Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
If only I could call Lauryn and talk to her about Kian. About my feelings for him and how freaking confusing all of this was. I hated that I couldn’t tell people more about myself. I hated that I couldn’t pick up the phone and call my mother in Italy and tell her about this darling little town.
“Cadie?”
The sound of Opal’s voice nearly had me jumping over the counter. My hand went to my chest, and I let out a nervous bubble of laughter.
“You scared me.”
With a tilt of her head and a look of worry on her face, she asked, “Is everything okay? You were lost in thought and didn’t hear me saying your name.”
I quickly thought of a lie. “I’m so sorry; I was thinking about next week’s menu and had an idea for a featured dessert.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, what is it?”
“Um,” I said, searching my brain for a recipe. Luckily, I was saved when the bell above the door rang, and an older gentleman walked in. He was handsome, with dark hair that had streaks of gray running through it. The most beautiful blue eyes, and when he smiled, a dimple appeared on his right cheek.
Opal stiffened next to me and drew in a sharp breath. I turned to look at her and placed my hand on her arm. Her face had drained of all color, and she looked like she was about to faint.
“Opal? Are you okay?”
Placing her hand over mine, she forced a smile. Leaning in, she whispered, “Please don’t leave.”
“I won’t,” I replied before looking at the man still standing at the front entrance.
“Good afternoon,” I said with a pleasant smile. “Welcome to Batter Up Bakery.”
He smiled and looked around the bakery before he focused his attention back on Opal.
“Opal.”
He said her name almost as a plea. I looked at Opal and she seemed to regain her composure. She stood straighter, dropped her hand from mine, and cleared her throat. “Jake, what a surprise.”
My head snapped back to look at Jake. Did Opal know him? Clearly, she did; she said his name, and he said hers.
Looking between the two, I had to break the strange silence. “You know each other?”
The older man, Jake as she’d called him, let out a lighthearted laugh. “We’re old friends.”
“Friends?” Opal repeated with a hint of anger in her voice.
He shrugged and made his way closer to us. Stopping at the counter, he lowered his voice and said, “Should I say old lovers?”
I gasped and looked around the bakery. Even though I knew no one was there, his directness still shocked me.
“I’m sorry; what did you just say?” I asked him.
Opal gently took my arm and stepped in front of me. “Jake, what in the world are you doing here?”
He smiled, and the way his eyes lit up when he looked at Opal made me feel a strange pain in my chest.
“I thought I saw you the other night, and finally found the courage to come into the bakery. You look…wonderful, Opal.”
“Thank you,” she said curtly. “Why are you here? In Moose Village.”
He smiled. “My daughter lives here with her husband and little girl. My son-in-law is from Moose Village, and they decided to move here from New York City for the small-town living.”
“Really?” Opal said with a fake smile. “Does that mean we will be seeing you more often?”
“I hope so.”
When their silence became awkward, I asked, “Where do you live, Mr. …?”
Jake held out his hand. “I’m sorry for being so rude. It’s Jake Magoffin. I live in New York City.”
I shook his hand. “And how do you know our Opal?”
I wished I could have taken it back the second I asked it because his declaration of them being former lovers made my entire face heat.
“We dated many years ago,” Opal stated. “Jake here grew up in Lake Placid.”
“Oh,” I said with way too much excitement in my voice. “How lovely.”
He nodded and gave me a warm smile before focusing back on Opal. “Opal, can we please talk?”
“Talk? I’m so sorry, Jake. I am swamped with special orders and preparing things for tomorrow. Please make yourself at home and order what you like on the house.”
Opal turned and looked at me. “Cadie, please take care of Mr. Magoffin, will you?”
My eyes bounced between the two of them. “Sure. Yes, of course.”
And without looking backward in Jake’s direction, Opal walked to the back of the bakery.
Jake watched her walk away, then looked at me and gave me the saddest smile.
“Is there anything you would like?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m afraid it’s long since passed for that.”
Confused, I asked, “I’m sorry?”
Jake cleared his throat and said, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Cadie. It’s a small town, so I’ll surely see you again.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Jake started to walk off, and I called for him. “Wait! Would you like to bring something home for your granddaughter?”