“Oh, no you don’t! I have a class in a few minutes, and they aren’t going to catch me in here making out with my bookkeeper!”
William’s eyes widened. “Oh, is that what I am to you? A bookkeeper?” he said, standing up and poking her in the side. Janine cackled. He’d never met anyone as ticklish as she was, and he liked to take advantage of that as often as possible.
Janine laughed as she trotted back toward the front door of the studio. She was like a little butterfly, always flitting about here and there. Nobody in his life had ever had more energy than that woman. Of course, she attributed it to her yoga and meditation, as well as her healthy eating. But, he thought maybe God just made her that way, so full of life and enthusiasm.
He sure could use some of that enthusiasm right now. The few clients that he’d signed to his new marketing firm were unreasonable. One didn’t want to pay for his work, so William had to hire a collection agency. Another one wanted him to create an entire marketing campaign for pennies, it seemed.
As much as he loved using his marketing skills, sometimes he wished he’d been talented in some other area too. Janine was living her dream, and he was just getting by. Maybe some people just didn’t get to live their dreams. He loved her with all of his heart and soul, and she was a big part of his dreams, but he wanted more for his career. He wanted to smile and look forward to going to work in the mornings.
“Look what Momma just brought by,” Janine said, standing back in the doorway again. She was holding something wrapped in aluminum foil on a plate. “Her peach pound cake! Can you believe it? I’ve been waiting all week for this!”
She was itty bitty, but Janine could put away the desserts. They were her guilty pleasure, especially since SuAnn had opened the bakery next door. All he smelled all day long was the thick scent of sugar hanging in the air. How anyone concentrated on doing yoga was beyond him.
“We can have that for dessert tonight,” he said, smiling.
Janine waved her hand at him. “This girl isn’t waiting until dinner. I’m going to cut a quick piece before class. You want any?”
“No, but thanks. Try not to eat the whole thing before tonight, okay?” he said, winking at her.
Janine put the cake down on the desk and slid back onto his lap, her short legs dangling off one side. “Honey, you know your business will be successful, right?”
“I’m starting to wonder.”
She kissed his nose. “I have faith in you, and I always will.”
“I know, and you’ll never know how much I appreciate that.”
She hugged his neck and then slid off his lap again, taking the poundcake with her. “You sure?” she asked, holding it up again.
“I’m sure.”
As he watched her walk away and disappear into the tiny break room area, he wondered what he’d done that had made him worthy of her. She was the most amazing woman he’d ever met, but he had a secret fear that one day she’d wake up and realize she was way too good for the likes of him.
SuAnn stood behind the counter and wiped at her brow. Even though it was early spring, it was already getting humid. She was trying her darnedest not to turn on the AC just yet, trying to save on her bills as a new business, but she figured she might cave in and turn it on if it got any hotter. The last thing she wanted was for the icing to start sliding off her freshly baked poundcake.
Today’s special was her peach poundcake, and she’d already taken one to her daughter, Janine. There was just nothing better than fresh poundcake as far as she was concerned.
Being in Seagrove had been wonderful so far. She loved seeing her daughters everyday, and she saw her granddaughters a few times a week too. Of course, everyone was busy with their partners, and SuAnn had to admit she missed having a warm body to snuggle up with at night. Being divorced in her seventies sure wasn’t something she’d expected.
Watching Dixie find new love had given her some hope, but most of the men she’d met so far were either married or had one foot in the grave. Were there any men left who didn’t have a list of chronic ailments and a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions? She was still vibrant and wished she could find somebody who could match her energy. Everyone had always said Janine got her peppy personality from SuAnn, and she took pride in that.
The doorbell chimed and SuAnn popped her head up from behind the counter, where she’d been crouched trying to find a new bag of sugar.
“Hey, Grandma,” Colleen said, waving at SuAnn.
“Hello, dear. How’s your day been going so far?”
Colleen smiled and nodded her head toward Tucker, who was standing outside talking on his cell phone. “Any day is a good one when I get to spend it with him.”
“Ah, young love.” SuAnn chuckled. “So what are you two up to today?”
“We’ve got a big new project going on, so we’re heading over to the beach to eat some lunch and brainstorm. Aunt Janine let it slip that you might have a new peach poundcake with my name on it?”
SuAnn rolled her eyes and laughed. “That daughter of mine never could keep a secret. She’s got the loosest lips of anyone I know!” She slid a wrapped poundcake across the counter. “But, I did have one saved just for you. And Meg. And Julie…”
“Sounds like you’ve been a busy little bee, Grandma!”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, what else does an old woman like me have to do?”
Colleen stuck out her bottom lip. “Don’t say things like that. You’re just going through a transition. But, look how brave you were to take off on an adventure all alone!”
SuAnn knew she was trying to be inspirational, but hearing a twenty-something tell her about new adventures wasn’t helpful. After all, everything a twenty-something did was an adventure. And if they messed up, they had decades to try over and over again. She didn’t have that kind of time.
Truth be told, she was jealous of Dixie and how she’d been able to strike out on a new adventure with a new love. She wished she was so lucky.
“Don’t worry about me, sweetie. I’ll be just fine.” SuAnn forced a smile as she watched Colleen walk back out of the bakery. Tucker slid his arm around her waist, kissed her cheek and then waved at SuAnn through the window. Young love or not, she was feeling envious of everyone she knew these days.
As she bent back down to look for that bag of sugar again, she heard the door chime. Wanting to let out a curse word, she zipped her lips and stood back up.
A woman she’d seen around town was standing there. She hadn’t come into the bakery before, but SuAnn had noticed her a few times looking through the window. They were about the same age, although the woman dressed more like a matronly old church lady than SuAnn ever would.
“Can I help you?”
“Why, yes,” the woman said with the thickest Southern accent SuAnn had ever heard. She made Dixie sound like she was from up north. “I’m Henrietta Bankston.” The woman paused for a long moment, as if SuAnn was either supposed to know her or be impressed by her regal sounding name.
“Nice to meet you. I’m SuAnn.”
The woman stared at her, as if she’d just made a major faux pas. “Yes, I’m aware. You must not be from around these parts?”