Chapter 4 #2
“It just makes me so sad to see you guys this way,” Goldie says. “You were so close for such a long time.”
“And now we haven’t been for a long time.” I pick at my napkin.
“Don’t you miss him?” she asks.
I stare at her in shock. This is the first time she’s asked me this. I think we’ve both avoided ever going there since I’m her best friend and he’s her brother…and my brother’s best friend. There are too many layers of complication with Camden and me.
“Yes,” I say softly. “But I miss who he used to be. Maybe he’s still the same guy to you, but I think the guy I was close to is long gone.”
She looks at me sympathetically, her eyes full of concern, which is the last thing I want. I’d hate to put her in the middle of my problems with Camden.
“Didn’t you say that women are coming out of the woodwork to see Camden in his element?” Erin asks Goldie.
My eyes widen, and then I try to act cool when Goldie glances at me, almost cautiously.
“Yeah,” she says, wincing. “Women all over the Midwest are happy Camden Whitman is back in Minnesota. He’s hot shit, I guess.” She sighs.
“How’s your dad?” I ask, very obviously changing the subject.
Her face brightens. “He’s doing really well.”
The next morning, I know something’s up when I walk into the cafe and smell Lysol instead of sweetness.
And then I hear humming.
I go into the kitchen and find Papa on a stool in front of the large island, about to spray a harsh chemical on my woodblock baker’s table.
“Wait, Papa!”
He jumps and turns, laughing. “You gave me a fright!”
He waves the bottle of spray, and I shake my head.
“No, don’t use this?” he clarifies.
“No. It’ll strip the oils.” I show him what I use to clean and oil it. “And then for any stains, I use lemon, vinegar, or baking soda.”
“Ah, okay. Sorry ’bout that. I thought maybe I could make your job a little easier, and I just about botched things up!”
“No worries,” I tell him. “It was sweet of you.”
Uncle Hal pops out of the pantry, holding a clipboard. “Did you know you’re low on baking powder?”
My lips twitch. “You two are awake awfully early. It’s still dark out. You shouldn’t torture yourselves this way.”
“We want to help,” Papa says. “It seems like you’re overwhelmed.”
“Really? I mean, I’m often overwhelmed or running low on sleep, but I don’t feel especially so right now.”
“You yelled at Camden,” Uncle Hal says. “We’ve never heard you even slightly raise your voice at anyone, so we drew the logical conclusion that you must be exhausted and need help.”
“I’m touched that you’re concerned about me, but I really am okay. Camden and I…we just don’t see eye to eye on anything. We haven’t for a long time.”
“But you were so close!” Papa says.
“Things change.”
He moves in front of me and puts his hands on my arms.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks.
I nod. “I am.”
A little voice inside screams that I’m not being one hundred percent honest here, but I ignore it.
“We’d still enjoy helping,” Uncle Hal says, grinning. “Put us to work.”
I shrug. “Okay, you asked for it.”
For the next couple of hours, it’s a miracle that I’m able to get anything done. Uncle Hal spills flour everywhere, and Papa used baking powder instead of powdered sugar in the cream cheese frosting.
“Oh, I see the difference now,” he says when he puts his glasses on.
I expect them to call it a day once Suzanne arrives for her shift, or maybe when the cafe opens, but they’re still going strong.
That saying Too many cooks in the kitchen…
I’m seeing it firsthand.
Papa and Uncle Hal are everywhere.
Goldie and Erin come in and light up when they see them. There are hugs all around, and then Goldie leans in.
“How are you this morning?” she asks.
“I’m great. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“No reason,” she says quickly. “It’s so good to see Papa Hector and Uncle Hal.”
“They look great,” Erin says.
“I’m so happy they’re in town. But I’m having to watch them like a hawk. They want to help, but baking isn’t really their specialty.”
We laugh.
“I’m being loved to death,” I add.
“I’m so glad our talk about getting laid is on your mind,” Erin teases.
“Uh, that was too close to me talking about my grandpa and uncle.” I shudder.
“Eek, you’re right. Maybe it’s my mind that’s on getting laid…all the time. Percy looked so good,” she whines.
“Do something about it,” Goldie says. “Go over to The Cozy Palette today and pull a Papa Hector and Uncle Hal and be helpful.”
Erin snorts. “If I didn’t have to go to work, I would go help Percy, all right. I’d get on my knees and—” She snaps and points at me. “I’ve got a good idea. Maybe if you got on your knees for Camden, he’d never argue with you again.”
My mouth drops and my face burns. I know without looking that it’s bright red.
“My, my,” Beverly says. “The things young women talk about these days.” She moves up to the counter, and Goldie and Erin shuffle out of the way so she can place her order.
Sorry, Erin mouths, backing away.
I glare at her, annoyed that she’d say such a thing. And for taking my mind to being on my knees in front of Camden.
It also takes every ounce of my willpower not to laugh.
I lift my hand to say bye as Goldie and Erin start to walk to the door and focus on Beverly.
But my mind is on Camden and what it would feel like to finally shut him up.
I fan my face.
Papa and Uncle Hal must be right—I am overwhelmed.
If I were okay, I’d never think these thoughts.
That little voice rears up again, calling me out for my lack of honesty.
Camden’s not the only one who needs to shut up.