Page 93 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Chapter Seventeen

Callie wiped down the granite counter top now that the lunch rush was officially over. “We’re all cleaned up out here,” she said as she put the cloth back in the cleaning solution.

“Good.” Molly came out from the back with a tray of fresh baked goods to replace the items customers had added on to their soup and sandwich orders. “Are you heading out?”

“If you’re all set. I’m meeting with Mini and Leah in about twenty minutes to go over the flower and centerpiece ideas for Grandpa’s party.”

“Yeah. Go for it.” Molly opened the display case and set gorgeously decorated chocolate and vanilla cupcakes in the empty spaces on the bottom shelf. “Can you remind them that I’m still waiting on a final head count so I can start ordering the ingredients I’m going to need? Last I heard, it was forty-five but possibly sixty. I can’t be running out of desserts.”

“Sure.” Callie grabbed her purse from beneath the counter. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Molly nodded as she set chocolate chunk cookies next to her famous brownies, then put the tray on the counter. “See you tomorrow.”

Callie paused, noting that Molly was a little off—had been all day. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She crossed her arms and rubbed them. “Or I am now that I don’t have to worry about running into Brad anytime soon.”

She sent Molly a sympathetic smile. “Maybe you should talk to him.”

Molly shook her head. “I woke up to a headache and an empty bed the morning after we screwed everything up.”

Callie’s eyes widened as she tried to imagine such a slap in the face. “He just left?”

“There was a note on the pillow.” Molly rolled her eyes. “It said, ‘Molls, we need to talk.’ When I went to track him down, he’d already headed back to the mainland.”

Callie winced. “Oh.”

“Exactly,” she said with a decisive nod. “As far as I’m concerned, he spoke volumes that day. I can’t imagine that there’s much more we need to say.”

Despite what Molly told her, Callie saw the sadness in her friend’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Molly.”

“Me too.” The phone rang and Molly picked it up. “Carter Island Deli and Bakery. This is Molly. Oh, hi, Leah. Huh?” She frowned as she covered her ear with her hand. “Oh, no, Brad and I weren’t able to catch up. The wedding kept me pretty busy.” She rolled her eyes again. “I missed you too. I’ll come by next time he’s in town. Yeah, Callie’s right here. Oh, hey, I need that head count. Thanks.” Molly held out the phone. “It’s for you. Reception’s really bad.”

Callie took the receiver. “Hello?”

“Callie, it’s Leah. I’m so sorry to do this, but I’m going to have to cancel our meeting. I’m still on the ferry. I’ve been having a devil of a time trying to get service—” Her voice faded out.

“Hello?” Callie pressed her hand to her ear the way Molly had moments ago. “Leah?”

“Callie?”

“I’m here.”

“I’m going to miss our meeting. We got off late and Captain Bob veered off our normal course. The ride’s been miserable.”

“That’s okay. We can just reschedule.”

“That’s probably for the best. Mini’s stuck with a client and she really wants to be a part of the planning too.”

“Sure.”

“Do you have any free time tomorrow?”

“Yes. Anytime after one.”

“Let me talk to Mini and I’ll get back to you.”

“Okay.”