Free The Cupcake Diaries by Darlene Panzera Page B

she hoped with all her heart that Andi was right. She hoped Dave loved her, too. But so far neither one of them had said “I love you” to the other. While she needed stability, she also had a hard time giving someone her complete trust after having so many dates run out on her. And Dave, who had thought he’d married the right woman the first time, had been completely blindsided when his wife hit him up for a divorce and emptied his pockets for all he was worth. So they had taken each step of their relationship slow, careful not to rush into anything. But while one summer might not seem like a long time to some, when two people spent almost every waking minute of it with each other, it could seem like years. And that’s how Stacey felt every time she looked at Dave, as if they’d been together forever. If he asked her to marry him, there was no question in her mind she’d say yes.
    “Andi!” Kim shouted, grabbing her sister’s arm. “Your face just turned three shades of pale. Are you having a contraction?”
    Andi wrapped her arms around her large stomach, gritted her teeth, and cringed. “I . . . didn’t want . . . to tell you. Had to see . . . the wedding.”
    “What are you talking about?” Rachel demanded, joining them, then saw Andi’s face. “Oh my gosh. She’s in labor!”
    “I don’t suppose Mike could use some of his magic tricks to make the pain disappear?” Andi growled.
    Rachel’s mouth dropped open. “No.”
    Andi lifted her head and searched over the crowd. “Jake?”
    Jake’s eyes widened the minute he saw her, and he sprinted to her side. “Is it time?”
    Andi nodded. “The contractions started again. I’ve had three in the last half hour. They’re worse than the ones I had last night.”
    Andi and Kim’s father also came toward them. “About time that kid arrived. The due date was a week and a half ago.”
    “Obviously, the baby wasn’t ready until now,” Jake said, taking Andi’s arm. “Can someone watch the kids?”
    “Of course,” Kim said, giving him a little push. “Go! Take her to the hospital. Go, go, go!”
    W HILE MANY SPECULATED on whether Andi would deliver a girl or a boy, the music from the small band from Rachel’s theater group began to play.
    Nathaniel took Kim into his arms and kissed her as they glided back and forth beneath the trees on a carpet of green grass. Pink, yellow, red, white, and purple rosebushes surrounded them, and a crown of white rosebuds rested in Kim’s beautiful dark hair. Her beaded white lace dress flowed out behind her with every turn, and Stacey had the impression she was watching an enchanted forest princess.
    “They look happy,” Dave commented.
    “Yes,” Stacey agreed. “Andi and Jake, Rachel and Mike, and now Kim and Nathaniel. They’re all happy.”
    “What about you?” Dave asked, taking her in his arms. “Are you happy?”
    He twirled her around, and when she faced him again, she said, “ You make me happy.”
    It was time. She had to tell him. Before the night was over she had to say the words they’d been putting off . . . and get Dave to say the same words back to her.
    “When two people fall in love, it’s natural they’d want to get married,” she hinted.
    “Yes, I wish them the best of luck with their marriage.”
    Stacey bit her lower lip. Dave thought she’d meant Kim and Nathaniel. She decided to try again. “I’ve had the greatest summer of my life, with you, selling cupcakes and ice cream together. It feels natural to be by your side.”
    Dave swung her around and nodded. “I like the fact that Andi, Rachel, and Kim use all-natural ingredients for their cupcakes and develop their own recipes, like I do with my ice cream.”
    “That’s why you and I sell great together ,” Stacey reminded him.
    “I was thinking maybe I could talk to them about our cupcake and ice cream combination, see if they’d like to offer it in their shop.”
    “I suppose the customers might like a new