New Beginnings

Chapter 7

The following morning, I found myself busy working away in the bakery when Colton walked in with his Mom.

All of a sudden, the kitchen felt like it was 50 degrees hotter. “Marie, I have a favor to ask.” Susan said, looking at me.

“What is that?”

“I have a cake delivery for a wedding about an hour south of here. Colton will give you a ride, but I need you to go and set up the cake. Can you handle that?”

“Yeah no problem.”

The three of us packed the catering van and I crawled into the passenger seat and we started our drive.

I was incredibly comfortable with Colton and it turned out we had a lot in common. In fact, I loved talking to him. The hour dive only felt like minutes. It was the first time I really clicked with somebody.

Once we were at the wedding venue, we unloaded and I got to work getting the case set up. When I was done, it looked great.

“Wow, my mom is going to be disappointed when she hears you are better than her.”

“Stop it.” I said, blushing.

“I’m serious. I help her all the time with wedding cake deliveries and you are really good.”

“Thank you.”

“How about we grab some lunch before we head back?”

“Yeah, lunch sounds good.”

Colton took me to a little barbecue joint.

“I hope this is OK?”

“I love barbecue.”

“Really? I never get to go because Abby can’t stand it.”

Just like that, I was reminded that he had a girlfriend and I was only his mom’s employee.

“So what made you come to Texas?”

“I found my best friend and my boyfriend sleeping together and, since I didn’t have any family, I decided to make a new start.”

“Oh man, I am so sorry.”

“It’s whatever.”

“Can I ask what happened to your family?”

“My mom died in a car accident and I never knew my dad. My Grandma raised me till she passed away and I ended up in a group home.”

He looked at me with pity in his eyes. “Don’t feel bad for me.”

“I don’t.”

“ Your face says something else.”

The food arrived and I changed the subject. “These have to be the best hushpuppies I have ever eaten.”

Colton chuckled. “This is my favorite place. The food is amazing.”

After lunch, we headed back home. Despite the awkward conversation at lunch, I found it easy to talk to him and before I knew it, we were back at the bakery.

As soon as we stepped out of the van I heard the most annoying voice, “Colt. Colt baby.”

I looked over to see Abby running to see him in a very tiny pair of shorts and a tub top. “I am so glad you are home. There is a party tonight and I want to go.”

“Abby, you know I don’t like to go to those parties.”

“Why because you are 23? It’s not like you are 32.”

“I don’t like those parties.”

“Fine, I will go by myself.”

She turned and finally noticed me standing by the van.

“What are you looking at?”

“Abby stop.” Colton said before I could respond.

“See you around Colton.” I said as I made my way back into the bakery to finish my shift.

The following day, I found myself excited about having a family meal with Susan and Charlie’s family.

The twins picked me up around 11 and we drove to the family farm.

“Wow, this place is amazing,” I said as I climbed out of the truck.

“Yeah it’s OK.” Evan said.

“Ok? No, this is beautiful. You are both so lucky to grow up here.”

Susan stepped out on the porch. “Marie! I am so happy you are here. Come on in.”

I followed her into the house and it felt like it came out of a country magazine.

“Do you need any help?”

“That would be lovely.”

A short time later, we were taking the dishes to the table outside. I found Charlie, Evan, Issac, Colton, Abby, Hunter, and Trent.

I took a seat next to Issac. Charlie said grace and we began passing the dishes around the table.

“Marie, did you get all settled in?” Charlie asked.

“I have, thank you Charlie. I am very grateful for all of the kindness your family has shown me.”

“You should. It seems as if you were taking advantage of this family.” Abby said, giving me a dirty look.

“Abby, that is enough,” Colton snapped.

“What? I mean she shows up out of nowhere and the twins take her shopping. Your mom gave her a job and your old tiny apartment.”

I sat silent at the end of the table. I didn’t know what to say because I knew that the words from her mouth were true.

“Abigail…Marie didn’t ask for anything. We chose to offer those to Marie.” Susan said as she stood to start cleaning the table.

“Let me help you.” I stood grabbing a few plates and followed Susan into the house.

“I am sorry about her.” Susan said as we loaded the dishwasher.

“It’s not your fault. She didn’t exactly say something that wasn’t true.”

After cleaning up, we made our way outside. The boys were standing around Charlie as Abby sat looking at her phone on the swing next to him.

“I am not playing boys.”

“But without you we wouldn’t have even teams. Abby won’t play.”

“What are you playing?” I asked as I walked closer.

“Football.”

“I’ll play.”

All 5 of them turned to look at me.

“What? I know how to play. It’s just touch, right?”

“How do you know how to play?” Hunter asked.

“I umm the last couple of years I grew up in a group home.”

“She can be on our team,” Trent said.

I was on a team with Issac and Trent. Come to find out they both played football. Well, Issac was one of the star running back on the football team and before Trent graduated he was a quarterback.

For the next hour, we played a friendly game of football.

All of the guys were surprised at how much I knew and that I was actually really good at the game.

My speed was almost untouched.

“Man, I wish we had you on the team at school.” Issac said as we finished the game.

“Very impressive,” Colton said, smiling at me.

“Colt, can we please go? I am so bored.” Abby said, breaking his eye contact with me.

“Yeah let’s get going.”