Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
JOEY
The moment she got back from Seville, Joey walked straight into the bakery. She knew she needed to talk to Vanessa, and she needed to do it now.
“Good morning, senorita,” said Carmen, folding her arms and glaring from behind the counter. “Can you explain why I was given exactly thirty minutes’ notice that you were going to see Cisco?”
“Is Vanessa here?” Joey wasn’t keen to have this conversation in her presence.
“And now you are answering questions with questions. I don’t know what I do to deserve you, sometimes.” Carmen tutted, but Joey could see a twinkle in her eye. She pursed her lips. “No. She has a guest visiting, so she’s out gallivanting this morning. I’m sure she’ll be back later.”
“Oh.” Joey was momentarily dumbfounded. It hadn’t crossed her mind for a moment that Vanessa might have someone with her.
She immediately wanted to know exactly who it was.
But she knew she hadn’t earned the right to know what was happening in her fellow baker’s life, especially not the way she’d fled to Seville without warning.
“Now, come on, time for me to get an explanation on what on earth is going on here.” Carmen grabbed a couple of plates and placed chocolate croissants on them. “Here, you look like you need one of these. Sit down.”
Carmen wasn’t going to let it go. Joey felt her cheeks redden. She hadn’t just run out on Vanessa, but on her friend and boss as well. Reluctantly, she took a seat. “Ok, you’re right. I’m sorry.”
Carmen took a bite out of her croissant and looked expectantly at Joey.
“So something happened with Vanessa.”
Joey avoided Carmen’s gaze, and Carmen huffed.
“You think I was born yesterday? It’s been obvious that something was going on for days.”
Joey rolled her eyes. “Ok, perhaps. But the other night, well, we were together.”
Carmen held up both her palms. “I do not need to know the details.”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’re not getting them!” Joey laughed. “But you know me. You know I don’t do relationships.”
“I know you don’t allow yourself to be vulnerable.” Carmen folded her arms and glared again.
“Ok, ok, yes, perhaps that’s true.” Joey took a bit of her croissant. This was proving a more thorough interrogation than she had envisaged.
“And you panicked.” Carmen unfolded her arms and ran her finger along the edge of the table.
Joey nodded. They sat in silence for a moment. “I’m sorry,” said Joey. “It wasn’t fair on you. I should have told you what was going on. I shouldn’t have run out on you.”
“Thank you, mija. No, you shouldn’t have.” Carmen gathered wayward flakes of pastry with her finger. “But I am so pleased you and Vanessa have found each other. I have seen you smile more in the last few weeks than you have in all the time I’ve known you.”
Joey snapped to attention. “Have you?”
Carmen nodded, her eyes crinkled in a smile of her own. “But I do rely on you, Joey.”
Carmen only called Joey by her preferred name when she had a serious point to make, so she prepared herself.
“I rely on you, and you know how important you are to me and this bakery.” Carmen’s eyes looked a little glassy. As though she might cry. Joey moved uneasily in her seat. “And I won’t be here forever.”
“Oh my god, are you ill?” Joey felt the adrenaline surge in her system.
“No, no, no!” Carmen waved away Joey’s concern. “But I do need to think about the future. I’m not getting any younger. I want to spend more time with my grandchildren.”
“Yes, of course you do.” Joey reached out her hand and held Carmen’s.
Carmen smiled gently. “I need to retire at some point. But, you know, this place is my pride and joy.”
Joey’s heart began to race. It was her pride and joy as well. It was her life. She couldn’t imagine Barcelona without the bakery. Or without Carmen. Both had saved her when she had little else.
“And I need to think about what happens to this place. I think about maybe you running it one day.” Carmen squeezed Joey’s fingers.
“Me?” Joey’s eyes went wide. “Run this place?”
That had never been on her agenda. She’d always kept her life so small, so controlled. She moved through Barcelona anonymously. How could she live like that if she was running a business?
“Yes, you,” said Carmen.
The bell on the shop door rang at that moment, and Carmen beamed. “There you are.”
She stood, and Joey turned to see Vanessa walk in arm in arm with a man who had unruly dark wavy hair.
Joey’s heart flipped. She wasn’t sure it could take much more today.
Vanessa looked relaxed and happy as she approached Joey and Carmen. “I’d like you both to meet my lovely big brother Carl.”
“This is an honour,” said Carmen, almost falling over herself to offer her hand to Carl, whose eyes twinkled at her.
“The honour is all mine. You must be Carmen.” He took her hand and held it in both of his. “Vanessa has told me all about you, and this amazing pastelería.” He looked around and sniffed. “Based on the delicious smells emanating from your kitchen, I can see why.”
Carmen blushed, clearly enjoying the attention of a young, handsome man. Carl turned to Joey, who was still motionless in her chair, her mind racing as she wondered what Vanessa had told her brother about her.
“I’m Joey,” she said, with a tight smile. Why was she always so stiff with new people?
Carl smiled at her, and reached a hand towards her. “And I’ve heard some very good things about you, too. It is really lovely to meet you,”
Joey smiled, unsure what to say next, and plumped for, “So, what brings you to Barcelona?”
Carl’s mouth quirked. “Heartbreak, I’m afraid.”
“Oh no!” Carmen clasped her hands to her heart in horror. “Well, you have come to the right place. You definitely need something sweet to help your recovery.” She paused for a beat. “And I really should introduce you to my niece.”