Okay! Here is the long awaited update... ish... I was not expecting to be pulled left and right during this break, but I am hoping to get one more chapter out before Monday, than I am back at it with school. I am not sure which story yet, but I want to get it done and out soon!
ENJOY!!!
Holy shit. Ben? I looked at him with wide eyes, and I just knew that this was going to be so awkward. What was he doing here? Who was this girl? Did he try to find me? Did he know I owned this place? What in the hell was going on?
"You know her?" The woman said, making me turn to look at her shit in shock.
She was smiling up at Ben, and I am now assuming he did not know I was going to be here. She was so beautiful. Her skin was a beautiful brown and her hair looked so soft. Her eyes went back from Ben and I, and her smile only showed curiosity.
"Mal and I went to high school together," Ben said, making me turn my attention back to him. "We even went to the same college."
"Oh! Long time friends!" The girl said as she clapped her hands in excitement. "I'm Audrey. Ben's fiancé."
My head snapped in her direction, and they fell onto the ring sitting on her finger. It was an emerald cut diamond with a solid gold band, and I knew that ring anywhere. It was Leah's.
"Yes," I said as I held my hand out for her to shake. "It's so nice to meet you, and it's so good to see Ben again," I said as I glanced at him. "It's been a long time."
"5 years," he said softly, so I was the only one to hear it.
I swallowed the lump in my throat before I turned to Evie. She was standing there with the tray in her hand and she looked even more confused.
"Here, E," I said as I took the tray from her. "Let's get everything set up, so we can get this happy couple what they would like for their special day. Excuse me."
Mal scootched past Ben, making him look at her with crazed eyes. His mind was starting to go a thousand miles an hour. What was Mal doing here? How long had she been in Seattle? Did she know he moved here? Did she try to find him? Why did she leave? The questions flooded Ben's mind, before he focused on the problem at hand. He was going to be sitting at the same table with his fiance… and the love of his life.
"What would you like to start with first?" Mal asked as she clapped her hands together. "We have such an assortment here and…."
"Here," Ben said, cutting Mal off. "Sit."
She looked up at him with wide eyes, trying not to melt. And boy… could he make her melt.
Ben held a chair out for Mal and she sat, unknowingly that Evie had walked away to help everyone in the back. She was alone… with Audrey and Ben. Ben scooted her chair in, and sat down in the one next to her, getting as close as he could without making it obvious that he wanted to pull her into his lap. Their knees bumped, and Mal instantly crossed one leg over the other in attempts to keep their distance, but it was no use when Ben put a hand on her leg, making chills radiate through Mal's body. Luckily for Ben, Audrey could not see where his hand was, but to be honest, he could give two shits.
"Everything looks amazing," Audrey said as she drooled over the assortment of sweets, cakes, and other treats in front of her. "I would like to have a dessert table at the reception, because not everyone likes cake."
Mal sat there as Ben gripped her lower thigh tightly. She wanted to get out of this situation, and she wanted to get out of it fast.
"That sounds lovely," Mal said as she scooted herself forward, making Ben's hand fall off her thigh. "If you choose to have us cater, we would be willing to do whatever desserts you both decide."
Mal could see Ben's hand grip the side of her chair, and she knew that he was not going to be leaving here anytime soon.
"Well, Ben has work to do today," Audrey said as she looked around at the different treats. Mal perked up at hearing the possibility of him leaving. "So he will…"
"I'll stay," Ben said, cutting her off.
"I thought…"
"I said I'll stay."
Ben's voice was so cold that it even took Mal by surprise. When she had known him, he was the warmest and sweetest person she knew. And she was wondering what happened.
"Ben…"
Ben snapped his head in Mal's direction, and instantly calmed. He saw the fear in her eyes, and knew he was coming off hard, and that was the Ben she had not known. The Ben that he became after she left.
"I'm sorry… I just… I got an email from my office saying that my client had something come up, so I am able to stay."
Mal looked at Ben with curiosity. She still wanted to get this meeting over with as soon as possible, because she still had to pick up Melody from school.
"Okay," Mal said as she cleared her throat. "Let's get started."
After a long two hours, Mal looked at her watch and saw that she needed to wrap this up before she had to pick up Melody. She has been asked every question about her pastries, but she knew Audrey just wanted everything to be perfect for her wedding. Her wedding to Ben.
"I love everything," Audrey said as she looked back at all the food they had tasted. "From the simplicity of the chocolate chip cookies to the exquisite richness of the millefeines. And you said these are all of your recipes?"
Mal nodded her head and smiled. She had worked hard to get where she is now. She had worked late nights trialing and erroring different recipes for years, traveling with Melody and Evie to different countries to perfect and learn how to establish a foundation to make what she did. She opened her cafe when Melody was just a baby, and it grew into this beautiful place that so many vitiated everyday. She wanted to do something that she loved, and she loved to back, but she also wanted to make Melody a life she would deserve. She did this for her daughter. She did this so they could have the life she envisioned to have with Ben and Melody.
"Yeah," Mal said as she nodded her head. "I always loved to bake and I wanted to expand that craft of mine. I opened this place about 3 years ago, and…"
"Ben never…"
"How many did you like, Audrey?" Ben asked, cutting his fiancé off.
Mal looked at him with an astound look. He was being rude, and she did not like it. Mal turned to look at Audrey just in time to see her roll her eyes.
"I said you could have left after we tasted everything," she said as Mal grew uncomfortable. "You don't have to stay for everything."
"I told you that…"
"That your client or whatever canceled, but you didn't even want to be here in the first place," she snapped back.
Mal liked seeing Ben being talked down to. The old Mal would have felt bad, but with the way Ben was talking to her, he deserved it. She started to remember all of the times she and Ben had small arguments when they were together, and she always remembered that Ben never raised his voice at her. He never once yelled at her, cursed at her, or even ignored her. He was the type of person who wanted to talk to Mal about everything that bothered her and even himself, because his biggest fear was losing Mal. Ben's voice made her look up to see him staring at her.
"I am sorry," she said as she put her hand in her lap and shook her head. "Did you ask something?"
"Are you in your own world?" He asked. "I was asking if you think my being here is making things worse for Audrey."
What had Mal missed when she went into her own mind. She knew they were bickering, but what had been said. She raised her hand up to look at the time and it turns out 30 minutes had passed and she had to pick up Melody in 45 minutes.
"Ben, I am not saying that you being here is a bad thing," Audrey said as she stood up and put her hands against her hip. "I am just saying that if you are going to be rude to me, then maybe I should have brought my Grammy. You didn't even want to come. I had to beg you"
"Leah would take over," Ben said as he threw his hands out in front of him, unnoticing the state of shock Mal was in.
It made sense to Mal though. Audrey was wearing Leah's ring… instead of Belle's… like Ben had always wanted. With how pushy Leah is, she probably pushe Ben and Audrey together. and Mal started to wonder… Does Audrey know who Mal is? Does she know about her baby? Does she know about what her grandmother did to her?
"Mal?"
She turned her head to look at Ben who was looking at her with worry in his eyes.
"Are you okay? You look like you have seen a ghost?"
She turned to look at Audrey, who was giving her the same look Ben was. She started to wonder if this was going to be a good idea. She started to wonder if she should tell Ben and Audrey that this probably was not the best match, but she knew that it would be unprofessional if she did that. Hell, she had never done that in the 3 years she opened the place. She was always accommodating… no matter the circumstances.
Mal nodded her head, before she turned in her seat and waved for Evie to come over.
"What's up, M?" Evie asked as she looked down at her.
Evie could tell that Mal was in a state of distress, and was starting to get worried.
"Would you be able to pick up the package I was supposed to get at 12?" She asked, making Evie look at her in confusion. "We are just running a little behind."
She knew Mal had to pick up Melody at 12, but what she was wondering was why Mal was acting so weird about it.
"Ummm…" Ben and Audrey were looking at Mal, while Mal was looking at Evie with pleading eyes. "Sure, but am I able to… pick it up."
Evie knew that Mal would explain later. She was just hoping that it didn't have to do with the couple at the table.
"Are we keeping you?" Audrey asked, making Mal look at her.
She was clutching her purse, ready to jump out of the chair and leave. She didn't look upset to Mal, she looked apologetic.
"No," Mal said as she shook her head. "I just need this package to be picked up," she told them, before looking back at Evie. "Yes, I wrote your name on the secondary pick up, in case I was not about to get it."
"Okay," Evie said as she nodded her head. "I will go now."
"Thank you!" Mal shouted as Evie rushed off to get her keys and wallet.
"I am sorry about that," Mal said as she sat up in her chair. "Please, I would like to help you both with your wedding. It is going to be the happiest day of your lives." She saw Ben's hands fist so tightly that his knuckles were going white. "Please."
The couple sat, but Ben knew that Mal was directly talking to him.
"So, what were some of your favorites?" Mal asked.
"I am a fan of the eclairs, the beignets, framboisier, soufflé, savarin, and any of the tarts."
Mal wrote everything down, before turning to look at Ben who was running his thumb against his lips. She knew what he would like, and she knew it was only going to be one thing. He turned his gaze to look at his ex-lover, before the corners of his mouth turned up.
"The chocolate chip cookies," he said. "They were perfect then, and they are perfect now."
Audrey rolled her eyes, before she looked at Mal. "Is he always this stubborn? I need to know what I am marrying into."
Mal smiled softly, before looking at the beautiful brunette. "He's the best," she said, not caring that Ben was sitting next to her. "One of the best people I know, and his family is no different."
Ben's heart started to pound in his chest. He was listening to the words falling off Mal's lips, and started to wonder if it was him… or something else that made her leave.
"They are amazing," Audrey said with a laugh. "And I am going to trust you on it, because you have known him longer than I have," Audrey said with a laugh. "Our engagement was more of a set up, to be completely honest," she said, making Mal's eyes widen in shock. "I know. Too much information, but if you and Ben are friends, I do not see a point in hiding it."
"Audrey…"
"Everyone knows, Ben," Audrey said with a laugh. "I know you don't like to talk about it, but Mal is your friend and it is kind of a funny story."
"I understand that," Ben said through his teeth. "But…"
"Alright alright," Audrey said as she rolled her eyes. "I'll shut up."
Mal sat there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Ben's engagement was arranged, and if she could guess, she would have to say that Leah was behind it all.
"Okay, so is that it? Do we make a final decision now?"
"No," Mal said as she shook her head. "You do not have to make a final decision now. You are more than welcome to take the rest with you to have your families try, get different opinions."
"Oh! We can take these?"
Mal nodded her head, before she walked toward the counter and grabbed a couple boxes.
"Here, I'll help you pack them up."
Mal started to pack the pasties up neatly in the boxes, before she saw Ben and Audrey helping.
"Oh you…"
"You have been more than patient with the both of us," Audrey said as she looked at Mal with a kind smile. "And there is so much to put away. You honestly gave us too much."
"I normally do this much to give each of you one of your own, and one to take home, but since you cut and shared only one of each there is much more."
"That makes sense. And again, very generous."
"I'll be right back."
Ben walked off, leaving Audrey and Mal to finish.
"Has he always been cold?"
The question took Mal by surprise. "What do you mean?"
"He's cold, distant, irritable."
Not the Ben Mal remembered.
"He doesn't like to do much," she said. "He works most hours of the day. Works, sleeps for about 5 hours, wakes up, works out, and repeat." Mal would hear the tone on Audrey's voice, and Mal knew she was wondering if it was something she was going wrong. "Hell, we have been seeing each other for two years. We moved here a year ago, and hell… this may sound personal, but we have never even slept in the same bed."
Mal's eyes widened. Ben was always the affectionate type, always wanting to cuddle with Mal at night. Always wanting her close.
"Mal? Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?"
Audrey was really sweet and was genuinely wanting to know if she was the problem, and it was breaking Mal's heart.
"I'm not sure what is wrong with Ben," Mal said as she closed the purple pastry box. "I would just let him do his thing. If you are doing nothing wrong and he is still this way, you are not the problem. And by what I have seen today, he's just going through something. I don't know what or how long it will take for him to be… him again, but just know that you are not doing anything wrong."
Audrey smiled at the purple haired girl. She really liked what Mal said, and was hoping that what she said was right.
"Thank you, Mal. That means a lot."
"Okay," Ben said as he walked up to the table with another purple box in his hand. "Are you ready? I have to head back to the office."
"Um… yeah," Audrey said as she looked at the box in Ben's hand. "What's that?"
"Cookies," he said with a straight face.
"For you?"
"Yeah. Why is that a problem?"
Mal was tired of Ben's attitude toward Audrey. She was a nice girl, and Mal was going to set Ben straight.
"No one said it was a problem," she said as she turned to Ben and pushed the rest of the boxes into his free hand. "You could buy whatever you want. Now, have your parents and whoever Audrey wants to try them, and please, Audrey, if you have any questions, please call me."
Mal scribbled her number down on and gave it to Audrey before smiling at both her and Ben.
"I hope that you both love everything and choose me and my team for your special day," she said.
"Thank you," Audrey said as she walked over and hugged Mal. "I don't think anything will compete. I will be in touch in a couple weeks."
"Thank you," Mal said. "I will let you both get back to your day."
With that said, Mal walked toward the counter, hoping Ben would leave. When she turns around Ben was walking out of the cafe, and Audrey was chasing after him. She watched as they walked down the street, and sighed as she watched them disappear. She was wondering how this was happening to her. How Ben waltzed back into her life. And why she felt like this was not going to be the last time she was going to see him… other than his wedding.
"Gonna make a pie. Gonna make a pie," Mal said as she guided Melody's hand. "Gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle." Mother and daughter loved staying late at the cafe to make whatever their hearts desired.
"Gonna be a pie from heaven above." Melody loved to bake with her mom. It was her favorite thing to do, other than dance. Her mom always put her first, and she loved how close they were. "Gonna be filled with strawberry love."
"You sing beautifully, my beautiful Melody," Mal said as she kissed the top of her daughter's head.
Today was one of the hardest days since the last time she had seen Leah. Knowing Ben was in Seattle. Knowing that he was getting married… It was a lot. He acted weird the entire time. He acted like he could care less about Mal, but he didn't want to leave or for her to leave. She was so confused.
A loud bang, made the mother and daughter jump.
"MAL!" They heard, and Melody started to grow scared.
"Who is that, mommy?" She asked as she got off the stool and ran around to hide behind her mom.
"I'm not sure, baby," Mal said as she held onto her daughter. "Go to my office and hide under the desk."
Melody nodded her head before she scurried off toward Mal's office. The banging continued and she could hear the person yelling her name.
"Mal! Open the door!"
Mal walked out of the kitchen and walked behind the counter and she could see Ben banging his fist against the glass door. She was wondering how he had gotten past the gate, but knowing him he must have climbed over it, which she wouldn't be surprised about.
"Mal!"
Mal stood there in shock. She was not expecting to see Ben anytime soon, but here he was. Standing at her cafe door, begging for her to let him in. It was late and if she let him stay out there, someone would see him and call the police.
Mal got the courage and walked over to the door and unlocked it. She didn't even have time to ask what he was doing there, before he picked her up and squeezed her tightly. He was holding onto her so tightly that she was having a hard time breathing.
"Mal," he said in a relieved tone. "My god."
"Ben… I…"
She was cut off by him, as he crushed his lips to hers. To say Mal was taken by surprise was an understatement. At first she found herself melting into it and kissing him back, but when she remembered that he was engaged to be married, she tried to push herself away, making Ben look at her.
"Ben, stop," she said, finally getting out of his hold. "What are you doing? You are getting married."
"Not if you give me a reason not to."
Until next time my Lovies! Xoxo GM