Have Your Cake (16 page)

Rebecca, braver than Cyan
a,
flashed a glance at Asher. “Josh and I did decide on barbeque. I’ve tasted all of Cyana’s wonderful creations. They are far more noteworthy than a lot of other cakes I’ve tried.”

Sally let out a “tist”, seeming determined to have someone on her side of dismissing Huffing Kitchen. “Nonsense, darling.” She pivoted towards Rebecca. “Giselle informed me with our guest list and locatio
n,
we stand to launch one of the biggest wedding events of the season. You certainly don’t want such an opportunity to go to waste over experimental foods.” Sally stated the last two words with a smug expression. “I’m prepared to offer you the opportunity to place this wedding as the top envy of Sweetly Bridal by serving cuisine from well-known and proven restaurateurs.” Rebecca fell silent as Sally flashed her wicked smile at Cyana. “Besides you don’t want to leave your wedding in the hands of one of Asher’s play things, do you?”

Sharp anger tensed Cyana’s spine. She spun on her heels. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Rebecca. Please, feel free to share all the delicacies with your bridal party later today. I believe we’ll take our leave now.”

Rebecca flashed a sorrowful look before taking her hand to shake i
t.
Cyana nodded to Iona. Her sister stood, ready to walk out with her.

“Cyana,” Asher called after her. She shook her head and kept walking.

An ache shifted into Cyana’s chest at the sound of Asher speaking to her back. Pressure to clear the front doors ushered her faster with Iona hot on her heels. Stepping out into the heat of the magnolia scented air brought a sense of cooling. The irritation had raised her temperature and closed her throat. The Civic beeped with Iona’s press of the keyless entry. Cyana wrenched the door open before throwing herself into the seat and slamming the door closed.

“That woman doesn’t want us there,”Iona sai
d,
once she settled into the driver’s seat of the Civic.

“No. This is my fault. She doesn’t want
me
there.”

“Girl,” Iona’s voice hit a high octave. “She just insulted the entire Huffing Kitchen.”

The emotion took Cyana in a shiver. “Oh Iona, I’m so sorry.” She sucked back the knot in her throat, suppressing the hoard of angry tears threatening to cool her face. She gripped her hands into fists, pressing them firmly to her lap. “I know you asked me down here to help and not make things worse.”

“Ce Ce, Sally is right. This wedding event is enormous, even though it’s a small scale wedding considering the people getting hitched. It will also be huge if Huffing Kitchen gets the entire food schedule. We’ll be featured in the fancy bridal magazine, announce we’re opening a new kitchen and generate a positive traffic into our business.”

“I know,” Cyana sighed. “That’s what worries me.”

“Sista, we ain’t got a thing to worry about. Didn’t you hear what Asher said? He scheduled the catering. We have a contract. You know how Mama negotiates. He’d have to pay us out of it. Have no doubt, I will be paid what I’m worth.”

“But, what about the début of Huffing Kitchen?”

“Don’t trouble your pretty little head about it. I’ve been saving money for a building for over a year now. Mama doesn’t even know. If he pays us ou
t,
it will still be enough to get what I want.” Iona reached over and moved one of Cyana’s curls from her face. “Either wa
y,
I get my restaurant, Girl. I just wanted my sister with me.”

Ache swelled in her chest as Iona’s grip settled over her
s.
The love in her sister’s stare washed away the anger. Cyana smiled while Iona gave the soft fist on her lap a squeeze. “You are the best cake maker in all of Weynor. Rebecca won’t find a better baker.” Iona lifted her hand to give her shoulder a reassuring rub. “I can’t believe Sally thinks my plates aren’t elegant. She hasn’t had a single bite of Huffing Kitchen’s food.” Iona humphed and shifted to start the car. “No problem though. Asher won’t pay us out. We’re gonna show Sally what Huffing Kitchen barbeque is really about. And we’re gonna have our cake, too.”

“
E
xcuse us, Rebecca,” Asher said tightly.

Rebecca swiveled from the barstool. “No problem. I’ll be out back walking the trail to burn off a few of these calories.” She scooted from the kitchen’s island. Asher didn’t take his glare from Sally while he waited to hear the sound of the door shutting.

Sally sat at the counter and plucked out one of the cupcakes she’d brought in to show up Huffin Muffin. She rolled her eyes at him, peeling away the glossy foil from the treat.

“We are less than a week out for this celebration, Mother.”

She sucked her teeth before biting into the cake.

“You know damn well there won’t be any changes made. What exactly are you trying to accomplish with this behavior?”

Sally set the cake down and wiped at her mouth with the grey napkin. “Darling, really I just wanted to celebrate. This is divine.” She pointed at the box. “You should have one.”

He crossed to her side in a moderately slow stroll. He stopped at the box, gingerly scooting it towards him. He casually opened the lid to blue, green, pink and yellow icing topped minicakes. He made eye contact and lifted the box of treats with an expressionless face. Sally smiled in triumph.

In one explosive move, he slung the container across the room. Colorful icing splattered against the wall when the delicate pastries detonated on impact. Sally startled in her seat.

“Asher Wilmington,” she scolded, but resumed her quiet demeanor, lifting her cupcake.

He sneered at her, grabbed the cake out of her hand and sent it to meet its fate with the others.

“I was eating tha—”

“That piece of shit shouldn’t have come into
my house
,” he yelled.

A
sher got a bit of satisfaction knowing he’d pissed Sally off. His nostrils flared. The sweet aroma of Cyana’s cakes flooded his senses. His fisted hands relaxed. Mother or not, Sally was swiftly placing herself on the shit-list.

“Lower your tone,” Sally whispered after his outburst. Her look blazed with disapproval; nostrils flexed in the same pattern his did. The display was something he’d inherited from her.

He set his jaw, stabbed her with his gaze before shifting a step back and heaving another sugar and vanilla infused breath. Raised voices in the Wilmington household had always been strictly forbidden. Sally was well aware no matter how hot his temper got, he wasn’t a threat to her. He harnessed more control than his father ever had. She swiveled from her seat ready to do battle. “Your manners—”

“
My
manners?” He interrupted. “You knew exactly what Rebecca was doing here today. You schemed to come here and ruin—”

“Ruin what?” Sally’s head shook with her raised tone.

“Huffing Kitchen is my future restaurant.” His voice remained even despite the anger.

Her features marred with disapproval. “Becky should have options. It’s terrible the girl doesn’t have any family to help her. She’s suffered enough in life with others making her choices. It’s her wedding—”

“This wedding, the catering; the cake, is on
my
tab. Mine!” He hooked a thumb toward his chest. “She agreed to place the wedding solely in Wilmington hands as an opportunity to showcase our services for future business. I’m the one who pays the goddamned bill for it.” He sucked in a breath, dropped his hand and shifted on his feet. “Rebecca knows how much I care for her and Josh. She’s told me before she never dreamed she’d have a wedding like this. She’s grateful.” He settled his hands on his hips. The memory of how excited and moved to tears the bride had been over his offer to throw her a wedding cooled him.

“You haven’t made those Huffing women an offer,” Sally countered. “They don’t even have a restaurant. I hardly call operating out of a hotdog stand on wheels up-and-coming.”

“It’s not the glamour of the kitchen. What’s on the plates makes them the best. They will be in my restaurant, operating right here.” Asher spread his hands at the space. “They’re the only venture I’m interested in.” He let out a growl. “I will have what I want, Sally.” He asserted his interest.

“Seems like you want a lot more from them than you should,” she said.

Asher fisted his hands and forced air into his system. There had to be a shred of composure in him somewhere, something to help him piece together the deeper meaning behind whatever game Sally was playing.

“Tell me, what exactly about my plans strikes you with so much fear you would throw yourself in the middle of something that’s none of your damned business?”

“This is my business.” She placed her hand on a hip to establish herself. “You owe me, Asher.”

He burst into laughter at the absurdity of her statement.

“No. Don’t you
dare
laugh.” Sally cut one of her neatly manicured fingers through the air. “You owe me the date with Sophia. I will not have you ruin this for me over a cheap thrill.”

“Thrill?” He thrust both hands out to his sides.

“Judge Garrett is very important to me. To the Wilmington future.” Sally reigned in her emotions and smoothed the front of her suit. “We all know you’re stringing the poor girl along. If you don’t stop, she won’t be the only one getting hurt.”

“Funny. The only one hurting Cyana is you.”

“For her own good. Cease this charade at once. Someone needs to run her off before you ruin her name.”

“God dammit,” he bellowed.

“Asher. Language.” His outburst didn’t shake her.

“To fuckin’ hell with my language.” He swiped his hand palm down across his midline. Gritting his teeth, he paced a few steps away before doing an about-face. “I’m tired of you and the Wilmington name. How many god damned times do I need to say I’m sorry, Mother? How many apologies do you need? I may have smeared the Wilmington name, but I didn’t ruin it. I didn’t do any more damage than David, or you and Gerald.”

“Don’t talk about your father that way.”

“Why? You shouldn’t give a rat’s ass about Gerald. You damn well didn’t when he was alive.”

Sally gave a full out huff. “Your father and I had an arrangement.”

“I’m aware,” he said.

“What we did was private, Asher. We weren’t out parading around town, throwing ourselves into the hands of the law. Your snooping could have ruined everything your father and I worked for.” She approached him with heat in her glare.

“I don’t consider lying on your back much work, Mother.”

The slap echoed through the kitchen and threatened to bring water to his eye. When he honed his sights on Sally, her hand was pressed to the tiny dip of her throat between her delicate collar bones. Her eyelids fluttered while she tried to recover from the shock of her actions. He let the moments tick by while she fought tears.

“Love requires sacrifice. It is not always comfortable or traditional by everyone else’s standards. But, I did everything your father asked me to do.” Her voice quivered. “It takes great love to do those things, Asher; to suffer the humility of being given to those men.”

“Then pardon me if I don’t want to participate in one of your matchmakings, considering your idea of love.”

“Your father was well aware of every sacrifice. Duties performed to bring comfort and connections to this family by prestigious esteemed individuals.”

“Who cheated on their wives,” Asher spat.

Sally stepped closer, all but getting directly in his face. “What we did, what we built, was a legacy to pass down to you boys. I did everything to ensure you and David would have a better life, a better love than Gerald and I. It was all for you.”

He surveyed the conviction in her stare and shook his head. “No. Don’t place the burden of a marriage you chose on me. What you and Gerald did was for you. Both of you. Not for me. Certainly not for David.” He pivoted from her to walk off.

“Our love secured your upbringing.” Her voice shifted him back to her. Sally stood with her thin long-boned hand curled into a fist pressed at the center of her chest.

“Wrong, Mother. The home I remember was love-less. Void of caring. The expectations of Gerald filled our home; drove David and me out. His prerequisites got David married to one of your perfect picks. Where did it end up?”

Sally had turned stark white with his words. She shook her head. “No.”

“Yes, mother. Take a look around. The old Wilmington dynasty is over. Gerald’s legacy has fallen. There is no perfect son to mold into whatever fantasy you and he put together in your minds. This is what’s left now. Me. Josh. You. “ He counted them off with his fingers. “We are the new Wilmingtons.” He straightened himself and marched off a few paces. His mother’s silence indicated he’d struck a cord. He reached the doorway but turned back. “You harp about what I’ve done to bring us down. Your social club’s only concern is about being associated with David’s troubles or my mistakes. It’s time to find new friends, Mother.”

“No,” she whispered. “You will not rip status from me.”

“Status?” His brow furrowed. He took an empathetic step her direction. “Will you listen to yourself? David has three more years to his prison sentence. What are you gonna do when he gets out? What do you tell your friends about your perfect son then? You need to stop living in the past with your snob-nosed society and look at what I’ve done. What I am doing. I built Wilmington Estates and Wilmington Weddings from the ground up. I put you through school so you could be a part of it. Gave you the opportunity to use a talent you’ve always had and Gerald ignored. Your weddings are sought after and featured in bride magazines around the country. Together we’ve changed the Wilmington name into something new. Something loved. You don’t even like Garrett.”

“Judge Garrett,” she corrected.

“What the fuck ever, Mother. He’s a leach, a user, a god damn property lawyer making his wealth by stealing from rich women.”

“That’s not true,” she croaked.

“Really? Are you certain? Because every woman he’s bedded has ended up poorer after leaving him. Check his damned record. You aren’t the only gold digger in these woods.”

“Asher!” Sally’s body jerked with response to his insult.

“Wake up, Sally. You can actually work for your comfort and you do a damned good job at it. Don’t you think this judge might only be interested in you because you finally have something worth taking?”

“We are obligated—”

“No, Mother.” His interruption ground out with enough force to make Sally clam up. “You are. You’re obligated to ignore happiness. To seek prestige. I won’t live a loveless life with one of your picks. Cyana is an excellent woman.”

Sally’s brow knit. “Then you should leave her, if you care so much.” Her voice croaked with emotion.

He straightened and placed both hands on his hips. “Is that what you did for Pops? You left Herman for his own good, so our name wouldn’t smear his?” He shook his head and scrubbed his face with a hand before letting it drop to his side. “If Cyana is my thrill, then what the hell is Herman to you?”

She sucked in a breath and trembled, unable to look at him. “You couldn’t possibly know how I feel about Herman.”

“You’re right, but I’d like to find out. And, I won’t let the opinions of other people stand in my way, including yours, Mother.” He took a long breath, satisfied he’d stunned her into silence and scored one for Pops. “I’m going to find Rebecca. She’s not the only one who needs to take a damned walk,” he said before stalking out of the room.