Peace of pie, p.28
Peace of Pie, page 28
Todd trimmed the roses and placed them in three vases. Lillian arranged and rearranged the Spring/Summer collection of gift mugs and coffee-making paraphernalia. Bryony put on her new apron, made from black lightweight canvas, embroidered with shades of green ivy. She pulled the tarts out of the oven, made coffee, heated tea water, and checked three times on the trays laden with mini pies and cut pieces of quiche.
Six friends had baked all day yesterday while she supervised. Leftovers would go to the residents at RestHaven. She had made sure there would be leftovers.
Lillian’s family arrived first. As soon as they settled in, the fixtures arrived.
Mr. Parker hugged Bryony around the shoulders before seating himself at his usual table and pulling out his newspaper.
Abby Dunaway carried two bags through the door, one large and one small. After depositing her jacket and her larger work-in-progress bag at her usual table, she extracted a small crocheted animal from the smaller bag and held it out for Bryony’s inspection. “I made these for the children who show up,” she said. “There’s a variety of different animals.”
Bryony turned over the three-inch-tall stuffed bear in her hands. “I love these, Abby! Would you like to sell them here?”
“I might.” Abby smiled. “Keep that one.”
Bryony hugged Abby before slipping the animal into her apron pocket.
A new pair of flowered leather boots carried in the woman who had held Bryony’s hand throughout the initial marketing campaign, and at many other steps along the way. “Are you ready to knock the socks off the world of the pie-loving public?” Etta Corning asked.
“We are,” Bryony said, and gave Etta a big hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Etta brushed off the appreciation and the hug, but smiled as she said, “I’m here for the free food.” She placed her backpack on one chair and sat on another.
Small hands banged on the front door. “Let me in, Bryony!” Cal’s great niece pressed her face against the glass.
“Hell-Oh!” Bryony said. She opened the door. Small arms encircled her legs.
“Helen Marie, let go of her.” Heidi kissed Bryony on the cheek as she entered the shop. “She almost tripped me the other day.”
The four-year-old released Bryony’s legs. Heidi’s arms wrapped around Bryony’s shoulders as she surveyed the interior. “How did you do all of this and still manage to visit us in Cleveland twice a month?”
“I had help,” Bryony said.
The rest of Cal’s family poured in through the door and moved toward the counter, where Todd poured cups of coffee and hot chocolate. Abby stationed herself nearby to distribute the animals. A few great nieces took up residence in a corner to play Southern Ohio Safari. Lillian’s grandchildren joined them. Soon their animal imitations rose in pitch and volume.
“Can my zebra have hot chocolate?” Hell-Oh called out, holding up her stuffed animal.
“You can have as much as you want,” Bryony said.
“You can have two,” Hell-Oh’s mother said. “None for the zebra. They’re allergic to chocolate.” She turned to Bryony. “My daughter knows no limits when it comes to chocolate.”
“We have quiche,” Bryony said. “I made some plain for those who think vegetables and breakfast aren’t compatible.”
Cal’s niece hugged her. “Thanks for inviting us!”
Cal’s father arrived, escorted by Rachel, his private nurse. She and Rudy were dating now.
“I hope there’s a bathroom here,” Cal’s father said.
“There are three,” Bryony said. “Two gender neutral, and one family friendly.”
“I only need one, and I don’t need it yet, but I will.” He embraced Bryony. “Nice to see you, dear. The drive down was hellish on my sacroiliac, but you’re worth it.”
“Thanks for coming.” Bryony kissed his cheek.
Rudy breezed through the door, hugged Bryony, and joined Rachel as she helped Mr. Forster, Sr. to a chair at Mr. Parker’s table. Mr. Parker put down his newspaper and introduced himself to his new table companions.
Three of Heidi’s grandchildren stationed themselves in front of Bryony. “There’s a pool in the hotel, Bryony. Will you come swim with us?” Cody asked.
“We want to see your house,” Melissa said.
“Can we come and stay with you this summer?” Chase asked.
Cal stepped into the shop and put his arm around Bryony’s shoulders. “Back off, dudes and dudettes. Give her a chance to get through today before making plans for the summer.”
One by one the children hugged her around the waist and ran back to the counter for drinks.
“Everything’s free all day?” Cal asked.
“Payback for all the help,” Bryony answered.
Everybody had helped. Rick’s construction crew did the heavy lifting but, with Cal’s help, he hired high school students willing to work weekends in exchange for a decent wage and training in basic carpentry and finishing skills. Rudy used his vacation time to help paint walls and stain woodwork. Gloria, from the diner down the street, organized a crew of friends to help make the curtains and tablecloths with matching aprons. Dewey’s supplied the workers with meals and snacks to keep them moving.
The bell above the door rang again. Chuck and Charity Henderson walked in. Charity held out a ceramic pot with three kinds of plants. “The place looks wonderful, Bryony.”
After Bryony found a place to set the pot, the two women exchanged hugs. When they parted, Bryony turned to Chuck. “You feeling okay?”
“Never better.”
She and Chuck hugged. He looked strong, healthy. When Mitch announced his retirement, he recommended Cal fill his position, but Cal declined, supporting a more deserving educator, and the board voted unanimously to offer the promotion to Chuck.
Chuck pumped Cal’s hand. “The board approved the funding at last night’s meeting.”
“They did?” Cal said. “That’s great!”
Charity had worked with local businesses to tie the work study program to STEAM grants, and a committee of board members, administrators, and teachers were working on a strategic plan to shift to STREAM as soon as they could get buy-in from the teachers.
“Your job’s secure as long as I’m around,” Chuck said. “Will you stay?”
“Did you decide?” Bryony asked Cal. “Did you decide to buy the house?” When the owner decided to sell, he offered Cal first option. Was she ready to hear his answer? She wanted him to stay, but she knew now the depth of his commitment to his family. Whatever he chose, she wanted him to be happy. She steeled herself for disappointment.
“I made my decision a long time ago,” Cal said.
She held her breath.
He looked around, took a breath, said, “Well I was going to do this later, but—” and dropped to one knee.
Todd’s hand flew to his mouth. “Oh my gosh!”
Lillian beamed.
“What’s Uncle Cal doing on the floor?” Hell-Oh asked from the far corner of the shop. “Did he get an animal, too?”
“Hush, Helen,” Heidi said.
“Bryony, I’ll stay on whatever terms you’ll have me, but I think I’m ready to move beyond going steady.” Cal put his hand in his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring.
Bryony’s eyes darted to Heidi. “But that’s your mother’s ring.”
“She would have loved you,” Heidi said. Her eyes glistened.
Cal looked up, head cocked sideways, waiting for an answer.
Bryony put her finger on her lower lip and hummed deliberation. “Are you buying the house?”
“I know you have your eye on that kitchen,” Cal said. “But I have a different idea. What if we bump out the back of your house, redo the kitchen, and add a sun room with lots of plants? We could finish the upstairs so the kids would have a place to stay when they visit.”
She hadn’t been expecting the ring, but more than that, she had not been expecting this, his plan to make her home their home. She had never shared with him her abandoned idea about finishing the upstairs in the hope that there would be children someday. Now there were children, more children than she could have hoped for. She looked over at them, all playing together. A big extended family.
The bell above the door rang.
Mitch crossed the threshold. “Is all the free food gone?” he asked. Carol slipped in and stepped up to stand beside him.
“Hey, there’s my trivia partner!” Mitch said and started to move toward Mr. Parker, but Carol grabbed his arm and held him back.
The door opened one more time.
“We’re here!” Bryony’s father called out as he entered. “Better not be any pigeon in those little pies!” Bryony could see the teasing in his eyes. He would never know he’d eaten pigeon already, last Thanksgiving, the savory pie served with the main meal. He held open the door for Alma.
Her father’s eyes dropped to Cal, and a wry smile uplifted the curve of his lips.
“Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom,” Hell-oh called out, her strident voice followed by twittering laughter.
“What’s happening?” Mitch asked.
“I think that’s a little obvious,” Bryony’s father said.
Silence fell over the room.
Bryony looked down at Cal.
“Bryony,” he said. “Will you marry us?”
“Do I have to give up the class ring?” Bryony asked, her hand rising to the polished ring hanging on the chain around her neck.
Cal held up the ring clasped between his thumb and index finger. “You can have both.”
Bryony lowered her hand and spread her fingers.
Cal slipped the ring on her finger and stood to embrace her.
Everybody cheered. She looked around the room. Lillian and Rick leaned against the counter, their arms around each other’s waists. Abby and Mr. Parker sat in their usual spots, their smiles fixed on Bryony, their hands idle. For once, Etta’s computer was closed, and her eyes open to those around her. Heidi’s grandchildren had abandoned their game for a moment, their smiles expectant, exuberant. Her father, Alma, Mitch, Carol, Charity, Chuck, Cal Sr., Rachel, Rudy—nearly everyone had tears in their eyes.
Bryony pulled away from the hug and looked up at the man she would someday wed. “Yes, I will marry you, Cal Forster.”
The third scent Bryony would always remember was the fragrance of forever in Cal’s kiss.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Lifelong resident of Ohio, Lee Barber walked a long and winding road to fulfill her dream of being a writer. Along the way, she learned about the goodness, resilience, and creativity of all people. When she is not writing, Lee collaborates with others to tell life stories, end oppressive practices and policies, and generate beauty and order in the world. For her, romance is finding that place of hope, and falling in love is for people of all ages.
Lee Barber, Peace of Pie
