Read Online Rebel Without a Cake by Jacklyn Brady - Free Book Online

spooky trees and a full moon, rimmed by a chocolate path that climbed up the tiers to the top of the cake. The path would be edged by fallen leaves, tiny pumpkins, and wooden signs made from fondant and gum paste. Each sign would bear the name of a family member from the oldest living generation. We planned to top the cake with a large jack-o’-lantern, its “lid” shifted to let a witch’s brew of chocolate spill out to create the path. I was in charge of making all the fondant items. I’d already assembled two dozen tiny pumpkins and boxes full of colorful autumn leaves, so the large jack-o’-lantern was the only thing left on my list.
    Ox nodded and reached for an eraser. “Sounds great.”
    Judging from the tone of his voice, that was a big, fat lie. It looked like bringing Ox around would require both finesse and persistence. I moved on and let myself into the front of the house, where Edie reigns over the reception area from behind a massive U-shaped desk.
    It’s a large room dominated by Edie’s desk and an ornate staircase made of rich, dark wood. A couple of inviting seating areas take up space in front of the large front windows, and framed poster-sized photographs of extreme and elegant cakes adorn the crisp white walls.
    Edie glanced up when I came through the door, but looked away quickly. “Morning.”
    I hoped that was contrition on her face, but I couldn’t be sure.
    I helped myself to a handful of M&M’s—her snack of choice since she got pregnant—from a bowl on her desk. “Have you been back in the design room this morning?”
    She shook her head. “Not yet. Why do you ask?”
    â€œBecause everybody back there is on edge. Would you like to guess why?”
    Edie’s glance landed on mine. “I suppose you’re going to say it’s my fault.”
    â€œAre you seriously going to suggest it’s not?”
    Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed and she turned her chair so that she was facing me head-on. “You ought to be thanking me. If I hadn’t done what I did, you and Ox would have completely ruined the night for Dwight.”
    I couldn’t believe my ears. “You’re blaming
me
?”
    â€œNot just you. Ox, too. Really, Rita, you should have heard the two of you. Half the people at the Duke were laughing. The other half were whispering. We’ve all worked too hard to build up Zydeco’s reputation to ruin it in a barroom brawl.”
    I felt about two inches tall. “Okay. Maybe you have a point. Kind of. But that doesn’t let you off the hook for your part in last night’s disaster. We were all scared to death and we drove like maniacs to get you to the hospital, only to find out it was all a joke?”
    â€œNot a joke.” Edie flicked a lock of hair from her cheek. “I was going to have a trial run anyway. Last night just seemed like the right time to do it.”
    Unbelievable
. “It was a very bad idea,” I said. “You upset people who care about you, and I need you to apologize to them.”
    â€œApologize for what?”
    â€œFor upsetting everybody. For lying to us. For making us think you were about to have the baby. Pick one.”
    Edie laughed, but she wasn’t amused. “And what about you and Ox?”
    I’d apologize when Ox did, but getting him to apologize wouldn’t be easy. I’d deal with that later, though. First, I had to get him to look at me. “How about you just take care of your part? We have too much work to have bad feelings cutting into productivity.”
    Edie rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I have anything to apologize for. Like I said, you should be thanking me.”
    Edie’s always been one of the most hardheaded people I know. Pregnancy hasn’t softened her any. “I appreciate you stepping in before our argument got out of hand,” I said. It wasn’t entirely true, but I