’t exist anymore—and I was finally starting to understand why she had to go.
I pulled into the driveway of the Blooming, then parked in the back.
Since opening Sugar Kissed, I hadn’t had much time to spend with Jessa or Aubree.
Not to mention, I missed Miss Lottie; I needed one of her hugs.
Once I parked, I walked over to the side door and used my key. Miss Lottie insisted I had one.
The smell of gravy and chicken met me right at the door. I stopped for a brief moment and did a little dance that I wouldn’t have to cook later. I took my time walking up the few steps before knocking on the door that led to the kitchen so I didn’t scare her. Then opened the door.
Miss Lottie turned towards the door as I opened it and smiled. She was wearing her favorite apron that read, The Baddest Cook in the Haven. According to Jessa, this was the apron they awarded her at a baking contest that was hosted here every summer.
“Hi honey! I’m glad you remembered the name of this place.” She announced.
I giggled and walked further into the kitchen to kiss her cheek. Then took a seat at the island while she continued to move around the kitchen.
“Oh, you know I could never forget you or this place. I needed my mid-week reboot. How has everything been around here?” I asked.
“You know not much has changed. It’s been a little slower lately. But, that’s okay for me, this injury is healing well too. Jessa has had her head in the clouds lately, but I like to give her space. I appreciate her just being here to help me, even though I told her she didn’t need to come.”
I nodded, understanding exactly where she was coming from.
It reminded me of the conversation I’d had with Duke.
He wouldn’t take no for an answer on helping me clean the bakery every night.
I’d made sure to give him all the nasty duties with clean up last night, assuming he wouldn’t come back today.
Only for him to be there right on time, offering to help me clean up so I could get going.
I hated that I questioned what he was getting out of helping me. But that was the life I’d become accustomed to. I had to remind myself that things were done differently here in Rose Haven. I decided I would just assume it was coming from the kindness of his heart until proven otherwise.
Miss Lottie cleared her throat, causing me to look up in her direction.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking about the shop for a minute.”
She gave me a knowing smile for a moment before turning her back to me and placing the cornbread she had been mixing into the oven.
“So what’s this I hear about a certain biker being at your shop often?” she asked, with a lift of her brow.
I shook my head and chuckled. “I wonder where you heard that. Which biker are we referring to? I’ve had a few come into the shop since my shop is near Chrome.”
I tried to play oblivious. I knew it had to be that nosey granddaughter of hers telling my business.
“You know exactly which biker she is talking about and nope, it wasn’t me!” Jessa exclaimed, walking into the kitchen towards the fridge.
I brought my hands up to cover my face for a moment, then returned my attention back to them. They were staring at me with expectancy.
“He is just being helpful. I’ve only seen him maybe three times. I wouldn’t count that as a lot or enough reason to talk about.”
Jessa leaned on the counter with her bottle of water and craned her head to the side with a smirk.
“How exactly is that man being helpful? I know some of the ways he used to be helpful back in the day. So I just wanted to double check,” Jessa responded with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes as Miss Lottie chuckled, then walked back over to the countertop and started wiping it down.
“Well honey, Virgina tells me she saw you two sitting really close at a table and flirting. Her words, not mine. If I do say so myself, that is a fine young man. I would be smiling and flirting too if I was still a young woman back in my prime.”
I chuckled with a shake of my head.
“He is attractive. But he is really just helping me. You know I’ve been cleaning the shop by myself at the end of the day.According to Duke, that wasn’t safe, and he just wanted to help me.
So I took him up on the offer until I could afford to hire a full-time employee to help me at the end of the night. ”
Jessa stopped smiling and stood straight with a serious expression.
“Now you know I would have come down to help you. If you don’t want his help, I can help you.”
I smiled, knowing my friend would’ve dropped everything to be there with me if I needed it.
But I also knew that Miss Lottie still needed her and would hurt herself if she were alone.
She would be around this big ole’ house doing everything she could get her hands on.
Even though she wasn’t supposed to be doing them.
“I know that, but I also know you’re needed around here. I didn’t have a problem with what I was doing. I could’ve continued listening to my music and cleaning at the end of the night. He just presented a few good points, and all he wanted was a few treats as payment.”
Jessa rolled her eyes then smirked before rolling her hips then bumping her grandmothers. “What kind of treats?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and Miss Lottie shook her head with a smile. I’m sure Jessa’s antics kept her feeling lively and young. It sure as heck kept me entertained.
“Not those kinds of treats, you hussy. You know the man has a sweet tooth.” I added.
“That’s what I hear—” she started before I hopped up from the chair.
She yelped as I chased her through the kitchen with one of the many placemats on the island. Miss Lottie laughed and warned us that if we caused her to drop any of her food, she was going to tag our behinds.
After we’d gotten tired of running around the house, we made our way back into the kitchen for dinner. We sat around the dining room table like old times, talking about everything under the sun. It had gotten late, and Miss Lottie had already excused herself for the night.
She’d placed a kiss against my temple before heading for the steps. After enough urging to head to bed, Jessa and I made our way into the kitchen to clean. We wanted to take as much off her plate as she would allow. Jessa washed and I rinsed before placing the dishes into the rack beside the sink.
“How have you really been doing, Solana? Is Duke really cool? He isn’t giving you any weird vibes, right?” she asked, question after question.
I released a sigh as I thought back on Duke. He was giving me everything but weird vibes, which was scary to me. I don’t have time for none of that. I just wanted to exist here, and his presence was causing me to lose a bit of my focus. But I also enjoyed having him near.
“You know the answer to that. The man is everything but that, and that’s what makes it worse.
He’s been providing this… silent support.
Do you know he comes by at the end of each day and literally just helps me clean?
Then he leaves with the promise he’ll be back the next day.
He doesn’t say much either while we’re cleaning.
The most he’s said to me was that first day—asking where the cleaning supplies were and telling me he was helping me. ”
Jessa nodded and continued washing the dishes silently for the moment before speaking again.
“You didn’t answer all of my questions. How are you doing?”
I exhaled, trying to ground myself as I rinsed the last dish, then grabbed a towel to dry my hands.
“I love it here and the new life I’m building.
But my old one will be here in no time. I can feel it, and it’s making me wonder if I should even be here waiting when it does.
I didn’t tell you the day it happened, but on the opening day of Sugar Kissed, I was on social media, and my old manager was hosting a damn press conference, telling my fans to help him find me. ”
I paused and looked over at Jessa, who was frowning.
She dried her hands and walked over to the counter to pick up her phone.
I watched her poke around until said video was playing low.
I hated listening to it all over again. He blatantly disregarded everything I put in that damn letter or text message.
I might as well had left the damn letter blank if this was how he was going to go about it.
I stayed quiet while she finished watching the video. Then turned to face me with a frown.
“How did you work with him so damn long? This man’s face is even pissing me off.”
I couldn’t help but laugh because I wished I’d had an answer for her. He presented opportunities and at the time, it all just worked out in my favor and his. That’s until it didn’t work out anymore. Now he is throwing a tantrum.
“I wish I could tell you, but I am definitely regretting it a little more now. I’m just confused on why he couldn’t just accept what I put in the damn letter. I’m sure the police officer that escorted me to the bus station told him I was fine!” I shouted.
I ran my hand through my low curls, the motion more forceful than I meant it to be. Then buried my face in my hands, releasing a shaky breath before lifting my head again. Jessa was staring at me now, worry written all over her face.
She walked over slowly and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me into her side so my head could lie on her shoulder. Tears trekked down my cheeks as she rubbed soothingly against my arm.
“People are greedy, sis. I didn’t mean to get you all bent out of shape.
I just wanted to make sure you were okay.
I know you don’t have many people to talk to about this.
Also, running again can’t be the only answer.
Before you ask, I don’t have a solution yet, but we sure as hell can come up with one.
Shit, if I find out, you tried to slip off on us.
I’m going to be the next one hosting a damn press conference about how you stole my sister! ”
I wiped my cheek and look up at Jessa, who was serious as hell, before we both burst into laughter.
“I promise there is truly something wrong with you. But I hear you. I don’t want to bring my Hollywood drama to this nice town.” I whispered against her shoulder.
“One thing about this nice town is that we protect the folks we deem ours. Trust me, Rose Haven has definitely adopted you. You’re home, especially when you’ve made it to the Rose Haven senior gossip mill.
You’re at the top of the food chain and those sweet, loving old folks are loving every minute. ”
I laughed with a shake of my head. Jessa held me for a few moments longer. She knew I needed it. I wanted to believe what she was saying about the town and me. But it was hard when you lived a life like I did. A life where you only mattered based on what you could give someone.
I once knew a life without those stipulations, but it came and went the day my mother passed away. All I could do now was enjoy the time I had while I had it.
“Now that we’re passed that can I convince you to go somewhere with me?”
My breath left me in a slow exhale, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster I’d just been on.
I began shaking my head before the words left my mouth. “I don’t think—”
Jessa held her hands up to stop me before I finished.
“Before you say no. Picture this: you, me, and Aubree. Surrounded by warmth, laughter, and a nice drink.”
I still wasn’t convinced. It sounded like she wanted me at a party after my heart had practically gone through the motions.
“I don’t know about that. It sounds busy and like a lot of people will be there.”
Jessa threw her hands up into the air dramatically with a smile that was beyond contagious.
“That’s the point. When you’re feeling this way, you aren’t supposed to close yourself off.
It’s not going to be packed with people and most of the kids have come and gone at this point.
It’s chill. You don’t have to talk, and get this, we can leave if you want to.
I just want you to experience a little bit more of what Rose Haven has to offer. ”
I dried my eyes once more and relaxed my shoulders. “I’m not changing if I go.”
I glanced down at my black leggings and graphic t-shirt that said You’ve just been kissed, Sugar. It had a few flour stains on it, but at this moment I didn’t care.
Jessa craned her head to the side and shrugged. “Works for me. It’s a chill event. Long as you have a jacket.”
I pointed towards my newfound favorite pink leather jacket on the back of the chair.
“Perfect! It’s going to be worth it. Trust me, you don’t have to be anyone tonight. Just relax and I’ll do the rest.”
I nodded and waited downstairs while she rushed to change her shirt.
I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer that God gave me what I needed to hold on to my newfound life with both hands.