The Icing on the Cake (8 page)

Her heart went out to Gracie.  She
hadn’t intended to harm Lori.  She had simply wanted to get a hold of that
insect on her eyelid.  She bit back a chuckle at the thought.

Lori was still fussing over her eye,
which was now conspicuously missing its artificial lashes.  She ran a tentative
finger over it, realized she was lash-less, and promptly cupped her hand over
her eye.  “Mom, I need to go home.  Now!”

“Of course, honey.  We should go.  Are
you in pain?  Did the dog scratch your cornea?”

“No,” she cried, and took her voice down
a notch.  “The beast got a hold of my eyelashes.”

“Oh!” Ruth said, relieved.

Kristine bit back a chuckle.  God forbid
Lori would be caught without full makeup.  Her sister had been wearing fake
lashes for as long as she could remember.  She didn’t actually need them
either.  She’d been blessed with thick, luscious lashes.  She’d been blessed,
period.

“Lori, I apologize for Gracie’s lack of
manners.  I intend to work with her to assure this sort of thing never happens
again,” Joe said, upon his return.

She nodded, struggling to avert her
face. 

“May I see your eye?” he asked.  “Is it
all right?  She didn’t get you with a tooth, did she?”

“I don’t know,” she said shakily,
sounding near tears, and definitely milking the incident for every bit of
sympathy she could get.

Joe moved closer and reached for the
hand over her eye.  Lori pulled away.  Come hell or high water, she wasn’t
going to allow Joe to see her without her lashes fully in place.

She spun around.  “Mom.  Let’s go. 
Devon, come on.”

“I … didn’t drive,” Ruth suddenly
remembered.  “Joe drove us over.”

“That’s okay.”  She shoved her hand into
her purse and pulled out her car keys.  “You can drive my car.”

She hurried out of the family room and
to the front door.  Ruth smiled apologetically at Joe and followed her.  A
moment later, Kristine realized that her sister and mother had left her behind. 
She found it odd.  And telling.

Joe sighed and ran both of his hands
down his face.  “God knows, I hope Gracie didn’t injure her eye.”  He shook his
head woefully.  “Krissy, what happened?  Did you see what prompted Gracie to
behave like that?  I can’t keep a dog that will attack someone’s face.”

“She didn’t attack Lori,” she assured
him, and then burst out in laughter at the memory of the big dog going for
those fluttering eyelashes.

Joe watched her as if she’d taken leave
of her senses.

She continued laughing, though she was
trying with all her might to stop.  Joe was regarding her as if she were nuts,
but she simply couldn’t stop.  Earlier, she’d seen Gracie through a window, as
she’d frolicked in the lawn and danced after the butterfly.  It was the cutest
thing she’d seen in a long time—a dog with the face of a pit bull, and the body
of a large husky, practically tip-toeing through the grass.  She was a doggie
ballerina.  It had touched her heart.

“Kristine,” Joe said, his voice stern
with concern.  “What’s so funny?”

Joe had called her ‘Kristine.’  He meant
business.  She sputtered and clutched her sides.  Finally, after several false
starts—or rather, stops—she managed to pull herself together.  “Okay, okay, I’m
really sorry,” she said, still biting back laughter.

“Kristine, Gracie may have hurt Lori.”

She practically rolled her eyes.  “She
didn’t hurt Lori…”  Kristine’s eyes widened.  She realized Gracie had likely
ingested Lori’s eye lashes.  Would they hurt her?  They were small, and dogs
consumed all manner of stuff.  Surely she was going to be okay. 

Joe now regarded her with sympathy, as
she had finally sobered.  “You’re worried for Lori.”

“No, I’m worried about Gracie.”

“Kristine!” Joe exclaimed.  “My dog just
attacked your sister!  This is serious.”

“Gracie didn’t attack Lori, and Lori is
fine!”

“Then what happened?”

“My guess is, when Lori began fluttering
her lashes at you, Gracie mistook them for a butterfly.”

Joe regarded her for several long
seconds.  She could see he was struggling to keep from laughing by biting his
lower lip.  When Kristine burst out in laughter again, however, he lost it too. 

“You saw her going after that butterfly
earlier?”

She nodded.  “It was adorable.”  She
aimed a finger at him.  “You owe Gracie an apology!”

“Gracie’s intention doesn’t negate the
fact that she went for your sister’s eye.”

“She didn’t go for her eye.  She went
for the ‘insect’ she perceived to have perched there.”

Joe scrubbed a hand across his jaw. 
“Gracie needs training.  And fast.  It’s a good thing I have her enrolled in a
class coming up.”  He grimaced worriedly.  “Is Lori going to sue me?”

Kristine met his gaze.  “I’ll keep you
posted,” she said, biting back a chuckle.  He looked devastated.  “She’s not
going to sue you,” she assured him.  “She has other things in mind for you.”

He appeared taken aback.  “Wha—?”

“No worries,” she said, laughing under
her breath.  “Well, I should probably get home, not that my sister and mother
has noticed I’m missing…”

Joe had to admit, that was strange—Lori
rushing off without any regard for the family member she’d left behind. 

Odd.

Kristine went to work as usual Monday
morning.  Her mother hadn’t broached the idea of selling the bakery again, and
she felt relief.  She was too mentally and physically weary to give the idea
thoughtful consideration.  And Lord knew, she didn’t want to make a mistake. 
Once it was sold, it was gone and there was no getting it back.  Well,
presumably there was no getting it back, or rather, getting it back would be
difficult…  She supposed she could buy it back, if the new owners were inclined
to sell it…

Kristine chuckled at her own jumbled
thoughts.  It was funny how sleep deprivation could make an individual muddle
brained and indecisive, she thought, as she was filling the glass case with
baked goods.

She was so intent on the job at hand she
didn’t register the tinkling bell above the door, alerting her to a patron
entering the store.  “I’ll be right with you,” she called.

“Take your time,” a deep voice said.

She recognized Joe immediately.  She
rose up from her crouched position with a smile.  “How are you?” she asked
congenially.

“More to the point, does your sister
still have an eyeball?”

“Lori’s fine.”  She chuckled.  “Prima
Donna,” she added under her breath, and then silently scolded herself.  There
was a time she was both kind and sensitive to the plight of others. 
Unfortunately she just couldn’t muster any sympathy for her sister these days,
but then, it was mutual.

“What did you say?” Joe asked, frowning.

She waved off the question.  “Lori’s eye
is fine.  Gracie took off that eye lash as gingerly as she takes a treat from
your fingers.”  She bit back a laugh at the image of the pit bull going for
that ‘butterfly.’

“Krissy,” Joe scolded, and then laughed
along with her.  “Well, as long as she’s okay.”

“She’s okay,” she assured him again. 
“What can I do for you?”

“I have a meeting at work.  I thought
I’d pick up some treats for my team.  They’ve been working really hard.”

“Sure thing.  What looks good to you?”

“Everything,” he said, as he stepped
forward to choose a selection.  He broke out in a grin when he spotted a tray
of cupcakes with cleverly-crafted butterflies on top.  “Kristine!”

“Sorry,” she murmured contritely.

“What are those made of?” he asked of
the delicate butterflies.

“Painted sugar,” she told him.

His eyes widened and he threw his head
back with boisterous laughter when he spotted the cookies topped with
renditions of Gracie’s face.  Kristine had captured her, right down to the one
orange ear and the speckled ear.  “Is there any question which ones I have to
choose?” he said, shaking his head with chagrin.

“It’s butterflies and dogs for you,” she
said.  “How many of each?”

“Say, a couple dozen of both.  Thank
you.”

“Thank you,” she returned with a smile. 
She hurried off to retrieve some from the back, in order to obtain the
necessary counts, and then quickly and efficiently boxed them up and slid them
to him across the glass case.  “Keep them out of direct sunlight, and away from
Gracie,” she added with a chuckle.

“Good luck to me,” he said, smiling. 
“She’s waiting in the truck.”

“Why didn’t you bring her in?”

“I was afraid you might hold a grudge.”

“For what?”

He pinned her with a look.

“Oh, you mean, the infamous eyelash
incident.  Naw.  She’s forgiven.  Besides, I’ve wanted to snatch those things
off Lori’s eyes for years.”

Joe began laughing.  “Krissy, I do
believe you need a nap.”

She nodded.  “Yep.  A long one.”  She
raised a finger.  “I too realized this very morning that I’m not myself these
days.  I used to be a nice person—relatively intelligent too.  Now, I don’t
think I could recite the alphabet or count to twenty.  I think it’s true what
the experts say, ‘sleep deprivation is akin to alcohol impairment.’”

Joe watched her with genuine concern. 
“Should you be making cupcakes?”

She gave him a quizzical glance.  “I
don’t get you.”

“You might mistake the salt for sugar.”

“That’s the least of your worries,” she
said ominously.

“Huh?”

“I’m more a menace with oven temperature
these days.  Well, when I actually remember to set the temperature.  Forget
about the timer,” she added bemusedly.

He watched her sympathetically.  “Why
don’t you take a day off?”

“Can’t,” she said with a shrug. 
“Somebody has to work around here.”

“I heard that!” Minnie called.

“You know what I mean!” she called back.

“That I do,” Minnie said tiredly.  “Hey,
Joe!  You should take Kristine away from all this.”

Kristine was mortified by the
implication of her friend’s suggestion.  She ignored the remark and moved to
the cash register.  She rang up his purchases and stood back while he pulled
cash out of his wallet to pay her.

“Any chance you could get away during
the lunch hour?” he asked.

She sighed and shook her head.  “I’m
sorry.  You know how it is.”

“How is it?” Minnie called.

Kristine ignored her and plastered a
smile on her face.  “Another time?”

“How ‘bout dinner?” Minnie suggested in
a sing-song voice.

Joe grinned.  “Yes.  How ‘bout dinner? 
May I pick you up at your place around seven?”

“Sure,” Minnie answered for her.

Kristine took a shoring breath and
nodded.  “Sure.”

“She’ll be ready,” Minnie said, and
Kristine heard her chuckling, clearly pleased with herself. 

A certain employee was going to get an
ear-full momentarily.  It was as if Joe read her mind.  “Be nice to Minnie,” he
said, before he spun on his heel and started for the exit.

“Yes, be nice to Minnie!” Minnie called
out.

***

Joe arrived at Kristine’s home promptly
at seven.  He rang the doorbell and Kristine promptly opened the door just wide
enough for her to slip out.  “Let’s go!” she said, acting as if she were part
of some covert spy operation.  “Go!  Go!” she added, shoving him toward his
awaiting sedan.

He assisted her inside and then joined
her.  “What’s the hurry?” he asked, watching her curiously.

“Mom said something about wanting a word
with you and…  Anyway, start the car!  By the way, nice car,” she observed, of
the sleek, black luxury car.

“Am I in trouble?  Is Ruth upset about
Lori’s eye?”

“Lori’s eye is fine!” she insisted. 
“Mom said something about wanting your opinion about something and…”

“You’re not comfortable with me giving
her my opinion…?”

“You’re not the problem,” she said with
a wave of her hand.  “Mom’s still hung up on selling the business.  She started
in on me the minute I got home from work.  Anyway, she figures you might have
an idea of its value and…”

“I build commercial businesses,” he told
her.  “I don’t sell them, but…”

She gave another dismissive wave.  “It’s
all for naught, anyway.  We’re not selling.”

“You’re not?”

“No!”

“Okaaaay,” he said, drawing out the
word.  “So, what exactly is the problem?”

“Mom and Lori both want to sell out.”

He arched his eyebrows and winced.  “Oh,
so it’s two against one.”

“Yes.”

“So you’re selling?”

“No, well, not yet anyway.  Even Mom
acknowledged that my vote has more weight, since I’m the only one actually
working at the bakery.”

“That sounds reasonable.”

“Lori made a pretty big stink about it,”
she told him.  “The minute Mom suggested selling, she was on board.”

“Why?”

“She wants her share, I guess.”

“She needs money?”

“I guess so.  I’m not really privy to
her financial situation, although it’s not as if she has any expenses…”

“She doesn’t pay rent?” he said,
surprised.

“No.  She and Devon are living at home
free of charge.”

“But Lori helps out…?”

“Let’s not talk about Lori,” she said,
suddenly feeling a stabbing pain in her left temple.  “If I continue talking
about her, I’m going to sound like a jerk.”

“It’s okay,” he said.  “I’ve met your
sister.”

She grinned cheekily.  “You dated my
sister.”

“I was young and stupid,” he said, and
then his eyes widened when he realized what he’d said.  “Krissy, I’m sorry. 
That was wrong.  I don’t mean to malign your sister.”

“I know.  Let’s move on to another
topic.”

“How was the rest of your day at work?”

“Fine,” she said cheerfully, and then
registered they were on the interstate heading out of town.  “Where are we
going?”

“To Ridgeway.  You and I are going to
try out that Italian restaurant, unless you’d prefer a drive-through again.”

“No, that’s okay, unless you’re going to
heat up my seat for me.”

“So I can spend my evening watching you
sleep?  I don’t think so.”  He was silent for a moment.  “Actually, maybe we
should pull over and you should take a nap.  My guess is it’s the only way
you’re going to get any real rest.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m
rather looking forward to Italian food.  I hear the restaurant is very nice.”

“Oh, someone you know gave it a try?”

“Lori,” she said wanly.

“I hear she’s dating a local attorney.”

She nodded.  “That’s what I
understand.”  She furrowed her brow.  “We’re talking about Lori again,” she
reminded him.

“Oh, yeah.  Sorry.  Is Devon off
limits?”

She smiled affectionately.  “Never.  I
adore that kid.”  She began chuckling.  “That little devil…”

“What’d he do?”

“I’m not certain as to exact details,
but it seems little Devon got himself kicked out of after-school care.”

Joe turned toward her briefly, and then
back to the roadway.  “Oh, yeah?” he said with a wince. 

She noticed.  “Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just…  That reminds me…”

“Of what?”

“The other day at my place, Devon got
along really well with Pete Williams.  Anyway, he happened to mention to me
that Pete had been kicked out of his after-school care.”

“Reeaallyy?” she said, drawing out the
word.  “I wonder what crime little Pete committed.”

“I don’t know, but I sensed Devon had
something on his mind.  Would you like me to talk to him, man-to-man?”

“Would you?  He might open up to you. 
He really likes you a lot.”

“He may be missing a male role model,”
he mused.  “Lori said his Dad isn’t particularly involved.”

“He isn’t particularly anything,” she informed
sadly.  “I don’t know how a father could turn his back on his own child.”

“Or a mother,” Devon added.

Kristine wondered if the remark was
directed at Lori.  Her first instinct was to come to her sister’s defense, but
perhaps she’d jumped to conclusions.  Besides, she couldn’t defend Lori’s
tendency to abandon her son on a whim.  She was hardly plugged into her own
child’s life and there wasn’t a valid excuse.  She wasn’t working full time. 
Her health was good.  She couldn’t even claim a time-draining hobby.  She was
simply … absent.

  One again, Kristine changed the topic
of conversation and she and Joe made small talk the remainder of the drive to
the restaurant.  When they arrived, they were seated promptly, since Joe had
made a reservation.

Kristine was delighted to discover they
were being seated at a lovely table beside a window that overlooked a candlelit
garden.  Since dusk was settling, the candles created a stunning ambience. 
Coupled with the candles burning under the muted light inside, the whole effect
was enchanting.

Joe smiled when he saw Kristine’s
delighted expression.  He watched her glance around, her mouth opened slightly
in awe.  She finally turned her attention to him.  “I can’t remember the last
time I was at a nice restaurant.”

“With a handsome date,” he finished for
her, chuckling.

She cocked her head, as if assessing his
looks.  “Okay, I’ll concede you’re pretty easy on the eyes.”

“As are you,” he said, smiling softly.

She laughed and looked away,
embarrassed.  “I’m the smart sister,” she said.

“Yes, you’re smart,” he conceded, “but
you’re also gorgeous.”

“I am not!” she scoffed.  “My sister got
the good looks.”

“Are you fishing for compliments,
Krissy?”