Brooklyn's Brighton Beach has one of the city's best beaches for wedding venues, sunbathing, and just all around having family fun on the sand. This is why she picked this certain location for her shop. Her shop faces Atlantic and the foot traffic that she gets from people just walking by is simply amazing. She likes this location near the beach and it's a goldmine.
As the sun rises she is heading to her shop to start her day. She needs to finish the final touches on the wedding cake that she needs to have delivered to her client by 1 pm. She's cutting it close but she should make it there in time. When she arrives she can see that her business partner has already beat her in. She is in the back room getting something for a customer waiting at the front counter.
"So you're here pretty early," Kate says to her friend as she walks through the back door.
"Listen, Kate, there are a lot of people asking for your special Irish soda bread, and when I got here there was a line around the corner. That lady at the counter is the last customer who wanted your bread." Lanie explains.
"We sold out every loaf?"
"Just about. There are three left." She is happy about selling out the bread. It was her mother's recipe.
"Lanie, I need you to load up the delivery van so we can get the first wedding cake to where it needs to be. I think the reception starts at noon. After that could you please make the deliveries to the outreach shelter?"
"Not a problem, Kate. Let me take care of this last customer and I will load up everything and be on my way." Lanie responded.
Kate got back to work and didn't realize that Lanie had already left to make the deliveries. An hour later Lanie returned and when she did Kate asked if everything went okay.
"Everything went fine. But of course, the outreach people love what we brought them. They always do. They will add the stuff we sent them tonight for the dinner crowd."
"Yea. Good."
Lanie watched Kate as she added the finishing touches on the wedding cake they were delivering later this afternoon.
"This one is coming along nicely."
"You think? I think it needs a little more something."
"Kate be serious! This is pretty good. The bride is going to love this." Lanie praises.
"Good? Good is not good enough."
"You're such a perfectionist."
"Lanie you and I both know that this is a competitive business. I just want enough work coming through that door so we don't have to stress the small stuff."
Lanie looks at Kate and can't believe she doesn't know what she is capable of.
"Kate you are going to be the hottest cake decorator in Brooklyn. Brides are going to be lining up just to be able to buy one of your cakes. Relax."
"Relax? Look at all that work we have waiting for us over there." Kate says as she points to all the unfilled orders. "But I do love it."
"Speaking about love… when are we going to make one of these for you?" Lanie asks, pointing to the 5 tiered wedding cake.
"Don't Lanie. Don't go there."
"Come on Kate. I can help you set up an online dating profile. They make it so easy nowadays it's just a matter of pointing and clicking."
"Ah no! Besides, right now I'm focused on making For Heaven's Cakes very successful."
"Well, I'm glad you're happy. But I just wish you had someone to share it with."
"I'm sharing it with you!" Kate says as she moves to dab some icing on Lanie's nose with the frosting bag but Lanie avoids her attempt.
"That's not what I mean and you know it!"
"Lanie we have a lot of work to do so let's focus on that. Tomorrow's wedding is a high-profile affair and a showstopper that could catapult us to the next level."
"Yeah, I know all the rich and famous people will be there. But no stress right?
Lanie turns to leave but stops as she gets to the doorway. She has a question she needs to ask Kate because in the back of her mind she knows her friend all too well.
"So Kate tell me, did you get a deposit on this one?"
"Um, I mean…"
"Kate, you can't be a pushover on these types of things," Lanie stresses.
"I know, I know."
"Kate, as your business partner you need to get deposits on jobs that are this big."
"And I know that you always have my back," Kate says as she bites her lower lip.
"Kate, I just wish you would understand your worth. You are amazing. And one day everyone will realize that."
"Well thank you for that and I love you. But can we get back to work now?"
Lanie just eyes her friend and says,
"You got it, Kate." She hears the counter bell ring as she is walking away. Kate shakes her head at her enthusiasm. Then she finishes doing what she was doing with the wedding cake in front of her.
A couple of hours later Lanie and Kate have moved the cake to their delivery van. They both stare at how good it looks and think to themselves that this is the best cake that they have ever made.
Kate turns to her friend and tells her,
"Lanie the cake is in the van now and you can take the time that you need off to do what you needed to do tonight. I won't take no for an answer so you just go on and finish what you started yesterday."
"Kate, when are you going to get some rest yourself?" She asks
"Rest? What is this rest thing that you're speaking about?" Kate plays along.
"Just take some time for yourself this weekend, please." Lanie insists.
Kate closes the door on the van and Lanie leaves her to deliver the wedding cake to the client.
The ride is a short one but by the time she gets there the wait staff has already started to set up for the wedding. She pulls the van alongside the sidewalk that leads right into the reception hall and parks. She gets out of the driver's seat and opens the side doors where the cake rests still in one piece, thankfully it made the trip.
Knowing that she will need some help to get this monstrosity of a cake into the venue she scans the surrounding area for a serving cart or for another person to help her. It's now she regrets not taking Lanie with her to help her get it into the venue.
She sees a man with his back to her leaning up against the pillar. She thinks he is part of the event staff having a quick smoke, but as she looks closer, she can tell that he's talking on his cell phone.
Rick Castle had just about enough of his father's demanding ways. He was always trying to put him into a position that he wanted nothing to do with. He needed a break from the never-ending meeting at the country club so he simply got up (ignoring his father's stern look) and left the conference room. He went to the club's bar and ordered a Scotch on the rocks and took it and himself out onto the patio to enjoy his drink in peace.
No sooner did he take a sip, does his father's assistant show up.
"So Rick why did you walk out of the meeting?" Will asks.
"It's like this Will, I respect my father but there are times when I think it takes things a little bit too far. I don't need the aggravation of trying to convince people to do what they shouldn't be doing in the first place." Rick stops to take a sip of his scotch still thinking about what his father's doing.
Just then two women walk by and give Rick a seductive look. They proceeded on their way and then just as they were out of earshot, Will put his two cents in.
"Did you see that?" He asks Rick.
"What?" Rick asks him.
"They were checking out your suit to see if it was made out of husband material."
Rick was a little stunned at Will's comment but the look on his face was one of frustration.
"Yeah, They seemed nice." He said hoping that Will would get the drift that he wasn't interested. But Will didn't get it.
"Nice?" Will snarked.
"Will if you think that they are worth your time, go over and talk to them."
"Rick, what you don't seem to grasp is that by dropping the name Richard Castle the II, it opens doors for you, and having a trust fund doesn't hurt either," Will said as he waved his glass of whiskey in a broad sweep of the patio area.
"And that Will is exactly why my father loves having you around the office as his assistant."
Will determined as ever says,
"You could learn something from me, Rick. You and your father would actually get along better if you agreed with him more often." Will tells him.
"Let me explain something to you, Will. I've known since the age of five that I was going to be working for my father…."
"It's a great job, Rick…"
"And I think there's more to life than just making money. During my whole childhood, my father was committed to making money. So much so that I never saw him and he was never there for me when I needed him."
"I fail to see the downside of being rich and famous. Oh boy…" Will said cutting himself off.
"What?" Rick asks.
"Gina."
"Where?"
"At your six and walking towards us very quickly."
"Just great." Rick sighs out.
"What happened to the two of you? You practically grew up together."
"Yup. Our parents are both part of the club."
"Rich, socialite, rising internet star, Sounds nice enough to me."
"Well you see there Will, that's where you and I clearly have a different definition of what nice is. She's not as nice as she seems."
Just then a big busted blond walks up and puts her hand on Rick's shoulder.
"So Rick, babe, is this where you've been hiding all afternoon?" Gina asks.
"It sure is. You caught me."
"Yes, I did!"
"Hi, Gina," WIll says a little upbeat.
"Yeah, hi Will." She responds coldly.
"Rick when am I going to hear about what's going on with your firm?"
"You'll hear about it when the rest of the public hears about it, Gina. And not until then."
"Oh come on Rick, how about a little sneak peek? My viewers would love it."
"Ah, no. Not going to happen. Listen I need to make a phone call. Have a great day!" Rick tells them as he walks away from the both of them.
When Rick turned the corner and out of sight it was now Will's turn. He stares back at Gina taking her all in, and she is looking magnificent.
"You look beautiful in purple!" He tries.
"Will stop trying so hard." Gina turns around and walks away from him.
Will can't see where he went wrong.
Rick takes off his jacket and hangs it off the back of a chair near the entrance to the venue. He pulls out his cell phone, leans up against the pillar, and makes the call he had to make earlier, and in 2 minutes the call is complete. He puts his phone back into his pocket and just takes in the view of the beach still leaning against the pillar.
His concentration is sidetracked when a white van pulls up to the venue's entrance stopping right at the sidewalk. The van is put into park and a tall brunette gets out and walks around to the side doors of the van. As she opens the side doors she turns around to see what she thinks is one of the wait staff leaning against the pillar doing nothing.
"Hey, excuse me!" Kate yells out to the man.
Rick who was still daydreaming says,
"Who me?" As he points to himself.
"Yes, you. Can you give me a hand with this?"
"Well, actually I'm on a break from…"
"Listen, I don't want to bother you but we both know that you shouldn't be on your break until later. Chef would not be happy to see you slouching around."
"But I'm not…"
"Please? It'll be really quick."
Rick pushes off the pillar and walks over to the cart that she is pointing at. He grabs it and rolls the cart towards the van. As he gets closer to the van he notices her with more energy than he has ever seen in a person. He stops the cart next to the open door and she says,
"Just grab the base of the cake and move it onto the cart."
"Yes, Ma'am."
They both reach inside the van and grab the base of the huge but heavy wedding cake. Lifting it they start to very carefully move towards the cart. Rick has a weak hold of the base and his fingers slip slightly tilting the cake towards Kate. He comments about it being heavier than it looks and apologizes and Kate looks him square in the eye and says,
"What is this, your first day?"
Rick, who was going to tell her that he had nothing to do with the foodservice industry, decides to play along.
"Actually it is," he says to her.
Once the cake is safely on the cart they both start pushing it towards the venue. Rick admires the work that was put into making this cake. He can't help but compliment her when they are halfway to the hall.
"This is one fancy cake! It must have been scary driving with this in the back of your van."
"Definitely nerve-wracking," Kate replies.
"The owners must have a lot of faith in you."
"Not to brag but I am one of the owners."
Rick turns to her and says "okay" a bit too sarcastically.
"No. No, I didn't mean it like that I promise."
Rick chuckles to himself and then tells her,
"It's okay. It was a humble brag. I was only teasing you. If you're pulling gigs like this you must be doing something right." Rick says as he looks at the venue knowing it's very expensive.
"Thank you. It's a lot of hard work but I love every minute of it.
Kate looks towards the van as if she's forgetting something. Then she remembers she has no schedule for what is to happen next. She looks at Rick and asks him if he has an itinerary for the event.
"Did chef give you an itinerary for tonight?"
"An itinerary?" Rick asks.
She feels something in her back pocket and reaches for it. Then she realizes that she has a copy of the itinerary for the event this evening.
"Oh nevermind. I have a copy of the schedule in my pants." After telling him this she starts to blush.
"Don't worry about it. I'll keep it to myself."
"Good."
"Can you open the door for me?" She asks as they get closer to the banquet hall.
Rick does as he's asked. they have a handicap ramp that leads to the inner Banquet Hall where they roll the completed cake into position for the wedding.
"Thank you so much for helping me with this," Kate tells Rick.
"It was my pleasure. Oh by the way I never did get your name."
"My name is Kate and I am one of the owners of For Heaven's Cakes." She tells him as she extends her hand for a handshake.
Rick sees this and does the same announcing his name to her as well.
"Hi Kate, I'm Rick. It was a pleasure to meet you." When he has finished telling her who he is all we can do is stare at her beauty. He can tell after about 20 seconds it's becoming uncomfortable and she's probably thinking he's a stalker.
"Well, Rick don't you think it's time to get back to Chef?" Kate asks.
"Oh yeah, right I forgot. First day jitters you know how that can be. Well, Kate, I hope to see you around.
"Me too have a great day."
TBC