Page 48 of A Room By the Sea

“Those cookies are amazing,” Iris said. “They look like they’ll taste kind of health-food-y, you know? But they don’t. I mean, not that I hate health food, but it’s always—I don’t know. Tastes kind of earthy, you know?”

Michelle laughed. She always enjoyed how chatty Iris was, and she found it amusing that someone so talkative was the face of the business run by the most reclusive man in town. “I know what you mean. Those cookies look amazing, and since you’re assuring me they taste sweet, I think they’ll just hit the spot.”

Iris was just starting to bag up one of the cookies for Michelle when the door of the kitchen swung open. Michelle blinked in surprise when Shep walked out. She became even more surprised when he passed by Iris and walked up to her.

“I wanted to congratulate you, Michelle,” he said. “I know how hard you and your family have worked to make The Birchwood House all it can be. I’m greatly looking forward to the grand opening.”

“Thanks, Shep.” Michelle couldn’t stop herself from grinning. She was flabbergasted that Shep was actually coming out to talk to her—and just a few seconds after she’d been thinking to herself that he was the most reclusive person in town! “I appreciate it. And thanks for doing the baking for the party. I’m really excited to taste what you’re going to make.”

Shep nodded. He seemed to have run out of things to say, and after a few seconds he grunted. Michelle smiled, ready to make a comment that would excuse the shy man from the situation, but at that moment the front door of the bakery opened.

It was Michelle’s turn to not know what to say. Theo walked up to her, his hands in his pockets. She realized after a second that he was looking right at her, not at Iris or Shep or any of the bakery offerings, as if he’d come inside to talk to her instead of buy anything.

“Hey,” he said quietly.

“Um, hey.” She felt suddenly jittery, and she realized that her hands were sweaty. She hurriedly tucked her hands back in her pockets, which meant that she and Theo both had their hands in their pockets as they stared at each other.

“Shep, let’s go check the inventory in the kitchen,” Iris said, a little too loudly.

“What?” Shep barked. “I already⁠—”

“Come on!” Iris said brightly, pushing open the door to the kitchen, and a moment later they were gone.

Michelle felt herself reddening now that she was alone with Theo. He didn’t say anything, just kind of swayed slightly as if he was wondering what to do. “I guess you made a mistake,” she said finally. Her tone was a little crisper than she’d meant it to be.

“What do you mean?” Theo asked, frowning slightly and tilting his head to one side. He reminded Michelle of a large, kind bird. Inquisitive, and polite. Big Bird. That was it. He reminded her of Big Bird from Sesame Street. She wanted to burst out laughing but she didn’t.

“Well, I’m sure you’re trying to avoid me now,” she said. “So coming in here right when I’m here must have been a mistake.”

Theo held perfectly still for a few seconds, and then he shook his head. “I didn’t make a mistake.” He sighed. “I came here on purpose because I was hoping to run into you.”

Michelle blinked. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Theo ran his tongue across his teeth behind his lips. “I—look, could we talk for a while?”

“Um, sure.” Michelle wiped her sweaty palms on the inside of her pockets. “Do you want to go somewhere, or⁠—”

“We can sit in here,” he said, nodding his head toward a little table placed in the corner of the bakery. Michelle noted that it was far enough away from the counter that Iris probably wouldn’t be able to hear them talking there.

“Sure. I’ve got a cookie coming my way⁠—”

As if she’d been listening intently at the door—Michelle suspected that she had been—Iris appeared at that moment.

“Here you are, Michelle,” Iris said, handing her a wax paper bag with her cookie in it. “And I’ll bag up another one for you, Theo.” Her hands flew at lightning speed. “You’re not allergic to nuts or anything, are you?”

“No, ma’am,” Theo said, looking a little bit like a deer in the headlights.

“Perfect,” Iris said, handing Michelle a second wax paper bag with a chocolate-dipped pistachio cookie in it. “These are on the house.”

“Really? I—thanks, Iris.” Michelle stammered.

“Don’t mention it.” Iris shot her a sly look that made Michelle blush.

Theo led the way to the little table in the corner, but he waited until Michelle sat down to sit down himself.

Is he trying to act like a gentleman? she wondered with a flash of amusement. That would be a first.

She set the wax paper bags down in the middle of the table, but neither of them made a move to start eating their cookie.