How to Bake the Perfect Wedding Cake (17 page)

“Honestly, Lauren, I don’t care about what Sherry pays for or doesn’t. She lost the one person she loved the most and whatever she did as a fallout because of that…I’m not going to judge her for. Would I invest with her or do business again? No. But I certainly won’t try and put her behind bars.”

“Why not?”

“Because she was Lewis’s wife and I would never do that to him. Just like I wouldn’t even consider the idea that he would do that to you.”

“But I wouldn’t steal.”

“You’re right, Lauren, you wouldn’t and you can’t do any business with her either. You know that.”

He was right. I did know that I couldn’t do business with Sherry. But now what was I going to do about my career?

Chapter Thirteen

The refrigerator door closes hard. Is Jack mad? I just got back from dress shopping with Brianna.

“Hey, Jack, are you okay?”

“No, I’m not.” He strides into the living room and gives my body the once-over. He grabs my hand and my purse and locks the door.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going grocery shopping.”

Jack places me in the passenger side like I’m an infant who needs to be buckled in. I can’t help but frown.

“Okay, so the point of this trip is?”

“The point of the trip is that you don’t keep any food in your house. It’s only popcorn, coffee, and wine. And that is not going to cut it.”

“Au contraire, it’s our house and I think popcorn and wine make a meal of great substance, and then of course there is our love. With that we’re good, right?” I let out a little laugh and give his shoulder a playful nudge but he doesn’t budge.

“Lauren, you’re no longer a single person. Eating out is great but having food in the house is a typical thing that most people do.”

I squish my eyebrows together. I don’t cook. I don’t bake. Having no food in the house makes sense for someone like me. Why do I need to change now? Is this really what his huff is about?

“Jack, is this really about groceries or are you still annoyed about Sherry?”

Jack glances at me then smiles ruefully. “Okay, maybe I’m taking my frustration about Sherry out on your kitchen.” I nod and give him an encouraging smile. “It’s fine, I know you’ll do the right thing.”

“I will, Jack. It’ll all work out okay.” I hope.

Jack parks the car and grabs a large shopping cart. I consider any cart large given I hardly ever use a basket. Unless there is a sale on wine. Then I might even opt for the bigger cart.

“Do you want to sit in the front?”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “I don’t know—is that something that non-single people do? Because if so then sign me up. However, you’re going to have to hoist me in. There is no way I can climb in without toppling over.”

Jack grins. “I would never let you fall.”

We enter the store and Jack is in the produce section sizing up the apples. I’m wondering what our first harvest at the house will be like. Full of juicy fruit—or will our trees be barren? Jack catches my eye. “Ours will be better.” He winks at me and tosses some cartons of strawberries into the cart along with some carrots, cucumbers, a bag of lettuce, and a stalk of celery.

“What are you planning on making?” I inspect the items in our cart that is filling up.

Jack pinches my side. “We will be making a chopped salad, eggplant parmigiana, and for dessert strawberries a la Lauren.”

I let out a giggle. “How is it that all of your recipes have Lauren in the name?”

“Better question, how could they not?” He taps my nose and drives the cart down the pasta aisle. I follow behind him, this man who is driving me crazy with his amazing love.

Back in the kitchen, I’m surprised to find that Jack has not only added to my non-existent bakeware but has also purchased quite a line of cookware and knives. I’m so clueless in the kitchen that I hadn’t even noticed this. Here he is making my—our—house more of a home and I’m so self-involved that I didn’t even notice. I gulp and take in a deep swallow of sadness. I’ve got to up my game and what I’m bringing to the table in this relationship and not just what I’m supposed to prepare for the table tonight.

“Now, if my memory serves me well, over Thanksgiving you were pretty handy with a knife. So you slice up the eggplant. Here they are, washed and ready.” Jack places a bowl in front of me. Yes, over Thanksgiving I sliced butter and even then I was uncertain as to which way to cut it. I watch cooking shows for fun but I really don’t pay enough attention to what is being taught to actually apply any particular method in the kitchen. I flex the muscles in my neck. Get it together, Lauren. You can do this.

I take the knife and slice the eggplant in long flat lengths and take a peek at Jack. He is mixing up a fresh marinara sauce on the stove. He is even hotter in the kitchen. His large rounded shoulders, the way they move as he works. As he stirs. He has stirred more heat into this relationship than I would have thought was possible. He’s right, cooking at home is something we should be doing more often and together. I’m overcome with how nice this is and we haven’t even taken a bite yet. I wrap my hands around his waist and squeeze him.

“Is my little sous chef getting distracted?”

“How can I not?”

Jack turns around and takes my chin into his hands. “Lauren, I love you. Cooking with you is so much more than simply mixing ingredients into a bowl. We are making a life together.” His lips meet mine and the timer of my heart is ringing. Lauren, you’re done…
you’re done
.

***

One test means nothing. I know a false positive is rare. But it’s the case with me. With much trepidation and hesitation I took a test. A pregnancy test. But the results are clearly wrong. Obviously wrong. They couldn’t be more wrong. And here I sit in the bathroom stall of Calstone Corp knowing how wrong the results are. And why of all places would I do this test here? Yuck. No, if I am to be a mother I should be taking the test with Jack. Not holed up in the office communal bathroom. I want to hurl at the thought of this.

And now what? What do I do? Do I take another? Do I tell Jack? What am I going to do if I’m wrong and these tests are right? I’m not prepared for this. I’m not ready…I swallow hard…to be a mother. Am I? Is there a little baby inside of me who wants to be born and I’m pretending that it doesn’t exist? How effed up is that? NO. I swallow hard. I will get through this day and figure out what’s going on with my body at the end.

I storm back to my office on a mission. I have to reach out to Sherry. I need to tell her that I’m not going to be able to do business with her. Not because Jack told me that I can’t…but because I know I can’t and won’t. I will not be associated with a criminal. Whether or not Jack presses charges, this is something I can’t be a part of.

The big moment…the big change in my career evaporates in my mind. I was a fool to think it would happen so smoothly. That’s not the way things work. Things don’t just fall in your lap. Definitely not large accounts like that. No, it was a set up to begin with and I cannot go forward with the plan. I click the call button and wait for the ringing to sound in my ear.

“Lauren, how are you?”

“I’m good, Sherry. Listen, I can’t handle any of your accounts.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes.” I can’t say I wish her the best of luck. Because I don’t. I don’t wish her any happiness. I don’t have major ill will towards her but I’m definitely not on the sidelines waving a
Sherry Can Succeed
flag
.

“Hmm…all right. I suppose I might get people wrong here and there. I just thought I was right about you.”

I don’t respond to this statement. It’s a cue for me to be bothered.

“Yes, I thought Jack was interested in a smart business-savvy gal…I guess not. I guess Lewis was wrong about him.”

I swallow hard. “I wonder if Lewis would feel the same way about you.” I can’t help it. I know she is grieving but to tarnish Jack’s name and the thoughts of his deceased brother—I can’t stand back and say nothing.

“Oh bless your heart; you have no idea. Lewis was a wise man. After all he did marry me. But you’ll be lucky if you actually make it to the altar with Jack. Bye now.”

The sound of the dial tone is louder than seems possible. I take my headphones off and place them on my desk.

What a
biatch.
Argh.
Why couldn’t she just stay gone? To pop up now and cause issues for me? Because of this, Javier will want to know why I didn’t land the account and I’ll go from being viewed as someone who makes things happen to someone who couldn’t close a deal. And not just any deal, a huge one.

A knock sounds from my door. “Come in.” I stand up.

“So, did you land it?” Javier’s teeth are shining white underneath the biggest grin I’ve ever seen to cross his face. He has probably been waiting all day to come and talk to me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t.”

“What? What happened?” His eyes are squinting like he is trying to figure out a really difficult math equation. And this one isn’t that hard. I can’t make a client of a thief and especially not a thief who stole from my fiancé.

“Something wasn’t adding up with her accounts. There were a lot of transfers back and forth from the Caymans. I traced back as far as I could but something about it seemed off to me.” I glance at the ground. “I’m sorry, Javier, I didn’t want to miss out on a big account either but I have to go with my gut on this one.” I press my lips together. “She said she was going to try some other places and look for better rates.”

“Are you serious? You let the biggest account slip through your hands because of your gut? Lauren, you’re better than that. I can’t believe you let her get away!” Javier runs his hands through his hair. “Lauren, this isn’t good. I thought if you landed this account it would make up for your team’s numbers. Now you’re back at square one. Shoot, I don’t know if you’re even at square one.” He bites his knuckles. “I might have to take action here. This is not the manager material that I saw in you when I promoted you.” He leaves, closing the door behind him.

A minute later Bethany taps on my door and pops her head round. “Hey, Lauren. Are you okay? I couldn’t help but overhear…”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing. I think if you can’t count on yourself then who can you count on?”

I nod. “Thanks, Bethany.” She goes back into the hallway and I slump back in my seat and try to focus on my queue and figure out how I can make a difference and not be on this failure list that Javier has just put me on.

I glance at the clock. I’m meeting Brianna for dinner and to try on another round of dresses. A lump forms in my throat. I have to tell her that I asked Megan to be my matron of honor and Brianna is going to be hurt. I’ll have to explain how hurt I was about the house hunt and then I’ll have to tell her about the test. No. I can’t tell her the last part. I have to tell Jack that first.

I text Brianna.

I need to reschedule the hunt.

Too busy landing major accounts to hang out with your bf? Whatevs…

I laugh at the ridiculousness of the whole situation.

If you only knew.

That good?!?!?!!?

Her message is followed by a ton of celebratory emoticons.

I send back only one emoticon that resembles the face I’m most likely displaying right now. Utter sadness and despair.

Can you talk?

Not now.

And with that I toss my phone back in my purse. I put my headphones back on and decide to grab some open calls from the queue. If I have to grab ten new clients to make up for the loss of Sherry’s business, then that is what I’ll have to do.

***

Whoosh. I let out a deep sigh. Not too shabby. I snagged two new clients that have healthy-sized accounts, not anything in comparison to Sherry, but it’s a step in the right direction. I lock up my computer and head out into the corridor. Elaine is swiftly moving in my direction. I want to pull a Trent and do an about-face. Except that would be in the opposite direction to leaving the building and I’ve got to get out of here.

“Lauren, finally. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for what seems like forever.”

I raise my eyebrows at her. This is news to me. She’s only asked me to chat once. I don’t have any voicemails or other messages from her.

“Okay, well, here I am.”

“Yes, indeed. How about that new account? Did you land it?” She bats her eyelashes at me.

“I landed two new accounts today.” The sides of my mouth pull up in a full grin. This is technically true. I’m sure she is asking about Sherry’s account but I’m hoping we can all forget about it or at least hold off on discussing it until I’ve pulled in several new accounts to take off some of the sting from the loss.

“Oh my…aren’t you the overachiever.” She gives a long high-pitched cackle. I cringe. That was a horrible sound that I hope I never experience again.

“Hmm…something like that. Excuse me.” I push past her and hustle down the hallway.

My hand lands on my lower stomach as I wait for the elevator. Is there really another little person inside of me? And if so did they just cringe too over that awful laugh from Elaine? I know if I’m pregnant it’s probably too early for a movement but I’m sure that if there is a baby inside of me that they are also bothered by Elaine. I mean who wouldn’t be? Ha!

I hop into the elevator. As it moves me down to the garage, I remember that though I had intended on telling Jack tonight and I canceled my dinner with Brianna, I never actually told him that.
Shoot.
I hope he hasn’t made other plans.

From inside my car I dial his number.

“Hello, gorgeous.”

I laugh. I wonder if he will think I’m gorgeous when I’m all fat and swollen?

“Hey, um I canceled my plans with Brianna. I need to talk to you.”

“Is something wrong?”

I take in a deep breath. How do I answer this question? I’m not sure if it’s something wrong as such. Would that be the best description to give this moment—or should it be described as a life event? Something is definitely different. Very different.