Chapter 13
Vienna
Novelty Cakes & Meeting with a Lawyer
The bell on the door rings above me as I walk into Bites & Bliss Bakery, eager to satisfy my craving for sugar. Today, a few of the front-office staff at the school were talking about how amazing the cheesecake is from here, and sadly, I haven’t been able to think about much else.
That’s a lie. You’ve definitely had something else on your mind, Vienna. Care to share with the class?
Shaking off my internal thoughts, I head toward the counter to wait in line, scouring the bakery case for their other options, but my mind drifts back to Rhonan for the thousandth time.
I wonder if Rhonan likes cheesecake.
It’s only been two days since I spent the evening at his house painting rocks with him and Ellis. And if I didn’t know any better, I’d say the sexual tension between us escalated that night, especially as we were standing in his kitchen with his hand on my face.
For a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me. And the worst part about it, I was desperate for him to—to show me what his kisses feel like because the longer time passes since the night we met, the needier I am for us to finish what we started.
A man breezes past me, bumping into my shoulder. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” he says as he moves to steady me.
Our eyes meet and something about his gaze spikes my adrenaline, but I instantly convince myself to calm down. It’s hard not to be paranoid when you’ve gone through some shit no one knows about. “No worries.”
“Truly. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
I smile at him. “It’s okay. I’m fine. Have a nice evening.”
“You too.” He nods and then heads for the door.
“Vienna?”
Twisting back around, I’m surprised to see Dilynne Clark ahead of me in line. “Oh! Hi, Dilynne.”
“Hey. You all right? I saw that guy bump into you.”
“Oh, yeah. No biggie. How’s it going?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” She taps her chin. “I think the last time I saw you was at the winery.”
My mind searches through our encounters. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“Laney told me that you went to her salon last week, though.” She waggles her eyebrows. “Isn’t my best friend a wizard with hair?”
Chuckling, I nod. “She is.”
“She also told me that she invited you to her wedding.”
Sighing, I reply, “She did, even though it was completely unnecessary.”
The line moves forward, so Dilynne takes a few steps, and I follow her lead before she turns back to me. “Um, I think it’s completely necessary. It’s bound to be a good time, you’ll get to hear my maid of honor speech, and this means I get to invite you to the bachelorette party as well.”
“Oh, gosh. You don’t have to…”
Dilynne reaches out and places her hand over my mouth. The move catches me off guard, but I’m quickly realizing that this woman doesn’t take no for an answer. “Nonsense. You’re coming. End of discussion.”
Once she removes her hand from my mouth, I shrug. “Okay, fine. Twist my arm, why don’t you?”
She laughs and pulls her cell phone from her pocket. “Let me get your number so I can send you the details.” We exchange numbers and then put our phones away. “There, now you have no excuse. And don’t try to come up with one. I’m very good with a wrench and will use my talents if necessary.”
“I sincerely hope that you’re joking,” I say, fairly certain she’s just being sarcastic, but also getting a little scared the longer I stand here.
She winks at me. “Don’t try to bail and you won’t have to find out. Besides, you’re going to want to see the cake.”
“The cake?”
She tosses her head toward the bakery case. “That’s why I’m here, to put in the order. Carolina is a wizard with novelty cakes, and after my last cake for the bachelor and bachelorette party for Elliot and his hideous ex-fiancée, I feel like I need to keep the tradition going.”
“Elliot was engaged?”
Dilynne rolls her eyes. “Yes, and lucky for him, the bitch cheated on him with her boss and left him the day of the wedding.”
Confusion rests between my brows. “I’m sorry, but how is that lucky?”
Dilynne plants her hands on her hips. “Look, I know you’re new to town, but let me be clear—not all people in Blossom Peak are good humans, and Tori was one of the worst. Honestly, I still can’t believe that Elliot wanted to marry her, but I think he just fell under her spell.”
Is that what I’m doing with Rhonan? Am I so disillusioned by the idea of him that I’m missing the important things?
No, Vienna. Rhonan is a good man, a good father. He’s not Cole.
God, I just hate that my past has made me question my instincts.
“So yes, I know it sounds harsh, but in a way he’s lucky it ended that way. I would have hated to see what would have happened if they’d actually gone through with it. His heartbreak would have been exponentially worse than it already was.”
Sighing, I nod in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. Especially because once you’re in a commitment like that, it’s not easy to leave.”
“Agreed. So, how’s it going still lusting after Rhonan Hart?” My eyes widen as Dilynne chuckles while I deal with the surprise in her change of topic. “Yup, I know about that too.”
“I guess he wasn’t kidding when he said his friend group loves to share everything about everyone’s lives.”
“Our group is a family, Vienna,” Dilynne declares, her tone clear, but not harsh. “We’ve known each other since childhood, and we’ve been through a lot of shit. So, yeah, we share everything because we look out for one another.”
My heart twists in my chest. The only person I ever felt that way with was Lydia.
“Then I guess I’m jealous of that. Good friends are hard to come by.”
Dilynne studies me. “You’re right about that, but that doesn’t mean we all don’t deserve them. And you know, we always have room for one more.”
“Dilynne?” A woman’s voice from the other side of the counter pulls both of our gazes to her. A petite Hispanic woman wearing a purple shirt and white apron with short, dark, curly hair has both of her hands planted on her hips and a smirk on her lips as she greets Dilynne.
Dilynne rubs her hands together. “Carolina, Carolina. Are you ready to make another cake for me?”
Carolina’s grin spreads, the hint of mischief building in her eyes. “You know it. What are you thinking this time, hun?”
“The usual, but we’re gonna add a few details that I think the bride and groom are gonna love.” Dilynne turns back to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me forward. “Have you met Vienna yet?”
“I have not.” Carolina wipes her hand on her apron before holding it out to shake mine. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“She’s Mrs. Allen’s substitute teacher for the rest of the year, and Rhonan’s new neighbor,” Dilynne explains, winking in Carolina’s direction.
Great. Now another person is gonna be suspicious of our relationship.
Rhonan said people are already probably talking, Vienna, so does it really matter?
“Oh, lucky you,” Carolina says. “How are you enjoying the view?”
I glance out the window, taking in the cherry blossom trees and the sun setting in the distance just between the crest of two mountains before directing my gaze back to her. “Oh, I love it here.”
Carolina chuckles. “Yes, Blossom Peak is beautiful, but I was referring to the view of your neighbor. Rhonan Hart is Grade A eye candy around here. You’d be shocked at the number of conversations I overhear between women lusting after that man.”
Dilynne snaps her fingers. “He may be Laney’s older brother, but even I can admit that he’s a catch.”
“Exactly. I just wish he would open himself up again. It’s a shame what happened to Sarah, but a man like that doesn’t need to be alone forever,” Carolina adds.
That dull ache returns to my chest when I think of how heartbreaking it is that Rhonan and Ellis both have lived a life without her, but it’s quickly accompanied by jealousy at the thought of him with another woman that isn’t me.
Calm down, Vienna. No need to get territorial over a man who just wants to be your friend.
“You know, Ellis is an incredible kid,” I interject. “A true testament to how well he’s done as a single parent.”
Carolina nods. “Still, he needs someone to take care of him too.” She shakes her head, blinking away her emotion, but her words spin on repeat in my mind.
I wonder when was the last time Rhonan did something for himself.
“Anyway, back to the cake.”
Dilynne glances back at me. “Why don’t you go ahead and order because I might be here for a while…”
“You sure?”
“Yup.”
“Okay. I just need a slice of cheesecake, please.”
Dilynne laughs while Carolina moves to the counter, picking up a box that is far too big for one slice of cheesecake. “Oh, Vienna. One does not order just a slice of Carolina’s cheesecake.”
“Uh, why?”
“Because one slice isn’t enough,” Carolina finishes for her. “Trust me, you’re going to need the entire thing.”
Before I know what’s happening, I’m paying for an entire cheesecake that there’s no way I’ll be able to eat by myself and stepping back onto the sidewalk as cherry blossoms float through the sky in the breeze.
My feet begin to carry me toward my car, but my eyes catch the sign for Thorne Family Law Group across the street and my mind drifts to thinking about what Dilynne told me about Elliot and his failed relationship.
I didn’t anticipate feeling a connection to him in this way, but my heart hammered in my chest while hearing his story.
Before I can overthink my decision, I cross the street and enter the building of his family’s law practice, finding it fairly empty. It is a Friday evening, so everyone’s probably gone home already.
Sighing, I decide I’ll try another night, but a familiar voice calls out to me. “Vienna?”
Spinning on my heels, I lock eyes with Elliot. “Hey, Elliot.”
Elliot glances around the entryway. “Are you lost?”
“Uh, no.”
“That didn’t sound too convincing.”
I shake my head. “Sorry. No, I’m not lost. I, uh… Well, I was wondering if you had a moment to speak with me, but then I realized it’s Friday evening and you’re probably itching to get home, so…”
Elliot holds up a hand. “Trust me, I’m not itching to go anywhere at the moment. What’s up?” He looks me over. “Are you all right?”
I hoist my purse up higher on my shoulder and switch the bag with my gigantic cheesecake to my other hand. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I guess I’m just nervous.”
“No need to be nervous,” he says through a laugh. “I helped fix your showerhead for you, remember?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Yeah. But…”
He waves for me to follow him. “Let’s go sit down in my office so you can relax and then tell me what’s on your mind.”
I follow Elliot down a long hallway into his office, a more than ample space filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and the biggest mahogany desk I’ve ever seen.
The walls are lined with his framed degrees and accolades he’s earned throughout the years, and one of the walls is almost entirely taken up by a window that looks out toward the mountains that surround the town. “You want something to drink?”
“Water would be great.”
He walks over to the mini fridge in the corner next to a couch, retrieves me a bottle of water, and places it on the desk in front of me as I take a seat in one of the cushioned chairs opposite his desk.
After he takes his seat on the other side, he says, “Now, how can I help you?”
“Well, you came up in a conversation with Dilynne earlier, and that reminded me that you’re a lawyer. So I wanted to see if maybe you could help me.”
Elliot’s jaw ticks. “Dilynne tends to have trouble keeping her nose out of other people’s business, but you’d think I’d be used to it by now. Although, not sure why she’s always talking about me.”
“I don’t think she meant anything harmful by it. In fact, she seemed relieved that you avoided more hurt.”
He rolls his eyes, forcing a smile after. “I know you didn’t come in here to talk about one of the most annoying people on the planet, so let’s focus on how I can help you.”
Sensing his annoyance grow, I nod and then direct my focus back on my question. “Okay, but I need to know that what I discuss with you here stays between us.”
“Of course. Anything you share with me is protected by attorney-client privilege, Vienna.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Good, because I don’t want anyone to get involved that doesn’t need to.”
Elliot studies me with a pinch in his brow. “Do you mean Rhonan?”
I stare back at him, debating whether I should answer him honestly. But my conscience wins out. “Yes.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Not one I should discuss with you.”
He leans back in his chair, folding his hands together over his chest. “You know that if you hire me as your lawyer, you’re going to have to share details with me, Vienna.”
“I know, but I also know that what I’m about to share with you could put both of us in danger if it got out.”
He sits upright in his seat again. “Are you in danger?”
“I—I honestly don’t know, but I figure the best thing I can do is be proactive to keep everyone around me safe.” Most of all, Rhonan and Ellis. “And I do know that you are familiar with being lied to and manipulated, so I thought you might understand.”
He swallows roughly. “Talk to me, Vienna.”
I take a deep breath and then admit why I’m here. “I need you to help me divorce my husband.”
Elliot’s mouth drops open, but he recovers quickly. And before I leave his office, I realize that getting out of my disastrous relationship would come at a greater price than I even imagined.