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Chapter 63: Tutti Frutti
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Pelican Bay Security Chapter 64: A Fancy Security System
The time, 6:01 flashes on the alarm drilled into the brick exterior of my back entryway at the bakery. Bennett punches in a set of numbers and the entire box flashes green."The code is the date you moved to Pelican Bay," he rattles off the number, which is good because I have no idea when I made it here. "I'll give you a full rundown of how to work the system later, but for now that code will get you in and out when you need it. And remember Spencer is always your eye in the sky." He leans out the back door and points toward the camera mounted a little to the left of the entryway."Thanks." I remove my keys from the door and pull it the rest of the way open. Bennett leans into my little hallway and places a kiss on my cheek.One that doesn't last nearly long enough. It's like our 500th kiss if you count the long make out session we had last night. In his bed. Regardless my heart soars at the simple contact. I'm a little hazy on when this thing started between us, but over the la
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 65: Open for Business
She pushes the containers of cream cheese closer. "And these need to go in the fridge. I know how you are with your temperatures.""Yeah, thanks." I grab the containers only to have Tabitha swipe them from my hands."I'll take care of them for you, boss," she says flitting back to the kitchen.What is going on with people this morning?Everything is happening at once and it feels like a hundred people are giving me directions but nothing is getting through.Katy taps her fingernails on the counter a few times and says, "Don't worry about the sign. I'll take care of it." She steps away from the counter so fast I don't question her motives. The glass in the door rattles, but this time not someone knocking. The peaceful morning outside is stolen by the rumble of loud black exhaust as what has to be fifty bikers stop by the side door. Next to them, blocking the entire side street, parks a big white delivery truck with no markings on the side."Oh my," Pearl says cocking her hea
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 66: Don't Let Tabitha Near the Oven
Tabitha, wearing one of the bakery's pink aprons with some form of melted brown goo — please let it be chocolate — all down the front of it, steps out of the kitchen carrying a plate of charcoal briquettes. Except she wasn't barbecuing back there. She was baking cookies."Your oven hates me." Her gaze never leaves the plate of her disfigured chocolate chip cookies.I cringe, not wanting to have this conversation...again. "I think it's scared of you. You intimidate it."It's a lie. A big one, but maybe it will help her kitchen confidence. Or let me kick her out permanently from the baking area. Either option works for me. "Me? How?""Well, yesterday you called it a fucking gutterslut."She taps her foot on the tile floor, annoyance obvious in her pinched features. "Well, if the name fits."There's nothing left for me to do but shake my head. "Try talking nicely to it. Maybe pet the side every once in a while.""Should I make a sacrifice, too?""No, I think those co
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 67: The Boys Will Not Be Happy About This
There's nothing else for me to do except turn around and face the bikers. The same overdone smile is plastered on my face when I do."It looks like a pink fairy took a shit in here," the tallest one says, his eyes scanning the room and his nose crinkling higher and higher with each sweep."So what brings you boys in?" Great, Anessa. When will I learn to not engage?"Dom said we should make sure and patronize local businesses," Spider says, his voice lifting on the word patronize. "Especially the new ones." He flicks a piece of his blond hair away from his face."Ahhh." Yup, not less awkward now. I wonder what they think of their boss telling them to buy something at a little pink bakery. From the way the taller one grimaces every time his eye hits a piece of the décor, he may not have known what to expect until he walked in.Tabitha passes over the white Styrofoam to-go cup with what better be the best tasting coffee she's ever poured. Next comes the tea.Everything is goin
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 68: Are We There Yet?
Another minute flicks past on the digital readout in Bennett's truck. We've been driving for well over two hours, and the conversation is light and easy. The two of us are swapping stories of different memories in our lifetimes. Bennett's mostly revolve around the foibles of learning to raise his son and mine more often than not include a baking mishap. It's perfectly us.It's a steady flow of chitchat back and forth, but now as Bennett's truck turns off the expressway and he peers out the window, obviously looking for our final destination, the cab goes silent. Dead bug carcasses dirty up his front window, but one particular gushy one is driving me insane. I want to lean over and turn on his windshield wipers to wash the green slime away."Are we there yet?" I ask in a totally annoying-child-on-a-long-car-trip voice, but it saves me the embarrassment of turning on his wipers when he isn't looking. Bennett is not ready to know how crazy I am about being clean. I'm doing both of us
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 69: Arrival
I twist around as slowly as possible so I don't move the boat too far to one side. A mile or so behind me — I've never been great with judging distance — looks to be a small island. Green trees or other shrubs mark out a small section in the horizon. "Yeah.""That's where we're going." Bennett resumes paddling with the oars he brought along."That's it?" He won't give me another hint. An island?He shakes his head laughing. "Fine, you made it this far. That tiny island is called Fort Gorges. Back in the 1800s the military built a fort on the lands. It boasted top-of-the-line technology, but then somebody went and designed a long-range gun and made the forts obsolete. It was never used.""Great example of government overspending," I murmur under my breath and twist back around to keep my eye on the green island as we get closer."Fort Gorges is a prime example of how our government works," Bennett laughs and splashes the paddle deep into the water. "Now, it's a park. I figured
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 70: Most Beautiful Places in the World
With a twist and turn Bennett positions the boat to his side, jumping out, and pulling us to shore before I even realize what's happening. When more than half the boat is on dry land, I scoot to the middle and step out. Bennett wraps the backpack around his shoulder and takes my hand before heading to the small doorway cut out of the large fortress.The overbearing stone doors open and Bennett walks through like he knows exactly where we're going. There is darkness as we walk through the sole enclosure, under an archway of smooth rock."Oh my Word," I whisper when we reach the other side and daylight falls on the space. The middle of the fort — and the island — is a lush green tropical expanse of land. A green carpet of forest floor surrounded by the walls of the fortress. And unlike Bennett's earlier statement, someone has definitely been here and mowed. The grass is cut short to the ground and smooth, making the area around us a symposium of straight lines — the intersection of m
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 71: It's Genetics
"If he grows up half as charming as you, then all the girls in Pelican Bay are in trouble. Do you want me to get the plates?" I ask in a half-assed attempt to do something to avoid a conversation I made way too personal too soon."Well..." He laughs the word, but I sense Bennett is frustrated. Not something I've ever seen with him. "I forgot the plates."The smile that hasn't left my face since the minute we stepped foot on the island grows. "You forgot the plates?""Hey, I remembered the fancy napkins." He flips his napkin around a few times.It's enough to lighten the mood. "Well then, pass me a fork."I grab the bowl of macaroni and cheese before he has a chance to stop me. We eat sitting on a black and white checkered blanket on a grassy section of a forgotten fort — Bennett and me together.It takes a while, but eventually we've each had a sandwich and taken a turn eating macaroni from the bowl. The conversation is easy, revolving mostly around my future plans for the
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