Big & Beautiful 9: Puffy & Precious

Tuesday. Girls’ night. I could handle it. Just because Charlie wasn’t there, and everyone was coming to SkinnyCakes, didn’t mean I wasn’t a part of the group.

They all liked me. Right?

Fears and doubts swirled around my head as I prepared for everyone to show up. I’d hosted girls’ night before, but that was when Bite Me!, my new sister-in-law, Charlie’s, bakery, was closed while she moved. I was up again since Charlie was on her honeymoon.

I called my mom for a pep talk before anyone got there. “Mom?”

“What’s wrong honey?” she said. Just hearing her voice made me feel better. I’d always been close to my mom and Grams. They took it well when I decided to move in with Max instead of them after my marriage fell apart.

“I’m just nervous about tonight.”

“What’s tonight?”

I laughed. “Girls’ night. All of Charlie’s friends are coming to SkinnyCakes.”

“Oh, that’s nothing for you to worry about. You’ve been spending time with them for months, Abby. Why would you be nervous tonight?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve always had Charlie there as a buffer. I guess I wonder if they were always nice to me because of her or if they really like me.”

Mom laughed. “You worry too much, Abby. They’d be crazy not to love you.”

“Brett didn’t.”

I heard Mom suck in a sharp breath. “We’re not going to talk about that. He’s not a well-balanced man. His opinion of you is not of relevance.”

“Mom, you and I both know he’s perfectly balanced.”

“Any man who thinks it’s okay to cheat on his wife is not perfectly balanced, Abby.”

And there we went. The reason I didn’t move back in with Mom and Grams after my marriage broke up. Because I was wrong, she was right, and Brett was an idiot. Although I couldn’t argue with any of it, I didn’t want to hear it every day.

“Okay, Mom, you’re right. He’s not balanced.”

“Abby, tonight will be fun. Your friends are very nice people. There’s nothing to be worried about. Just relax and have fun tonight.”

I took a deep breath. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome, honey. We’ll talk later.”

We said goodbye as Addi walked through the door. As a teacher, she was perpetually on time. She also lived out at Winter Ridge with her husband, Joey, and had a bit of a drive to get back home so she came early and worked before girls’ night. I felt better when she walked in the door. At least someone was there.

“Hey Abby! Have you heard from Max?”

I shook my head. “Nope. He said not to bother them because he doesn’t plan to get out of bed for a week. I really didn’t need to know that.”

Addi laughed. “If they’re not getting out of bed they could have stayed home instead of going to the Florida Keys.”

I shrugged. “That’s what I said. Max argued they’d end up working and not spending their entire time off if they were in town.”

“I can understand that. Whenever I’m on break from school it taunts me. Even over summer break I’m planning out my lessons for the next year and picking up supplies that I know I’ll need.”

I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m always thinking up new recipes when I’m relaxing. Not that I do much of that anymore.”

“You’re working too hard,” Addi said gently. “You need to rest a little.”

“Getting a store started up isn’t easy. It’s open, but I’ve got to make sure I stay that way. Charlie’s customers have been great though. They’re more adventurous than I expected.”

Addi laughed. “I’m not sure how much of that you’ll get tonight. I hate to tell you that.”

I nodded. “I know. Without cupcakes no one’s going to know what to order. I did bake a few different cakes though. Hopefully it’ll satisfy whoever isn’t willing to try my healthy alternatives.”

“That was really sweet of you.”

I shrugged as though it was no big deal. Addi didn’t have to know that I studied what everyone ate every Tuesday for the last few weeks so I could have something they all liked. That I got recipes from Charlie to test out, and made myself sick with the sugar. Or that I substituted some ingredients to make healthier versions that, to me at least, tasted just like Charlie’s.

All that was my own little secret.

“I just want everyone to be okay with being here. I know it’s different than Bite Me!”

Addi shrugged as though the differences were minor. SkinnyCakes couldn’t be more different. Since I had trouble with sugar, I avoided it a lot. Most of my creations were less sweet, but still delicious, in my opinion.

“Different isn’t always a bad thing. Maybe we can start alternating between here and Bite Me! Then we can support both of you.”

“Oh, no, it’s okay. You guys have all been going to Bite Me! for so long. I wouldn’t want to take business away from Charlie. Probably not the best way to start a friendship with my new sister-in-law.”

Addi shook her head, her long brown hair tumbling over her shoulders with the movement. “I’m pretty sure you started your friendship out pretty damn well. Letting Charlie use your kitchen here was really important to her. I’m sure she told you how much she appreciated that.”

I still felt bad about the way Charlie and I met. If Max hadn’t been such an idiot we would have become friends earlier. It made sense that she was nervous about my bakery opening up so close to hers, but I never saw us as being in competition. When she and I finally met I had no idea she was the woman Max was dating. I just liked the idea of connecting with another local businesswoman. Helping her out when she relocated Bite Me! was the right thing to do. Plus, I really liked Charlie and working with her every day was the most fun I’d had at work in a very long time.

Working for my cheating ex was never enjoyable.

“She did,” I told Addi. “I know she was happy to have a place to work, but I still don’t think we need to mess up anything.”

Addi shrugged again. “Okay. It was just a thought. Can I grab a slice of your s’mores cake? Charlie’s s’mores cupcakes are my favorites.”

“I know,” I slipped, not intending to reveal it. “I mean, I’ve noticed you eat those a lot. Hopefully this will be okay for this week.”

Addi shook her head. “You’re funny, Abby. I’m going to grade some papers. Two more months until summer’s here. I’m already counting down.”

I laughed as I handed over Addi’s cake. Even though I hadn’t known her long, I knew Addi loved teaching. She grumbled occasionally, but for the most part it was obvious teaching was her one thing.

It took me longer than I’d hoped to find my one thing. SkinnyCakes was it. I hoped so at least. After I found Brett screwing his assistant on his desk, I knew I had to get my shit together. I’d mentioned starting a bakery a few times, but he was never supportive. Whenever I got restless, he would give me something to do at his office until I stopped talking about it.

I should have left him long before I actually did.

Before I could ride my spiral all the way down, the door swung open. I smiled at the woman who walked in. She’d been in a few times and kind of annoyed me, but the customer was always right. Right?

“Welcome back. What can I get you today?”

She gave me a tight-lipped smile and studied the case. When she finally looked up, her eyes scanned my body. Women like her always made me more than a little self-conscious. She was thin and perfect from her sleek ponytail to her light pink button-down shirt, one that didn’t gap at her breasts, to her gray pencil skirt that slid smoothly from her belly without a bulge in sight. I couldn’t see her shoes, but I had no doubt she wore heels that made her legs look endless. Hell, she already towered over my stumpy five-foot-four.

“I’ll take a slice of the flourless chocolate cake and a black coffee.”

“For here?” I asked automatically, knowing she wouldn’t stay.

She shook her head. “No.”

I tried not to be offended that she was clearly not interested in being friendly. Her money worked the same as everyone else’s. My hands trembled ever so slightly as she studied me getting her slice of cake. Because I didn’t use flour, it was a gluten-free cake. So many people made the mistake of assuming that meant it was healthy. The chocolate, sugar, and butter begged to differ. Heck, even the eggs didn’t bring the healthy quotient up too far.

But it was good. One of my few indulgences. I cut slices small because it was such a rich and sweet cake. Most of my customers didn’t mind. She was the exception.

“That’s a very small slice.”

“They’re all the same size.”

“I think that one over there is a bit larger. Would you please give me that one instead.”

I looked at the piece she pointed out and sighed. They were all exactly the same, but she was right, the one she pointed to looked bigger. Because it had more powdered sugar on it. Leave it to the wafer woman to not realize white makes things look bigger.

“Of course,” I told her, spinning the cake to reach the slice she wanted. I set it into the box for her and poured her coffee. Bringing both to the end of the counter, I rang her up.

A minute later she was gone and another group came in.

For the next hour I served customers and Addi graded papers. It helped my afternoon to pass with the steady stream of customers, and made me think I could really make SkinnyCakes a success.

I flipped the Closed sign on the door and grabbed the new cakes I made for Girls’ Night from the back. Addi packed away her papers just as Lexi and Riley walked in.

“Hi ladies,” I said with a smile.

Lexi was clearly there from work. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail that had seen better days. She had on jeans that hugged her curves and a t-shirt streaked with blues and reds from her job at EAAC Pigments. Riley was just as casual in her own jeans and a bright green top that I knew she’d made. Riley’s skills impressed the hell out of me.

They both walked over and hugged me then sat with Addi, hugging her also. One thing I’d noticed was the entire group was very affectionate. In teasing and in their normal interactions, they all liked to hug and touch each other. Even their husbands. It took a little getting used to, especially having someone’s husband hug me, but I was adjusting.

“Working?” Lexi asked Addi as she took a seat next to her. Riley sat on the other side of Lexi.

Addi shook her head. “Just finishing grading some papers.”

“Ready for summer?”

Addi nodded and grinned. “Definitely.”

“Do you guys have any plans?”

Addi shook her head. Her husband, Joey, ran Winter Ridge, the local ski resort. In the summer they had a bunch of adventure trails and nature hikes that people could take, but it was quiet. It worked well for both of them to take time off. She’d been talking about trips for months.

“We haven’t settled on anything yet. Joey wants to hike down into the Grand Canyon and camp, but I don’t know if I can handle that. I’d love to go up to Maine and Vermont and New Hampshire. I’ve never been and would love to visit some of those states.”

“We all know you’ll win,” Riley teased. “You probably have it all picked out, don’t you.”

Addi’s cheeks turned pink but she tried to protest. “No! Of course not.”

“Whatever.”

I laughed with the others but didn’t quite feel their level of camaraderie. I’d get there eventually, but I was still getting to know them.

“Hey, Abby, did you dye your hair?” Carrie asked as she joined us. “It looks great!”

My hand flew to my hair, hoping she was telling the truth. Since the others hadn’t mentioned it, I figured they didn’t like it. Carrie was the one whose fashion sense I admired the most. She had the ability to make everything look good. Her cat-eyes made you want to pet her, but her dirty mind, that she liked to share, made you want to blush. If I had her confidence, I never would have stayed with Brett. “I did. Is it bad?”

“No!” everyone said at once. “It suits you,” Riley said.

“Really?”

Four heads nodded. “The mousy brown wasn’t doing anything for you. The blonde is sexy. Cute. Hints at a little something else going on.”

“What’s going on?” Claire asked as she took the seat next to me. Claire was the quiet one. Well, they all said she was. She wasn’t ever quiet at girls’ night. She was strong and kind and always interested in making sure everyone was okay. “Cute hair.”

“That’s what’s going on,” Carrie answered. “We were telling Abby we like her new color.”

“Definitely,” Claire agreed. “A new look for the newly single woman. Any dates yet?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m not sure I’m ready.”

“Ready for what?” Sam asked, hugging everyone from behind as she went around the table. She dropped into the seat next to Addi, her pregnant belly reaching the edge of the table. She was six months pregnant with her first, a boy.

“Ready to date,” Addi answered Sam’s question for me.

“Who’s dating?” Mandy, the last of the group joined us. I’d hoped she would bring baby Elise, her five-month-old daughter, but she was solo. Mandy was always the last one to arrive for girls’ night, but strangely she’d gotten closer to punctual since she became a mom. She looked tired, but her green eyes were bright and happy. I’d kill for her red hair instead of my dull brown, or even the blonde I’d given myself, but red just didn’t look good on me. I’d tried.

“No one is dating,” I said.

“Phew,” Mandy said. “Because you’re the only one allowed to date anymore. Why aren’t you dating?”

“My divorce has only been final a few months.”

“And your ex was a lying, cheating scumbag who took you for granted. You should be out there looking for someone who deserves you.”

Deserves. It was such an easy word, but one that tripped me up constantly. Why did I deserve to find love? Why did I deserve to be cheated on? Why did I deserve to own my own business? Did I really deserve any of it? Was it something that was really meant to be, or was deserve a word we used to make ourselves feel better when life went to shit?

“There’s a cute guy at work I could set you up with,” Lexi offered. “Kind of a sloppy kisser, but great guy.”

Sam held up her hand. “I’m all for matchmaking and finding a guy for Abby, but I need something sweet before we get into that. Brady’s got me watching everything I eat, but tonight is my one cheat night. Abby, please tell me you have something for us.”

I jumped up. “Yes! Sorry. I forgot. I put them on the counter. I’ve got all my normal stuff in the case, but I made a red velvet cake and a sangria cake.”

“Sangria!” Carrie and Sam both said.

“Wait,” Sam continued. “Is there alcohol in it?”

I shook my head. “No. I used the flavor but didn’t put any alcohol actually in it. I figured you two would be the takers on that one and wanted to make sure you could eat it.”

“I’ll take red velvet,” Mandy said, getting up to help me. “Claire? Cinnamon roll? She’s still got three in the case.”

“Perfect.”

“Lexi, I have a flourless chocolate cake that I think will be close to your chocolate mousse. Want to try it?”

“Yes, please.”

Mandy delivered plates as I served them. “Addi, another s’mores?”

“Actually, I want to try that flourless cake. It looked good when that bitchy woman came in earlier.”

“What bitchy woman?” Mandy asked, taking Lexi’s plate from me.

I rolled my eyes. “She’s been coming in lately. She’s this tiny perfect woman who makes me feel like I’m about 300 pounds.”

“She was really short with Abby. She needed some manners.”

“Well, she was probably hungry. If she was that tiny maybe she hasn’t been eating enough,” Mandy teased. “Reminds me of Melody.”

“Let’s not go there,” Claire said before I could ask who Melody was. “She’s not worth our time.”

“Agreed. Riles, you’re the only one left. What do you want?”

“I have a coffee cake and a hot chocolate cake that I thought you might like. Of course I have more stuff too, but I thought those might be right for you.”

“Sounds great. Can I have both?”

“Yeah, of course,” I told her, pulling out slices of each. “I cut all my slices small but if you guys want more there’s plenty of everything. Well, except the flourless cake. You guys have the last of it.”

“What are you having?” Mandy asked as she carried Riley’s plate over. She came back for her own plate of red velvet and waited for me.

“I was going to have some of the sangria cake. I tried it last night when I made it, but I hadn’t iced it yet.”

“It’s so good,” Sam moaned around a mouthful. “I mean, no. It’s horrible. You should just send the rest home with me. I’ll get rid of it for you.”

We all laughed. “I was going to send it home with you guys if you wanted it, but don’t feel like you have to take it. I’m sure I can sell it if you don’t want it.”

Sam and Carrie exchanged a look and both yelled, “Dibs!”

Everyone laughed again. Mandy and I joined them with our cake before I realized I hadn’t grabbed any drinks. There was a fresh pot of decaf coffee on and a pot of regular. I filled a tray with the white mugs I used when people ate in the cafe and brought it over. After I set both coffee pots on the table, I went back for Mandy’s hot chocolate and a few bottles of water.

When I finally sat down, I realized they were all watching me.

“What?”

“You really need to start dating again. Any man would be crazy not to want you,” Claire said with a gleam in her Emerald green eyes. A gleam I knew meant I was in trouble.