Armed with a half sheet of chocolate cake and a half sheet of vanilla, I pull into Jimmy and Tiff’s driveway the morning of their housewarming party. The house is a cute farm style cottage home that totally fits what you’d think of when somebody said home in Valley View. They painted it a navy blue color siding with gray accents and dark gray shutters on the window. There are mums in big planters in the front yard, but I suspect that is for just today as flowers are not going to last very long with the cold temperatures well on their way. As I approach the front door, Jimmy thankfully opens it. I hadn’t really planned the entire thing well, my arms being full of cakes and all.

“Hi, Holly! I hope you found the place alright.”

“I did. I was actually over here not that long ago delivering a birthday cake. I didn’t even know this was the house you two were remodeling. It looks beautiful.”

Jimmy offers to help with the cake and I oblige. He takes the cakes while I step inside and look around. The house looks like something straight off of HGTV. The dark wood floors are polished and stained beautifully. There are accents that show the age of the house, like built ins, but they blend in so well with the modern light fixtures and color choices.

“This place is beautiful, Jimmy. Did you and Tiff do most of the work?”

“Well we didn’t hire contractors, but I wouldn’t say we did it on our own,” Jimmy replied, which didn’t exactly answer my question.

“Jimmy wouldn’t want to break a nail!” Tiff comes down from the second level and gives Jimmy a kiss on the cheek.

“She is such a jerk to me.” Jimmy remarks as he walks down the hallway with the cakes.

“Well somebody has to help Mama Betsy keep you Brown brothers in check.” I follow Tiff as she walks down the same hallway and we meet Jimmy in the kitchen.

“How is your mom, Jimmy? I haven’t seen her since the wedding. I can’t believe it has been over a year already.”

“She’s doing great. I should send her over to you sometime. Candy usually spoils her with enough sweets, no offense.”

“Oh, none taken, believe me. I bought one of her berry pies at Easter and I swear to you I almost ate the entire thing in one sitting. She certainly has the skills to back up all the wonderful reviews she gets.”

“Speaking of desserts!” Tiff looks excited as she looks down at the boxes.

“Take a look at them. I know you said just plain sheet cakes, but I added some extra flair to them with the piping.”

Tiff opens the first box and goes a cute little happy dance. “I thought I said just one cake?”

“I know, but you said to just pick between chocolate and vanilla and I can never pick just one. So you ended up with two.’

“You’re hilarious, but I’m totally down with the two cakes and I cannot wait to try them both.”

I help Tiff remove the cakes from the boxes and she takes in the cakes while I look in her kitchen and start looking over everything here. “I can’t believe this kitchen, Tff. I would die to have a double oven. I guess the only positive is if I needed another oven I could just go downstairs and use the bakery.”

Jimmy laughs, “I love my house, but I’d totally live above a bakery. I might gain fifty pounds, but it would be worth it.”

“Any it would have to be better than living above a garage,” she raises her eyebrows while looking at her husband.

“Hey!” Jimmy takes offense, “I love that garage.”

“I know you do, Cowboy, but you have to admit it always smelled a little.”

He shrugs, “You’re probably right.”

“Do you two know yet what you’re going to do with the apartment?” Jimmy and Tiff used to live above Jimmy’s garage in downtown Valley View, but now they’re living in this place, leaving their garage apartment empty.

“Not sure yet. I was going to see if my brother wanted to move in, but we haven’t asked him or anything yet.”

“Maybe you could even rent it out?”

Tiff nodded, “We’ve talked about it. I told him he could keep it for his dog house, but he didn’t like that answer.”

She laughs while she pulls herself into him and gives him a kiss on his cheek. Jimmy pretends to raise his lips in a snarl, but then smiles and kisses his wife. The two of them are the epitome of “couple goals” as Maddie would say. It is kind of funny how their circumstances lead to them being together. They look so happy though.

“I’m going to go ahead and head out. I’ll be back in a few hours. I invited Stacy, I hope the two of you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Tiff said, “was she able to get somebody to cover the shop?

‘Yeah, her dad is going to come in for a little bit.”

“Oh, that won’t drive away customers?” Tiff laughs.

I give a playful shrug, “Well I’m guessing they won’t be too busy. And where else are they going to go for their coffee?”

“I guess the best business plan for a small town is have something nobody else has so even if they hate you, they have to come to you.”

“It works for the garage!” Jimmy states, “But nobody hates me.”

“Sure, sweetie..whatever you say.” Tiff pats Jimmy’s chest to placate him.

Tiff walks me out to my car and I give her a big hug before driving back to my place. Kathy has a few days off and Maddie couldn’t work today, but Gio was there this morning. Gio is seventeen and only works for me on the weekends. He plays basketball so he can’t put in many hours a week during the season, but when he can be here he always does his best. He told me he wants to be a baker when he grows up.

“Hey, boss,” Gio calls right as I walk in.

“Please don’t call me boss.”

“But you’re….my boss…” He says slightly confused.

I wave him off, “I know, but it’s weird. How did the morning rush go? Everything okay?”

“Yeah it was fine. I did have to put in another batch of blueberry and lemon poppyseed. There is something going on at the church and they wiped us out.”

“You put it all by yourself?” I asked, surprised.

“Don’t worry, Holly, I followed the directions to the T.”

I’ve been slowly trying to teach Maddie and Gio some of the baking so they can handle moments in the shop alone, but I’m still nervous about them doing things all by themselves. The fact is that most of my advertising comes from personal reviews and word of mouth and it only takes one bad muffin or cupcake for them to stop coming in. I grab one from the case and break it open. It is nice and fluffy, exactly like I want them to be. I take a little bite and they are perfect!

“Wow, Gio. Good job! I might need to add muffin making to your morning to-do list.”

He smiles, so proud of himself, “Whatever I can do, Holly! Oh by the way, I put my basketball schedule on your desk. Practices won’t interfere with the time I’m here, but we have a few weekend tournaments.”

“We’ll figure something out just like we did last year. Thanks for getting it to me right away.”

I send Gio home and end up closing early for the day. The weekends sometimes get busy, but I put a notice that we were going to be closed and it is what it is. Like Jimmy joked about today, who are they going to go to if they get mad at me? After a quick freshen up I get in my car and head to Stacy’s to pick her up. Unlike when I was here this morning, there are cars and trucks parked all the way down the street on both sides. We find a spot and I’m thankful we brought my car and not Stacy’s truck.

“Holy crap, it is busy here!” I comment as we pull up.

“Well a lot of people know the Brown family,” Stacy says.

“Yeah, I guess so. I think this will be fun.”

There is a sign on the door that tells us to come right in. We open the door and there are so many people in the house, it is crazy! I look around for Jimmy and Tiff, but I don’t see them yet. Stacy and I keep walking further into the house.

“You know, I’m a little surprised that you agreed to come to this,” Stacy comments.

‘Why would you say that?”

“Well because the Brown family and all that.” She makes a face like I should know what she’s talking about.

I look back at her with confusion on my face, “I’m not getting what you’re saying.”

“Holly, Wes.” She says matter of factly.

“What does any of this have to do with Wes? I’m over Wes, I’m not going to stay holed up in the house just because Wes and I didn’t end up working out.”

Stacy grabs my arm to stop me from walking into the next room and then points through the house onto the back patio where he stands. Wes. It’s been a month since I’ve seen him. Damn he looks good. I wish I wasn’t thinking that. God, he is such an asshole, but I really fucking good looking asshole.

“Okay, so Wes is here. It’s a small town.” I know inside I am panicking, but I try to put on a calm face.

“Holly, um...did you not know?”

“Know what?”

Stacy jerks me to face her again. “Wes…..Brown.”

“Wes Brown? As in Jimmy and Tiff Brown?”

She nods her head, “Same Brown. They’re brothers.”

I make an audible gasp and turn back around to look at him. He’s standing to where I can only see his profile. I cannot believe HE is Jimmy’s brother. His mom can’t be Betsy, she’s an angel and would never raise such a selfish prick. My heart threatens to beat out of my chest and I consider for just a moment to run out that front door and leave. I can’t do that though, we’re two grown adults, I’m over him. Totally over him. Over…..him.

I’m not over him.