Title: Sweeter Beginnings.
Summary: Sometimes Fate and Destiny have different plans. What happens when Bakery owner Riley falls in love with a sports reporter and his daughter.
It was a cold December day in New York. Snowflakes were finally starting to fall and Riley smiled to herself as she wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and placed her gloved hands inside her pale blue coat pocket.
Riley loved winter, the romanticized idea that it represented, even though her heart hadn't felt romantic in a very long time.
She opened the door of the cafe that greeted her with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the warmth of freshly made cookies that made her tingle. The smell felt like home, like a dream, even when her dream had changed just a few years ago.
Going from working as a dancer to owning her mother's bakery back in New York seemed like a radical change, but in the end, she followed her heart. She wanted happiness and fulfillment, and she wasn't getting that in her old job. Sure, she'd had lots of attention and praise, but that didn't stop her from feeling empty, and she needed the feeling of people around her; the warmth and happiness she deeply craved. She wanted real friends and true love, a peaceful life, things that had been intangible for her in LA.
And she never missed the irony of her decision, of her change in life. In her search for warmth, she had moved back to colder places.
"Morning Peaches" Maya greets her from behind the counter, holding a blue mug and sipping her morning coffee. The blonde girl giggles when Riley shakes her head to shake off the snowflakes in her dark hair and Riley chuckles.
"Honey!," Riley smiles, and as soon as she took off her coat, Maya was already around the counter presenting Riley with her signature yellow mug "Thanks, Maya!"
Maya waits until Riley takes a sip before looking around the café "So things have picked up around here, business is booming, and I was thinking we should start thinking of ways to keep this business going."
Riley frowns "We have never had any problem with the bakery, especially since we added on the gallery section displaying your art. That has given us a boost, and we are making a really good name for ourselves."
"I know, and everyone seems to can't get enough of all your baked goods," Maya adds with a hint of pride in her voice.
Riley nods her head as she makes her way around the counter getting the display cabinet ready for the morning rush "Well seeing as when you bake stuff it comes out black it's a good think I can bake."
Maya scoffs "Whatever! At least I make a pretty good cup of coffee."
Riley chuckles and nods. "I give you that."
A second of silence passed between the girls until Maya decides to break it.
"Riley I am worried. You seem to have thrown yourself into this whole business, but you appear to be forgetting that life isn't all about work. I know you are hesitant to be dating considering everything, but I don't know maybe-
"Don't, just don't," Riley cuts her off in a stern tone. "I have been given a second chance to do something, and that is what I am doing! I am living in the moment and not worrying about the future anymore. You know if destiny wanted me to have someone in my life I am sure they will find a way to give it to me."
"You think he's just going to walk in here and say: 'That's the woman I want. Marry me'?'" Maya looks at Riley in disbelief.
Riley sighs "I guess when you say it like that it sounds silly, but Maya trust me when I say that I am fine."
Maya gives her a look. Riley grabs Maya's hand and looks her in the eyes "I promise if a man ever comes my way I will give him a chance, but right now it's a very slim chance that a man will walk into my life."
Maya pulls Riley into a big hug "That's all I ask." They pull apart when the bell over the door rings and their first customer enters, the girls day officially beginning.
"Dammit!" Lucas growls as he pounds his fist against the desk.
"Woah take it, easy dude!" His colleague and mate Josh comments, taking a worried glance towards the desk to make sure there wasn't a crack from Lucas's fist.
"Easy?" Lucas frowns. "You want me to take things easy? I have an interview in an hour, and I was supposed to pick up Lucy from the sitters and take her shopping for this family thing we have. However, the sitter just called to let me know that she's sick and won't be able to look after Lucy, and I can't cancel another interview. So yes damn it, actually no fuck this shit." Lucas growls again.
"Woah." Josh's eyes widened at the words. Lucas very rarely swore something he had stopped doing since Lucy. "C'mon there's gotta be someone who can help," Josh offers.
"Mum is working, and Zay has a concert, and I have no one else!"
Josh bites his lip "Can't she come into work and wait for you in the office? She is pretty good at sitting down and waiting. She can play a game on your computer?"
"No, I hate when she's here because she gets bored and feels like she is annoying everyone" Lucas sighs and rubs his eyes with his hand in frustration.
Lucas hated working all the time because he wanted to have time for his little girl, but as the best sports interviewer for the paper, he was nearly always demanded to do the interviews. He loved his job, and he had worked hard because of it and because he had to provide for Lucy.
Lucas was a single dad and had raised his daughter with the help of his mother, sister, grandfather and his friends, so he rarely complained except when he was in problems like this.
At that moment Josh's eyes widened as an idea popped into his head.
"I have an idea," Josh says to Lucas, who frowns in response.
"What? You can build a clone machine?"
Josh rolls his eyes ignoring Lucas's snippy tone "No, I have pretty much finished my piece for the day, so if you want I can pick her up?"
"And what will you do for the hour that I am interviewing for?"
"I was planning on visiting my niece's bakery; I can take Lucy there and then drop her back to the office later once your interview is done. It's only a couple of blocks away from here."
Lucas thinks for a moment before sighing and nodding, not having any other idea.
"You better keep a close eye on my daughter Matthews!"
Josh just salutes as he walks out of the office yelling out behind him "Lucy will be fine!"
Lucas shakes his head as she clicks back to the computer to prepare for his interview.
Josh looks at his phone for the tenth time feeling incredibly weird being outside the primary school. He has obviously met Lucy, and he is quite fond of the child, but he didn't think he would be doing school pickups this soon. Especially for a child's, that isn't his own.
After a few minutes, he saw a yellow knitted hat worn by a girl with blonde hair just like her father.
"UNCLE JOSHY! She smiles at him and runs to meet him. "Where's Kayla? Or Daddy?"
"Daddy has to work, and Kayla is sick, so you get to spend the afternoon with me!"
"Oh," she sighs. "So I have to go to the paper? I don't like it there."
"Don't worry, honey, I have the afternoon planned! How do you feel about cookies?" Lucy grins
"I love cookies!"
"Well so do I! Let's go." Josh holds his hand out which Lucy takes and begins telling Josh all about school and that she wanted to play baseball, just like her daddy used to.
Josh nods and listens, asking Lucy about her favorite baseball players and before long Lucy starts groaning "I am hungry."
Josh grins and turns the corner before heading down some stairs "Well it's a good thing we are here." Lucy sees the opening of a bakery called 'Topanga's'and sees the window already decorated with Christmas decorations and art pieces.
"Alright, Lucky Lucy this here is the best cookies and hot chocolate in all of New York. Be ready to be amazed." Lucy nods and squares her shoulders as Josh opens the door and the two are hit with the warmth of and smell of fresh cookies. Lucy looks around and sees a lady behind the counter finishing off with a customer. Maybe this was the girl her daddy always teased Josh about at work
"Josh!" comes the girl's voice as she walks around the counter to give him a hug.
"Hi, Riles!" The two pull away, and the girl smiles down at Lucy who is hiding slightly behind Josh.
"Well, who is this cutie?"
Lucy smiles shyly while Josh grins "This is Lucy; I work with her dad Lucas at the paper. I am looking after her for the afternoon. Lucy this is Riley, my niece." Riley squats down and looks at Lucy in the eyes "Well Lucy it was very nice to meet you. Would you like a hot chocolate?"
Lucy nods starting to feel more comfortable, and Riley leads her to the counter where Josh helps her up onto the stool. Riley begins to make three hot chocolates while her and Josh start talking.
"So how is the bakery?" he asks.
"Good, things are going well especially with the art gallery being open."
Josh smiles as Riley hands them their hot chocolates "Well Maya has always been talented." He says as he takes a sip "As have you."
"Thanks, Joshy."
"Lucy, how is your hot chocolate?" Riley asks but before she could answer a blonde woman walks out from the back and Lucy notices Josh's mouth drop and a slight blush to form on his face.
"Riles we need more candy canes to get ready for the candy cane hot chocolates."
Riley nods as the blonde come to stand by her "Uncle Boing!" She says cheerfully, and Lucy watches as Josh goes redder "Hey Maya!"
Lucy realizes this is the girl that her daddy teases Josh about, Maya moves her gaze from Josh to Lucy.
"Who have we got here?"
"This is Lucy. I am looking after her while her dad finishes an article." Maya smiles warmly at Lucy "It's lovely to meet you."
Lucy grins "Same to you; Uncle Josh talks about you a lot to daddy."
"LUCY!" Josh gasps as Riley giggles and Maya turns red
"Well, Maya talks a lot about Josh too Lucy," Riley adds.
Maya hits Riley on the shoulder "Riley!"
"What, we all know you two like each other. It's time you two just take the plunge." Riley says while winking at Lucy as she says it "Lucy agrees with me don't you Lucy."
Lucy nods as she giggles into her hot chocolate "Daddy says Josh needs to be a man and ask her out."
"Ok, Lucy lets go see the art. You should not be scheming with Riley. I am your favorite person and not her ok?"
Riley just laughs as she goes to serve another customer "Hey Lucy and I can make all the plans to get you and Maya together. It will be fun to have another matchmaker on my team."
Lucy and Josh spent at least half an hour looking at the artwork; Maya even joined them showing them her new pieces. Lucy couldn't stop looking at how Josh and Maya interacted. She had some serious things to discuss with Riley if they were going to play matchmaker. As they walked back into the bakery section, Riley walked out holding a fresh plate of chocolate chip cookies.
"These have just come out the oven. Lucy would you like one?"
Lucy nods eagerly and grabs a cookie off the plate taking a big bite. She looks at Riley and says with a mouthful of cookie "Tis tst realfy goad."
Riley laughs "I am sorry?"
Lucy swallows "Sorry daddy says I have a bad habit of talking with a mouthful of food. I said this cookie was really good."
"Well help yourself to some more Miss Lucy."
Lucy doesn't need to be told twice and grabs another one.
"Does Daddy bake cookies?" Riley asks as she leans across the counter to speak with the little girl.
"No" Lucy shakes her head "He doesn't have enough time to cook. We usually eat takeaway or Nana makes us a lot of leftovers when she visits." Lucy glances around before getting closer to Riley and whispering very loudly "Plus daddy isn't the best cook, he always burns the food."
Riley tries not to laugh at the serious expression on the girls face "Well maybe one day Josh can bring you back, and I can teach you to bake?"
Lucy's face lights up "YES! I want to make cookies like you do!"
Riley laughs and takes a cookie herself sharing a smile with the girl, oblivious to the fact that Josh and Maya were grinning at the interaction between the two.
"Riley wants that, to have a child to bake with…now she just needs the man." Josh moves his gaze from his niece to the beautiful women next to her.
"She will be one day, and I think it's a lot closer than she thinks."
Maya smiles softly to herself thinking the same thing as Josh. She takes a deep breath turning to ask Josh a question when his phone starts to go off. He quickly grabs it before answering "Josh here."
Maya watches as Josh talks in a hurried tone for a moment before he hangs up.
"I just got a call about a news story, they want me to cover it, but I can't leave Lucy here. But I don't know when Lucas finishes-" Josh rambles on but stops suddenly when Maya places her hand on his arm.
"Okay, Josh, breathe," Maya chuckles. "Just go and message Lucas, I am sure Riley and I can take care of Lucy for a little while." She looks at Riley who was laughing at something that Lucy had said. "At least they seem like they are getting along."
Josh grins as he looks at the scene before them.
"Ok, I will message Lucas the place and your number if he needs you." He takes a deep breath before leaning down and kissing Maya softly on the cheek "Thank you."
Maya just nods softly as Josh rushes out of the bakery. She sighs heading behind the counter, telling herself that she really needed out sort out her feelings.
"Riley, could you help me with my homework?" Lucy asks, "Daddy always helps me, but tonight he is taking me shopping to pick an outfit for a party my nana is having."
"Of course." Riley walks around the counter and helps Lucy to get on her feet and leads her to a table to be more comfortable. "I hope your dad doesn't get mad at me for helping you." She jokes.
"He won't be mad, but he's going to check it because once Uncle Zay helped me and he wasn't very good at maths and all my answers were wrong and the teacher rang daddy asking what happened because usually I am smart with my maths, and daddy got mad at uncle Zay."
"He seems like he cares about you very much," Riley smiles softly "What about your mommy?" she asks
"I don't have one," Lucy replies nonchalantly while she opens her notebook. "She left me with Daddy, and I've never met her."
"I'm sorry, Lucy, I—"
"No," Lucy smiles. "It's okay. I have Daddy and nana and pappy joe. Uncle Zay and Uncle Joshie are great too."
"Well, now you have me too. Anytime you want to hang you can. With your daddy's permission of course,"
"Really?" Lucy asks and Riley nods, Lucy leans over and gives Riley a little hug "Thank you."
"You are welcome!"
Lucy is silent for a moment before she pipes up "You know you should go on a date with daddy."
Riley's eyes widen at the statement, but Lucy doesn't notice as she keeps talking "I'd like to have a sister or a brother and you need a mommy for that. And I also think he's lonely." Suddenly she scowls. "But I didn't like his last girlfriend; she was mean, so he promised that from then on, I would pick his dates."
Riley can't help but chuckle. "Well, I bet you have better taste than he does."
"I just want a mommy that's kind to me and Daddy and she has to be funny and put up with Dad because he's can gett a little stressed sometimes," Lucy says sheepishly.
"It's ok; I get stressed too."
"I just want Daddy to be happy, like really happy. Because he makes me happy and I want him to be happy like me."
Riley looks at the girl in front of her. She had never met someone that was as precious and as sweet natured as this girl.
"Do you want me to braid your hair?" Riley asks.
"Can you? Daddy tries to braid my hair, but it always falls out. I think it's because he is a boy and has short hair."
Riley laughs and leads her to the small office in the back of the bakery to do Lucy's hair.
"What if Daddy forgot me?" Lucy asks as Maya and Riley were closing the café.
"Honey, your Daddy, knows you are here, he rang and spoke to me; he is probably on his way ok?" Maya answers and Lucy nods, her head turning to look out the window again.
Riley smooths a hand over one of Lucy's braids, and she grins "How about one more cookie?"
Just as Lucy nods, someone knocks on the door. Riley sees a man looking through the windows and smiles, indicating the man to Lucy "I told you your daddy was on your way."
Riley opens the door slowly, and the first thing she says is a pair of beautiful green eyes, green eyes that matched Lucy's perfectly.
"Wow, daddy!" Riley mumbles and Lucas just chuckles. She blushes furiously. "I mean, you must be Lucy's Daddy...uhh dad." She stutters a bit. "Come in." She moves aside and lets him in.
"Daddy!" Lucy jumps off the stool and runs into his arms. "I thought you had forgotten me, but Riley and Maya looked after me and gave me these cookies which Riley says she can teach me to bake them." Lucy talks a mile per minute and Lucas just nods, his eyes darting to Riley every few seconds. "And look," Lucy shows him her braids. "Riley did my hair, and I like it, she could teach you, she's really good, and it didn't hurt when she combed it. And Riley helped me with my math homework and now I know how to add really big numbers." Lucas gives Lucy a kiss on the forehead while telling "You can show me when you get home ok?" Lucy nods and wraps her arms around his neck "Ok daddy!"
Riley smiles at the sight of the two hugging, and she starts to feel a weird sensation in her stomach, she tries to ignore it, instead focusing on the father who clearly doted on his daughter.
"I'll go and get her jacket," Riley interprets, and Lucas takes a real look at her for the first time.
She was tall with long and silky dark hair, and legs that looked endless in her jeans and he couldn't complain about the sight of her backside. When she handed him Lucy's things, he saw her face. Big dark eyes and plump lips, her front side wasn't bad at all, in fact, it was even better than her back. He quickly shakes his head; he should not be checking her out.
"Thanks," Lucas murmurs and Riley smiles. Damn, her smile was gorgeous as well.
"Oh, Daddy, that's Riley," Lucy says. "And Riley, this is Daddy, but only I call him daddy. You can call him Lucas."
"Hi, Lucas," Rachel greets him.
"Hi," Lucas whispers back.
Lucy watches the two and narrows her eyes it seems her daddy and her new friend were smitten with each other.
"Isn't Riley beautiful daddy?"
Lucas coughs at his daughter's words but nods his head in agreement "Yeah sweetheart she is! Anyway I should get you home Luce. Thanks for looking after her Riley."
Riley was trying very hard not to blush as Lucy's words and gives Lucas a shy smile "No, no problem. It was nice to meet her." And it's definitely nice to meet you. "You have a beautiful daughter."
"Thanks."
The two share another look, and this time it's Maya that interrupts them "Ahem Riley, we need to clean up."
Riley helps Lucy put her coat on, and Lucy leans over and gives Riley a hug which surprises Lucas as she can be quite shy with new people. Lucy lets go of Riley and pats her dad on the cheek "Ok daddy I am ready."
"Bye Lucy." Riley says before turning and give Lucas another smile "Bye Lucas."
Lucas nods before walking out of the small bakery his heart racing at the picture of Riley's beautiful smile. He hasn't felt this way since Lucy's mother, and he knew exactly how that all turned out.
But something about Riley was different…but could he take this chance if not only for himself but Lucy as well.