Page 3 of Savage Ends

That smile.“I’ll let Lauren know you like it.”

“Why doesn’t she ever come out?”he asked.

Ava glanced toward the door that led to the back.“She’s shy.”

“She owns this place, makes amazing cakes, and she is shy?”

“You got it.It’s why you have to put up with me.”Ava sighed.

“It’s not hard to like you.”

Again, with that freaking smile.

“Well, Pat, you keep talking like that, and I am going to start thinking you might be flirting with me.”

“Would that be a problem?”

“I don’t know.I’ll let you know if I develop one.”With that, she winked at him, and then got back to serving more customers.

****

“Tell Lauren I willhave her babies for her whenever she wants them,” Violet said.

Ava couldn’t help but laugh.Every single time she brought baked goods to her mother’s store, there was always an offer of having babies or marrying Lauren.

“I’m sure she would love that,” Ava said.

“I’m serious.All she has to do is pick the sperm, the time, the place, and I’m there.She does not have to ruin her figure for kids, I will do that for her.”

She thought it was sweet that her sister would offer such a thing.However, sometimes she wondered about her.Violet was not one who seemed to enjoy children, at least not the thought of having them herself.Each time they would see movies or reality shows that showed giving birth, Violet always responded with, “Never.”Herself, on the other hand, she loved the thought of having children and a larger family someday.

“Will you stop?”Their mother, Hazel, came around the back carrying a large roll of white fabric.“This is why Lauren rarely stops by.You know how skittish she is with compliments.”

“Nah, she stopped coming because you somehow managed to convince her she needed to make herself a quilt.She left with a couple of hundred dollars’ worth of kit.”Violet licked the chocolate fudge icing from her fingers and gave out another moan.“Fuck me, that is good.Why hasn’t Lauren stopped by?”

Ava shrugged.“Not sure.You know what she’s like.Especially when she has leftovers for you guys.”She was one of the few people Ava knew who didn’t like compliments.Now, if there was no leftover cake or baked goods, Lauren would have come with her.

Hazel sighed.“I don’t know why she can’t take a compliment.It is so ...sad.”

“I know, but I guess she doesn’t like the attention, and this way, you get to enjoy the food, and she feels more comfortable.So, what do you need help with today?”

“We don’t need help,” Hazel said.

“Violet called.She said you had a sale and orders went through the roof.”She turned toward her sister.“Or were you lying?”

“Nope, not lying.Ever since Mom listened to me, and we branched to online selling, things around here have been pretty sweet.Haven’t they, Mom?”

There was an essence of gloating to Violet.

Hazel rolled her eyes.She snorted.“How many times do you want me to tell you I am happy to have followed your suggestion?”

“Every single time I can convince you to say it.”Violet shrugged.“There is a whole sewing community out there.They might not be local, but we can always find a way to reach them, and we did.The last year has proven that, seeing as you can now afford to pay me, and also, we’re not up to our eyeballs in debt.”

This was good news.

“Fine.Fine.Do you want me to get on my knees and thank you?”Hazel asked.

“Hell, no, I expect to be Employee of the Month.”Violet put a hand on her hip and thrust out her chest.“Because that is exactly what I am.”