Chapter Thirteen
PENNY
"This was fun," my friend Lindsay said when we stepped out of the coffee shop. "We should do it again sometime. Give me a call." She sent me an air kiss before turning around on her heels and heading in the opposite direction.
We weren't going to do this any time soon. Yesterday, I decided that I wanted to get out of the house today and reached out to Lindsay. She and I used to be close, though not as close as I was with Taylor. She spent the entire time asking me about Wally and shaming me for getting a divorce. She’d annoyed me to no end.
"I hope this doesn't give my Peter any ideas."
Right. Like being a divorcée was some sort of contagious disease.
We'd met on Dartmouth Street. This was one of my most beloved areas in the city, and my favorite bakery was on Boylston Street, not very far away.
I decided to head right there and see if they were still open.
On the way, I couldn't help but think about Lindsay.
Was it really that easy to lose friendships? Or were they all Wally's friends?
We went so far back that it wasn't easy to distinguish between my friends and his friends. My phone beeped as I turned around the corner. I had a message from Taylor.
Taylor: How is Lindsay?
Penny: Lecturing me for divorcing.
Taylor: WHAT? She sucks.
Penny: I agree. I miss you.
Taylor: I miss you too.
Penny: Riiight, I’m sure you have time to think about me while you get pampered in all those hotels.
Taylor: Of course I do… in between pampering Got to start another video! Talk to you soon.
Sighing, I made to put my phone away, but it vibrated again. My stomach somersaulted. Spencer was calling. We were two weeks into our fling, and I got butterflies every time I saw his name on the screen.
I immediately put the phone to my ear. "Hey, where are you?" he asked.
"Out in the city. Why?"
"My grandmother is babysitting, and she just knocked on your door, wondering if she could see Becky."
"I'm going to be home in half an hour. Will she still be there?"
"Sure. I'll tell her that. What are you up to?"
"I'm going to my favorite bakery and… Oh no."
"What?" he asked. His voice rang with alarm.
How could he worry for me?
"They just closed. Literally. I'm seeing the person behind the cashier from where I'm standing.” I knocked on the glass door, and she snapped her head up but shook her head and shrugged, mouthing, ’Sorry.’ Damn.
"What's the name of the bakery?" Spencer asked.
"Hannah's Place."
"Never heard of them."
"It’s on Boylston Street. My employer used to have offices here. I haven’t been to Hannah’s Place in a while.”
"Look, I've got to call Grandmother, okay? Can I talk with you later?"
"Sure." My stomach sank a bit. I liked hearing his voice. I hoped we’d chat a while longer. After he hung up, I noticed I had a few messages from Mom. Mostly emojis and pics of a cat. I sent her a few heart and kiss emojis. Mom loved sending me stuff like this.
I’d only taken a few steps when I heard a door open.
"Hey, you wanted to get inside?" a female voice asked.
I turned around. It was the same sales associate who’d said sorry before.
"Yes," I said, completely shocked now, wondering why the change of heart.
"Come on in. I've still got a few goodies left."
"Thanks."
I was giddy. When I stepped inside, she said, "I didn't manage to get everything put away. Tell me, what do you want?"
"How come you let me in? I thought you were closing."
She shrugged. "I got a phone call from a guy named Spencer Whitley who gave me a very romantic pitch about keeping this place open for you."
My jaw dropped. My heart grew in size. A wave of happiness swept me up.
"Between you and me, I think the guy is trying to get in your pants."
I threw my head back, laughing. I was sure he was, and I was going to let him very soon.
"So, what do you want?"
"Let's see." I glanced at all the goodies. “I’ve always loved your scones."
"You do look vaguely familiar."
I smiled. "I used to work around here."
I especially liked the ones with cherry, orange, and strawberry. After glancing at the prices, I decided to rein in my cravings.
"I'll just have one scone today, please.”
She looked up, perplexed.
“Funds are a bit tight," I explained.
"Sure. Which one do you want?"
"Strawberry, please. You don't need to pack it. I'll eat it right away."
"Here you go."
After paying, I immediately bit into my scone.
I finished it before I even stepped out of the bakery.
I’d forgotten how good they were. I should’ve splurged a bit, but honestly, I wanted to build up my nest egg more than I wanted to indulge in scones.
I hurried to the subway station and arrived home twenty minutes later.
I didn't even bother going inside Taylor’s house.
I went straight to Spencer’s and knocked on the door.
I heard slow footsteps, which meant Jeannie was still here. Then she opened the door.
"Hi, Penny darling. Goodness, I hope I didn't ruin your plans."
"No, no. I was already on my way home when Spencer called me."
I glanced at Ben, who looked very happy in her arms.
"He's so cute. Want to come over and see Becky?"
"I think the little one is about to fall asleep. Why don't you come in? I’ll make some tea."
"Okay," I said. "Can I hold him?"
"Sure." Her eyes glinted. "Let's check if he wants to."
"Of course," I said.
She unhitched him, moving him toward me. He didn't protest at all, which I took as a good sign. When I grabbed him in my arms, he immediately put the side of his head on my chest and gave me a huge sigh. I loved babies. Keeping him so close made my heart happy.
"Oh, he's adorable," I murmured.
"You look good with a baby in your arms. You like them?”
"Of course. Who doesn't?"
"Trust me! Not everyone does," Jeannie said in a clipped voice. I had no idea what to say, so I focused on Ben.
"You're cute." I kissed his head as Jeannie moved around the kitchen.
“Now, where does he keep his tea?”
Fifteen minutes later, we were enjoying two cups of tea. The front door opened, and Spencer stepped inside. His eyes immediately fell on me. I was still holding Ben.
"Hey, I just got here," I said.
"It's good that you’re here," Jeannie told Spencer, who walked to the kitchen island, putting his laptop and a bag on it, "because I've got to run."
I jerked my head back. She was in a hurry? But she’d just made tea, and then we were going to see Becky.
Spencer laughed. "Really, Grandmother? What exactly do you have planned?"
"Don't be so meddling, dear. Can't an old woman have her secrets?"
"Yes, you can. Cal is outside anyway, waiting to take you home."
"Let me just grab my bag." She took it from the kitchen island and kissed Ben's head and then Spencer's cheek. She smiled at me. "I'll see Becky another time."
“Sure.”
As soon as she got out of the house, Spencer laughed. "Was she in a hurry before?"
"No. I was just thinking that. It's so weird."
"No, it's not. She just wanted to leave us alone.”
"Oh, oh!"
I loved Jeannie to the moon and back. But I was also on edge. Did Spencer want me here? Was I crossing a line?
"Want me to take Ben from you?" he asked.
"No. I love holding him. He's adorable."
"Do you want us to put him to bed together?" he asked.
I nodded eagerly. "Yes, I'd love to see his evening routine."
"Then let's go upstairs to the nursery."
"Okay."
As we walked up the stairs, I couldn’t help but glance around.
I liked the modern vibes. Everything was white, but I found it soothing.
The second floor had a huge empty hallway that I could totally envision as a reading area or playroom, especially because it had a skylight in the center.
The nursery was the farthest room from the staircase.
It was very warm and cozy. It had a few paintings hanging on the wall with children's motifs, and the ceiling was painted a pretty blue.
"This is cute."
"Grandmother had it decorated. I didn't have the first clue about colors. Some evenings I give him a bath, but the pediatrician says I shouldn't do it every evening."
“So how do you get him to fall asleep?" I asked.
“Sometimes I sing to him.”
My heart was about to jump out of my chest.
"So first let's lower him into the bed," he instructed.
"Do I really have to?"
Spencer kissed my temple. "Yes. Trust me. I can read his cues, and he won't fall asleep if you keep him in your arms."
“What happens if he goes to sleep later?”
“Not a good idea. Babies need routine. That’s something all the books seem to agree on.”
"Okay." Regretfully, I lowered him into the cot, and for a few seconds, Spencer and I just watched him without saying anything. Ben’s sweet little baby noises warmed my heart. Then Spencer started singing in a very low and soft voice.
To my astonishment, Ben reacted immediately.
He yawned and turned his head from one side to the other before yawning again.
Then his eyes became smaller until he closed them completely.
I didn't know who was more adorable, Ben or Spencer—who looked at his son as if he was the most precious thing in the world.
The tenderness in his eyes tugged at my heartstrings.
I realized he was lowering his voice more and more until he stopped singing. I opened my mouth, but he made a gesture for me not to say anything. Then he nodded.
"That was fast," I whispered.
"Yes, well, he's got two modes. Either he won't sleep at all, or he just goes out like a light."
I sighed. "I just want to watch him first for a second. He looks like an angel."
"Don't jinx that. If he wakes up, you'll see the other side of the coin. Stay here. I’ll be right back."
I heard him go down the stairs, then come back up again. I didn’t want to risk Ben getting up, so I backed out of the room, closing the door behind me.
Spencer stood in the hallway, a few steps from the window. Only half his face was lit, and for some reason, this made him incredibly sexy to me.
"I've got something for you." He handed me the bag he’d placed on the kitchen island. That was what he went downstairs for? I glanced inside. My jaw dropped.
"You bought a ton of scones!"
"I asked the salesperson if she still had some. I figured you'd be happy even if you had your fill before."
I swallowed hard. "Spencer, she told you about my one scone, huh?"
"Yeah, she did, but that's not why I did it."
"Thank you, a lot, for these. Just… I don't like that you're taking pity on me." I was so embarrassed. I didn't want to be a charity case. “It's not that I don't have money, but I’m building up my savings again.”
"This has nothing to do with that. I’m happy to get you something you like, that's all."
I smiled. "Really? I like this fling thing."
His eyes flickered. "So do I."
“The sales associate said you’re probably trying to get into my pants. Now I’m sure of it.”
He hadn’t pushed at all during the past two weeks.
“Penny!” He said my name on a groan. My body instantly went on edge. I swallowed hard, putting the bag of scones on the floor. “I want exactly that.”