Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“It’s beautiful!” I clap my hands excitedly, looking at the door that now welcomes visitors to the cottage. The measurements were a perfect match, which makes me think it was meant to be.
“Thank goodness, I didn’t think it was going to work.” Kai wipes his forehead dramatically.
A few days ago, movers brought my bed, TV, and other large items from my apartment. I’m now officially staying at the cottage, even though I’ve been for a week. Now that those are all here, it feels real.
I have nervous energy flowing through me thinking about this morning's meeting to look at the store in town. They finally messaged me back; my stomach sank when I read that message. Not for fear, but for excitement and the knowledge that if I do this, I’m really staying in Driftwood Bay. This would be permanent.
I still haven’t told Baylee that I reached out about it. I wanted to wait until I knew something.
Saying goodbye to Kai, I make my way to get dressed; my body feels like it’s buzzing. Anxiety or anticipation, I can’t tell the difference at the moment.
Taking my hair out of the bun I put it in last night when I got done showering at Kai and Bay’s; it falls down in waves. The smell of lemons and cloves surrounds me.
Slipping on a pink summer dress, feet slid into sandals and a light dusting of makeup, not covering my freckles that are reappearing from my time in the sun. I give myself one look over, ensuring my breasts are covered, and tell myself, “You got this.”
I’m a nervous wreck the entire drive to Main Street. Scared jitters overtaking my body. It feels like fight-or-flight kicking in, and I want to fly.
Parking in front of the store, I don’t see anyone waiting, but I am ten minutes early.
“Just go and see,” I whisper to myself, stepping out of my car and to the front door, looking in to see if someone is inside waiting. And sure enough, they are.
Turning around to make sure everything is in place and I’m presentable. His voice catapults me around.
“August?”
I stand there looking at him, not knowing what to say. Swallowing, I point to the brick building like I’m dumb. “I’m here to look at the place.” My eyes jump from him to the building. My stomach falling to the concrete sidewalk. Bohdi.
Our faces mirror each other, complete shock at seeing the last person we both expected. He clears his throat, “Come in and look around.”
I follow behind him, leaving a few feet between us; the door closes, blocking us from the world outside.
My hands shake from nerves. Not only from looking at this building, but now who’s standing in it with me. Needing to break the tension. “You own it?” I question him.
He turns around, smiling. “I do. I’ve owned it for the last couple of years.”
I’m intrigued by why he bought it, but I keep the question to myself. My feet take me behind the counter, leaving him standing in the middle of the room.
Entering the back, I’m surprised to see a full kitchen with two ovens. My eyes dance over each appliance, imagining all that could be cooked at once.
Pulling a side door and greeted with what could function as a stockroom.
“If you come back out here, there is a small hallway off to the side of the kitchen.” Bohdi’s voice travels to me. God, that voice. Deep and inviting, so comforting. So familiar.
“Stop it, August,” I reprimand myself as I push the swinging door open, exiting into the main room.
There is a huge, refrigerated bakery display case with three long rows of glass shelving.
Bohdi is now standing next to the front door, as far away as he can.
I smile slightly because I wonder where that man from weeks ago from the pier is.
I let out a little giggle as I turn down the small hallway and to the first door.
Turning the doorknob, I find a room on the other side that could serve as a small office.
It has a little window that peeks out onto the bakery floor.
I stand there and look at Bohdi through it.
He’s still in the same spot he was in, his phone in hand, but his head keeps looking up to the hallways and back down to his phone.
I know there isn’t anything on that phone right now. He’s unnerved like I am. Good.
Exiting the office, there is another door that leads to a bathroom with one toilet and a sink. Honestly, that is all that’s needed.
Breathing deeply, I straighten my shoulders, exiting the hallway. The windows are picturesque and could serve as seating with their deep alcoves.
“Are you staying for good?” His voice booms at me. That question catches me off guard.
I turn to look at him; he looks so uncomfortable. “I’m not sure just yet.” I shrug, walking to the front window.
Spinning the key ring around his index finger, he doesn’t look at me. “There isn’t anything for you here anymore, August.”
I cut my eyes to him, and it feels like my heart stops beating at his words.
My hand moves to my chest, patting it. Immediately, I need to hurt him back is insistent.
“Why’d you buy a bakery, Bohdi?” With each word I let out, I close the gap between us until I’m standing right in front of him.
He looks down on me, and I see his Adam's apple bob with his swallow. Me being this close unnerves him, but what he doesn’t know, it does the same damn thing to me.
Tilting my head just a bit, my eyes roam his face, stopping on his lips. “It was for me, Bohdi,” I say, knowing my words are true.
His tongue slightly peeks out, wetting his bottom lip. “Yeah, for the woman who broke my heart. Get over yourself, August,” he spits at me.
The words don’t hurt me like I thought they would, because I know he’s lying. I just can’t prove it.
“So, you’re not going to let me buy it, because you think I don’t belong here?” I look him dead in the eyes, needing his answer.
He twists his lips, thinking for a moment. “No, I think I’m going to keep holding on to it.” He moves his arm gently, the keys jingling in his hand.
Standing there, I nod my head, not giving him another word before I walk out of the store and straight to my car. I won’t beg for anything from him.
I don’t let him see me break; I do that once I’m away from the building and on my way to Baylee’s.
Stomping on the brakes too hard, I jerk myself before idling in front of Baylee’s house, sitting there going over our conversation. We each wanted to hurt each other with our words. And I don’t like that. I loved…love him for so many years. It doesn’t feel right.
Seeing movement out of the corner of my eyes, Baylee waves her hand at me, getting my attention.
Hastily wiping my face, I make my way to her waiting figure.
One look at me and she can see that something is wrong. “Are you okay?”
With a headshake, “no,” comes out so brokenly.
Bay’s eyes scan me for injuries, but she can’t see what’s truly injured.
“Come in.” She pulls me by the hand, leading me inside to her sofa. “Sit.” She disappears and reappears with a bottle of water.
Falling next to me, she asks, “What’s wrong, August? You’re worrying me.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “I called and got an appointment to look at the store on Main Street.” I see her stiffen at my words.
“Oh, August.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he owned it?” I look at her.
Positioning herself better on the sofa, “I wanted to, but I didn’t know how you’d take it. Telling you your ex-fiancé bought a bakery after you left and has given no one a chance to buy it. I didn’t want to scare you off. And I didn’t think you’d reach out, either.”
My composure breaks. “He told me there isn’t anything here for me anymore, Baylee.
God, he’s right, but how he said it was so mean.
I hurt him, and I know that, but I can’t take it back.
But I’m here now. And I want to stay,” I tell her honestly, the first time I’ve voiced that I truly want to stay here… for good.
Bay grabs my hand. “Then stay. You’re wanted here, August. Kai and I want you here; my baby wants their aunt here.
You know I don’t have family; you’re my family.
We want you here. And if a bakery is what you’re looking for, we’ll find you one.
Hell, all it takes is a few ovens to call a place a bakery.
” Her eyes reflect how true every word she spoke is.
Breathing in deeply, “I didn’t know it would be this hard to come back.”
“Hey, the best things are hard. Believe me, I know.” She rubs her belly with her other hand, smiling at me.
Nodding my head and sniffling, “I can’t let him run me out of town.”
“You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to tell Mrs. Williams to stick her listing up her ass. Tell Bohdi he’s an asshole and shoot Molly the bird the next time you see her.”
We both burst out laughing; the seriousness of it all dissipates with our sounds.
“I knew when I heard about the tub and door coming, you had something up your sleeve.” Bay squeezes my hand tighter, looking me right in the eyes. Hers scan mine back and forth. “Your parents would be so proud of you, August. So proud.”
Tears roll down my cheeks at her words, because I think they would be too.
Giving her a crooked smile, “I love you, Baylee.” And I do.
Leaning in, she engulfs me in her arms. “I’m glad you’re home.”
On my way home, I stop at the grocery store to grab something to make dinner for one tonight, and I feel like baking my sadness away.
I pick the wrong cart, rolling my eyes as the wheel screeched my arrival to every aisle.
Grabbing the biggest bottle of wine, I head to get all my ingredients.
I’m craving my great-grandma’s chocolate cake…
smiling at the day I got the recipe down and the chocolate that was shared with Bohdi.
I quickly reprimand myself, turning down the pasta aisle, but stopping abruptly, but my wheels already announced me.
Molly stands further down the aisle, basket in hand, looking at me. I could back up and come down this one later, but I decide not to. If I’m staying, we’re going to run into each other. And before Driftwood Bay became hers, it was mine.