Just Perfect Read Free Page A

anxious
like something was going to happen.  Her thoughts kept wandering back to the
man at the store.  Why did her thoughts keep turning to him?  She could still
feel his warm hand on her elbow.  A man hadn't touched her, except a handshake,
since her father died.  It made her feel off balance.  Maybe she should just
mail him a check.  No, that would be rude. Not to mention she might be missing
repeat business.  With a mental groan, she wondered how she could fit in any
repeat business.  She would worry about it later.  She brought her thoughts
back to her son, where they should be.

Chapter 3.
     

 
    Lily decided on chocolate cupcakes.  Judging by the cake Sam
bought at the store, he liked chocolate.  She carefully packed the freshly iced
cakes into two boxes specifically for cupcakes.  Guys working in a shop might
not care about presentation but someone might be impressed enough to place an
order. 
    Lily worried about this day all week.  She felt edgy and
nervous about seeing Samson again.  Maybe he wouldn't be there.  Or, she could
just run the cupcakes inside and be on her way.  Two minutes’ tops.
    “I'm ready to go.  Do you need help packing up?”  Her Mom
asked breezing into the kitchen.  As usual, she looked fresh, wearing jeans and
a soft short sleeved red sweater.  Her blond hair was curly and shiny, swinging
around her shoulders.  She looked perfectly put together even in jeans and a
simple sweater.  Lily, on the other hand, also wore jeans but they had worn
holes in the knees.  Not the fashionable kind, the tired kind.  Her black
t-shirt showed her morning work, covered in flour and icing.  As long as she'd
been baking she always forgot to put on an apron, usually remembering after she
made had already made a mess.  She was a messy baker but wasn't trying to
impress anyone with her looks, just her cakes.  She usually changed into clean
clothes before a delivery but for some reason, she didn't want to today.
    “Nope.  I got it.  Let's get going.”  Lily carefully stacked
and lifted the boxes and started for the door.
    Her mom didn't move from her spot next to the Island.
    “Don't you want to change your shirt and brush your hair?”
    “My hair is in a ponytail Mom, and I don't have time to
change.  You can run these inside to the owner.  Let's go.  Would you grab my
purse and keys please?”  She wanted to hurry this along and get it over with. 
Her mom clearly wanted to argue but trailed her out of the house grabbing their
purses along the way.
    It took about twenty minutes to get the shop.  The large
building sat on an enormous lot with several semi-trucks and trailers parked in
neat rows.  The shop had two large bays and a small office off to the side.  On
the left side of the parking lot was another much smaller building that looked
to be an office with a few cars parked in front. 
    She turned to her mom without turning off the engine and
took a deep breath. “Why don't you run those inside and I'll wait here,” nodding
to the cupcakes in her lap.
    “Lily you've been acting so strange for days now.”  She
reached out to put her hand on her forehead.  “Are you feeling alright?  Are
you sick?  Why didn't you say something-”
    “No, Mamma, I'm not sick, I promise.”  She sighed.  “I'm
sorry.”  She turned off the car and opened the door then walked around to the
passenger door.  She would run inside, drop off the boxes and hightail it out
before she ran into Samson.  “Just wait here, I'll be right back.”  She bent
down to gather the boxes but her mom’s eyes were looking past Lily curiously. 
Instantly she felt warmth along her back and knew who was behind her.
     
    * * *
    Sam waited all week to see her again and she was finally
here.  His body hummed with excitement when he saw her old blue Honda pull into
the lot.  He wasn't sure she'd come.
    “Who's that?”  His brother Dean asked around a mouthful of
grilled burger.
    “That's