delicate balance.
A mixture of relief and anticipation soared through her as she thought about what the day would bring—either the beginnings of the realization of a dream or the crashing thud of many years of preparation.
Motherhood.
She leaned back in the chair behind her small desk and stared blankly at the opposite wall while softly biting her lower lip.
In the past few years she’d accomplished so much. She’d left the law firm and started her own bakery. Everyone had thought she was crazy. Everyone except Gloria, of course. She smiled at the thought of her friend. The words she’d suggested Caroline use to express her logic for making the change still made her ears ring. And for a while she’d had her own doubts. She didn’t train with anyone to do what she did. Didn’t take any classes, didn’t consult any experts. She had a dream, a passion for baking and decorating. And thank God she could learn by watching. But she’d done it. Her office space was small, but, thanks to a small loan, the kitchen and retail space were first rate, and she’d been able to hire more staff.
When she’d opened her doors, she’d been a one woman show. Now she employed three full time bakers, five full time decorators, a website designer, a delivery boy, and all sorts of seasonal help. She was sought out for presentations, demonstrations, and international competitions. She booked a year in advance and didn’t need tickets to the season’s hottest events because she provided the cake. She desperately needed more time and third party investments to expand further, but she was ready to take on the last stage of her plan.
Seeing her own parent’s marriage fizzle and burn out, she wasn’t very focused on the marriage aspect. But part of achieving her goals had required flexibility, and she wasn’t going to allow that detail to stand in her way. She’d always wanted a family, well, children anyway. And the older she got, the more the feeling weighed on her. The dream had been a distant one though, because she hadn’t been seeking a permanent relationship or even a long-term lover. She’d considered a short-term situation, but over the years that hadn’t produced many options and definitely no successes. And she was selective.
She knew not just any man would do—certain qualities superseded others. He had to be handsome, intelligent, caring, healthy, and wealthy. The last quality was one she could waver on. She did have access to money. But she thought for the sake of her child, or children, that she ought to at least consider it. After all, according to experts, the number one cause of family discord was financial stress.
So when Gloria asked her to consider Malcolm Fowlkes as a suitor, she’d seen her plan leap from the back burner to the front. Could he be more perfect?
They’d met once, years ago. They’d been children, actually. His father had attended a meeting with her father at their home. He’d brought Malcolm, he’d explained, because he thought children should understand where their support came from. He didn’t want Malcolm taking his position for granted.
Malcolm had been a couple of years older, but he’d made quite an impression on a young girl. Tall for his age in a shirt and tie, he’d avoided the childish shoot ‘em up games her brother had tried to engage him in. Instead, he’d accepted when she’d asked him to read her a story. He’d refused her invitation to tea with Mr. Bear and Ms. Kitty, but she determined it probably wasn’t fair to hold that against him.
Malcolm had become the epitome of every woman’s fantasy. Sexiness was in his looks when he walked and when he talked. He was definitely a gorgeous man. As the artiste behind most of the City’s awards functions, she knew he’d received numerous awards for his charity work, so she knew he was caring. He’d made his money developing medical techniques and tools, and she knew his name was attached to many medical
A mixture of relief and anticipation soared through her as she thought about what the day would bring—either the beginnings of the realization of a dream or the crashing thud of many years of preparation.
Motherhood.
She leaned back in the chair behind her small desk and stared blankly at the opposite wall while softly biting her lower lip.
In the past few years she’d accomplished so much. She’d left the law firm and started her own bakery. Everyone had thought she was crazy. Everyone except Gloria, of course. She smiled at the thought of her friend. The words she’d suggested Caroline use to express her logic for making the change still made her ears ring. And for a while she’d had her own doubts. She didn’t train with anyone to do what she did. Didn’t take any classes, didn’t consult any experts. She had a dream, a passion for baking and decorating. And thank God she could learn by watching. But she’d done it. Her office space was small, but, thanks to a small loan, the kitchen and retail space were first rate, and she’d been able to hire more staff.
When she’d opened her doors, she’d been a one woman show. Now she employed three full time bakers, five full time decorators, a website designer, a delivery boy, and all sorts of seasonal help. She was sought out for presentations, demonstrations, and international competitions. She booked a year in advance and didn’t need tickets to the season’s hottest events because she provided the cake. She desperately needed more time and third party investments to expand further, but she was ready to take on the last stage of her plan.
Seeing her own parent’s marriage fizzle and burn out, she wasn’t very focused on the marriage aspect. But part of achieving her goals had required flexibility, and she wasn’t going to allow that detail to stand in her way. She’d always wanted a family, well, children anyway. And the older she got, the more the feeling weighed on her. The dream had been a distant one though, because she hadn’t been seeking a permanent relationship or even a long-term lover. She’d considered a short-term situation, but over the years that hadn’t produced many options and definitely no successes. And she was selective.
She knew not just any man would do—certain qualities superseded others. He had to be handsome, intelligent, caring, healthy, and wealthy. The last quality was one she could waver on. She did have access to money. But she thought for the sake of her child, or children, that she ought to at least consider it. After all, according to experts, the number one cause of family discord was financial stress.
So when Gloria asked her to consider Malcolm Fowlkes as a suitor, she’d seen her plan leap from the back burner to the front. Could he be more perfect?
They’d met once, years ago. They’d been children, actually. His father had attended a meeting with her father at their home. He’d brought Malcolm, he’d explained, because he thought children should understand where their support came from. He didn’t want Malcolm taking his position for granted.
Malcolm had been a couple of years older, but he’d made quite an impression on a young girl. Tall for his age in a shirt and tie, he’d avoided the childish shoot ‘em up games her brother had tried to engage him in. Instead, he’d accepted when she’d asked him to read her a story. He’d refused her invitation to tea with Mr. Bear and Ms. Kitty, but she determined it probably wasn’t fair to hold that against him.
Malcolm had become the epitome of every woman’s fantasy. Sexiness was in his looks when he walked and when he talked. He was definitely a gorgeous man. As the artiste behind most of the City’s awards functions, she knew he’d received numerous awards for his charity work, so she knew he was caring. He’d made his money developing medical techniques and tools, and she knew his name was attached to many medical
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