Chapter Twenty-Three – Cadie
Cadie
June in Moose Village was beautiful. The weather was perfect; the bakery was always busy. Of course, Nick was always close by. He was assigned to watch over me while we waited for Michael’s father to go to trial. He was in jail for now, with all of the charges and evidence, but he still had people working for him. Michael and Melanie had been put in protective custody, and although I was still looking over my shoulder, life seemed to be getting back to normal. No one had asked about Nick, but rumors were rampant in Moose Village. The latest was I was a princess from some European country simply trying to live a normal life in a small town. That one was fun, not going to lie.
The bell above the door rang, and I looked up to see Kian walking in.
“Hey, I thought you were getting all the words today.”
A smile spread over his face, and I felt my heart trip. Would I ever get used to the way his smiles affected me? I hoped not.
“I’m telling you, being in our own house has sparked something in me, and I can’t stop the words from flowing. ”
Once things settled down after the kidnapping, Kian and I started our search for a house. I insisted on paying half since I had money left from the sale of my bakery. It only took us a couple of weeks, and we found an adorable four-bedroom, three-bath house with a view of Moose Lake. It was a bit more than I wanted to pay, but the kitchen was a baker’s dream, and of course, the view made it worth the price. We had moved in a few weeks ago and were slowly getting more furniture, which Kian had insisted he buy since I had bought the furniture we took from the cabin. One of the bedrooms was Kian’s office; he had installed bookshelves on three of the four walls. One was a guest room, and the other was a room all to myself. I wasn’t sure what I would do in there yet, since Kian had the most comfortable oversized chair in his office to read in. Macy promised to help me figure it out.
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“A great thing. I think I’m almost done.”
“How exciting!” I said as I made my way around the counter and hugged him. “What is after that?”
He laughed. “I have no idea! I’ll figure it out, though.”
“Is Opal here?”
“She had to run an errand but said she would return before closing.”
The bell rang again, and Macy walked in. She was holding a briefcase and wearing a smile.
“Don’t you look like Mom,” Kian teased.
Macy shot him a dirty look. “I’m wearing my old lawyer’s hat this morning, but don’t ever compare me to our mother again.”
Kian and I both laughed .
“Why are you wearing a lawyer hat today?” I asked.
“I’ve got some business with Opal.”
Kian tilted his head. “What kind of business?”
She winked. “You’ll find out soon enough. I’ll be back in Opal’s office.”
Walking past us, I gave Kian a questioning look. He shrugged.
“Want something to eat or drink?” I called out to Macy.
“A piece of your banana nut bread, and don’t say you’re sold out. I know you keep some extra!”
Kian’s head snapped to look at me. “You keep extra?”
My cheeks heated. “I do, but I have no idea how she knew!”
“You little banana bread hoarder. I want a piece.”
Laughing, I walked over, locked the front door, shut off the open sign, and started putting the chairs on the table so I could mop.
“Where is Katherine?”
“Upstairs. She had off today. Did I tell you she got a cat?”
“Really? What made her want a cat?”
I put the last chair on the table. “He just showed up one day. Sat in the window box until Katherine left it some water and food. After that, he figured out how to sneak into the bakery. The customers love him, so Opal said he could come in, but he’s not allowed in the kitchen area.”
“So you guys have a bakery pet?”
Laughing, I replied, “I guess so.”
The sound of the back door opening and closing alerted us that Opal was here.
“I’m going to go say hi to my aunt. You need help right now? ”
Waving Kian on, I said, “No, I’ve got this down pat. Go visit with your sister and aunt.”
I quickly got to work mopping the dining room and then made my way to the kitchen. Before I could change the water and clean the floor in the back, Macy popped her head out.
“Cadie? Can we talk to you for a second?”
Glancing at the floor and thinking about all the prep I still had to do, I almost told her I couldn’t, but something on her face said this wasn’t up for discussion. I was needed in Opal’s office.
“Um, sure. Let me dump this water out and–”
“I’ve got it, babe.”
Kian walked up to me and took the mop from my hand. “Don’t worry, I used to mop these floors when I was younger. I can do it with my eyes closed.”
Confused, I nodded and followed Macy back to Opal’s office. Jake was sitting there holding hands with Opal. It was so cute how their relationship had blossomed these last few months. Jake had decided to take a step back, sold his place in New York City, and now lived in Moose Village full time. He still painted, but he was doing it for pleasure now. I knew his daughter Hope was over the moon happy about it.
“Hey, Jake, I didn’t know you were here. Would you like something to eat or drink?”
He grinned. “No, thank you, darling.”
“Cadie, sit down, please,” Opal said as she motioned for me to sit down.
Suddenly worried, I looked around the room as I made my way to the seat opposite Opal’s and across from her desk.
“I’ve been giving you more and more responsibilities here at the bakery. ”
I nodded. “Yes, and I appreciate your trust in me.”
Opal smiled. “You have been such a wonderful addition to not only our family, but the bakery as well. And you’ve proven how talented you are. The customers love you, and more of them are requesting you to do their cakes, which has been wonderful for me. It’s freed up so much time that I’ve realized how much I have been missing by devoting my entire life to the bakery.”
“Your idea of closing on Sunday was also wonderful,” Macy stated. “Opal thought at first it would hurt the business, but it hasn’t impacted it.”
Only Opal, Kian, and Mark knew the truth about me owning a bakery back in Boston. We had decided it would be best if I kept going on as Cadie Waterford until the Bellucci trial was over. It would buy me a little more peace and quiet, especially with the press being all over the trial. They might learn Katy Reynolds, prominent local businesswoman and co-heir to the Reynolds fortune, was associated with Michael, but they wouldn’t bother Cadie Waterford.
“I’m glad to hear that. That one day of closing makes people miss you even more.”
Laughing, Opal nodded. “Yes, it does. Mondays used to be our slowest day, but now it is right up there with Friday and Saturday.”
“I’m glad,” I replied. “That makes me very happy for you.”
“It should make you happy as well!” Opal said.
“Of course! Yes. When the bakery is successful, we all benefit from it.”
Opal looked at Macy, who nodded.
“Cadie, since Jake came back into my life, everything has changed. I’ve enjoyed my days off, thanks to you. ”
I smiled.
“But I want more. I want a life I never allowed myself to have before. So, I’ve decided that I’m retiring.”
My mouth fell open. “You’re selling the bakery?”
Opal’s eyes widened. “Oh no, well, not really.”
Confused, I looked between Macy, Opal, and Jake. I couldn’t read any of their faces at all. “I’m confused.”
Macy walked up and placed a folder on the table.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Open it,” Opal stated.
When I opened the folder, I started reading an attorney’s letter. It was prepared by Trey Carter, Macy and Kian’s uncle, who ran the family law firm in Moose Village. I kept reading, and my heart felt like it might leap out of my chest the farther I got.
“You’re transferring ownership of the bakery to me?”
Opal smiled. “Yes.”
“How? If you’re not selling it to me…how?”
“Opal can legally ‘gift’ you the bakery without receiving payment. This is often done when you want to transfer ownership between families. There is a gift tax, though, and we do want you to make sure you see that.”
I nodded. “I saw that, but, Opal, are you sure? You could just have me run the bakery and you keep ownership.” I looked at Macy, who smiled once again.
“Opal has been talking about selling the bakery even before you showed up, Cadie. Opal trusts that you’ll carry on with what she has worked so hard to build. If she trusts you to do it, then so do I.”
My hand went to my chest, and I blinked several times to keep the tears at bay. “I don’t…I don’t know wh at to say.”
Reaching for my hand, Opal said, “Say yes!”
Words were lost on me, and I opened and closed my mouth about half a dozen times.
Jake laughed. “I think the girl is speechless.”
Macy pulled out more paperwork. “All you have to do is look over this and sign it; the bakery is yours after that. The only thing is you have to agree to keep the name. Batter Up Bakery is a staple here in Moose Village and the surrounding areas.”
I nodded and wiped my tears from my face. “Of course.”
“You also have to keep Katherine on for as long as she wants. And continue to allow her to live in the apartment upstairs,” Opal added while wagging her finger at me.
“Yes, I adore Katherine.”
Jake stood. “Perfect! Now we can plan that cruise.”
I stood as well. “Cruise?”
Opal chuckled. “Jake and I want to take a cruise through Europe. It’s a four-month cruise.”
My eyes widened. “Four months?”
Looking at me with a raised brow, Opal asked, “You do think you can manage this place without me, don’t you?”
“Yes!” I said a bit too quickly. “I mean, of course, I’ll miss you, but I’m so happy for you both.”
Standing, I walked around the desk and hugged Opal, then Jake. “How exciting this is for you both.”
Jake nodded. “It is very exciting.”
“If you’d like to have a lawyer look over this before you sign it, that’s not a problem,” Macy stated as she gathered up all the papers and handed me the envelope.
“Well, I happen to know a guy who was a lawyer. He might be biased, though. ”
Everyone in the room laughed.
“Okay, now I can take off my lawyer hat and hug you. Trey owes me for making me lawyer again. I hope his trip to Iceland was fun.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Opal said to Macy.
“Of course. Congratulations. I’m so happy for both of you.”
Hugging Macy back, I replied, “Thank you, Macy.”
She drew back, and I couldn’t help but think about how she didn’t trust me when she first met me. Now, she hugged and congratulated me on taking ownership of the bakery. Life is crazy!
“I’m off! Aunt Opal, Jake, enjoy your day! Cadie, let it all soak in!”
Opal and Jake soon followed Macy out the office door, leaving me alone.
A light knock had me looking at the entry to the office. “You okay?”
“Did you know?” I asked as Kian made his way into the office.
“No, I didn’t know until earlier today. How are you feeling? Happy?”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I think so. Excited. Scared. Worried.”
“Worried?” he asked as he sat on the edge of Opal’s desk. The desk that would soon be mine.
With a nod, I exhaled. “What if I do something wrong and the bakery fails?”
Kian laughed. “First of all, this bakery isn’t going anywhere. This is Moose Village, not Boston, Cadie. I know your place was successful as well, but this bakery is well- established. People come from other areas around here just to visit this bakery.”
“I know! What if I mess that up?”
“You won’t. Trust me, Opal wouldn’t have done this if she wasn’t sure you were the one to take the reins.”
“I’m so honored, Kian. Surprised, happy…”
“Worried? You already said that.” He reached and took my hand in his. “Opal isn’t going anywhere. She’ll be here if you need her.”
I nodded then smiled. “I’ve got a bakery again!”
He laughed. “I know!”
Standing, I turned in a circle. “I’ve got my own bakery again! Kian! This is…so amazing! I have so many ideas; I don’t want to change too much, but I’ve got so many ideas!”
He stood. “I cannot wait to share every moment with you.”
I threw myself into his arms. “I am so happy!”
Pulling me in closer, Kian held me against him. When we stepped apart, he framed my face with his hands, his eyes taking in every inch of my face. He drew in a breath and whispered, “I love you, Cadie.”
Tears pooled in my eyes as I blinked furiously to keep them at bay. My heart felt something I had never felt before. It was something so beautiful I couldn’t put into words if I had tried. A sense of peace I’d never felt before washed over me. Moose Village was my forever home, and this man standing before me saved me in more ways than I could imagine. I closed my eyes to save the memory of this moment. Opening them, I felt a single tear slip free. “I love you too!”
Kian used the pad of his thumb and gently wiped it away. “Come on. I’m taking you home. ”
“No, I have to finish cleaning up and have prep work.”
“I mopped, ensured everything was turned off and put away, and you’re the boss now. You can prep later!”
I couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that slipped free. “I am the boss now!”
He nodded. “Yep.”
Turning, I quickly made my way into the kitchen and started turning on the lights.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, if this is my bakery now, or will be once I sign the paperwork, I think we should break it in!”
A wide grin spread across Kian’s face. “I like where you’re going with this!”
I jumped and clapped my hands together. “Great! You grab the eggs. I need them to be at room temperature.”
He looked confused. “Um, I get being kinky and all, but eggs?”
I bit back a laugh. “The eggs are for the pasticciotti cream-filled tarts.”
“Huh?”
“We’re making pasticciotti Italian cream-filled tarts! What did you think I meant?”
“Sex! I thought we were breaking in the kitchen by having sex.”
I wrinkled my nose. “No. No sex in my kitchen!”
Kian rolled his eyes.
“But, if we make extra whipping cream, we can use it later at home.”
With eyes wide and a twinkle in his eyes, Kian asked, “What else do you need me to do besides take out the eggs?”
It was over. Finally, it was all over.
It had taken almost a year for the trial of Michael’s father. During that time, I still found myself looking over my shoulder.
Michael had testified against his father and the evidence he had kept was damning. Melanie also testified along with a string of other people. It was enough to convict Michael’s father and put him behind bars for the rest of his life.
Lauryn had kept me up to date with the trial, sending me daily texts or calling me on the phone. Her last phone call was a planning trip. She was coming to spend Christmas with me and Kian, and although I kept this part to myself, she would be meeting Mark, who was coming in to stay with us as well. Only Kian and Macy knew Mark would be home. They didn’t bother to tell their parents, not that I thought they would care even if they did know.
The feel of Kian behind me caused me to turn around.
“What are you doing?” he asked, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Looking at the lake. I can’t tell if I like it better at Christmastime or in the spring. Fall is beautiful too.”
He chuckled. “When does Lauryn get here?”
“Two. What about Mark?”
“One.”
I laughed and turned in his arms. He took the blanket I had wrapped around myself and put it over both of us. “Do you think they’re going to figure out what we’re doing?”
“You mean setting up your best friend with my brother who is a CIA agent? ”
Nodding, I said, “I bet you Lauryn figures out he works for the government in the first twenty-four hours of being here.”
He raised his brows. “That quick, huh?”
“I think so.”
“What are we betting?”
My cheeks heated as all kinds of naughty things ran through my mind.
“I like where your thoughts are going.”
“You don’t even know what I’m thinking!”
He laughed softly. “By the look in your eyes, I can guess. I’ll play along. I think it will take her three days.”
“It’s a bet then?” I asked, reaching up and kissing him softly on the lips.
He deepened the kiss, and we finally broke apart, both of us dragging in deep breaths of cold air, then he whispered, “It’s a bet.”
Kian would soon realize we’d both win!