“What flavor should I get?” Bee looks over at the adorable girl with grey eyes and dark hair. We’ve been coming here every Saturday morning for muffins since we moved here. The owner, Lyla, has a daughter, Charlotte, who’s Bee’s age, and they quickly became the best of friends. She’s here every Saturday morning helping her mom and grandma with the sweets, so the girls usually eat a muffin together while Lyla and I chat.
“The chocolate banana one. I helped Momma make those this morning, and boy, are they good.”
“I’ll have the chocolate banana one, Momma. Charlie said that’s the best, and I believe her,” Bee says, looking up at me.
“Okay, chocolate banana it is,” I grin at Lyla from across the counter. “I’ll take one too. If Charlotte says they are the best, then they have to be.” I wink at Charlie, and she grins widely at the compliment. They run off to grab a table and play one of the wooden games that Lyla keeps in baskets for the kids when they come in.
“What do you need me to bring to the birthday party?” Lyla puts the muffins on two plates and shakes her head at me.
“Nothing at all. I’ve got it all covered. I’m just so happy you guys could make it. Charlie has talked nonstop about Bee since she met her. It’s such a relief to know she will already have a friend going into kindergarten next year.”
“Such a relief,” I agree. “I was so worried about moving to a new town and Bee making friends. And to get along with her friend’s mother is just a bonus,” I laugh.
Lyla and I hit it off just as much as the girls. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her over our little coffee dates here while the girls play. She’s only a couple of years older than me and beautiful with her long brunette hair and light caramel eyes that just draw you in. I knew immediately I was going to love her.
“I know, right! It’s perfect!” She hands me the muffins for the girls and follows me with two glasses of milk to their corner table that they always choose.
When I first stepped intoLyla’s Sweets,I loved everything about it. From the hardwood floors to the fresh roses on the tables, it automatically makes you feel warm and cozy. Not to mention, her baked goods are the best I’ve ever tasted. She was born to be a pastry chef, and it shows in every bite you take of something she makes.
Once we get the girls settled, Lyla makes our coffee, and we sit together at a nearby table to keep an eye on them.
“How’s business going? Are you picking up any new accounts?” Lyla takes a sip of her coffee and eyes me over the rim.
“It’s going better than I expected. I picked up a lot of new ones, and I’ve increased and tailored the orders we already had. I have a meeting later this afternoon with another possible client.”
“That’s great! I’m so happy for you,” she smiles. “I think my favorite part about you is that you know exactly what wine needs to be paired with my desserts or what wine I need to usein my dessert sauces. I’ve tried all of your suggestions, and you’ve nailed every single one.”
“I’m glad I could help. That chocolate wine cake you made me was worth the extra time in the gym. I gave some to my neighbor but ate most of it myself,” I laugh.
“It will be nice when I can enjoy a glass or two again.” She rubs her five-months-pregnant belly, and a pang of sadness hits me. My life is so different from the one I imagined it would be. I never in a million years thought I would be a single mom at twenty-six. I should be happily married like Lyla and giving Bee a sibling. I glance over at the girls, and they are engrossed in a tic-tac-toe game.
I got Bee out of my last relationship, or whatever it was, and I wouldn’t go back and change a thing if it meant having her. As hard as it was to come to terms with her dad not choosing us, I’m thankful every day that she’s mine.
“Does this pregnancy feel different?” I ask, turning back to Lyla and dismissing the past with a smile. “I always wondered if having a boy felt different.”
“I guess I carry him a little lower. Charlotte Rose was so high up that I could barely breathe toward the end when I would lie down,” she laughs. “And this one is lower and likes to sit right on my bladder, making me pee a million times a day. The cravings are different, too, but I think that’s normal in any second pregnancy. Both have been very easy, though, and I give most of the credit to my husband, Jake. He makes sure all my needs are taken care of.” Her eyes always fill with love when she talks about her husband, and I can tell they must really love each other. “And I mean all my needs,” she winks, and I laugh.
“Lucky you. I remember those pregnancy hormones, and it was a bitch to go through it alone.”
“But you did because you’re a badass. You were betteroff without that asshole anyway. You’ll find your Jake one day,” she smiles.
I told Lyla one day about Mark when we got into talking about our past relationships. He wasn’t physically abusive like her ex, but we bonded over our past assholes. Hearing her talk about her husband gives me hope that there are still good guys out there.
“Between the two of us, you are definitely more of a badass, but I agree. I’m way better off and will never fall for guys like that again.”
“Cheers to that,” she says, holding up her coffee cup to clink with mine.
“I can’t wait for you to meet Jake and the rest of my family next weekend,” she says. “You are going to love my sisters-in-law.”
“You have two, right?” I ask, trying to remember what she told me before.
“Three. Jake has three brothers. Two are married, and then he has a sister. They are going to love you. We will have to plan a girls’ night soon.”
“I would love that,” I smile. “Lord knows I need to get back out there and have some fun every once in a while.”
“If you are looking for fun, you have come to the right place because we may be all moms except for Savi, but we do know how to have a good time…until midnight,” she adds. “Then we all get tired and just want to take our heels off and crawl into bed,” she laughs.
“Mom life sure does change us.” I shake my head and grin at our girls, who now have their heads together and are talking excitedly about something.
