Read Online Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe by Rebecca Raisin - Free Book Online Page A

too, sugar plum, me too.”
    People wave as they stroll past, some with an eyebrow raised seeing CeeCee and me lazing on the sofa as if we’re on holiday.
    â€œDid you hear from Janey, yet?” I ask idly.
    CeeCee jumps up. “No, not yet.”
    I watch her retreating back, and wonder what the heck she’s not telling me. Seems like we’re both guilty of keeping secrets.
    ***
    The phone rings, startling me awake. From my bed the alarm clock reads 5.49. Time to get up anyway. I shake the grogginess away, and answer. “Hello?”
    â€œYou got the money, yet?”
    I flop back in the bed and close my eyes. Thankfully Damon’s side of the bed is empty so he doesn’t have to hear this. I reach out and feel the groove in the mattress where he sleeps; it’s cold to touch. It makes me anxious we’re not spending our mornings together all of a sudden.
    â€œWell?” Joel says again, interrupting my train of thought.
    I exhale all the hurt and the worry in one long gust of breath. “I can give you three thousand, Joel. But that’s all I have. And it’s more than you deserve.” I don’t mention the festival proceeds just in case he agrees on my paltry savings. Paltry to him, certainly not to me. But there’s no way I’ll be handing over any cash until I hear back from Mr Jefferson.
    â€œYou’re just going to have to sell, then, Lil. I’m not playing a game here. I’m serious. I’ll give you one more day to organize something or I’ll file with a lawyer,” he threatens.
    â€œOne day? This isn’t a movie, Joel.”
    â€œDon’t be smart, Lil. In the meantime, I’d hate to see a fuse blow at your precious café. Imagine that — all your fridges off for the night…all those cakes for the festival, ruined. You’ve got
one
day.” He slams down the phone.
    I let out a barrel of expletives and only wish Joel were still on the phone to hear them.
    ***
    CeeCee’s at the café when I arrive, slamming her palms into pastry dough as if it’s a punching bag.
    â€œWhy are you here so early?” I ask.
    â€œThought I’d make a start on these pies.”
    â€œSure, but you didn’t need to come in early. Let me help.”
    I take a ball of dough.
    â€œDamon left early this morning too. Hope it’s not my morning breath that’s scaring him away.”
    â€œHmm, don’t think it’s that,” CeeCee says.
    â€œDo you think it’s weird, Cee? That he’s been leaving in the morning without me? We usually have coffee and mosey on down together. Now he’s up and gone before I’m even awake.”
    CeeCee looks at me sternly. “What you gettin’ at?”
    I shrug. “I just hope Joel hasn’t made him rethink things, that’s all.” I’m not used to the range of emotions that swim inside me, when it comes to Damon. I almost want to cling to him, because he’s so much more than I’ve ever had.
    She tuts and tosses down the dough. “So Damon’s left early a couple days this week? Days Charlie’s been here? Kids that age are up before sparrows, that’s what it is. I seen the way you two carry on — all that huggin’ and kissin’ you do when you think no one’s watchin’…”
    A blush rises up my cheeks. “Whoops.”
    â€œYeah, whoops, all right.” She sighs, big and dramatic. “Young love, it’s a beautiful thing.”
    â€œYoung? Why, thanks, Cee. Has Mr Jefferson called back yet?” I pummel the pastry.
    â€œNope,” she says. “And I checked that fangled machine for messages, nothin’.”
    â€œJoel called this morning, said I have one day to sort something out. He’s really hamming up that whole bad-guy act.” I don’t mention his threat about the fuses — CeeCee would be at Old Lou’s before I could say boo.
    â€œOne