Love is What You Bake of it Read online

  But as much as he kept telling himself that, there was something about Kally that he just couldn’t stop thinking about. From that first moment when his finger had grazed hers as she handed over the license plate and looked up at him with that sweet, vulnerable smile, he’d felt a tightening in his chest each time he snuck a glance her way.

  But speaking to her was like a game of tug-of-war. She’d be sweet and he’d suddenly clam up. He’d tried to make friendly small talk but then somehow manage to say something to put her off. He walked toward her; she backed away. She offered him a treat from her pastry case and he bolted from her place like he was running to catch a criminal. One part of him wanted to pursue her, but the other part knew he shouldn’t. He understood his reason for this push and pull, but what was the cause for her equally contradictory behavior?

  Max was roused from his thoughts when an energetic, golden-haired child ran over to him.

  “Daddy!” the six-year-old called out. “Look what we got in Sunday School today.” She handed her father a softcover textbook and a religious themed bookmark.

  “Very nice, Athena!” Max watched as his daughter skipped off to join a friend. She was doing so well these days. It was evident she was happy here and he was grateful the turmoil of their lives over the past couple of years didn’t seem to have a lasting effect on her.

  About ten minutes later, Athena returned with Max’s sister-in-law, Lena, accompanied by her ten-year-old son, John.

  “Are you ready to head out?” Lena asked.

  “Sure,” Max said. “Hey, Lena,” he said, an impulsive thought brewing in his mind. “Have you been to The Coffee Klatch?”

  “No. I haven’t gotten around to going yet, but I’ve heard good things,” Lena replied. “Your dad goes there often. He likes the Greek kafés.”

  “What do you say we take the kids there for a little treat?”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Lena agreed. “Let’s go!”

  Lena dropped Max, Athena and John off in front of the café entrance, telling them to grab a table while she hunted for a parking spot. The café was bustling with chatty patrons indulging in tasty treats before lunchtime. Spotting a few vacant seats in the back, Max figured they were still in luck, excusing himself as he navigated toward the front counter.

  “Wow!” Athena enthused, skipping to the counter and pressing her nose to the glass case. “Candy and cupcakes!” She stood on her tippy-toes for a better view of the countertop and the goodies adorning glass jars and cake stands.

  Max edged over to his daughter’s side and lifted her higher, his gaze shifting from the treats holding his daughter’s attention to the woman pushing out of the kitchen door with a fresh tray of pastries. His eyes momentarily locked with Kally’s until she shifted her focus to the two children in Max’s care.

  Smiling brightly, Kally asked, “And who do we have here?”

  “This is Athena and John,” Max answered.

  “What’s your name?” Athena asked.

  “Me? I’m Kally.” She extended her hand to shake the child’s and then did the same for John.

  “We were hoping for a table,” Max said.

  “Three?”

  “Four. Thanks”

  As Kally escorted them to their seats, Max leaned in and whispered, “I told you I knew a little lady who would love this place.”

  Kally nodded. “You did.” He watched her as she shyly looked away, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

  “Athena, John, I think you might enjoy the special cupcake of the day. Rainbow cake with cotton candy frosting.”

  “Yes, please!” they both cried out in unison.

  Chapter 5

  Kally

  “You got it! I’ll be back in a flash,” Kally said with a smile. Max had beautiful children and she wondered about their mother. At least now she could tell her own mother to put any crazy ideas she might have dreamt up to rest. And as for that little skip in her heart at the sight of him? Yeah, Kally would ignore that ever happened. After taking the rest of their order, she moved to greet another patron with a smile.

  “Oh, I see my party, thanks. They’ve already been seated,” the petite and very beautiful auburn-haired woman heading to Max’s table said with a wave.

  That answers that question then.

  Kally handed one of her servers her order pad. “Nina, please fill this order for me at table nine. I’ll be in the back if you need me,” she said on a sigh.

  Why was she so bothered? She knew he must have been unavailable, especially once she saw him with his children. And why should she care? After all, she was unavailable too. Well, emotionally unavailable; not actually tied to anyone. And Kally planned on keeping it that way.

  Without realizing, she was pounding her fist a bit too hard into a disc of dough that would hopefully bake into lemon-poppy seed scones.

  “Hey!” Luis scolded. “If you work over that dough anymore, they won’t be flakey, they’ll be hard as stone.”

  “Sorry, my mind drifted.”

  “To where? A boxing ring?” Luis joked. Hip to hip, he bumped her out of the way. “Go. I’ve got this.”

  Grabbing a platter of macarons, she took a deep, steadying breath, kept her head down and proceeded to the front counter. As she layered the pink and lavender macarons into a symmetrical pyramid, Athena came scampering over.

  “Kally?”

  “Yes, Athena. What can I do for you?”

  “Daddy said I can have a piece of candy.”

  “He did?” She looked up for a split second and caught both Max and his wife looking directly at her. Maybe she was imagining it and they were simply keeping an eye on their daughter. Glancing discreetly up at them again, she saw them still gazing at her and she knew then that she wasn’t mistaken. Well, whatever. It didn’t matter, did it? Glancing back at the girl’s eager eyes, she relented with a smile. “I’ll tell you what. Come back here by me.” Kally walked over to the counter opening to meet the girl, taking her by the hand. “I have a step stool back here. Step up onto it and you’ll be able to see better and choose what you’d like.”

  Athena flashed her the widest grin, stepped up and examined each treat-filled jar carefully. After thoughtful consideration, she pointed to the rock candy lollipops. “I would like one of those, please.”

  “Which flavor? The pink ones are strawberry. Would you like to give one a try?”

  Athena nodded eagerly.

  As Kally reached for the sweet treat, Athena, still standing on the stepstool, reached up, sticking a finger through one of Kally’s ringlets. “You have pretty hair.”

  “Thank you. So do you. Yours looks like it’s been kissed by the sun.” Kally handed her two lollipops. “Here, one for John, too.”

  It took the child no time at all to take the first lick of the crystalline confection. “I like your apron,” Athena mumbled over her lolly. She ran her hand over the imprinted lavender cupcake.

  “I have a whole collection of them.”

  Athena’s eyes grew wide.

  “You better bring John his candy now.”

  “Okay.” She squeezed her arms around Kally, jumped off the stool and licked her lollipop as she made her way back to her table.

  Not wanting to dwell on the sweetness of his child or the looks she could sense were peering in her direction, Kally busied herself. It struck her odd that instead of the attention being focused on their daughter, it had been on her and if her intuition was accurate, she was pretty sure they were talking about her. A few minutes later, she saw the woman leave with the two children, yet Max inexplicably remained. She tried to ignore him as he approached, busily wiping over a countertop, but a hand on hers caused her to look up into his smiling face. And once again, that nervous jolt of energy traveling through her entire being betrayed her effort to remain unaffected by him.

  “Thanks. You were incredibly kind to my daughter.”

  “It was nothing,” Kally said, pulling her hand away. “She’s a
very sweet child. And well-mannered. John too.”

  Max threw his head back and chuckled. “The kid barely lifted his eyes from his video game.” Crossing his legs, he leaned against the counter. “You’re Greek.” It was more a statement than a question.

  “That, I am. And apparently, you are as well.”

  “Your karithopita is the best I’ve ever had.”

  “High praise!”

  “I’ll have to see how your galakteboureko rates.”

  Max held her gaze for a brief moment until Kally self-consciously looked away. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was behaving a bit flirtatious with his hand over hers, that penetrating stare and the way he was lingering by the counter. She was about to offer him a sample of the pastry in question in a to-go container so there’d be no need for him to return when she heard a horn blow outside.

  “That’s for me. I’ll see you around,” Max said.

  Whatever for, Kally wondered.

  * * *

  The next morning, Kally took Emma for a long walk. The sun had finally decided to return and the weather, in all its fickleness, felt as though the summer had just begun rather than ended. Cool in a lightweight ecru sundress that barely grazed her knees and her favorite metallic-colored sandals, Kally attached Emma to her bejeweled leash and headed out the door in the direction of the harbor.

  From a distance, she could see the cars disembarking off the ferry, and a long line of others waiting to board. Emma trotted along as though she owned the town, knowing exactly where she wanted to go. Predictably, she stopped at every bush and each fire hydrant.

  They walked the length of the pier, examining the boats still docked. Reading their clever names was an amusing pastime as she strolled by. ‘Nauti-Buoy.’ ‘Ship Happens.’ ‘Codfather.’

  “Come on, Emma,” Kally urged, nudging her in the other direction. “Time to do a little shopping.”

  They crossed the road and headed down Main Street. Peeking out from behind the red, British-style telephone booth by the crosswalk were the backs of two village police officers. As one stepped into her line of view, Kally could tell by the thick, dark hair and commanding stance that it was Max.

  In a split-second decision, she ducked into Gap, cutting her way to the back entrance to find another way to get to her destination.

  An hour later, Kally walked out of Fame and Rebel with a large shopping bag of clothing for the upcoming season and headed back home.

  “Kally!”

  She turned when she heard her name and saw Max jogging toward her.

  “Hey! Day off? I stopped by the café but it was closed.”

  “Yes. I’m closed on Mondays. Mondays and Tuesdays from January through April.”

  Max squatted down to pet Emma. “And who is this?”

  “Emma.”

  “Hello, Emma.” He looked up at Kally. “Can I pick her up?”

  “Sure. She loves to be held.”

  “I know a little girl who would love to meet you, Emma. How did you come by that name for her anyway?”

  Kally rocked back from one leg to another. “Jane Austen. You know, Emma, the novel and character.”

  “I’m not familiar.”

  “Ah, I’m not surprised,” Kally said.

  “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing really. I suppose I take you more for a Baldacci fan.”

  “I tend to read biographies mostly, when I have the time.”

  Kally nodded, smiling politely. “Well, I have to go,” she said, gesturing for Max to hand Emma back to her. “Take care.”

  “Wait. I’m about to go on lunch. Join me?”

  “I don’t think so,” Kally said, the abruptness in her tone causing Max to frown.

  “Have I done something to offend you?”

  “No, not really. But I’ve learned to stay away from men like you.”

  Tight-lipped, Kally began to walk away. Turning, she observed his bewilderment as he stood, hands on hips with a dumbstruck look on his face. Just in case he needed further clarification, and by the look on his face he apparently did, she called out to him. “Oh, Max, don’t hesitate to bring your wife and children back to the café. They’re lovely.”

  Karithopita

  Preheat oven to 350º

  4 cups coarsely crushed walnuts

  1½ cups sugar

  3 cups flour

  ½ cup butter, softened

  8 eggs, separated

  2 teaspoons cinnamon

  2 teaspoons baking powder

  In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg yolks and cinnamon together. Set aside. In another bowl, beat the egg whites to a meringue. Fold into the butter mixture. Add the walnuts. Combine the flour and baking powder before adding it to the mixture. Stir until fully blended.

  Butter and flour a 9 x 13 baking dish. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake for 40 minutes.

  While the cake is baking, make the syrup.

  5 cups sugar

  5 cups water

  2 cinnamon sticks

  Add all the ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil. Lower the temperature to a simmer for 15 minutes.

  Cut the cake into even-sized squares. Cool until warm or room temperature. Add the warm syrup, allowing the cake to fully absorb the liquid.

  “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard.” Anne Spencer

  Chapter 6

  Max

  “My wife?” Max scratched along his furrowed brow, confounded. He watched her as she disappeared around the corner, shapely legs, trim waist and that gorgeous mane of curly hair swinging with the breeze. He stood, his feet frozen in place, racking his brain to figure out when he ever gave her the impression he had a wife. I’ve learned to stay away from men like you. Men like me? He played her words over and over in his mind. And then it hit him.

  “I’m such an idiot!” he groaned out loud.

  “For talking to yourself, or is there another reason?” a fellow officer askedwine glass, slapping him on the back good-naturedly.

  “Maybe both. How’s it going, Leo?”

  “Better for me than for you, it seems. What gives?”

  “Do you know Kally from The Coffee Klatch?” Max asked.

  “Casually. I’ve been in there once or twice. Sweet girl.”

  “Yeah, well, she thinks I’m the devil or something. I asked her to have lunch with me and she almost stoned me for adultery.”

  “What?” Leo laughed.

  Max’s deep exhale was one of frustration. “Yesterday I came into the café with Athena and John and … Lena. I introduced her to the kids, but Lena was parking the car and joined us a few minutes later.”

  “So?”

  Max stared Leo down until he understood.

  “Oh! She must have thought she was your—”

  “Wife.” Max sighed. “Now she thinks I’m the married man who hit on her.”

  “Fix it. It’s easy enough to clear up,” Leo said.

  “Maybe it’s for the best. I’m just getting my life in order. It’s better I keep it simple for a while. Athena has had enough to adjust to.”

  “Bullshit!” Leo exclaimed. “Tomorrow morning, I’m taking your sorry ass to her place and I’ll handcuff the both of you if that’s what it takes for her to hear you out.”

  Later that evening, he called Lena and told her about Kally.

  “Oh, crap! Why didn’t I think of that? It’s understandable how she could think such a thing,” Lena said. “I should have introduced myself and this would never have happened.”

  “It’s not your fault. There’s no reason to clear things up. I told you I wasn’t interested in her,” Max said.

  “But you are, right? Interested, I mean?”

  With a deep exhale he reinforced, “I shouldn’t be.”

  “Max, it’s time. I don’t mean to sound callous but it’s been long enough and you deserve another chance.”

  “Maybe. Gotta go. Dad and I are going
to watch a movie with Athena.” He ended the call before she could argue further.

  As Max sat with his daughter and father watching Frozen for probably the sixteenth time, his thoughts kept wandering to a puppy named Emma and her owner. He couldn’t help but wonder how they were spending their evening.

  Chapter 7

  Kally

  “Why all the questions tonight, Kalloype mou?” Melina asked. “What’s weighing on your mind?”

  Kally had gone to her mother’s home. Her father was working, Yiayiá was with her cousin and Theo and Krystina were at the church youth group meeting, so this was a rare chance to catch her alone. Her mind had been spinning since she’d run into Max earlier that day and she desperately needed someone to talk to right now.

  “Max asked me to lunch today.”

  “Who’s Max?”

  “From church. The one you kept pushing me to speak to.”

  “And that’s making you sad?” Melina cupped her daughter’s chin between her fingers.

  “He’s married.” She looked up at her mother. “All men suck! Seriously. I saw her at the café. She’s gorgeous, of course. What would possess any man to stray when he has such a perfect family?”

  “I don’t know, koukla. Forget him. Someday the right man will come along.”

  Kally ignored her mother’s statement. The ‘right man’ was something she didn’t pin her hopes on. “Why did you take Dad back after finding out he’d had an affair?” she asked suddenly. “How were you able to forgive him?”

  “We were separated at the time. I thought that was understood.” Melina frowned. “All these years, that’s what you thought? That your father had been unfaithful?”

  “You never talked about it, so I assumed.”

  “Your father and I weren’t getting along. We fought constantly. He accused me of continually nagging him and I told him he was too controlling.”