we’d go to Da Pietro’s.” Da Pietro’s was one of the nicest restaurants in Westport, and Sterling actually sounded confident. Another new development.
“I’m sure you’ll have a great time,” Jane said with a smile, just to show him that she approved.
“Wonderful. It’s settled, then,” Sterling said. He let go of Evelyn’s hand and took the paper bag that Jane proffered. He dipped his head. “Good morning, ladies.”
As soon as Sterling left, Jane turned to Evelyn and gave her a look.
“You have something you want to tell me?” she said, her voice teasing.
“His mother’s at their Bermuda place with Sterling’s brother,” Evelyn said, walking over to pull the first batch of cupcakes out of the oven. “It’s the first time they’ve been able to pry her away from Eastbridge in ages.”
“Ah,” said Jane. Sterling was in his early fifties, yet his mother still ruled him—and the rest of his family—with an iron fist. For a while, Jane felt bad for him, until she realized it was a choice of his own making. The fact that he’d decided to step up now was promising.
Very
promising.
Evelyn cleared her throat. “So, did you have a good morning with your mom?” she asked.
“She’s good for Andy,” Jane said, trying to keep her voice neutral. Evelyn didn’t seem to notice.
“Well, any time you want to take off over the next couple of weeks, just let me know. That new assistant you hired is working out well.”
“Brynn? Yes. She’s good.” Brynn came in for the early morning shift—from two A.M. to six A.M. every day—which was just fine with the young woman, because then she was able to head to her second job as a nurse at one of the old-age homes in Norwalk.
Jane was struck by what a motley crew Evelyn had assembled to work at Mountain Laurel Cakes. Women who needed flexibility.
Women who needed a break.
She walked over and wrapped an arm around Evelyn’s shoulder, giving her a long squeeze. “Thank you,” Jane said.
Evelyn looked up at Jane, her blue eyes a little confused. “I appreciate the hug, my dear, but for what are you thanking me?”
“This. Everything.”
Evelyn reached up with a flour-covered hand to pat Jane’s cheek. “You’re welcome. Now let’s get back to work.”
Why wasn’t it this easy with her mom? Mary had been in town for only a few days, and already, things were awkward and tense.
Maybe it was a mistake to have Mary stay with them. Andy’s drawers were just the tip of the iceberg. Mary had also gone after her kitchen cabinets, and even her clothes closets, rearranging everything—nothing seemed to be off-limits.
At least Andy seemed to be happy. Since Mary had come, he’d been calmer than she’d seen him in ages.
And that was her one regret—in leaving Dan she’d left her tight-knit family life behind, and that included Andy’s family life, too. She’d needed to get out of that marriage. She really had. But it wasn’t without its own costs.
By eleven thirty, Jane had plowed through most of that day’s list and, with Steph’s help, had loaded the cake tiers and flowers into Mountain Laurel’s delivery van parked out back.
“Evelyn, I’m heading out. The cupcakes are iced. They’re in the pantry. And Steph has the jam cookies.” She took off her apron and hung it on a nail near the door.
“Good luck,” Evelyn said, wrist-deep in some kneading.
“Thanks,” she said, even though she made her own luck. Every single day.
Chapter 6
On Thursday, Carolyn got to the office an hour before she was scheduled to meet with Jake. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, she’d prepared well for the meeting, drawing up a slick PowerPoint presentation that included pictures of the event site, proposed seating, menu selection, and the order of events.
She was dressed for the part in a crisp, oxford button-down and the one pencil skirt she owned without a tear in the seam. She’d even memorized her talk. Yes, it was probably
“I’m sure you’ll have a great time,” Jane said with a smile, just to show him that she approved.
“Wonderful. It’s settled, then,” Sterling said. He let go of Evelyn’s hand and took the paper bag that Jane proffered. He dipped his head. “Good morning, ladies.”
As soon as Sterling left, Jane turned to Evelyn and gave her a look.
“You have something you want to tell me?” she said, her voice teasing.
“His mother’s at their Bermuda place with Sterling’s brother,” Evelyn said, walking over to pull the first batch of cupcakes out of the oven. “It’s the first time they’ve been able to pry her away from Eastbridge in ages.”
“Ah,” said Jane. Sterling was in his early fifties, yet his mother still ruled him—and the rest of his family—with an iron fist. For a while, Jane felt bad for him, until she realized it was a choice of his own making. The fact that he’d decided to step up now was promising.
Very
promising.
Evelyn cleared her throat. “So, did you have a good morning with your mom?” she asked.
“She’s good for Andy,” Jane said, trying to keep her voice neutral. Evelyn didn’t seem to notice.
“Well, any time you want to take off over the next couple of weeks, just let me know. That new assistant you hired is working out well.”
“Brynn? Yes. She’s good.” Brynn came in for the early morning shift—from two A.M. to six A.M. every day—which was just fine with the young woman, because then she was able to head to her second job as a nurse at one of the old-age homes in Norwalk.
Jane was struck by what a motley crew Evelyn had assembled to work at Mountain Laurel Cakes. Women who needed flexibility.
Women who needed a break.
She walked over and wrapped an arm around Evelyn’s shoulder, giving her a long squeeze. “Thank you,” Jane said.
Evelyn looked up at Jane, her blue eyes a little confused. “I appreciate the hug, my dear, but for what are you thanking me?”
“This. Everything.”
Evelyn reached up with a flour-covered hand to pat Jane’s cheek. “You’re welcome. Now let’s get back to work.”
Why wasn’t it this easy with her mom? Mary had been in town for only a few days, and already, things were awkward and tense.
Maybe it was a mistake to have Mary stay with them. Andy’s drawers were just the tip of the iceberg. Mary had also gone after her kitchen cabinets, and even her clothes closets, rearranging everything—nothing seemed to be off-limits.
At least Andy seemed to be happy. Since Mary had come, he’d been calmer than she’d seen him in ages.
And that was her one regret—in leaving Dan she’d left her tight-knit family life behind, and that included Andy’s family life, too. She’d needed to get out of that marriage. She really had. But it wasn’t without its own costs.
By eleven thirty, Jane had plowed through most of that day’s list and, with Steph’s help, had loaded the cake tiers and flowers into Mountain Laurel’s delivery van parked out back.
“Evelyn, I’m heading out. The cupcakes are iced. They’re in the pantry. And Steph has the jam cookies.” She took off her apron and hung it on a nail near the door.
“Good luck,” Evelyn said, wrist-deep in some kneading.
“Thanks,” she said, even though she made her own luck. Every single day.
Chapter 6
On Thursday, Carolyn got to the office an hour before she was scheduled to meet with Jake. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, she’d prepared well for the meeting, drawing up a slick PowerPoint presentation that included pictures of the event site, proposed seating, menu selection, and the order of events.
She was dressed for the part in a crisp, oxford button-down and the one pencil skirt she owned without a tear in the seam. She’d even memorized her talk. Yes, it was probably
Similar Books
