Page 2 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes

“Mmmmm… Okay! As long as it won’t get you in trouble, I’ll try one.”

Daisy put the girl’s sample bomb into the big, industrial toaster oven, plus an extra one for herself.

While they waited, Daisy shifted nervously.

It was hard to decide whether she wanted the moment to go faster or if she wanted to ‘accidentally’ drop the bombs so the girl would have to stay longer.

The latter option felt pretty nefarious, but if it worked…

She was surprised when the girl started making conversation.

“You really made them all by yourself? And you work here, too? That’s so cool!”

“‘Cool?’”

“Yeah! I mean, you’re in charge, right? So you can talk back to adults or do whatever you want. It must be fun.”

Daisy had never thought of her conscription that way, but she supposed there was something nice about it.

“I guess so. I get to keep tips. And yeah, I sometimes come up with flavor ideas when my dad says we need something new. My PB&J is pretty popular.”

“See? That’s cool! I wanted to get a summer job, but my uncle says I’m not allowed, ever, since I’d just mess it up. He told me to marry rich if I want money.”

Daisy deadpanned, “He sounds like a jerk.”

This time, the girl did not giggle. A small, forced smile tugged away her true one.

“He tries. He might say things like that, but he cares about me.”

“Until the rich husband?”

The girl snorted, looking less than enthused.

“Or not,” Daisy backtracked. “Maybe you’ll be rich, and your husband’ll ask you for money.”

Or-or, Daisy’s internal voice whispered , ditch the husband and get a wife!

While same-sex marriage was still illegal in the United States, with the recent ruling in Massachusetts, it was technically possible. For Daisy, who was just starting to realize her lack of interest in boys, that possibility was very appealing.

The glow returned to the girl’s expression. She rocked back on her heels, musing, “Maybe.”

Seconds later, the toaster oven buzzer went off. Daisy gathered the bagel bombs in paper baggies, one for her and one for the girl. Their fingers brushed as she handed it over, a happy accident that wasn’t so accidental.

“Thank you,” the girl said. “My name is Candace, by the way.”

“D-Daisy.” Her voice cracked as she realized she might never see this Candace-girl again. She blurted out, “Are you on vacation? There are a lot of places only locals know. I’m about to close up so I can show you around. Um, if you want.”

Candace hesitated. Again, she chewed her lip.

“I’m not. Visiting, I mean. But I’d—”

“Candy.”

The single, icy utterance made both girls stand bolt-straight. It was the blond man. Daisy had been too preoccupied to notice the business people walk over. He came up close to Candace and placed a tightly gripped hand on top of her shoulder.

Fear struck Daisy as she realized who the man was: Peter Perry, the owner of Perry’s Pier.

Her parents pointed him out and told her to be extra careful if she ever served him.

Not that he would ever be caught dead patronizing their “eyesore” of a cafe, as he called it, but just in case.

Her mom said he was “a powerful man with powerful friends who weren’t afraid to be bad. ”

Daisy clocked him as trouble just by looking at him.

Full of swagger, like he owned the place in his Tommy Bahama button-down and linen slacks, he was the type who was all fun and games as long as he got his way.

If not, he’d do everything he could to make you miserable.

His bright smile, contrasted by the tanning-bed bronze of his skin, was shark-like.

He repeated the infantilizing nickname, this time in a sickeningly sweet tone. “Candy. Baby, I told you to wait.”

“Sorry, Uncle Perry. I saw this girl here, and we started talking. She’s really nice.”

For an instant, the man regarded Daisy. His eyes were impossible to see behind his aviator Ray Bans. Even so, his disdain was plain as day. A smirk cocked the corner of his mouth as he joked to his friends.

“Huh, child labor is alive after all. I told you these South Jersey towns are hick country.”

Heat radiated from Daisy’s face as she bit her tongue. There was nothing she could say that wouldn’t get her in trouble. Candace, however, went on excitedly.

“It’s cool! She bakes some herself, and she gets to keep tips. Look—” Candace showed him the PB&J bagel bomb, “—she gave me a free sample.”

It was unbelievable. Faster than either girl could process, Perry snatched the bagel bomb and tossed it to some seagulls. The scavengers greedily gorged it in milliseconds.

He chided, “Don’t spoil your appetite with trash food. If you’re hungry, I’ll buy you a salad. Or not, if you keep acting out.”

He laughed, and his friends went along with him like starving a child was some hilarious joke. In an instant, the happy, giggling girl was gone. Candace wilted as she trained her gaze on the splintery boards under her shoes.

“Sorry...”

“Good girl. Now, c’mon. We’ve got better places to be.”

With the hand still clenched over Candace’s shoulder, Perry steered her around. She cast one last backward glance at Daisy. Her eyes were watery with disappointment.

It was wrong.

Daisy couldn’t leave things like this. She spotted Candace’s forgotten purse on the countertop.

Her hands moved on their own, bagging up and shoving the second PB&J bagel bomb inside.

She banged on the wall that separated Bagel Bombs!

from the caramel popcorn stand next door.

In a single breath, she bellowed, “John! Watch my stuff!”

Then, she bolted.

It was almost impossible to catch up with them.

Dodging and weaving around the ceaseless flow of foot traffic was like an extreme game of Frogger with more cursing.

However, just as they were about to take the street ramp, Daisy managed to close the distance.

She hooked a hand around Candace’s arm, stopping her and Perry in their tracks .

“How dare—”

Daisy ignored Perry, telling Candace, “I thought you might want this back.”

It was like the tissue all over again. This time, though, it was Candace who stared in awe at Daisy. And was that blush on her cheeks? It could be the heat, but the idea that it was thanks to Daisy made her own skin feel like magma.

Eventually, Perry tore the bag away himself.

“What’re you waiting for? A tip? Here.”

Peter Perry slapped a piece of paper into Daisy’s palm. It was a single-ride ticket from the man who owned them all. As he cracked more rude jokes to his chortling posse, he once again forced his niece to walk.

This time, when Candace looked back at Daisy, her eyes were harder to read. The sadness lingered, yet there was something else, too. Defiance sparkled in those seafoam depths, powerful like the waves crashing on the shore. She would be okay because she was stronger than she looked.

Daisy watched until the girl was gone from view. Candace Perry, her first crush and future heartbreak.