Page 71 of Gray Hair Don't Care
“Lela doesn’t know about tonight?” Delia asked.
“I don’t think she has a clue. Although I did ask her a month ago if we could celebrate after Good Day USA brought her on permanently. So maybe I tipped my hand that day? We haven’t talked about it since then, though.”
“I can’t wait until she gets here,” Tammera said. “She hates surprises.”
“I know, but I had to do it. That’s why I made it a small celebration,” Donovan added. He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get upstairs and change. Lucius should be here any minute with the food, then Echo will text us when she and Lela are close.”
“What does Lela think you two are doing this evening?” Delia asked.
“Dinner with Echo and Lucius. That’s all.”
“So really, Delia and I are the surprise,” Tammera said proudly.
Donovan laughed. “Yes, you two and the cake. And the champagne. And the decorations.”
“I still think we’re the best part.”
“Somehow, that does not surprise me.” Donovan excused himself and ran upstairs to freshen up. As he stood in the closet, deciding which shirt to wear, he couldn’t help but think about the night he met Tammera and Delia and ended up in Lela’s bedroom after the takeout food disaster. If they’d been alone, he would have kissed her, and it was no big secret where that would have led—right into Lela’s bed. But looking back on it now, he was glad it hadn’t unfolded that way. He and Lela needed to work through a lot before their future opened up.
Dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, Donovan went downstairs to help with last minute preparations. He realized then that he hadn’t yet seen the cake, which Delia and Tammera had picked up. It was waiting for him in the kitchen, but when he opened the bakery box’s lid, his heart sank. “Tammera,” he called. “Did you and Delia actually look at the cake?”
She appeared in the kitchen doorway. “I glanced at it. Looked fine.”
“Congratulations Lola?”
“Oh, crap. Seriously?” She rushed over and peered inside. “Shit. It does say Lola. Now what?”
“You’re the chef.”
“Not a pastry chef. I’m known for high-end comfort food. If you want some celebratory lobster mac and cheese, I’m the person to call.”
“How do we fix it?”
“We don’t.”
“Really?”
Tammera sighed. “Hand me a butter knife. I’ll see what I can do.”
Donovan grabbed one from the drawer, but just as she was about to begin surgery, he stopped her. “Wait.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to make it look worse.”
“It’s either wrong or it’s imperfect. Your choice.”
That sounded more like a life lesson than a question about cake, but he had to make a decision. “You’re right. Let’s make it right. Even if it doesn’t look great, Lela will still know it’s for her.”
“Excellent point.” Tammera very carefully lifted a small portion of the icing that made the “o” then rotated it ninety degrees to make an “e”. She did smudge the frosting underneath a bit, but at least it said Lela now. “Well?”
“Thank you. It’s imperfectly perfect.” If ever there was a metaphor for his life, that was it.
Lucius walked in a moment later with an armful of Vietnamese takeout, Lela’s favorite. He set it down on the kitchen island, and unlike Donovan, managed to do so without incident. “Heya, Donovan. How long until Echo and Lela get here?”
Donovan’s phone beeped with a text.Almost there.
“Any minute now. Let’s get everyone a glass of champagne.”
