Two days later, Lily returns to the spiraling reality that is her life. After Lily got back from the loo during dinner on Saturday night, Mary and Marlene sensed her change in demeanor, even though she insisted that nothing was wrong. Her best friends followed Lily to her flat after the celebrations ended, and they spent the rest of the night drinking wine and watching sappy Hallmark movies.
They convinced Lily to take one more day off before jumping back into her career, where she needed to sort things out. Another morning and afternoon spent with the girls was just the therapy she needed, even if they insisted on paying for everything. Lily has never been one to receive charity in any form, and prefers independence in all facets of her life. But naturally, Mary and Marlene didn't listen, treating her to brunch with endless mimosas and mani/pedis at her favorite nail salon.
When it was time for Marlene to take the train back to Dublin, she suggested Lily accompany her to London in two weeks for the semi-annual wedding expo. Marlene has gone to the February expo that occurs every year just after Valentine's Day, when there's an influx of newly engaged brides-to-be looking to book all facets of their dream wedding. Of course, Marlene goes to scope out the newest fashion trends and scours the new designs to add to the floor of the bridal shop.
Lily admits that it would be fun to join her, and will think about it since money is an ever-present issue. Even if she were to pay Marlene back—which Marly suggested—she still doesn't like being in debt to others.
Now, on a crisp Monday afternoon, Lily kicks at the ground while she walks along the riverside. The weather has dropped back to below freezing, matching the hollow, empty feeling that once burned with so much excitement and prospect for her career. She does her best to follow Mary and Marlene's advice—to keep her head up and not let Sev the slimeball get her down.
She's spent the entire day on damage control, calling clients who have booked months in advance to confirm their appointments and scouring downtown Belfast for other available storefronts that might be closer to a price range she can afford. Lily even managed another meeting with the original landlord she was about to sign a contract with since all the equipment is already in place at the shop, but it looked like Severus got to him first.
She can't help the overwhelming feeling that this is all her fault. That she was too naive and hopeful that she may have found a business partner that would help her realize her dreams. Things were promising with Sev. They met at a coffee shop last fall, where she learned he had a business degree and was an up and coming investor. After trying an array of her desserts, he approached her about opening her own bakery.
Weeks were spent in coffee shops, libraries, and cafes to crunch numbers, develop menus and stake out locations to rent. They'd drawn up a contract together, were about to sign a lease on the perfect location, and then Sev threw a curveball.
We make a great team, Lily. What do you say we expand our partnership?
Lily shivers, but not from the cold. She can still hear how his tone changed with the suggestion. The way he'd reached out to touch her arm and how she recoiled. How confusion consumed her. She thought they were business partners, friends, even! Never had she given any inclination that she was looking for a romantic relationship with Severus.
She thought she'd declined his suggestion with grace, bringing it all back to the business.
Things could get messy, Sev, and I'm not looking for a relationship right now. I need to focus on the business.
His gray eyes turned dark at her rejection but then gleamed when he cornered her with his last-ditch effort. No relationship, no investor, no deal.
Lily could only shake her head in dismay, watching everything she'd worked for crumble around her as he sneered and ripped the contract in half outside what would have been the new storefront of Gingersnaps. He'd thrown the papers on the ground and stormed off, leaving her to deal with the aftermath. That's how she'd convinced the landlord to give her an extra week to sort out finances to begin with, hoping a win from the baking competition might make her enough to get started, but that plan had been foiled too. Not that she blamed Mona! Her win was well deserved, and runner-up is a great distinction. Even if the prize isn't enough to cover three months rent. So, unsurprisingly, the landlord gave a firm no despite Lily's comprehensive plan that would assure she could afford the space.
Lily closes her eyes and focuses on the lapping of the waves against the concrete, willing the water to wash away the memories of the last two weeks. The sounds draw her over the railing, where she leans against it and looks out at her surroundings, contemplating where to go from here. She hasn't taken any special orders for the next month in anticipation of the bakery's opening, which is bound to leave her hard-pressed for income.
The only plus side to this series of unfortunate events is that the clients she has booked out for the spring have all confirmed their orders, so she knows that people still love her baking, and she isn't a complete failure. Thank goodness she listened to Petunia's advice about having enough money on reserve in case she falls on hard times such as this, but while running the numbers in her head, Lily realizes she'll only have enough to cover two months rent, plus all her other living expenses, so if she doesn't figure something out soon, she won't have a place to live.
Marlene's offer still rings in her ears, but she'd much rather become a barista at a local coffee shop before helping bridezillas find their perfect gown and laugh in her face about being thirty and single. No, she can't have that at all. There's got to be another way.
Lily pulls her scarf a little tighter around her neck in an effort to keep out the wind and readjusts the loose strands of hair around her shoulders. She's glad she chose to wear the hat and gloves on her walk today as she checks that the knit beanie is still covering her ears. The cold is beginning to creep further into her bones, and she knows she should head back to her flat.
She can't delay the inevitable anymore. Number crunching will consume her entire afternoon, and then she'll need to come up with ways to stay afloat for the next six weeks that don't involve getting a temp job. Her brain shifts into overdrive, first cataloguing the month: February. Holidays?
Oh! Maybe I can coordinate a pop-up sale for Valentine's Day!
She's worked with local flower shops and other small businesses before. They'll sell her treats and take a small portion of the fee, or if she's lucky, let her keep all the profits. It's not much, but it's a start.
Relieved that she now has a plan in place, Lily pushes off the railing and leaves the calm serenity of the water behind as she heads back to her flat. She can breathe a little easier now that backup ideas are coming to fruition. The low she's carried for the last week is slowly dissipating. Sure, it's a minor setback, but she'll persevere. She has to.
Her fifteen minute walk back toward the Smithfield and Union Quarter is quiet at first. Most people are at work or in their homes and out of the cold. But Lily isn't fooled by the calm serenity because she knows the market will be bustling with shoppers and tourists—not that she has a clue why anyone would want to tour the capital of Northern Ireland at this time of year.
Keeping her head down and staying focused on her destination, Lily weaves in between the steadily growing clumps of people. The sound of a horn and someone shouting off in the distance catches her attention, and she looks around to see what's going on, instinctively making sure that no one is hurt when her shoulder bumps into another person's arm.
I really need to pay attention to where I'm going, or at the very least stop to look at something instead of being nosy while moving.
She turns back to apologize to the person she's almost run over, but her words become stuck in her throat.
"I'm so sor—" No. It couldn't be.
"Miss Evans?"
Of all the people in the world that I could have bumped into, it has to be him?
"Mr. Potter. What are you still doing in Belfast?"
By now, her feet have stopped moving, even though her mind is screaming at her to walk away.
You've got things to do, a plan to hatch! Don't let the wanker who thinks you're unexceptional take up any more of your time!
Lily glares at the tall, well-dressed man as she recalls the last words she heard him speak. Any second thoughts or attraction she felt from their flirty banter had disappeared in an instant when she heard him telling Dora what he really thought of her. And to think she'd almost let herself imagine what it might have been like if he had joined her for dinner, or if he had asked her out after, or…
No. It never would have happened even if he hadn't said those hurtful words. Not with Dora there.
Speaking of Dora, Lily sees her standing at Potter's side, looking cheery and excited about their outing. She waves to Lily in greeting, and Lily offers a half-hearted smile in return.
Shouldn't she be in school?
"We decided to stay an extra day to take in the sites. Dora is a major history buff and—"
"Yes, the Titanic fascinates me, so when I heard that James needed to step in and judge here in Belfast, I begged him to let me tag along! The history here is so fascinating and—"
"—And now that we've seen everything she's requested, we'll be on our way home this evening," Potter finishes.
How cute. They're finishing each other's sentences. Excuse me while I go and vomit.
"Well, I'm glad you've enjoyed your time here," Lily's tone is short in her attempts to be polite. She wills her feet to move so she can bid them farewell once and for all, but again, nothing happens.
"What are you doing out and about?" Dora asks, no doubt in an attempt to cut the awkward tension between them.
"I had a few errands to run."
Speaking of, you should really be getting home. What are you waiting for? An invitation? An explanation? Yeah, right.
Despite her mind screaming as if she's in an insane asylum, Lily can't bring herself to leave. There's something about these chance meetings that seem like something more than fate. So she waits to see what he has to say—that is, if he has anything to say.
Against her better judgement, her eyes roam up and meet Potter's hazel gaze, challenging him to respond or perhaps address what she overheard the other night. They stand in a tense stalemate despite Lily's internal pleading with herself to leave. Dora watches with interest, which is peculiar. If they're an item, shouldn't she be more concerned with the way her boyfriend is staring at Lily?
Speaking of, why is he staring at me like that? Lily takes in his features. His eyebrows are knitted together as he watches her through his square-rimmed glasses. His hands are shoved in his expensive peacoat while the wind whips his already messy hair around.
It's so unfair that he's so damn sexy. Maybe if he were any other man…
The stark reminder of who he is is enough to snap Lily back into her senses. She mumbles, "So...it was nice seeing you again...I suppose," as she begins to walk away, but a leather-gloved hand catches her arm to stop her.
"Miss Evans, I'd like to clear up a misunderstanding—"
His words are cut off by the theme music of the Great British Bake Off rising from her coat pocket.
"Is that—" Dora begins to ask.
"My ringtone," Lily explains as she fishes her cell out of her pocket. "Excuse me for one moment."
She doesn't recognize the number but feels the urge to answer it anyway. "Hello?"
"Lily? Lily Evans? Is that you, dear?"
"Yes. Who is this?" The voice sounds familiar, but with the wind catching the microphone, it's hard to hear.
"It's Mona! Mona Sprout from the Belfast Bake Off."
"Mona! Hi! Is everything alright?"
"Yes, yes! I got your number from your sister before we left. Do you have a moment?"
"Sure, of course! Just give me one second."
She can hear Mona tell her to take her time as she looks back at Potter and Dora. "I'm sorry. I have to take this. It was, um, nice to see you again."
Duh, you just said that. Good one.
Lily closes her eyes and turns away so they can't see the embarrassment creep up on her face. Since when has she forgotten how to end a conversation? Unwilling to look back, she takes off down the street and places the phone back up to her ear. "Sorry about that. Is everything alright?"
"Yes, yes, more than! Listen," Mona begins, "Howard and I had a wonderful time the other evening with you, Petunia, and your friends. We really were so sorry to hear that your plans for a bakery have fallen through, but Lily, I could not get this thought out of my head, which seems to have formed into a proposition, and I had to call you."
"Proposition?"
"Do you remember how I said I was looking to step back from the bakery at Puff's Pastries?"
"Yes…" Lily's heart beats faster as Mona carries on with her explanation.
"Well, I really could use the help right now, what with Valentine's Day approaching, and I need to find a way to make the business more current. Sales are dropping, and I think it's because we haven't strayed from our traditional recipes in so long. I'm looking for someone to collaborate with to reimagine our recipes and keep us current with the trends, as your friend Marlene was saying."
"Oh?" is all Lily can manage.
"Sorry, dear, I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say is there's a job available if you're interested."
"A job? You'd be willing to hire me?"
"Without question! It would only be for the next six weeks, or however long you need. I know you said you have clients and orders that you need to fulfill in April, and I wouldn't want to keep you from those. Think of it as a trade-off. We'd be teaching each other everything we know."
It's not the break Lily is hoping for, but it is certainly appealing. To learn from the heiress of Puff's Pastries herself? That's a big deal. She'd be crazy not to take it!
"But how would that work with me being in Belfast?" Lily inquires.
"Well, you see, that's the only snafu, isn't it? I have a place for you to stay, but you'd need to move to London."
"To London? For six weeks?"
"I know I'm asking a lot, but I couldn't not offer."
Lily can hear Mona inhale, no doubt preparing to list all of the other details she's got lined up to sell Lily on the job, but there's no need, for Lily's already made up her mind.
"I'm in."