Tessa's Teacakes by Mary Manners

Author:Mary Manners
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Rose Publishing, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

7

“We need ten dozen of Kate’s kisses, and half-a-dozen more gold cakes.” Mattie pulled a carton of eggs from the walk-in refrigerator along with a gallon of milk and two pounds of butter. “And the customers have been asking for your teacakes, Tessa.”

“What flavor?” She slipped an apron over her head and tied the strings tight across her hips.

“All of them, so we’ve got our work cut out.”

Tessa took a mixing bowl from the shelf, found an oversized spatula in a utensil drawer. “Is Grace coming in?”

“Maybe later, but I’m not sure.” Mattie shook her head as she began to crack open eggs. “Kate took her for a prenatal checkup, so it’s just you and me for now.”

“Better get to work, then.” Tessa fingered the letter from the owner of the upscale New York City bakery that she’d tucked into her pocket. Breaking the news of her impending job opportunity would just have to wait. As she blended milk and butter, added cinnamon, vanilla, and fresh, minced strawberries, she thought of Colin. He liked the teacakes, and strawberry was his favorite flavor, so far. She’d bake a few extra, since he’d mentioned during dinner that maybe he’d drop by Sweet Treats one day after work.

Not that it mattered, Tessa reminded herself. Not much, at least. Oh, dinner was nice, and she’d enjoyed sharing coffee on the back deck afterwards, beneath a starlit sky. Colin had an endless supply of topics to discuss—from sports, to work on the police force, to a stint spent in the military, to family and the fact that his parents found his career choice positively mortifying.

“They don’t understand me,” he’d shared. “I think they’re afraid of losing me, too, like they did Bailey.”

His words had touched a chord in Tessa. Was that Mattie’s reason for being so overbearing at times, as well? Whatever the reason, Tessa dreamed of bigger places, of a faster pace, of living in a city where she might be simply another person on the street—not the adventurous baby sister who needed looking after or the orphaned daughter of a couple who had once been highly respected in their little community.

Not the woman with a heart that still wept from time to time with painful memories.

“Look who’s coming.” Mattie nodded toward the entrance as the shop door slipped open, activating the bell overhead so it jangled merrily.

Tessa’s breath caught. “Colin, what are you doing here?”

“Good morning to you, too, Tess.” He slouched against the counter and brushed a dab of flour from her cheek. The gesture sent her pulse racing. “What’re you cooking up today?”

The sound of her nickname on Colin’s lips tossed Tessa’s belly like a toy boat caught in a current. Her dad was the only other person who’d ever used the shorter form of her name. She remembered the way he’d lean in to show her how to tie off a hook when they went fishing down at the pond together, or hammer a nail while they built a dog house for the family’s chocolate Lab.

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