“You remember. You remember I wanted to marry her then. And I still want to marry her. She’s the only woman for me.”
She shakes her head, her short hair barely moving. “I expect nothing but the best for my daughter.”
“I know that. And I’m not rich, but I have a good, steady job, just as Hazel has hers. We can have a comfortable life together. A happy life.”
“I don’t want my daughter to work, Vincent. I want her to be a lady and enjoy the pleasures of motherhood. I don’t want her to need to make money.”
“But Mrs Ross, she wants to.” I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. “She wants to. Culinary makes her happy. Don’t you want her to be happy?”
“I do, but not slaving away! She’s supposed to be home with her kids and--“
“She has time to make these decisions. I love her, Mrs Ross. With everything I have. And because I love her, I want to see her happy. Baking or not, with kids or not. With me or not.” I press a hand to my chest, where my heart beats for Hazel. “I have already spent too long away from her. Too long without making her laugh without seeing her smile. Please help me get through to Hazel.”
She curls her nose and sighs dramatically. “By God, I suppose you’re right. I don’t think Hazel will ever see what I see. What’s best for her.”
“Maybe you should see through her point of view too, Mrs Ross.” I stretch a tentative smile. “What she thinks is best for her.”
The lady shrugs. “She’s too young to see all ends.”
“Aren’t we all?”
She looks up at me and says nothing for a long time. Finally, she uncrosses her arms and leans forward. “What do you want, Vincent? Have you come so I could apologize? Because I won’t. I was looking after her future.”
I shake my head. “As I said, I want to marry her. But she believes I abandoned her five years ago. I need you to tell her the truth. To tell her about my phone calls. My letters.”
“I already did.”
That catches me off guard. “You... did?”
She nods. “Sunday evening. She came here asking about you. I told her we kept her from seeing you when she decided to… elope. We threw the letters away, and I lied to you.” She twists her fingers in her hands. “For her safety.”
I decide not to argue with that. She will never stop believing it’s been for Hazel’s happiness, though the entire thing was selfish. “So she knows the truth?”
“She does. She said that you’ve always been the right one for her and left crying.” Another sigh. “She doesn’t want to talk to me. She went radio silence.”
“Then let’s find her together, Mrs Ross. Both of us. Let’s live in peace.”
She cocks a brow. “Why? Why would you want to help me?”
I flash a smile. “Because I want her to be happy. And I’ll do anything for that to happen.”
HAZEL
Man, I need to learn how to say no.
Mom asked for another cake. Even if we’re not on speaking terms, I agreed. It’s for her book club, and since she’s been by herself after dad passed away, I want her to have a quality time.
Even if she plotted against my happiness.
Days hadn’t been easy, but I kept a good facade. No one can tell I’m crumbling inside. My best friends noticed my lack of witty remarks or sexual innuendos, but they know nothing. I’m still keeping the rotten truth to myself.
What’s worst — telling them I fucked my ex, or telling them my mom played me for five years, making me believe my ex abandoned me?
I don’t want to find out. Christine’s elated for the first time in forever — she’s living her happily ever after with her billionaire soon-to-be husband, her new studio and all that. Lis is an Instagram celebrity, dating the same nice guy for the past years. They’re happy. I shouldn’t ruin it with my sob story.
Even though I’m sure they’ll be pissed if they ever learn I’ve been hiding it.
Well, they can’t find out. Simple. I stretch my lips in a grin as I finish up the decorations on the cake. Mom had a very specific request this time — coconut and lime. She doesn’t know it, but I baked one for Vincent’s eighteenth birthday. It makes my heart hurt, and that’s how I know I still have the organ. It’s still beating inside me even after I’ve felt it shatter.
“Hazel,” one of my employees pokes her head through the door opening. “How is it? We’re finishing up.”
I glimpse at the clock overhead. The day flew by, with the bakery and the orders, and this cake for mom. That and hiding in the bathroom to weep into my sleeve.
I’ve been so stupid. If only I could turn back time. Live the past week all over again and tell Vincent everything I should have told him.
How I have always loved him. How his jilting broke a piece of my soul. How I had started a string of dates and flings that meant nothing because I had lost a piece of my heart. The hollowness inside me wheezes still, burns as frostbite.
And I know I’ll never make it whole again. Nothing will ever feel like him. Every kiss and every touch of his is special and unique.
Because he loves me. Because he still loves me after all this time. No one can take his place in my heart. No one ever will.
Therefore I’ve accepted I’ll live a lonely life, without ever having another shot at love.
I finish up the icing so it’s a perfect slate. “It’s okay, Annie, you can go. I’m done here, I’ll lock the door.”
“Is the cake done?” Annie asks with a squeal to her voice. “It’s your mother’s, right?”
I arch an eyebrow. She need not feel ecstatic about it. I bake at least three cakes every day. “It is...”
“Good.” A grin flashes across her face. “So I’m supposed to let you know Lis and Christine are here.”
I perk up. “What? Why?”
Annie shrugs, but there’s a glint in her eye that tells me she knows the reason. Squinting at her, I take my apron off and wash my hands. As I leave the kitchen, I pull the net and my hair tie from the low ponytail. Annie sneaks past me inside the kitchen. I shoot her a confused glance before turning to my bakery.
Turns out Lis and Chris aren’t alone.
My mom’s here. And...
“Vincent?” I gasp and take a step, almost jumping in his arms. At the last minute, I hold back, fisting my hands behind my back, reminding myself I slammed a door in his face. “What is going on?”
“Surprise!” Lis sing-songs, holding her phone up in such fashion I know she’s filming. Annie walks in with the cake and prompts it over the counter.
I mentally check, but today isn’t my birthday. “I mean no offense, but I’ve seen all of you the past week.” I swallow as my heart rate picks up and hope the girls won’t jump on me as they notice I have already seen Vincent.
“I wanted to make everything clear,” Vincent says, his grave voice warming my bones. He shoots a finger up. “And I needed witnesses. And proof.”
I chew on my lip. “Do you mean...” I shoot a glance at my mom.
She nods. “I’ve told him about keeping the truth from you two.” She waves at the girls. “He contacted your friends, and I told them too. I’m sorry, Hazel.” She sighs. “Motherhood isn’t easy. I’m sorry if I disappointed you.”