Chapter Seven
Did you Say Peanut Butter?
Rachel’s bed looked like the Mount Everest of twisted color and cotton.
After her fourth outfit change, she made herself stop.
What she had on was fine. She’d paired a nice pair of black pants with a gray and white patterned T-shirt and a lightweight white blazer.
Casual and comfortable, but still professional.
Today was her first meeting with Cal at White Hall Estate.
Checking her watch, she was relieved to find her fashion freakout hadn’t cost her too much time.
She’d promised herself a coffee from Pie, since her commute took her right through Jennings Township.
A sort of special treat to psych herself up for the meeting.
Grabbing her purse and keys, she locked up her condo and headed out.
As she got on the road, she mentally walked through her agenda for today.
In the few days since the initial meeting, she’d been digging more into the business operations of the estate, and also into the three scenarios Jay and Celeste outlined.
She’d pulled together industry statistics and comparable businesses and models.
So far, Seth had only hovered a little, and she tried not to feel pressured by his scrutiny. Although the need to bring home a win on this project was as essential to her as breathing.
Noticing her death grip on the steering wheel, she drew a calming breath and exhaled it slowly. She turned on the radio to distract herself, but random thoughts kept zipping through her mind.
She needed to get access to all the estate’s financial information today.
Seth wanted to determine whether there were any obvious cost-cutting measures they could implement.
He liked the idea of a quick improvement to impress the Fitzgeralds.
It assuredly wouldn’t impress a certain Fitzgerald she could name.
Fortunately, she was approaching the Jennings Township downtown area, home to the Pie in the Sky bakery.
The heart of the town consisted of a rotary surrounding a town common, complete with a smattering of trees and a few meandering walkways that snaked through the green.
The spoke and wheel design allowed for strips of store fronts to dot the entire circumference.
Rachel hoped she could find street parking and not have to park in a lot.
Typically, she wouldn’t mind the walk especially when she could enjoy such a beautiful September morning, but even contemplating being late made her breath hitch.
Luck was with her when she managed to grab a spot not too far away.
Walking up, she noticed the line was just inside the door, so she’d have a wait.
But Mrs. S always had a few people working the counter, and the line usually moved quickly.
As she entered, she inhaled and almost moaned out loud as all the amazing scents hit her brain.
The cinnamon and chocolate hit her first, her stomach grumbling in response. She was in trouble.
As she stood in line, she peered at the pastry cases that showcased all the things she shouldn’t get.
Even reminding herself she was just here for coffee didn’t stop her from looking toward the case in the right corner.
She couldn’t get a clear view, but in the top row sat a confection that looked suspiciously similar to the peanut butter fluff blondie Lisa had given her.
Her mouth watered just remembering that heavenly tasting confection, and her stressed out brain yelled ‘must have!’.
Pulling her gaze away, she scanned the list of specialty coffees and decided that while not the same, the peanut butter latte on the menu would be the special treat for the day.
When it was her turn, she put in her coffee order, and then clamped her mouth shut, cutting off her brain still crying out for the blondie.
Luckily, Mrs. S. sailed out of the back room with a tray of donuts, distracting Rachel. As the older woman put the tray down and started restocking the pastry case, she smiled and asked, “Rachel, right?”
“Yes,” she smiled, pleased Mrs. S remembered her. “It’s lovely to see you again.”
“You as well, dear. To what do I owe the honor? I didn’t think you lived around here.”
“Well, I’m only about twenty minutes away. But you’re right, my commute is ordinarily in the opposite direction. I have a new project starting at White Hall Estate and Pie in the Sky is right on the way. I couldn’t be this close and not stop.”
“Well, that’s great news. I hope I’ll see you more then. White Hall Estate? Is that the wedding venue down on the shoreline?”
“It is.”
The cashier came over with her to-go cup. As Rachel reached for it, she could smell the peanut butter. If it smelled that divine with the lid on, she couldn’t imagine what it would taste like.
“Will there be anything else?” the woman asked.
Rachel’s stress brain started screaming again. That blondie would taste so good. She was about to order it when Mrs. S said, “She’ll have one of the PBFs, Terry.”
Rachel’s gaze darted to Mrs. S making the older woman laugh. “You don’t think I know a pastry obsession when I see it? You were playing it coy, but you’ve been making eyes at that blondie since you came in.”
Rachel wanted to die of embarrassment. She would have, but she wanted the sweet treat more. Mrs. S chuckled, grabbed her tray and turned towards the back room. “You’re the best, Mrs. S,” Rachel called out to her retreating back. Mrs. S waved a hand in acknowledgment before she disappeared.
Paying for her order, Rachel hurried back to her car.
Getting in she deposited her coffee in the cupholder and placed the bakery bag on the passenger seat, tempted to buckle it in to ensure its safety.
Shaking her head at her own foolishness, she put on her seat belt and prepared to get going. She had to get to the estate.
Time to leave.
She couldn’t be late.
Important meeting to get to.
Her gaze darted to the passenger seat, where the unsuspecting blondie reclined in all its innocent glory.
The dang thing was making her car smell amazing. Maybe she’d just open the bag and take a whiff. Her hand was already in motion before she’d expressly decided.
Unfolding the bag, the scent of peanut butter enveloped her. Her brain could not multi-task in its presence. It couldn’t play the ‘what if’ game, nag her, or even offer unhelpful random thoughts and facts. It was finally silent.
That was the thing about peanut butter.
Breaking off a small section, she popped it into her mouth and groaned. It was still warm. She didn’t think it could get any better than the one she’d had with Lisa, but she was wrong. This was far superior. She grabbed another piece, you know, for verification.
Check. Deliciousness verified.
Pitching the pretense, she took the blondie out and bit through the amazing layers. Peanut butter, raspberry, and the sugary swath of fluff danced across her tongue.
When she’d eaten every last bite, she licked her fingers to get each morsel.
Allowing even one crumb to escape would be disrespectful.
She could already tell having Pie in the Sky on her commuting route would spell trouble, but also be incredible.
Grabbing a quick sip of coffee, she started her car and pulled out of the parking space.
If she didn’t hit traffic, she should still arrive roughly on time.
◆◆◆
Following the GPS instructions, she pulled into the driveway, pleased to see she was running only slightly behind. The driveway was lined with trees, creating a stately and somewhat mysterious approach to the main building.
Coming out of the tunnel of foliage, the imposing gray stone house was breathtaking. Rachel had been too preoccupied during her friend Alex’s wedding to take in the setting.
The crisp white trim and many windows broke up the stonework, giving the house an inviting feel.
Hydrangeas dominated the landscape, a profusion of blue and deep purple flowers swaying in the early morning breeze.
Rachel took in all the details. It was a magnificent home.
Although home seemed too small a word for the sight before her.
Manor house might be a more apt description.
The stately entrance was trimmed with columns and an arched molding piece over the door. Except the beautiful wooden door was partially hidden by the tall, scowling figure obstructing it.
Cal’s stance was stiff, his arms crossed over his chest, his face set in what must be a permanent frown. Catching her eye, he jerked his chin to the right toward the parking spots.
“And so it begins,” Rachel muttered, parking the car. She refused to be flustered or hurry her approach, taking a last bracing breath before reaching him.
“Good morning, Cal,” she said, determined to start off on the right foot—professional and cordial, in-command and competent. Lisa and Lottie were right. She had to go into this impartially.
She was confused when his scowl broke, and he chuckled. Was he laughing at her? Fixing him with her steeliest glare, she wished him several painful deaths as she waited for him to explain.
“I wasn’t sure at first,” he said. “However, now that I see the evidence…” He laughed again.
“I beg your pardon?” she demanded, her tone ice cold. Who the hell did he think he was?
“My mother asked me to help her with a large package she needed to ship out. So I went to the post office for her this morning.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows expectantly.
Cal smiled. “I was at the post office in Jennings Township.”
Rachel felt a brief flutter of anxiety, but she couldn’t think what he could possibly find funny. It sounded like they were both in Jennings this morning. She wasn’t sure where the post office was, but logically, it would be somewhere near the center of town.
“Imagine my surprise,” Cal continued, “when I saw someone I thought I may know sitting in their car, chowing down on what looked like some sort of brownie or maybe even a blondie.”