Layla – Present
Amie swings on a stool under the counter next to Mabel. “I love this.” She points down to the little specks in the counter top. “When are you going to open?”
I pass her one of the freshly baked scones.
“I’m not sure.”
She takes a bite and moans, “You need to open tomorrow.” She looks to Mabel.
“I agree, dear.” Mabel smiles at me.
“I need to take time to think it through.”
Amie rolls her eyes. “No. You need to jump in with both feet and learn how to swim. You did the hard part, now enjoy it.”
“I’d prefer to paddle first.”
She waves away my concern. “Let me try one of those.” She points to a peanut butter brownie I made earlier.
She curses quietly then covers her mouth. “Sorry, Mabel, but these are incredible.” She stares at me. “Layla. Please open it.” She clasps her hands together, pretending to beg.
I laugh. “I will. When I’m ready. There’s still a lot to do.”
“What’s Jacob’s opinion?”
I arch an eyebrow. “He respects my timeline.”
She rolls her eyes again. “Of course he does.” She glances at Mabel. “Talking about you and Jacob, how’s that going?”
I look to Mabel, then back at Amie. “You didn’t come here to ask me about Jacob.”
Mabel gives Amie a curious glance. When Amie ran in about half an hour ago, she almost knocked the freshly painted front door off its hinges. She was smiling ear to ear, then noticed Mabel at the counter.
Her lunch break was over at half past, and it’s a quarter to now. She looks down at her phone, then back at me.
“Can we talk?” she asks.
Mabel moves off the stool. “I have some laundry that needs my attention upstairs. You girls take all the time you need.”
Once Mabel is out of the room, Amie lets out a loud, dramatic sigh and pats the seat she left, urging me to sit.
“What’s going on, Amie?”
Her smile beams across her face. “I…” she pauses, eyes bright. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I say, throwing my arms around her. “Are you serious?” She nods into my hug.
“I haven’t told Parker yet. I took the test on my lunch break because I was a day late. I didn’t expect it to be positive.” She rests an elbow on the counter. “Can you believe it?”
“You’re having a baby.” I can’t hide my excitement.
“I’m having a baby.” She squeals. “You need to help me think of a fun way to tell Parker, he’s going to freak out.” She knocks her knee into mine.
“Look at us.” She smiles. “You’re finally opening your bakery and now you have to do it soon, because I’m going to be getting cravings, and I know those peanut butter brownies are going to be one of them. I need unlimited access, Layla.”
“I don’t think it works like that.” I grin.
“Of course it does. I think.” She twirls her wedding ring around her finger. “I’m going to need to read a book or two.”
I squeeze her knee. “You’ll be a great mom, Amie.”
She blows out a breath. “God, that’s a scary sentence.” She laughs. “I’ve got nine months to prepare.” She lifts herself another brownie. “Anyway, enough about me. Tell me about you and Jacob?”
“Things are good.” Better than good.
“And…?”
“The answers still no.” I laugh. “I’ve been busy with this place, and he’s still stuck in negotiations with the Broadmans. We’ve just been enjoying spending time together, taking it slow.”
“You have some resolve, I’ll give you that.” She bites down on the brownie. “Seriously, you should be studied.”