Chapter Twenty-Eight
“ARE YOU READY for Sunday’s bake-off?” Emerson asked Elliott as he opened the café door so she could wheel the stroller out Friday afternoon. She and Baz were spending a lazy day together tomorrow, since they both had plans for Sunday. Baz was going on a club ride Sunday at ten, and she was getting together with Ginger to talk about what it really took to run a business and to figure out a plan for getting her kitchen ready for the permitting process. Ginger had offered to watch Brennan during the bake-off, and then she and Baz were having dinner with his parents.
“I was born ready. May the best baker win.”
“Elliott, it’s not a competition.”
“ Okay ,” he said with a tone that translated to, If that’s what you have to tell yourself , and winked. He leaned down and patted Brennan’s belly. “Bye, Brennan.”
“Bye, El. Have a good weekend,” she said, and headed out to her car. She settled Brennan into his car seat, smooching his cheeks to see that heart-rending smile. “Love you, Little B.”
Her phone buzzed with a text as she slid into the driver’s seat.
Baz: Hey, beautiful. How’s your afternoon? Almost done for the day?
Emerson: I’m leaving now. Why? Do you need something? I’m stopping at the grocery store on the way home to pick up a few things.
She started the car, and his response popped up.
Baz: B’s had a busy day, and I’m sure Ollie is anxious to see you. Text me a list. I’ll pick up the groceries.
Emerson: Are you sure?
Baz: Yes. I’ve got to run. I’ve got a client. See you soon.
Baz: I mean tonight.
She sent a heart emoji and quickly sent a short list for the grocery store.
It wasn’t until she was turning down her street that she realized Baz hadn’t told her why he’d texted. She didn’t have time to overthink it, because Madigan’s pink Vespa was parked in her driveway, and Madigan was sitting on the front steps.
As she parked, Emerson tried to remember if she’d forgotten they’d made plans, but she came up empty.
Madigan popped to her feet in a cute black miniskirt and gray tank top and waved as she ran over to her car, her mahogany hair bouncing over her shoulders. She looked like she was about to burst out of her skin. “Leave your car running and grab your house key,” she said through the open window.
“Why?” Emerson asked.
Madigan made a hurry-up motion with her hands. “Just do it, and get out here.”
“What’s going on?” Emerson climbed out of her car, and Madigan hugged her.
“I’m kidnapping you and Brennan.”
“Kidnapping us?”
“Yes! Don’t ask questions. I’ll stay here with Brennan. You go let Ollie out to pee, then grab a bottle for Brennan and that little cooler thing you carry it in, and get your butt back here.”
“But—”
“No buts , unless it’s your butt hurrying.” Madigan turned her by the shoulders and gave her a nudge toward the house. “ Go, go, go! ”
THEY TOOK EMERSON’S car, and Madigan directed her to a salon, where Emerson spent the next hour and a half getting her hair, nails, and makeup done. She begged Madigan to tell her what was going on, and she asked if Baz had sent her, but apparently secret keeping ran in the family, because she gave up nothing.
When they finished primping her, Emerson couldn’t believe how pretty she looked. Her hair was full and shiny, her French manicure was elegant, and her perfectly applied makeup made her feel like a princess. But that wasn’t what had her captivated by her reflection. She looked so much like her mother, she felt even prettier. “Wow. I’ve never looked this good.”
“ Please. You’re gorgeous every day. Now you’re just extra-special gorgeous,” Madigan said, holding Brennan, who was ready to nurse. “But we’re not done. You need to nurse this little man, and then we have to take off.”
“Let me pay first.” She reached for her purse.
“It’s already paid for, including a very generous tip.”
Thirty minutes later, with Brennan fed and changed, they were on the road again, heading into Provincetown. Madigan carried Brennan, and Emerson followed her to the shop with the green dress in the window. Excitement bubbled up inside her.
“Mads, what is Baz up to?”
“I don’t know why you’re wasting your breath. I can’t tell you anything.” She opened the door to the shop, and in they went.
“Right on time,” a pretty brunette, who looked to be in her late thirties and about six feet tall, said from behind the register. “So this is the lucky lady and her beautiful boy.” She came around the counter, and took Emerson’s hand. “Hi, Emerson, I’m Chandra. Come right this way, and we’ll get you ready for your surprise.”
Emerson and Madigan followed her to a large dressing room, in which there were three of the emerald-green, spaghetti-strap dresses she’d admired in the window. “You have the perfect figure for this dress, but if you’d like a different style, or a different color, you can have your choice of anything in the store.”
Emerson’s heart swelled. “This is the one I want, thank you.”
“Okay. Then let me know if you need another size, but you look like a perfect twelve to me.”
“Thank you.” As Chandra walked out, Emerson turned to Madigan and said, “I feel like I’m in Pretty Woman , but Baz is way hotter than Richard Gere.”
Madigan giggled.
Emerson tried on the dresses, and the material was so soft, it felt luxurious. Chandra was right, she was a perfect size twelve, which thrilled her to no end. She’d been so happy lately, and Baz couldn’t keep his hands off her no matter what size she was, she hadn’t even thought about her body, or realized she’d lost more of her baby weight. She was still thick around the middle, with dimpled thighs, stretch marks, and heavy boobs, but it no longer felt like a mom bod. It was her body, and she was proud of it.
She also looked great in the dress. The fitted bodice and A-line skirt accentuated her waist, the peekaboo A-shaped cutout in the center just above the waist made her feel sexy, and the ruffled hem gave the dress a festive flair. She opened the curtain. “What do you think?”
Madigan’s jaw dropped. “Damn, girl. My cousin is going to go bananas when he sees you.”
“And where exactly will he be seeing me?” she asked coyly.
Madigan smiled down at Brennan and said, “Your mommy thinks she can pull one over on me. Silly girl.” She looked at Emerson. “Nice try. Now take that off and get dressed.”
“Doesn’t the girl code cover this?”
“The cousin code trumps it in this circumstance. Sorry, but a promise is a promise.”
“You Wickeds and your promises.” She changed back into her clothes, and as she hung up the dress, she peeked at the price tag and nearly had a heart attack. $160. She peered out from behind the curtain. Madigan was singing to Brennan.
“Mads,” she whispered. “Can you see if they have a cheaper dress?”
“He didn’t ask her to take the price tag off? I knew he should have let me handle the ordering, but no . He insisted on doing everything himself.”
“He did?” She loved that.
“Yes. He’s going to be so upset with himself. He’s crazy about you, and he wanted everything to be perfect.”
Emerson didn’t want him to feel bad about a single thing when everything he did made her feel incredible. She didn’t want him to spend that much money on her, either, but it was the lesser of the two evils. “Never mind. It’s okay.” She brought the dress to Chandra, who was standing with a thin, sharply dressed man with dark hair.
“All set?” Chandra asked.
“Yes, thank you. You were right about the size, and the dress is beautiful.”
“I’ve been doing this a long time.” Chandra handed the man the dress. “Fifteen minutes?”
“Twelve,” he said, and disappeared through a door behind the counter.
“Where is he going with my dress?”
“He’ll be back in a jiff,” Chandra said, ushering her toward a display of sandals. “And you need to try on sandals.”
“I have sandals, but thank you.” She looked inquisitively at Madigan, who just shrugged and smiled.
“One can never have enough sandals, and a certain someone was beyond excited to get you the exact outfit that was in the window. Size eight?” Chandra picked up the same gorgeous pair of flat leather sandals that the mannequin was wearing.
Baz, what are you planning? “Yes, thank you.” She tried them on, and the soft leather caressed her foot. Chandra led her to the bracelets and showed her the bangles the mannequin had on. Emerson couldn’t even pretend she didn’t want them, and knowing Baz wanted this for her made her want them even more.
Chandra handed her a beautiful off-white scarf and said, “In case you get chilly.”
A few minutes later the man reappeared with her dress. “Hello, Emerson. I’m Arturo. I understand you’re nursing your baby. Let me show you what I’ve done.” He opened the soft gathering between the breasts, showing her three tiny hook enclosures. “Voilà.”
“That’s amazing. Thank you so much.” She was so happy, she hugged him, and then she hugged Chandra. “Thank you.”
Arturo handed her the dress, and Chandra handed her the sandals.
“It’s our pleasure,” Chandra said. “Now take this.” She handed Emerson a gift bag from Chatham Kids, a children’s clothing store down the block. “And let’s get you and your little one ready so you’re not late.”
Emerson looked in the bag and pulled out a tiny hanger with an adorable emerald-green-and-white checked jumper and white short-sleeved shirt, and she melted inside.
Baz had thought of everything, and she couldn’t wait to find out what he had in store for them.