Chapter 11

Lauren

“I can’t believe they let that woman around kids. What kind of job is she doing?” I was floored when Gage told me that Helen was working at the school. “So, this is why Ollie is scared to go.”

“Yeah, it would seem so. She was working the pick-up line today, and Ms. Tanner said she’s been in the office as an assistant mostly, but she does recess duty.”

“We can’t make Ollie be around her. What if she tries to retaliate for losing her job? You know she wasn’t in the most pleasant mood over that.”

“Ms. Tanner said she’d look after Ollie. I explained, in not so many words, what Helen was like. I think she caught on and realized there’s some tension between the woman and Ollie. She’ll help however she can.”

“I swear, if it’s not one thing, it’s another.”

“But wait. There is a little light in the tunnel. While talking to Ollie about this, she mentioned that Ms. Tanner makes cakes.”

I wasn’t even going to ask how cakes ended up in this conversation, but I was glad it had. “Oh? I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, apparently, she’s getting married soon, and she told the kids that she’s even going to bake her own cake. She does all the parties at the school.”

“Oh, if she could make our cake, that would take a lot of the stress off. I called around, and no one is willing to take an order this close to the wedding.”

“Well, I hope if I throw enough money at her, she won’t say no.”

“I could call to ask her about it and then maybe explain the Helen thing more clearly. I really want to make sure that woman isn’t alone with Ollie. It’s bad enough she has to see her every single day.”

“She’ll be fine, baby. She’s strong like her daddy, and I don’t think we need to make a stink about this. It could make things worse for Ollie in the end.”

“You’re probably right.” I knew he was, but I still didn’t like the situation. I hoped that Ms. Tanner would be on board, and for the first time that day, I had hope. “I’ll call her later and see.”

“See? Everything is working out. I told you it would all be okay.” He came over from the door and sat down with me and Wade, and then he pulled our son into his lap and kissed his little head. It was so nice to see him with our children, knowing he would protect us all by any means necessary, even if it was only to give us hope for a happy ending.

The thing with Edna was eating away at me. I knew she didn’t have a chance; I kept telling myself that, but I’d seen things go south before. Not every judge had the same morals and state of mind, and all of that could matter in a case like Ollie’s.

It was hard for me to speak up and say what I felt. Even though I was the only mother Ollie remembered, not being her biological mother put me at a disadvantage when trying to go up against Edna, her maternal grandmother.

What we needed to do was call her and make a plea. Have Ollie tell her she didn’t want to go back and forth and ask her to reconsider. I knew Gage wasn’t going to want to beg her, but if it’s what it took, he just might. I had no idea if she’d actually go for it, but it had to be worth a shot.

I looked up at Gage, who had a teddy bear and was shaking it in Wade’s face to make him smile and coo. I’d feel him out on the idea. “What are you going to do about Edna?”

He reached out and stroked my hair. “That’s what’s really got you worried, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but everything else, too. We’ve gotten to a good place over the past year, and things have been so comfortable. I just feel guilty for disrupting them with wanting a big wedding and going back to work.”

“Look, the wedding is going to happen. We’re at the finish line with that project, and look, I even found a solution to the wedding cake situation.”

“Hopefully.”

“Well, let’s call her, but that’s not the point. As for Edna, I think I need to call her and try to make a deal, or I don’t know. She’s got to know this isn’t going to be easy on Ollie.”

“You’d do that? You’d call and make a plea?” I was a little surprised, considering that I knew he wasn’t a man who begged often, unless it was for morning sex.

“I’d walk through fire for my daughter. Begging Edna is going to be a blow to my ego, sure, because of our past, but it’s worth it to make all of this easier on Ollie.”

“She’s all that matters.” I didn’t want it to be hard on Ollie like it had in the past. I didn’t ever want to see her upset over saying goodbye for weeks at a time, and I didn’t want to have to explain to Wade why his sister had to go so often. They would miss out on important time together.

“No, we’re all that matters. This affects us all. Don’t forget that. We’re in this together; a family.” He urged me closer, and I scooted across the floor to sit with him. His hand fell lightly on my shoulder. “Give me a kiss, baby.”

I leaned over and kissed him, while Wade laid his head against his chest. When I looked up, the little fella was already back asleep, playtime wearing him out. “Let’s put him down.”

“So, we can go fool around?” He kissed me again, a nice soft peck.

“No, so we can go call Ms. Tanner. I want to ask her about this cake before it gets too late. I’m so afraid she’ll say she won’t have time as it is.”

“How long could it take to make a couple of cakes? A few hours?”

I had tried to make a simple layer cake that had taken longer than that, but I tried not to laugh. He obviously didn’t bake much.

“No, silly. They take longer than that. At least a day, and then delivery. I hope she has the time to take on this big of a project. The last home baker I talked to didn’t have an oven big enough for the size I wanted. I already know I’ll have to make it smaller.”

“Why wouldn’t she have a big enough oven?” He stood up and placed Wade into his little bed, and then pulled his blanket up.

I lowered my voice. “Because she doesn’t have a commercial kitchen. I’m going to bet that this teacher doesn’t have a commercial kitchen, either.”

“Right, I guess that makes sense. You could compromise though, can’t you? Since this is an emergency.” We walked out into the hall, and he took my hand and led me into the office.

I took a seat near the window that looked out to Wade’s Creek. “Yes, I can compromise, and I will. I was only getting the fourth tier for looks anyway, so I can downsize.”

“For looks? You mean I was paying for too much cake so it would look better?” He sat next to me and put his arm around me.

“Yes, I wanted it bigger. I have a picture I was going for. I wanted to send it home with people.” I had even asked for tiny boxes where the guests could take their cake with them. I hated to think of those going up in flames with everything else at Jazzy’s.

“Do you want to give her a call?”

“Yes, I feel bad, though, about Jasmine’s business. Do you think we could let her keep the money for the deposit to help her out? She’s lost enough.” I knew it was a nice sum, but it seemed wrong to take it at a time when she was suffering.

“Yeah, that’s fine. Now, let’s call Ms. Tanner before she elopes and skips town.”

“Elopes and skips town?” I didn’t know where he had gotten that idea.

“Hey, the way our luck’s going, anything’s possible. Earthquakes, fires—well, I suppose that a fire has already tried to take us out—but I’m not going to let it. Even if Chloe and Ollie have to bake cupcakes, we’re getting married as planned.”

That was a picture. I could see Chloe, the exploding soup girl, trying to bake me a cake with my five-year-old daughter. I took out my phone. “Well, before we get to talking too crazy, let’s make sure we can’t get Ms. Tanner to do it.” I gave a little laugh as I looked through my directory and found her number. “Here goes nothing. Wish us luck.”

Gage gave a little laugh and stroked my back for support.

“Ms. Tanner? This is Lauren Patrick, I’m Ollie, um, Olivia Riley’s stepmother.” I waited as she processed what I’d said and wondered if she would bring up the fact that I hadn’t yet married her father. Of course, she wouldn’t. I was just so nervous.

“Oh, yes. Ms. Patrick. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Call me Lauren, actually, and yes. I hope there is. You see, Ollie’s dad and I, we’re finally getting to have our wedding, and we heard that you make cakes.”

“Well, as a matter of fact, I do. When is the big occasion?” Her voice was so sweet, and I already felt more at ease.

“It’s on the fourteenth.”

“This next weekend?” Her tone got a little higher, as if she were surprised.

“Yes, I’m afraid it’s late notice, but I’m sure you heard about Jazzy’s Cakes burning down?”

“Yes, ma’am. I did. And I’d love to help, but I’m supposed to be going to a bed and breakfast with my fiancé. We were given a free stay from his aunt, who owns the place. We’re really excited. We wanted a little getaway before the wedding, you know, to finish making plans.”

“Oh, it sounds like you’re planning a lovely wedding.”

“It’s small actually. We’re not even planning a honeymoon after, and I’m doing most everything myself. That’s why we’re taking some time before.”

“What if you could have your dream honeymoon?”

“That would be nice, but it’s really not in our budget, Lauren.” I wanted to offer it to her, but I didn’t want Gage to lose his mind.

“One second, before you say no.” I muted my phone and turned to Gage. “This poor girl isn’t even getting a honeymoon, and since we’re postponing ours, couldn’t we please offer her one of our resort packages for free?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not.” Gage shrugged. “Anything if it will get you the cake of your dreams.”

“You’re the best.” He’d help built resorts all over every island imaginable, and a few of them for James Bivens, which he had full access to, but with him not preferring to fly as often since his crash and the fact that we’d been so busy, we hadn’t used them.

I turned my attention back to the phone. “Okay, I’m offering you a deal, and I’ll understand if you want to say no, but I’ll pay you a thousand above your asking price and throw in a free, week-long stay at an island resort of your choice from one of several that my husband has access to.”

“And all I have to do is take that weekend to make your cake?”

“Yes, that’s it. Could you please help me out?”

“You’re paying me an extra grand and throwing in a free honeymoon? You’ve got a deal.”

“Thank you!” I held the phone away and gave a little squeal. “I’m so happy, thank you.” I spent the next half hour on the phone giving her the details of the cake, and then when I got off, Gage pulled me in close.

“See? It’s all going to work out.”

“Thank you for letting me offer the package and the extra money. I’ll get it from my account, but I just really wanted to help them have a nice wedding. We’re so lucky.”

“Lucky?” He felt my temperature. “Let’s wait until we call Edna to see how lucky we are.”