Nikki stared at the woman in wide-eyed amazement. Nara cut her eyes to Diane when her cousin still hadn’t spoken.
“Nikki.” Diane lightly shook the girl’s hand to get her attention as her heart beat out a wild tattoo in fear that she might say something insulting.
Nikki shook her head and blinked as if coming out of a trance. Her eyes focused on Nara once more. “Wow, you’re beautiful,” she expressed.
“Thank you,” Nara answered, a bright smile lifting her cheekbones even higher.
“I mean, you’re literally perfect. Are you sure you’re not a model?”
Nara chuckled, the sound coming out melodious. “I was a model. But that was a long time ago and a different lifetime,” she explained when she managed to quiet her laughter.
“Why’d you stop?” Nikki pressed.
The glimmer in her dark eyes died before she blinked them to dispel whatever had bothered her. Her smile returned, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes, which had now become guarded. “It just wasn’t something I wanted to do anymore,” she answered simply.
Diane subtly touched her cousin’s arm to stop her from asking any more questions about it. She could tell that it was a distressing topic for the woman.
“Why don’t we have a seat?” Nara asked, gesturing to the unoccupied chairs around the iron table. The women obliged. “So I notice your fiancé isn’t with you,” she observed.
Diane gave her an apologetic smile. “He wanted to be here, but there was an emergency at work. He wouldn’t have been able to make it over from Seattle in time.”
“I see.” She could tell Nara wasn’t pleased by the news. She felt her cousin fidget beside her, probably fighting hard to restrain herself from saying anything about Derek.
“I’ve already narrowed down the possible themes that would be a great fit for your winter nuptials.” Nara launched into business, taking out a folder from her bag and flipping through the colorful pages. “Here we are.” She handed it to Diane, who stared at the color scheme diligently. They moved on to food and entertainment once she decided on the theme.
When she left, she felt satisfied with her choices and Nara's suggestions. Even with Derek's absence, the wedding arrangements were shaping up.
“Two options…”
Diane turned her head to look at Nikki.
“Either you’re pregnant or you’re just whacked in the head to really be going through with this wedding. Seeing as you’ve already been engaged for over a year, you can’t be pregnant, so it’s got to be the latter.”
“Nikki.” Diane sighed. “I thought we agreed not to talk about this.”
“We did, but that was only to meet the planner. I never promised to keep my mouth shut after that.”
Diane shook her head in frustrated annoyance, not just at Nikki but at herself too. Was she out of her mind going through with this wedding?
ChapterFour
Diane
Once Diane dropped Nikki off at her parents' house on Regatta Drive, she made her way toward her aunt’s bakery. After parking in the small lot that served the many small business owners in the vicinity, she highlighted from her car and made her way toward the building. She took some time to admire the building.
Heavenly Treats was inscribed in bright confetti colors on a sign that was placed atop the red-and-white awning that spanned over the front of the red brick building. Most of the outer brick wall was hidden from view by blossoming honeysuckle and Boston ivy. Large glass windows with wooden paneling provided only a partial glimpse of the confections that were already on full exhibit inside the shop. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and the other spices that were key ingredients in most baked goods floated on the air and tickled her nostrils with their enticing aroma.
She pushed the glass door open and entered the bakery after walking along the path decorated with potted plants.
Kerry, kneeling to arrange the baked goods in the glass display, rose to her feet at the sound of the door chimes.
“Diane. I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” she spoke in surprise, coming around the counter to greet her niece with a warm hug.
“Hi, Aunt Kerry. I wasn’t planning to, but my appointment finished early, and I didn’t feel like returning to the café,” she explained.
“That’s fine. I’m actually glad you’re here. You could help me with this order for a birthday tomorrow. I’m one man short.”
“What’s wrong with Anne?” Diane asked, looking around the space as if the woman would have appeared at the mention of her name.
