Page 53 of Fairy Cakes in Winter

I didn’t know how to say those words, knowing I’d already lost him.

11

Theo

Joanne organized a going away party the day before my flight home. She invited Clive and Becca, a couple of the local shop owners I’d befriended, and a handful of our regular customers for an appetizer, wine, beer, and fairy cake send-off. She made a sign for me and hung it above the register: “Cheers to the Fairy Cake Prince.” She’d even bought me a crown and fairy wings.

I’d squealed like a kid, happily setting the crown on my head and pulling the wings over my shoulders. It was beyond silly, but I didn’t care.

According to Scott, I looked like an angel. His exact words were, “A beautiful fucking fairy angel.”

I felt more like Cinderella, knowing this was all about to evaporate. I sipped my wine and stole glances at Scott chatting with Becca across the shop. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. In basic jeans and a blue oxford shirt, he reminded me more of a rugged lumberjack at Sunday dinner than a baker, I mused, doing my best to follow the conversations around me.

The bookseller down the block was telling me about his plans over the next bank holiday. The couple who owned the bistro I swore served the best potato leek I’d ever had in my life were thinking about adopting a dog. I nodded and hummed before flitting to the next group to say thank you and good-bye and assure them all I’d be back someday.

I wasn’t sure it was true, though. I might visit my mom again, but this bakery would be gone and Scott…probably would have moved on.

“We’re going to miss you.”

I spun on my heels and hit Becca’s elbow with a fairy wing, nearly knocking her wineglass from her hand.

I steadied her hand and grabbed a napkin from the counter. “Thank you. I’ll miss you too.”

She dabbed at her wrist, stuffing the napkin into the pocket of her blueberry print dress before meeting my gaze. “Have you told him?”

“Told him what?”

Becca’s pie-shaped earrings swayed when she cocked her head. “How you feel.”

I stared, unseeing, at the flap of awning visible through the shop window and nodded. “Yes.”

“Hmm. Good. He’s quite taken with you.”

I smiled, though I doubted it reached my eyes this time. “It’s mutual.”

“I know,” she said softly. “You know, I’ve always fancied him a bit. Scotty, that is. He’s charming in his own stoic way and a man who knows his way around a kitchen is a rare catch where I’m from. I thought we’d make a fine pair. I was wrong.”

Uh…what was happening here?

“I don’t understand.”

“Scott and I are friends first and always. He doesn’t feel those…feelings for me. Not the way he does for you, and that’s okay. I was a bit sad at first, but…” Becca inclined her chin toward Scott on the other side of the bakery. “I’ve never seen him this happy. Not at the moment, obviously. You’re still in the room, and he’s already missing you. He’s probably thinking nihilistic thoughts about you being on a plane this time tomorrow and that it would be selfish of him to tell you how he feels or—”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…don’t give up on him, Theo. He’s got a hard head, but he’s worth it. I know you’ll still get on your plane, and you’ll go on to have a magical life because honestly, you’re too lovely not to.” She flicked at one of my fairy wings playfully and added, “I just thought you should know you’ve made a difference. To all of us. Thank you. One day, I hope to meet a bloke like you who can bake like him.”

She hiked her thumb in Scott’s direction. I gave a half chuckle, then launched myself at her.

“Be careful. Those pie earrings might get caught on your wings,” Scott singsonged.

“Cheeky bastard,” she grumbled at Scott as she gently pushed out of my hold. “I’m off to find more wine and see about dessert. This is a bakery. We should have something sweet to offer, yeah?”

Becca was gone before either of us could reply. Just as well. I was still reeling from her speech and feeling overwhelmed that all these people had turned up to say good-bye and wish me well. It was almost too much to be close to him. I was in serious danger of bursting into tears.

Maybe it showed, ’cause Scott took over. He whistled to get everyone’s attention and announced that it was time to say one last good-bye.

That took another fifteen minutes. My eyes welled up a couple of times, but I kept it together.