never cooled off at night either. I ended up cooking in a tank top, shorts and an apron and still sweating. If I could turn baking into a weight-loss activity, my life would be perfect!
As soon as the cupcakes had completely cooled, I iced them and popped them in the freezer, so they would be nice and fresh the next day. I got up early in the morning and wrapped four cupcakes up in a little box with ribbon. I was excited, I know it seems dumb, but I like cooking for people, and to be honest maybe I was starting to like Jake a tiny bit. He seemed like he was easygoing and full of laughs. I still didn’t find him attractive, but maybe I could go out with him once or twice, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my dating pact with Chloë. I liked to be in control of stuff like that.
The day passed as usual: all the business types in a morning rush; then the yummy mummies lingering for their only adult socializing; the laptop people who just sat and sat, typing and reading. Then the lunch rush which really made time fly. By 3:30pm I was beginning to wonder if Jake was going to show up, and I was off at 4:00. I was actually feeling a little put out after all my efforts, and maybe a little rejected. It wasn’t like I had a big crush on him or anything, but he was the nicest guy I had met here so far, and now he was turning out to be as big a jerk as anyone.
“Oh hello, Frances.”
I looked up to see Mrs. Fitzgerald right in front of me but without her customary smile. She ordered a shepherd’s pie entrée to go and waited silently while I wrapped it up. She had told me that every once in a while she didn’t feel like cooking so she got dinner here. Usually she was very chatty, so I was surprised when she paid with hardly a word exchanged.
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Fitz?”
“Oh it’s a silly thing, today is my birthday. My children are all away on trips, business and vacations. We’ll do something together when they get back and with all the grandkids, but…” She stopped, looking embarrassed.
“Tell me,” I urged her.
“My dear husband always made a fuss over my birthdays. He’s been gone three years now, and I still miss him so much.” She smiled ruefully. “I know, it must sound silly to a young girl like you with lots of beaus.”
I only wished I had lots of beaus. I smiled at her, she was such a sweetheart. Well, every cloud had a silver lining, right?”
“You know, Mrs. Fitz, you are so lucky that I’m psychic.”
“I am?” she asked puzzled.
I put her entrée into a container and then into a carrying bag. I showed her the neatly wrapped box with the blue ribbon and then popped it onto the top of the entree.
“It’s a special dessert for your birthday. Baked by me personally! Happy Birthday, Mrs. Fitz!”
She looked surprised and thanked me quietly, then made her way out of the café. Through the window I saw her open the bag and peek inside, then she smiled, straightened her shoulders and walked away.
Jake walked in after lunch the next day. He gave me his usual grin but I turned away. Could it be that he had completely forgotten?
“No cheery greeting today?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“The usual?” I asked him coolly.
“Actually, I’ll just have a Diet Coke today. Well, maybe something to eat.” He looked over the display case and then suddenly slapped his hand to his forehead. “Sh… oot!” he exclaimed, cleaning up his expletive. “I missed my special cupcakes yesterday.”
“Yup. Your loss,” I told him.
“Oh man, Frankie, I’m so sorry. A bunch of us got together at the last minute and went up to the cottage and I totally forgot about our deal. Are the cupcakes still here?”
“No, of course not, they would be stale by now. I gave them away to someone else.” Then something devilish urged me on, “Someone tall, dark, and handsome who really appreciated them.”
“Really?” Jake asked, skeptically. And he was right, I had yet to see anyone meeting that
As soon as the cupcakes had completely cooled, I iced them and popped them in the freezer, so they would be nice and fresh the next day. I got up early in the morning and wrapped four cupcakes up in a little box with ribbon. I was excited, I know it seems dumb, but I like cooking for people, and to be honest maybe I was starting to like Jake a tiny bit. He seemed like he was easygoing and full of laughs. I still didn’t find him attractive, but maybe I could go out with him once or twice, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my dating pact with Chloë. I liked to be in control of stuff like that.
The day passed as usual: all the business types in a morning rush; then the yummy mummies lingering for their only adult socializing; the laptop people who just sat and sat, typing and reading. Then the lunch rush which really made time fly. By 3:30pm I was beginning to wonder if Jake was going to show up, and I was off at 4:00. I was actually feeling a little put out after all my efforts, and maybe a little rejected. It wasn’t like I had a big crush on him or anything, but he was the nicest guy I had met here so far, and now he was turning out to be as big a jerk as anyone.
“Oh hello, Frances.”
I looked up to see Mrs. Fitzgerald right in front of me but without her customary smile. She ordered a shepherd’s pie entrée to go and waited silently while I wrapped it up. She had told me that every once in a while she didn’t feel like cooking so she got dinner here. Usually she was very chatty, so I was surprised when she paid with hardly a word exchanged.
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Fitz?”
“Oh it’s a silly thing, today is my birthday. My children are all away on trips, business and vacations. We’ll do something together when they get back and with all the grandkids, but…” She stopped, looking embarrassed.
“Tell me,” I urged her.
“My dear husband always made a fuss over my birthdays. He’s been gone three years now, and I still miss him so much.” She smiled ruefully. “I know, it must sound silly to a young girl like you with lots of beaus.”
I only wished I had lots of beaus. I smiled at her, she was such a sweetheart. Well, every cloud had a silver lining, right?”
“You know, Mrs. Fitz, you are so lucky that I’m psychic.”
“I am?” she asked puzzled.
I put her entrée into a container and then into a carrying bag. I showed her the neatly wrapped box with the blue ribbon and then popped it onto the top of the entree.
“It’s a special dessert for your birthday. Baked by me personally! Happy Birthday, Mrs. Fitz!”
She looked surprised and thanked me quietly, then made her way out of the café. Through the window I saw her open the bag and peek inside, then she smiled, straightened her shoulders and walked away.
Jake walked in after lunch the next day. He gave me his usual grin but I turned away. Could it be that he had completely forgotten?
“No cheery greeting today?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“The usual?” I asked him coolly.
“Actually, I’ll just have a Diet Coke today. Well, maybe something to eat.” He looked over the display case and then suddenly slapped his hand to his forehead. “Sh… oot!” he exclaimed, cleaning up his expletive. “I missed my special cupcakes yesterday.”
“Yup. Your loss,” I told him.
“Oh man, Frankie, I’m so sorry. A bunch of us got together at the last minute and went up to the cottage and I totally forgot about our deal. Are the cupcakes still here?”
“No, of course not, they would be stale by now. I gave them away to someone else.” Then something devilish urged me on, “Someone tall, dark, and handsome who really appreciated them.”
“Really?” Jake asked, skeptically. And he was right, I had yet to see anyone meeting that
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