Chapter 56

fifty-six

PAUL

I peered through the oven's glass door. The two lemon cakes were looking good. If everything went to plan, I should have enough time to mix the ingredients for a chocolate cake before the timer went off.

I couldn't believe it was already the middle of January. On Boxing Day, I'd moved into Jonathon's old house, renting it from him while he lived in the apartment above his candy store.

Word had quickly spread that I was working from Candy Lane. Three of the people who'd ordered Christmas cakes had asked me to make cakes for upcoming birthdays. If you counted another five wedding cakes booked for February and March, and the cakes and cookies I was making for the store, it had been a busy few weeks.

One of the kitchen doors opened and Jonathon came inside. "Do you have time to talk to a customer? They want to order a cake."

I wiped my hands on my apron. "Of course, I do." I picked up a brochure before glancing at the timer on the oven. I couldn't afford to burn the cakes, especially when they had to be decorated by tomorrow afternoon.

Stepping into the store was like dodging bumper cars at a county fair. People of all ages moved between the glass counters and display shelves, looking for something sweet to take home.

Jonathon was convinced that having two businesses working out of the same building was boosting our cash flow. Candy Lane usually had a lot of customers, but even I had to agree that something special was happening.

A man wearing a bright orange ski hat and blue jacket turned around.

My heart dropped to my feet. "Liam?"

"Hi."

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd still be in Boulder."

He took off his hat and held it in his hands. "I was. I am." He cleared his throat. "I'd better start again. I thought I'd drive a little farther north and say hello to you and Amy."

"Amy's at the library. They had an arts and craft day that she wanted to go to."

"Is she still starting school tomorrow?"

I nodded. "She's looking forward to meeting the other children in her class."

"It'll be a big day for her."

I sent him a genuine smile. "I don't know who's more nervous. I keep having nightmares about her not making friends or finding it hard to fit in."

"She'll be okay."

"That's what Jonathon keeps telling me. Three of his nieces have started school in the last twelve months. Each of them was nervous, but they quickly settled into the school routine."

Some of the tension in Liam's face disappeared. "There you go. It won't be as bad as you think."

"I hope not." I looked at the clock on the wall. "It's nearly lunchtime. Can I get you something to eat?"

Liam's gaze didn't leave my face. "I'm okay. I think I gained ten pounds while we were at Jacob's house."

It didn't matter to me if he'd gained weight. He still looked perfect. "I need to go back into the kitchen soon. Two cakes need to come out of the oven."

"I won't keep you long. I was wondering if it's okay for me to go to school with you and Amy tomorrow?"

"She'd love that. But don't you have to work?"

He shook his head. "I'm taking a couple of days off."

"Are you staying at Jacob's house?"

"I am. If you send me your address, I can take you and Amy to school in my truck."

I moved out of the way of a customer. "I'll send it to you later today. I'm sorry, but I?—"

"Need to take your cakes out of the oven. I understand. It was good seeing you again."

I hadn't realized how much I'd missed Liam until now. "It was good seeing you, too. I'll see you tomorrow." And without thinking about what I was doing, I ran into the kitchen.