7. Rafe

"Theo!" I was so excited that I practically shouted into the phone. I was browsing through my grandma"s old recipe book, trying to find new baking recipes, and I found something. I want to try it out today. Are you available this morning?"

On the other end, Theo chuckled softly. "I"m listening. You got my attention. What"s this fantastic thing you discovered?"

I grinned, thinking about Theo"s handsome face and the questions in his eyes. "Blueberry muffins, but they"re no ordinary muffins. Mystery ingredients…basil and lemon zest. It might sound a little weird, but I think it sounds like a winner. I bet they"re phenomenal."

"Basil and lemon zest." The words came out slow and measured. "That has me intrigued. It might be just different enough that it works. I"m in."

My heart pounded fiercely when I heard he was willing to dive into a new baking adventure at my side. "That"s the spirit. So, do you want to come over and be my taste tester? You might have the first crack at a real gamechanger."

Theo laughed. He was visiting my apartment more and more often now. "How can I resist a good baking experiment? Is it okay for me to get there in an hour? I promise to arrive hungry with an open mind."

"Perfect!" I nearly dropped the phone in my excitement. "You know, you"re the best. I"ll take care of all the prep so I"m ready to bake when you arrive. I"ll see you in a flash."

As soon as the call ended, I started getting the kitchen ready. I was a bit dizzy with excitement. Retrieving my grandmother"s worn recipe book from its place of honor on my bookshelf, I leafed through it to find the muffin recipe.

While I looked for it, I thought back to the many hours I spent learning to bake with my sister, Lainey, in Schenectady. It was one way to pass the time while seeking refuge from my horrible relationship with my ex.

The memories were so vivid that I could almost see them materialize in front of my eyes. Her kitchen was a large space with windows that let in plenty of natural sunlight. The air always seemed to be perfumed with vanilla and cinnamon.

It didn"t take long for Lainey and me to find ourselves elbows deep in kneading dough, stray flour dusting our cheeks. We laughed and shared childhood stories. Baking became a weekly ritual, a special time to forget about our troubles and enjoy the simple satisfaction of creating good food.

One particular memory filled me with joy. On a Saturday afternoon, we were baking Grandma"s famous Snickerdoodles, a recipe we loved so much we"d learned it by heart. While I stirred the dough, Lainey touched my elbow.

"Rafe, I can see Grandma saying, "You"ve come so far. Good on you." She"d love how you"ve picked yourself up, cleared out the cobwebs, and started moving forward again. A whole lot of people aren"t that strong."

I smiled and sniffed back a few tears. "I couldn"t have done any of this without you and Jack. The two of you are my safe harbor. I know I can come to you if anything is getting hard to deal with."

Lainey wiped her hands on her apron and hugged me. "That"s what family"s for, in case you haven"t figured that out yet. We"ve always got your back. Don"t forget that. I"m always just a phone call away, wherever you are."

I held her tight, squeezing. She was the light left on whenever I needed to come home.

When we pulled apart, Lainey had a mischievous grin on her face. "How about we finish these and sneak a few cookies before Jack gets home? I"ll make some tea; it"ll be our little secret."

I laughed. In those moments, it was easy to forget about the troubles I"d left behind in New York City. "Sounds like a plan, but if we get caught, I"m throwing you under the bus."

Lainey chuckled. "Right, as if he can ever stay mad at me for long."

We both giggled. Lainey and Jack were the perfect models to begin restoring my faith in the possibility of loving partnerships. Their honesty and ability to communicate carried me through the darkest days.

The buzz of my doorbell pulled me back to the present. I opened the door and threw my arms around Theo, accidentally crushing a bouquet of tulips between us.

"So much for those flowers looking pristine, " he laughed. "Damn, it smells so good in here. Have you started baking already?"

"I baked some biscuits earlier for breakfast, and you probably smell the coffee, too." I ushered him into my apartment, and his eyes suddenly widened as he gazed at my wall of vintage postcards.

He handed me the slightly crumpled flowers. "I remember you telling me about this. In person, it"s twice as impressive as what I pictured in my head. I can"t believe I missed this my first time here."

I watched as he leaned in toward some images and touched the color-washed line drawing of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. After putting the flowers in some water, I joined him. "I use these to explore the world from a distance until I can actually go there myself. I"m a great armchair traveler."

"I love how you"ve arranged them by what"s close to what. It"s like a quirky take on a map of the world."

Goosebumps formed on my forearms when he explained that he understood the thought I"d put into my arrangement. "I did my best to group the ones that occupy a similar place on the globe. That way, I can sort of visualize the connections between the different places in the pictures."

Theo examined a group of postcards featuring European cities. He touched one after another in succession. "Look at how you can travel from London to Paris to Rome, all in just a few inches."

I pointed to another part of the wall. "Or you can go from New York to Miami to Rio. It"s a whirlwind tour."

Theo turned toward me. "I love how you"ve brought the world into your home."

I sighed. "And someday, I"ll get to see it in person. For now, these will have to keep the dreams alive."

"And meanwhile…" Theo rubbed his hands together. "Let"s see you get those muffins started."

I opened my grandmother"s recipe book in the kitchen, finding the blueberry muffins. "So, here"s the plan." I rubbed my hands together and looked at Theo. "I will use Grandma"s muffin recipe to give them an unexpected twist. That"s where the basil and lemon zest come in. My guess is it will be a little sweet, a little savory, and a whole lot of awesome."

He raised an eyebrow. "Basil? Blueberries? Okay, that"s either genius at work or a ridiculous idea, but I"m down to try it. Let"s go.

As we dove into the baking project, I occasionally glanced at Theo. I loved seeing how he carefully measured the flour and sugar. His brow furrowing as he appeared to be as precise as a chemist working with test tubes endeared him to me.

Working side by side felt so natural—like we"d been doing it for years. As I cracked the eggs and folded in the plump, juicy blueberries, I started to open up about my baking adventures with Lainey. I had yet to discuss that with anyone else in Blue Harbor, but sharing it with Theo felt right. I was trusting him with a treasured piece of my heart.

"You know, learning to bake from Lainey was more than just learning a new skill. It was like another method she used for therapy. Working with food was one way to rebuild confidence and feel better."

Theo squeezed my shoulder. "It makes perfect sense. Some people learn to paint or garden for the same reasons. I"m happy you"re letting me be part of this."

After I slid the muffin tins into the oven, we cleaned the kitchen, bumping our hips playfully as we challenged each other for space at the sink.

When the oven timer sounded, I nearly ran across the kitchen. "They"re ready!" I pulled the oven door open. "Oh, wow, Theo… you have to smell this."

He chuckled when he followed me. "That"s… wow. I think the scents blend well. I didn"t expect that. I can"t wait to take a bite."

I set the tins on the counter, but we had to wait a few minutes for them to cool. Tapping my foot while we waited, I finally gave in. Using tongs to grab one muffin from the tin, I broke it open. The steam wafted out and curled up to my nose.

"Moment of truth." I offered half of the muffin to Theo. "Are you ready to have your taste buds tingled?"

He accepted the offered piece. "Let"s see. Cheers!" He held his morsel aloft, and we bumped our knuckles.

We bit into the muffin halves, and I moaned slightly as the flavors exploded on my tongue. It was a stunning mix of sweet, savory, and tart. I closed my eyes, letting the blissful sensation settle over me.

"Oh, my God," Theo mumbled. His eyes widened. "Rafe… I don"t think I can come up with the right words. This is incredible. I"ve never tasted anything like it."

I beamed. "Do you think so? I mean, I thought it had the potential to be great, and I love it, but hearing it from you—"

"Seriously." He swallowed his bite and reached out to take my hand. "It"s something special. I think you"ve got a real gift for baking."

I blushed. "Thank you. I"d love to do a lot more of this. It"s so relaxing and is satisfying when the baking"s finished." After I polished off the last bite of my half, I decided to share an idea with Theo that had been living in the back of my mind for the last several days.

"Hey, Theo." My voice trembled slightly. "Can I run something by you?"

"Well, of course. What"s on your mind?"

I took a deep breath and braced myself for his response. "I"ve been thinking and speculating… what if I try to do this? Like, for real?"

Theo scratched his head. "Do what? I"m not sure I get what you"re aiming for."

"This." I gestured around the kitchen to the empty muffin tins and the countertops still dusted with flour. "Baking. Creating new recipes and then sharing my products with other people. What if I opened my own baking business someday? I could supply luscious cookies, muffins, and pies to coffee shops and restaurants. Or, maybe I could help caterers out with their needs." I opened my eyes wider and waited for Theo to respond.

He suddenly smiled. "I think that"s an amazing idea. You could be a huge success doing something like that. I"ve seen the talent, passion, and creativity… what else do you need?"

I took a deep breath. "Do you really believe in my ability to do that?"

He reached for both of my hands. "I do. I"m not kidding. I"d tell you if I thought it was too much of a stretch. I"ve always thought passion was the key ingredient for any small business idea like this. The way you describe it, when you learned how to bake, it was like a spark in the darkness you faced after the breakup of your relationship. I want to help fan that into a flame."

I blinked back tears burning at the corners of my eyes. "Theo, I"ve rarely had anyone believe I can accomplish something like this. They always suggested I set my ideas aside and find some company to work for… where I would be helping someone else fulfill their dreams."

Our hands swung back and forth slightly. "Rafe, you are talented. Keep doing what you"re doing—dreaming and creating. I"ll be here for support and be happy to bounce ideas around with you."

After several more minutes passed and we downed another muffin, I glanced at the clock. "Looks like I need to start getting ready for work this afternoon. Can"t have Sarah grumping at me for being late."

Theo grinned. "Yeah, I wouldn"t want her on my bad side. Who knows what might happen to my regular coffee."

I chuckled. "You are probably right. She"s fantastic, but she"s also very serious about the coffee shop. She wants it to hum along like a well-oiled machine."

"Okay, well, I"ll leave you to the coffee shop scene for today. Tell Sarah I"m not giving up on my regular morning ritual, but I sidestepped it to be here today."

I reached out and hugged Theo. "She will wonder about you. She calls you a "regular of regulars.""

He made his way to the door, and then his expression turned serious for a moment. "Thank you for this. I"m honored to be part of your exploration."

"I"m so glad you were here, too."

With a playful smile and a final, lingering gaze, Theo turned on his heels and left. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and I suddenly felt like the apartment was too quiet and empty.

I leaned my back against the door and exhaled deeply. My heart was so full that I wanted to do a little happy dance. The scents of blueberries, basil, and lemon still hung in the air, reminding me of what had happened.

While I tidied up the kitchen, I closed my grandmother"s recipe book. After tracing my fingers over the lettering on the cover, I returned it to its place of honor on my bookshelves.

When I glanced at the clock, I realized I had just enough time to shower and change before heading downstairs to the Little Blue Bean. While I hurried to get ready, my mind buzzed with all the possibilities of how my future might unfold.

I raced down the stairs and tore through the front door of the Little Blue Bean. Sarah looked up from her task, wiping down the counter. Her eyes twinkled as she looked me over from head to toe. I was a little disheveled and wore a goofy grin I couldn"t get off my face.

"Well, well," she tossed her bar rag over her shoulder. "Look what the cat dragged in. You had seconds to spare. Five more minutes, and I would have sent a search party."

I chuckled and tied an apron around my waist. "I"m sorry. I was working on a baking experiment this morning and lost track of time."

Sarah raised an eyebrow and "tsk"ed" at me. "Baking, hmm. Would it have anything to do with Theo coming down the stairs from your apartment a few minutes back?"

My cheeks heated up. "Oh, he did say not to worry about him. He mentioned that he missed his usual coffee shop visit this morning.

"And…? Dish… the two of you have been thick as thieves lately. What have you been up to in that apartment? Or do I want to know? Better kept secret?"

I poured beans into the coffee grinder, and a familiar aroma filled the air around me. "We also did some baking experiments and…" I hit the button on the grinder to purposefully drown out the rest of the words. I wasn"t ready to share my business plans with the rest of the world.

"There you go. So, you"re going to be a mystery man, Rafe?" She shook her head. "I guess you"re both lucky that I like the two of you, and I love to see both of you smiling. Still, keep me posted if you"re planning to take over the world."

It was a busy evening at the Little Blue Bean, and the time zipped by. When I finally trudged back up the staircase to my apartment, I was ready to unwind. Landing on the couch, I kicked off my sneakers and sighed deeply.

When I picked up my phone, I knew I wanted to share my latest adventures with someone who would be happy to hear about them. As I scrolled through my contacts, I found Lainey"s name and tapped it to dial. Her cheerful voice made me smile.

"Hey, little brother. How"s the world treating you? It"s been a minute."

"I know, I"m not the best at remembering to call, particularly when my life"s been… busy."

She paused. "Busy… is that a code word for… I"ve got some wild new stories to share?"

"I don"t know about wild."

"Okay, but you"ve got tales. Let"s hear it."

I raked my fingers up through my hair. My big sister always had a way of getting directly to the point. "So, do you remember that old recipe book that was a favorite of Grandma"s?"

"The one that smells like she pressed luscious biscuits between the pages? Of course, I do."

"Yeah, that one." My memory was so vivid that I could taste the blueberries with basil on my tongue. "Theo came over, and we made a muffin recipe that caught my eye. It was blueberry muffins with basil and lemon zest."

"Basil…in blueberry muffins? Are you sure you weren"t dreaming when you came up with that?"

"Believe it or not, they were amazing. Theo loved them, too. We had a great time baking together."

Lainey"s tone softened, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "That"s awesome. And Theo… is there something there? Or just good friends? You told me he"d caught your eye."

I sighed deeply. "I think we"re both hoping there"s something there."

"My little brother"s falling for a charming artist. That sounds so romantic." She chuckled softly. "Tell me more. Does he have dreamy eyes?"

I started to blush even though she couldn"t see me. "He does, but it"s a lot more than that. He gets me. We"ve shared so much in such a short time, and we make sense together."

"That sounds so good. You need that after everything you"ve been through. And Blue Harbor?"

"It"s starting to feel like home. Tell Jack thank you for me again. Without his friend, I wouldn"t be here."

Lainey sighed. "Such a beautiful story. I"ll tell Jack, but I don"t want him to get too big of a head, either. We"ll have to start talking about a trip so I can come and check out the man who"s stolen my little brother"s heart."