“It sounds like you’ve had a constant communication breakdown at every single turn.”
“It’s not been easy,” Molly said. “I can’t even claim to be the saint. On the one hand, I’ve wanted to marry him, but I always remember what he said and how he said it. He didn’t want to be tied down with a baby and a wife. Why would I make him be something he doesn’t want?”
“Well, the tides are changing now. I’ve heard a lot of whispers and gossip the past week, so be prepared for a lot of questions,” June said.
Molly groaned. “You see, this is what I hoped to avoid. He should have just ignored Chloe. I did.”
“Chloe’s a spiteful bitch, and from what I hear she’s had it in for you for a long time. I’d be careful there, and don’t trust her.”
“I never did.” She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and stood up, heading behind the counter.
June did the same, putting a hand on her large stomach as she did. “This baby is never coming out.”
“You’re not that far along. Believe me, start panicking when you go past your due date. You’ll wish you didn’t complain then.”
“Did you love being pregnant?” June asked.
Molly sighed. “They were hard pregnancies, to be honest. I loved feeling my babies grow, and of course when they kick, and you hear the heartbeat. They’re magical. I only wished a lot of other things would be different.”
“Yeah, well, they’re different now.”
“What are we going to do when you can’t bake?” Molly asked.
She really needed this job but knew the time would come when June wouldn’t be able to keep on working.
“I wish I could say I was ready to take over,” Molly said.
“It’s okay. I’ll find someone.” She patted her arm. “Your job will always be secure, and even if I can’t bake, I’ll be here.”
She loved June, and it was moments like this that she wished they’d been friends in school. They hadn’t been enemies, but June hadn’t been a cheerleader, so they’d never really walked in the same circles until now.
The door opened, and she didn’t have time to think about anything else. Focusing on the customer, she smiled and handed out the first sandwiches that had been ordered.
“I’m so sorry to hear about what happened between you and Dale,” Francis said. She worked at the local library and was a huge gossip.
“I’m sorry?”
“You know, Dale not coming forward to be the father of your babies. I’m so sorry about all the pain you’ve been through.”
“Dale’s been wonderful, honestly.”
Over and over, people who had once sneered at her were suddenly being caring, and she didn’t like the attention, not one bit. She preferred it when they thought she had some kind of disease.
When Max, Dale, and Trey entered the bakery, she felt an overwhelming relief to see him. Trey moved toward his wife and pulled her into his arms, while Dale came to her side. She didn’t try to pull away as he cupped her face and kissed her deeply.
“Wow, this sucks. June, you need to hire someone else so that I can get a smooch come lunchtime,” Max said. “I feel totally lonely here.”
“You kiss so many things I feel you should come with a warning,” June said, laughing.
“Please, if you knew how good I kissed, you wouldn’t be giving Trey here the time of day. You’d totally be in my hands.” He then puckered his lips, making kissing noises.
Molly laughed. “Don’t you have a date or something?”
“Nope. I am dateless, womanless, and it would seem friendless. I feel like I was the last to know about June and Trey, and I was. I was also the last to find out that Dale is the father of Sasha and Luke. I’m the last to know everything.” Max sighed, and stared at the counter. “I need to comfort eat from all my loneliness. What’s good?”
“Everything,” Molly said.
She looked toward Max and saw someone waiting behind him. Kissing Dale on the lips, she turned toward Aria Smith, who was waiting to be served.
“What would you like?” she asked.
Aria was twenty-three years old, and had been behind them two years in school. From what Molly remembered, she’d been a quiet girl, and bullied for her weight and her deep auburn hair.
“Could I have the chicken salad in a roll, please?”
Max turned to look behind him.
Out of all the men, Max had something to say to everyone about anything, but when he looked at Aria, he didn’t say a word. Molly finished serving her up, and took her money, handing her the change.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, Aria,” June said, moving toward the counter and pulling away from Trey.
“Yes?”
“Did you do that baking course that you kept mentioning?” June asked.
“I did.”
“I don’t suppose you’d be interested in taking over from me after a trial run, would you?” June patted her stomach. “I’ve got all the recipes you’d need.”
Aria was so shy and timid that it completely took Molly’s breath away when she saw her smile. “I’d totally love to do that.”
“Excellent. Would you come by this weekend, and we can check it out?”
“I’d love that. Thanks, June.”
Before anyone else could say anything, Aria was gone.
“You know her?” Trey asked.
June tapped him lightly on the stomach. “Of course I know her. We used to bake together in high school. We were the ones that made all the cookies that you guys bought. She loved baking and always wanted to train professionally. Once I graduated and left, we lost touch. I wonder what she’s been up to.”
“I don’t remember her,” Dale said.
“You were too busy screwing cheerleaders,” Max said.
The tension in the bakery mounted, and this was Molly’s cue to get more food.
****
“Thanks a fucking lot, fucker,” Dale said. He gave Max the finger and left, finding Molly in the back, placing the gingerbread cookies neatly onto a serving platter.
She glanced back at him. “You can’t get too close.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to come too near.” There were so many mixing bowls, but seeing as it was a bakery, he understood why.
“Max is a total asshole. You shouldn’t listen to anything he says.”
“I’m not going to hold the past against you, Dale. I want to move on. Everyone who came into the shop today all had something to say about our situation,” she said, looking back at him. “I don’t want people thinking you’re a bad person.”
“I am a bad person. I didn’t step up when I should have.”
“You tried to step up, and I wouldn’t let you. I won’t let anyone say otherwise. We can do the blame game all we want, but it doesn’t change anything.” She finished putting the tray together, and turned toward him. “I don’t want you to feel responsible for what happened. It’s not your fault.”
“Can I come over tonight?” he asked.
He’d seen that she still wore the ring he’d given her.
“I’d love that. I’m making lasagna.”
“My favorite.”
“It’s Luke’s favorite, too.”
“Kid takes after his father.”
She chuckled. “Every week, we have a day where we cook each other’s favorite. Yesterday we had spaghetti, which is Sasha’s favorite. Today it’s lasagna, and tomorrow we have tacos, but I make sure to put less spice in theirs, and they love it.”
“So how about Thursday I come over and cook steak for us all? That’s one of my favorites.” He didn’t want to move too fast, but he also didn’t want to go too slow either.
“I’d love that.”
“Kids can eat steak?”