Chapter 8 Caroline
CAROLINE
Aquiet knock on Caroline’s bedroom door pulled her attention from the video of a baker decorating a cake with pink and purple paw prints.
“Come in.”
The door inched open, and Skye stuck one side of her body into the room. “You okay?”
After leaving the bakery early for the first time in forever, Caroline fell into the warm comfort of her bed and binge watched cake decorating videos.
Unfortunately, the distraction wasn’t helping tonight. Her thoughts kept wandering to Justin and the flowers he’d sent. All twenty-four dozen of them. At least she didn’t have to see them or smell them anymore. Not thinking about them had been a lot harder at the bakery.
“I’m fine.” Caroline sat up in bed, letting the blanket bunch in her lap. “How was it after I left?”
Skye stepped into the room and bent one leg to sit on the edge of the bed. “It was busy but good. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
There wasn’t any doubt that Skye could handle the bakery alone, but the Christmas crowds were coming, and soon they’d all be drowning in icing and sprinkles. “The Burrows are starting next week. They just got back from visiting their grandkids in Arizona.”
Skye chuckled. “I wonder how they’re handling the weather change.”
“Mrs. Burrows said Arizona sucked the life out of her. I mean, it’s the beginning of December. Surely, it’s not sweltering there.”
Caroline had never been to Arizona or any other state really. Her home was in Redemption Ridge, and her family had never been able to leave the farm to take vacations.
She hadn’t even gotten the chance to fly out and see Justin in Miami before they fell apart. She’d bought the plane ticket but never actually took the trip.
Skye rolled her shoulders, stretching out the ache that followed them home from long shifts. “I’m glad they’re back. The Tree Lighting Ceremony is this Friday, and you remember what happened last year.”
Who could forget? A herd of about thirty kids had taken over the bakery, rubbing their sticky hands on the display cases and cleaning out their entire cupcake inventory. “We’ll be better prepared this year. Everything has been so popular since Alicia moved here.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I need a day to recover after each of the major downtown events,” Skye confessed.
“I’ll make sure you’re not on the schedule for the mornings after the big ones,” Caroline promised.
Skye’s phone dinged, and she leaned to the side to pull it out of her back pocket. Her eyes widened as she read the notification. “Uh-oh.”
“What?” Caroline pinched the bridge of her nose, praying whatever followed the uh-oh was minor.
Skye held up a finger. “One second.” Her eyes tracked back and forth over the screen as she read. “Ugh. This is not good.”
“What?” Caroline repeated, crawling on her hands and knees over to where Skye perched on the side of the bed.
A post with a photo of Caroline closing the bakery door with Justin standing behind her filled the screen. One of the women who’d chased him into the shop must have taken it after she all but tossed them out.
Rumor on the Ridge: Justin McKinnon is back in town, and it looks like he’s already gotten caught up with Caroline Taylor at The Cakery. They were spotted canoodling in the shop after hours. Maybe we should start calling it The Fakery. Everyone knows Donut Haven is better.
“Ugh! What? How dare they call my bakery The Fakery!”
She’d barely gotten the words out of her mouth when the full weight of the post hit her. Her hands covered her mouth as she gasped. “My family is going to see this!”
Skye’s eyes squinted as she reached for Caroline’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. This is awful. You worked so hard to keep that relationship a secret.”
Caroline’s heart ran off in a high-speed chase. She’d finally told her mom about the relationship with Justin after he’d walked out of her life, but her dad and brothers probably didn’t know.
Now, they would, and none of them would take the news well.
Justin’s dad had moved a few years ago, but he still liked to cause problems for her family whenever he got the chance.
They might have forgotten Chuck had a son, but the news would be right in front of them now that Rumor on the Ridge had gotten wind of it.
Granted, most people had come to Caroline and Justin’s defense in the comments, but plenty of people were eager to get in on the juicy gossip.
Her family didn’t know about the relationship. They would only know he’d been at the bakery with her. Still, they’d worry about her being anywhere with Chuck’s son, even though she was pushing thirty and knew how to handle tough situations.
Mostly. She still hadn’t figured out what to do about Justin sharing the same zip code as her. Now, she didn’t have much choice but to face the music.
Skye swiped up, revealing dozens of comments on the neighborhood gossip page. “Oh no. Someone is saying you were dating Conner just last week and implying that this must have been why the two of you broke up.”
“Are you kidding me?” Caroline rose again to look over Skye’s shoulder. “I didn’t cheat on him. I would never cheat on anyone!”
Skye patted Caroline’s shoulder. “There, there. Let’s not get worked up. Nobody who knows you would ever believe any of this.”
Caroline pointed to the offending post. “Someone thinks that! Who said it?”
“It’s anonymous.” Skye tossed the phone onto the bed and wrapped Caroline in the biggest, warmest hug, but even the sweet embrace couldn’t touch the stone hardening her heart.
“I’ll message the page admin and see if they’ll get the comments turned off or something.
Rumor on the Ridge is supposed to be information, not gossip. ”
Caroline forced a breath through her tightening throat. “Okay. It’s hard not to worry though. I don’t like it that people think bad about me.”
“Oh, trust me. I know. You have a talent for avoiding confrontation.” Skye’s arms fell from around Caroline’s shoulders, and the look she wore was one of pure pity. “You do everything to make others happy, and I can’t stand it when people hurt you.”
Caroline’s face warmed. The room was suddenly sweltering. “Why are they doing this? I just want to be left alone with my best friend and my sweet treats,” she whispered.
Skye brushed a hand through Caroline’s hair. “I know, sweetie. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Nobody talks bad about my best friend and gets away with it.”
Caroline let out a single chuckle. “You’re the best. I don’t know how I would do this without you.”
Skye was the only one who lived through the Justin Year by Caroline’s side. With so few people “in the know,” she’d leaned on her friend over and over again after he broke her heart. They’d stood by each other through every stage of life and had only grown closer through the years.
“Skye, I don’t even deserve you. Why have you put up with me so long?
I just wish I could get him out of my head!
” Caroline grabbed her hair and pulled at the roots.
“How are you so patient with me? It’s just so hard to give up those dreams we had…
dreams I thought meant something. But obviously his were better.
Mine haven’t changed. I’m just here, baking and dreaming.
Why couldn’t he love me enough to stay? I’m still here!
Why couldn’t I have been enough for him?
I would never have asked him to give up his dreams, but he’s back now!
What am I supposed to do here? He could have taken his money and gone anywhere.
He’s back, and I’m so mad at him, and yet even after all of it, I still see myself growing old with him.
But then these nasty rumors all over the internet are going to make people think I’m a money-grubbing two-timing—”
“Okay, you’re spiraling,” Skye said as she stood. “Get under the blanket and get comfortable.”
Caroline did as her friend commanded, lying on her back and slipping the covers up under her chin. Skye slid into the soft cocoon of the bed on the other side, scooting over until their arms were flush against each other.
“Now, I think we need to pray,” Skye said.
Caroline nodded. “You’re right. I definitely need it.”
They both closed their eyes as Skye gripped Caroline’s hand.
“Almighty God, we come to You tonight with our worries and doubts. Please calm Caroline’s heart and give her the strength to face the words of the world.
Help her to remember that it doesn’t matter what people think of us as long as we’re holding onto You.
I pray You would give her peace and rest and that You would grant her the wisdom to face Justin with kindness and grace. ”
Well, that was a little clue as to how Skye was thinking about the Justin situation. Caroline kept shutting down, but Skye thought she needed to face him head on?
“Lord, we humble ourselves before You. Help us to trust Your guidance and remember Your love above all else. In Christ Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.”
Skye squeezed Caroline’s hand beneath the covers. “You feel better?”
Caroline tilted her head to the side until it rested on Skye’s shoulder. “I do. Thank you for that. I’ve been so caught up in my own emotions that I haven’t prayed about this at all.”
Skye nuzzled her cheek against Caroline’s head. “That’s what friends are for. I’m right across the hall. Just whisper my name, and I’ll come running.”
“I know. You’re the best.”
“And you’re the sweetest,” Skye said as she slipped out and headed for the door. “Good night, sugar plum.”
“Good night.”
Skye stopped with her hand on the doorframe. “Oh. One more thing.”
“Yeah.”
“His actions are speaking for him. Take a look around, friend. You’re in a fairy tale.”
Sweet buttercream, Caroline’s defenses weren’t going to hold if her best friend wasn’t fighting on her side. “Thanks.”
Skye plunged the room into darkness, and Caroline remained still for a few seconds before reaching for her phone. There was already a text waiting from her sister-in-law, Alicia.
Alicia: I’m bringing you lunch tomorrow. Be prepared to take a break at 11:00.
There was no going back now. Her family had seen the post, and there wasn’t anything left to do except face it head on.