Page 58 of Picking Daisies on Sundays

“If I hear you call me Mrs. Coldwell one more time.” The fake threat was accompanied by a motherly gaze.

“How are you,Trish,” I corrected myself, and she laughed. I always called her Trish growing up, but it felt inappropriate to continue that after so many years of separation. I appreciated her constant effort to make me feel comfortable.

“Horrendous at the moment. My children are causing chaos in the kitchen. They thought it would be a fun idea to make a cake for us for dessert tonight,” she groaned.Usseemed to only be Sarah’s bridesmaids tonight, no extended family.

Which is why I felt comfortable saying, “Let me help.”

“I can’t let you do that—”

“I want to. I love baking, and I love the girls. It would make my night.”

She looked at me for a moment. Her small smile appearing both somber and content; an expression she wore like lipstick that hung on her face in an exhausted state. She nodded her head. “That would be wonderful, Dani, thank you.”

“No thank you necessary. Especially since there’s no cake yet,” I laughed, making my way into the kitchen. It was unfortunate that their kitchen was so spacious, because the girls managed to cover every surface in flour. Including their clothes, of course.

They turned in unison as I walked in, their hands in the air

like caught culprits. But when they registered that it was me (definitely not an authoritative figure) they smiled and shouted, “Daisy!”

“Girls!” I crouched down and opened my arms. They ran at me with flour and giggles. “I heard we’re baking a cake?”

“You want to help us?” Claire asked eagerly.

“Of course! What type of cake are we baking?” I asked.

“Strawberry shortcake,” Rhea said.

“You like strawberry shortcake?” I asked with skepticism.

“No, it’s gross. No one should put fruit in dessert,” Rhea stated.

I smacked my hand against my forehead. “Why are you making it then?” I laughed.

“Levi tried making one earlier but failedepically,” Claire said, sounding like her older sister.

“Levi hates strawberry shortcake,” I said with confusion.

“Youlike it though,” Claire said.

27

I wish I felt the confidence to tell you the truth, as strongly as

I felt stubborn to hide it

The girls and I finished gathering and mixing the ingredients together, putting the cake in the oven before they could consume anymore batter, and then started on clean up. Claire was spraying the counter down while I washed dishes and Rhea dried them off. I did my best not to ask the girls more about Levi and his cake fiasco. If I went back to thinking about him possibly making me a cake, I’d melt away like the ingredients in the oven.

Fortunately, Claire had her own concerns that she wanted to discuss.

“Claire, Tyler’s gross. He picks his nose!” Rhea flung her arms up in the air, causing soapy water to fling off the plate and onto me.

“No, he doesn’t!” Claire shrieked back, which resulted in some cleaning spray ending up on my clothes.

“I’ve seen him do it!”

“Well, I don’t care, I love him.”

Rhea rolled her eyes. “No, you don’t. You don’t even know what love is. You’re nine.”