The Icing on the Cake (6 page)

Inside the cab of Joe’s truck, Kristine
struggled to stay awake.  Her mother had climbed into the back with Devon,
despite her protests.  Kristine was left with the gloriously heated passenger
seat that was presently lulling her back to blissful slumber. 

“I like your truck, Joe!” Devon said
enthusiastically.  “The back has real seats!”

“Yep.   I’m glad you like it.  Ruth, are
you comfortable back there?”

“Absolutely.  There’s plenty of room.”

“Someday I’m going to have a red truck
too,” Devon announced.

“Make sure it has heated seats,”
Kristine murmured, as she turned slightly toward the passenger window.  She
found herself dozing…

Devon noticed and struggled to reach her
in order to wake her up.  Unable to reach that far, he urged Joe to shake her
awake. 

“Why don’t we wake her up when we get to
my house?” he suggested.

“Or, we could just let her sleep.  She’s
actually really nice most of the time, but Grandma said she’s cranky like a
sick toddler when she doesn’t get enough rest.”

“She must not be sleeping much,” Joe
said, and then realized how it had sounded.  “I mean…”  He sent a glance at
Kristine, hoping she really was sleeping and hadn’t heard the remark. 

Ruth, in the back, laughed.  “Kristine
works far too hard.  I think it is time she had a break.  I know she’s always
wanted to travel too.  Maybe if we sell the business, she’ll be able to take
time to see the world before she decides what her work future holds.”

Joe considered her words.  “I sort of
got the impression she wasn’t particularly eager to sell the business.”

“I sprung it on her,” Ruth said.  “I
know that my suggesting selling the bakery was the very last thing she expected
to hear me say.”

“Are … you sure you’re ready for such a
big step?” Joe asked.  “Branton’s has been a Cooper Glenn institution for many
years.”

“Close to a hundred,” she supplied. 
“But times change, people change, goals change…”

“True,” Joe said.  “But maybe Krissy
can’t imagine her future without the bakery in it.”

“It’s possible,” Ruth acknowledged. 
“She’s certainly responsible for making it the successful business it is today,
but…”  She sighed.  “At a cost.  How will she ever have a life of her own if
she doesn’t let it go, or at minimum, learn to delegate?”

Joe laughed.  “Did you ever learn to
‘delegate’?”

“Yes, but it took me losing my husband
to do it.”

“Ruth, I’m sorry.  I didn’t…”

“Oh, honey, no.  You didn’t say anything
wrong.  I’m simply telling the truth.  After Rod passed so unexpectedly, I was
left reeling.  I could barely manage to function.  Going to the bakery was an
impossibility for me.  I was forced to ‘let go.’  And frankly, it’s been the
best lesson I could have learned.  Much of the time I spent at the bakery, I
could have spent with…”  She took a shuddering breath.  “With Rod,” she said. 
“With my girls.”

He considered her words.  “I
understand.”

They rode in silence for several
moments.  “I’m sorry.  I should have asked—how’s your father today?” Ruth said.

“He’s struggling to come to terms with
letting go of his business.  He, too, is learning some hard lessons.”

“I hate hard lessons,” Ruth said with a
humorless laugh.  “I really do.”

***

Kristine stared out at the passing
scenery.  Joe, her mother, and Devon believed she’d been asleep while they were
talking.  She’d actually heard their entire conversation.

She knew her mother still missed her
father terribly, despite this new lease on life she’d suddenly embraced.  It
broke her heart to think her mom was feeling remorse for all the days she’d
worked when she could have been home with her husband and girls.  But for
whatever reason, it had led her to the realization that she didn’t want to
waste anymore time.

But was Kristine’s time at the bakery
wasted?  Was her mother right?  Was it time to sell the business and move on? 
But what would she do with herself? 

One could only do so much traveling. 
And it wasn’t as if the Branton family had an unending supply of cash.  Even
the money from the sale of the bakery wouldn’t last long.  Proceeds from the
sale would be divided between her mother, Lori, and her, but Branton’s was a
small bakery in a tiny town.  It would hardly be a boon for them.

Kristine felt a wave of anger wash over
her.  While she understood her mother wanting a break from the responsibilities
of business ownership, where was Lori in this picture?  She enjoyed the perks
of owning a family bakery but never, ever put in the time to help out. 
Frankly, if Lori were to pitch in on a regular basis, Kristine was confident
they could keep the bakery open without anyone having to give up all of her
free time in the process.

And what
would
Lori do if they
sold out?  She was well on her way to a ‘Mrs.’ Degree at the college of Poor
Schmuck, but what if her marriage failed this go-round?  How did she intend to
make a living?  Devon’s dad was hardly forthcoming with child support.

Kristine sighed.  She wasn’t being very
nice about her sister, and she knew it.  She felt guilt for her fury at her
sister, but couldn’t help herself her anger.  Lori was four years older and
behaved like a fourteen-year-old.  It was the weekend—she could be spending
time with Devon—but she’d chosen her boyfriend instead.

She took a steadying breath, to calm her
angry heart.  It wasn’t like her to get so riled up about anything.  She was
the steady sister, the one with her head on straight.

It was a relief when Joe announced
they’d arrived at his house.  Kristine made a play of pretending to wake up and
glanced around.  She gasped when she saw his house.

A massive Tudor on a level, green
acreage, it was beautiful.  He drove along a long, wide lane and parked in
front of a three-car garage. 

“I like your house, Joe!” Devon cried
eagerly.  “Your front yard is bigger than the park by Grandma’s house.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Joe said with a
smile.  “Hold on, Devon.  I’m going to help the ladies out of the truck and
then I’ll help you.  Okay?”

“Okay!”

Joe dropped out of the truck.  He
rounded the hood and helped Kristine out, and then Ruth.  Devon scrambled
across the seat and he lifted him down.

“Thanks, Joe!  Where’s your dog?”

“I’ll introduce you in just a minute,”
he said, smiling at the eager little boy.  He sent a tentative glance at
Kristine.  She seemed distracted, but then, her mother had just given her a
shock by suggesting they sell the bakery.

He glanced toward the end of the lane
when he spotted a minivan turn into his drive.  “It looks like the Williams are
here,” he said.  “We got here just in time.”

The group waited for the new arrivals
and after quick introductions, Joe led the group into his garage and then out a
door to the backyard.  They immediately spotted Gracie in her new dog run,
which Joe had placed parallel to the fence.  He’d poured a thick concrete pad
on which he’d constructed a huge dog run.  The four corners boasted pillars,
which supported the roof.  There were no gaps to allow Gracie a means of
escape, and to the surprise of the Williams’, she seemed content in her new
home.

Joe had built a large doghouse within
the space, despite the fact that Gracie already had a roof overhead.  Joe
hurried to let her out of the run and she immediately greeted every member of
the group.

Joe directed his attention to the five
Williams’ children.  “I want to thank you for giving Gracie to me,” he said. 
“I want you to know I’m taking really good care of her.”  He slapped his leg. 
“Come on, Gracie!  You can play with the kids.”

Joe’s backyard was massive and he
encouraged the children to play.  He gave one of the boys a ball and he tossed
it across the yard.  Gracie took off like a shot.

“She looks great,” Mrs. Williams said,
smiling.

Her husband agreed.  “She seems happy.” 
He laughed.  “Her room is nicer than ours,” he teased.

“Everyone, grab a chair,” Joe said. 
“I’m going to fire up the barbecue.”  He sought Kristine’s eyes.  “Would you
like to join me?”

She couldn’t very well say ‘no’ without
seeming impolite.  She followed him inside the house and into the kitchen.  He
pulled hot dogs from the refrigerator, and then placed all the necessary
condiments and non-perishables on the massive, granite-topped kitchen
island.    “We’ll bring everything outside to the picnic table in a minute,” he
mused, and then smiled her way.

She watched him awkwardly.

“So you know, I didn’t suggest your
mother sell the business.  We were simply having a conversation.”

“About…?”

He shrugged.  “I don’t know.  About
priorities, I guess.  About the pursuit of happiness…”  He gave another shrug. 
“I’m as surprised as you that it precipitated a change in your mother, but…” 
He raised a qualifying finger.  “She seems like she’s doing well now.”

Kristine couldn’t deny that and realized
she should probably be thanking Joe for inspiring a change in her mother.  Her
mother was actually out of the house and seemingly enjoying herself for the
first time in a good long while.

When she followed Joe out of the house,
she found Ruth engaged in a rousing game of fetch with Gracie.  The dog was
running in circles around her, eager for her to throw the ball.

“You can do it, Grandma!” Devon shouted.

Kristine couldn’t help smiling.  Her
mother seemed hopeful and alive for the first time in a long while.

She turned and saw that Joe had fired up
the barbecue and was putting hot dogs on the grill.  The Williams had taken
chairs close by.  “Can we help?” Mary Williams asked.

Joe shook his head.  “No, thank you. 
We’ve got it under control.  Relax,” he said, smiling.

Mary began speaking.  “Joe, I didn’t
tell you.  I took your advice and went by the humane society.  I saw those
darling little poodle mix puppies…”

“And…” he prompted with a smile.

“And…” she said, returning his smile,
“we are now the proud owners of Suki, the runt of the litter.”

“She’s a runt all right,” her husband
groused.  “She can fit in the palm of my hand.”

“She’s adorable,” his wife gushed.

“Mary, you know I’m a big dog kind of a
guy.”

She scoffed.  “You should see this big
lug with his little Suki.  Wouldn’t you know, the little thing positively
adores Jim?  When he gets off work each evening, she’s the very first name he
calls out and that dog…”  She laughed at the memory.  “That dog is determined
to be in his arms.”

“She loves me,” Jim said smugly.

“And you love her!” she insisted with a
laugh.

“What is it you do for a living?” Joe
asked with interest.

“He’s a deputy sheriff,” Mary answered. 
“Big tough cop and his little chihuahua poodle mix…” she teased.

Ruth overheard the latter part of the
conversation when she joined them.  “I’ve always been partial to small dogs,
but that Gracie…  She’s special.”

Mary smiled.  “She is a sweet girl. 
According to the vet, she’s an adolescent, so be warned, Joe.”

He chuckled.  “She’s doing great.  She
absolutely loves riding in my truck with me.  She’s well-mannered inside.  All
in all, she’s just a good girl.”  He directed his attention to the hot dogs for
a moment, moving them around the grill a bit for even cooking.  “I
have
enrolled her in a training course.  I think she would benefit from it.”

“I’ll say,” Jim said drolly, and then
added smugly, “My little Suki, however, is already potty trained and can sit
and shake hands, er, paws.”

Mary laughed.  “The kids are pleading
with us to go back to the Humane Society to get a second puppy.  They complain
constantly that Daddy stole their dog.”

Joe chuckled.  “You might want a second
one.  Suki probably doesn’t take up a lot of space, and she would likely enjoy
a companion for those days she’s home alone.”

“Jim, what did I tell you?” Mary said. 
“Joe is right.  Suki needs a friend, and the kids need a fair shot at time with
their
puppy,” she said, emphasizing the word.

Kristine sat quietly by, listening to
the exchange.  It occurred to her she might like a dog.  Unfortunately, she
didn’t have time for a dog, and she couldn’t very well keep one in the bakery. 
The Health Department might have something to say about that.

“Krissy…?”

She glanced up.  Joe was watching her
expectantly.  “Would you help me bring everything outside?”

She rose.  “Sure”

Ruth stood up, as well.  “Put me to
work,” she said.

Kristine couldn’t believe the change in
her mother.  What had Joe said that had prompted such a turnaround?