11. Jessica
Jessica
Once again, Jessica stood on the large porch in front of the massive dark wooden door and rang the doorbell. It had been a little over a week since she’d been to this house, and she was just as nervous as the first time. Although for a slightly different reason now.
Renee opened the door with a big smile and a dish towel draped over one shoulder. Beneath the towel, she wore a green tank top that played well with her pale skin and red hair, and made her bright green eyes shine even more. But it was her toned arms that stole the show.
If Jessica were to continue thinking of this strictly as a business relationship, she’d have to see her in something other than a tank top.
“Come in,” Renee said, stepping aside.
Jessica walked into the house just as some sort of timer song rang out from the next room.
“Shoot,” Renee said. “Here, come with me.”
Jessica followed Renee past the formal sitting room with its wingback chairs and floral-patterned couch and into a gorgeous kitchen, complete with warm oak cabinets, new-looking appliances, and miles of brown quartz countertop.
It was obvious this was a well-loved room, but it was the center of the kitchen that made her stop short just inside the doorway.
All manner of baked goods sat on the island. A round loaf of crusty bread. Lemon bars. A layered cake dressed in thick chocolate frosting. Plates stacked with cookies. It smelled like butter and sugar and warm, yeasty goodness in there.
Renee shut off the offending timer and pulled out a loaf of what smelled like some kind of lemon bread. She placed it on the stove, then turned back to face Jessica and the mountain of food.
“Cinnamon roll?” She grabbed a cake pan stuffed with large cinnamon rolls, dripping with icing. “Please take some of these off my hands.”
“Thank you, but I just had a late breakfast.” With a laugh, Jessica said, “Is there a bake sale in town I don’t know about?”
Renee scrunched her face. “I stress-bake.”
Jessica bit her lip as she took in the scene. “That’s a lot of stress.”
“Yeah. So my aunt died, and I’m apparently inheriting this house. And my aunts and cousins are pissed. My mom is a mess.” She paused for a breath, then looked regretful. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m dumping all of this on you.”
“It’s okay. It sounds like a lot.” Jessica glanced around at the bar filled with baked goods again. “I wish I had such a productive outlet. When I’m stressed about a gig, I just pace.”
It had been one of the many things she did that annoyed Claire. She spent so much time—too much time—trying to figure out other ways to calm her nerves. But nothing else ever stuck. So being on the receiving end of Claire’s annoyance was what stuck instead.
“A gig?” Renee slid the towel from her shoulder and looked at Jessica with interest. “You’re a musician?”
“Yeah, I play piano. Well, keyboard most of the time,” she said. “Mostly weddings and, unfortunately, funerals. I teach lessons, too.”
“That’s great,” Renee said, her green eyes dancing with excitement. “I may have a job for you. No, I definitely have a job for you. If you want it.”
Jessica was suddenly aware of the check she still held in one hand. She raised it and waved it in the air. “I think you’ve got this backwards. I’m paying you for a job.”
Renee took the check and nodded. “Yes, yes, but I need a musician. Well, more than one, I guess. I don’t actually know what all we need yet, but I’m pretty positive we’ll need a keyboard player.” She tilted her head. “Do you play with other people? Like in a band or something?”
Jessica laughed at the flurry of words aimed at her. “I’m in a band that plays occasionally. Mostly wedding receptions. A Mardi Gras event here or there.”
“Perfect!” Renee clapped her hands. “I’d like to hire you and your band to play at my aunt’s celebration of life.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jessica took a breath to consider the offer. She could use the extra money now that she was paying rent on her own. Not to mention, she was draining her savings to pay Renee for this job with Chase. So there wasn’t much to consider. “When is it?”
“Sorry, right. You kind of need to know that, huh?” She bit her lip.
“Um, that’s not settled yet. It’s a Friday or Saturday evening.
Maybe in a couple of weeks. Sorry, I don’t have more details right now.
My mom is supposed to be taking care of the venue, and we’re running really behind on pulling this together. ”
“Wait, you need a whole band for a celebration of life?”
She’d never played at one of those before, and she thought they were more like a casual gathering at someone’s house. Not something you needed a whole band for.
“She wants to do this big thing, like a reception. I think it’s ridiculous. My aunt did love a good party, though, so I’m not going to argue.”
Jessica ran through her mental calendar. She’d have to check with the rest of the band, of course.
“We have a couple of things booked already, so it depends on the date.”
“Right. Yes. I hope it works out. You don’t know the load this will take off of me.”
Jessica nodded sympathetically. “A lot to do, I’m sure.”
“So much. I’m supposed to meet with my mother to discuss the details, but things have been… busy.”
Jessica got the sense that there was more to that relationship than being busy, but it wasn’t her place to be nosy.
A warm, fluffy body pressed against her calf, and Jessica looked down to find a large orange and white cat weaving its way around her legs.
“I see you’ve met Bartholomew,” Renee said. “He came with the house.”
Jessica bent down to pet him. “Aww, what a sweet guy. I’m sure he must be terribly sad.”
“He is,” Renee said. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know of anyone who might want a cat?”
“You can’t keep him?”
“I’m not exactly pet mom material.”
Jessica laughed. “Pet mom?”
“That’s a thing, isn’t it? I don’t know. People seem weird about their pets to me.” She shook her head quickly. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Jessica said. “And yes, people can be weird sometimes.”
“Anyway, he’d be better off with someone who knows what to do with him.”
“I’ll ask around.”
“Thanks.”
Jessica nodded toward the kitchen doorway. “Well, I should probably let you get back to your day. I just wanted to drop off your check. Thanks for invoicing me, so I can pay a little at a time. It’s super helpful with my budget and all.”
“Sure. No problem. Oh, wait.” Renee spread her hands to gesture at the bar between them. “You have to take something with you.”
“No, that’s okay. Thank you, but—”
“Uh-uh. It’s the rule. If you come over when I’m on a tear, you can’t leave empty-handed.”
Jessica laughed. “Okay. If it’s a rule.”
“It is.” Renee’s smile reached up into those bright green eyes, and Jessica vowed to see that smile again.
“So, what will it be. You should take some for anyone else you think would want some. I don’t know enough people to dump all of this on, and Lord knows I can’t eat it all, even though I’ll do my best.”
There was that smile again.
“Well, what do you recommend?” She quickly amended her question. “Not your favorite, though. I wouldn’t want to take that.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make more.”
Renee gave a flirty little wink that made Jessica’s knees weak. She grabbed the counter to steady herself.
“Tell you what,” Renee said, reaching below to grab a large plastic container that she began filling with piles of cookies, cupcakes, and all the rest. “Take some of everything.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t—”
“Too late.” Renee sealed up the container and walked around the bar with it. “It’s all yours now.”
Renee handed her the container, and their fingers brushed against each other during the exchange, sending tingles up Jessica’s arm.
Jessica smiled, hoping that hid the flush she felt warming her cheeks. “Thanks.”
“No problem. I’d say anytime, but let’s hope I don’t make this a habit. Or at least let’s hope the reason for my stress-baking eases soon.”
“I really hope it does.”
They shared a look that held sorrow with an air of hope. Hope that there would be better days ahead for both of them.
“Well, I’ll be in touch about the event details. Let me walk you out.”
Renee gestured for Jessica to lead the way, and they walked together to the front door.
“Thanks again for the food. I’m meeting a friend tomorrow, so these will make a great dessert.”
“Good.”
That smile.
“Okay. Well. I’ll see you later.”
“Later.”
Renee closed the door behind her, and Jessica let out the breath she’d been holding. She stood on the porch a few moments longer than she should have to not look creepy. Then she made her way to her car with an armful of baked goods and her heart rushing along ahead of her.