“She hates me. I’m sure I’m the last person she wants to see.”
Dawn shrugged. “She’s here, isn’t she?” Then she whisked away.
Kelly hadn’t changed a bit. Wearing a crisp white blouse under a fancy black-and-white apron, her dark hair hung down past her shoulders. Stacking bracelets on her left arm jingled as she dropped her gaze and began to nervously fuss with the cupcakes.
He moved toward her, but his cousin caught him by the elbow. “I was shocked when your mom called and said you were in town for a couple of days. How’ve you been?”
“Great.” He turned back toward Kelly. Each time he laid eyes on her, the pull was stronger, even though she looked like she was ready to run. “Terrific. It’s great to see you, cuz. Umm, I need to grab something. I’ll be right back.”
He headed straight toward Kelly. The noise around him couldn’t drown out the thud of his heart.
With each step, he asked himself why he was doing this. Hadn’t he said the whole flight here that he was going to avoid Kelly McIntyre at all costs? But his legs kept moving, one foot in front of the other.
A pretty brunette tugged on his arm. “Welcome back. It’s so good to see you.” She looked familiar but he couldn’t place her.
“You too. Thanks for coming.” But his attention remained on Kelly. He was afraid the next time he looked she’d be gone and he’d realize it was all in his imagination.
He was within shouting distance of her when the guys started playing their old song.
Her eyes widened, and he wondered if she had the same tingle of recognition of a hundred memories flooding back between them. He glanced over to Jason and Sam, who were giving him a thumbs up. They stood on stage, nodding, then Sam pointed to Dawn. She must’ve requested the song.
“Hey, Kelly,” he said to her, but then he lost all train of thought. Nothing came out. In a desperate attempt not to lose the moment entirely, he pointed to the table full of desserts. “So, you baked all of this?” That was so lame. Of course she had.
“I did.” She gave him a closed-mouth smile. “Your sister placed the order. I had no idea it was for you, or that you were back in town until—well, until you walked in.” Her jaw pulsed, like she was gritting her teeth.
She hadn’t come by choice. Now he felt like a jerk. He began to sweat. “Surprised me too. I hadn’t expected to visit with anyone while I was here. You know, just not enough time.” He found it hard to pull together a sentence. He pressed his fingers into the palm of his hand. “I guess they remembered our song.”
“Oh?” She acted surprised, but she wasn’t that good of an actress. “Yeah. Right.”
“Want to dance?”
She took a giant step backward. “No, thank you. I’m working. I’m not a guest.” She rearranged a plate of cookies that had already met with hungry hands. “I know your parents have to be thrilled you’re back for a visit. I don’t know how they kept it a secret. That’s got to be a first for Bailey’s Fork.”
“Yes, well, I got into town last night. I was trying to surprise them, but it turns out the surprise was on me. Dad’s out of town.”
“Oh, no.” She looked skeptical. “You didn’t know he was gone?”
“No. I didn’t.” But she looked only half convinced. “Does seem convenient though, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” Her smile was polite.
He wasn’t sure if she was nervous or still mad at him.
“You and your dad have had some tough times over the years. I hope things are getting easier between you two.”
“I haven’t talked to him much since I’ve been gone.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s been a long time.”
“Won’t be long now. Dad’ll be home Sunday.”
“That’s good.” She wouldn’t make eye contact with him.
He stepped into her view. “You know…” He hesitated, almost afraid to bring it up, but it was hanging over them anyway. “I really wanted you to come to France.”
“Don’t, Andrew.” She straightened as if garnering strength. “This is my home. You knew that. I could never live anywhere else.”
“Not even for a little while?”
“Don’t think I didn’t consider it. But it didn’t end up being for a little while, did it? It’s been years.” She rubbed her hand up her arm. “Don’t make our past all my fault. That’s not how it played out.”
“Maybe things would’ve turned out different if—”
“Don’t play the ‘what if’ game with me either.” There was an edge to her tone. “It’s a dangerous one. You chose your path. I followed mine, and I’m very happy with where my journey has taken me.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. There’s no changing the past, but we were engaged. We were best friends. Can’t we at least catch up?” Desperate to lighten the mood, he said, “I heard the cafe expanded to the building next door and you have a bakery there. That’s great.”
“Not exactly. I opened my own business next to the cafe. It started small.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he added.
“At first I was just doing local stuff in a tiny five-hundred-square-foot space, but then I took a chance and started the online store. After that, business grew like kudzu. I have two shifts running year-round to keep up with orders. I own the whole building now. We gutted the old ribbon factory and turned it into a bakery.”
He set back on his heels. “That’s a huge undertaking.”
“It was, but we’ve got great people with lots of talent around here. It’s been good for the whole town.”
“That’s great.” He stood there staring at her, still thinking of her as the young lady he’d left behind but impressed and amazed by the businesswoman who stood in front of him now. “Congratulations. I’m truly happy for you. I rode down Main Street when I came in yesterday. I didn’t realize all of that was yours. You’ve
