Chapter 65

Ailee

Today I’m at the bakery for a cake tasting. I wish Lug were here with me but the band is cramming in one final rehearsal before tomorrow's show. I understand how important the band is and these shows are. I got Lug’s thoughts on the cake. He didn’t really care about the design but the filling he said as long as it wasn’t lemon or bavarian cream he was happy. And he didn’t want chocolate cake. The rest was up to me. I don’t have a problem with that. Besides I brought back up with me.

The door chimes as we walk in and I see the wedding planner is waiting for us. I look around to get a good look at the place. The walls are painted a pale green with lavender trim. There are six glass cases filled with what looks like every treat imaginable. The first case had a wide variety of donuts topped with everything from cookies, candy, even bacon. The second case was filled with cookies. The next had an assortment of fruit and candies. I could go on but the case that caught my attention was the cakes. I have never seen so many types of cake in one place before.

To the side in an alcove are small iron tables and chairs like you would see on a patio instead of a bakery. But it seemed to fit the relaxing atmosphere. Before I could look around Evalyn, the wedding planner came over with an older woman with salt and pepper hair. “ Ailee, this is Patrice. She will be taking your preferences and wishes and turning them into a beautiful cake for your special day.” Evalyn says. I hold my hand out to Patrice “ Pleasure to meet ya.” I said, shaking her hand. “ The pleasure is mine. And what a lovely accent.” Patrice said. “ And who have you brought with you today?” she asked. “ This is my da, Ace. And my maid of honor, Merigold.”

“ It is nice to meet you. We don’t often see father’s helping out. I like it.” Patrice said. “ Come this way. I have a selection of samples for you to try. Then we can discuss your designs.” she said. She led us to the back of the alcove where she had three tables set up with slices of cake set up. “ Each table is organized by category. Table on has fruit filling, table two has nut filling, and table three has basic icing. There is a card in front of each slice to tell you what it is. Before you get started can I offer you anything to drink?” Patrice asks.

We all settle on water so it doesn’t take away from the flavor of the cake. Patrice goes to the back and comes back with four bottles of water. After handing one to all of us she said “ I wouldn’t want to be hovered over so I’m going to give you guys some privacy to sample any or all the cakes. When you decide on what you like just have Evalyn come get me.” I nod “ Thank ye. We will.”

I walk up to the tables and look at the varieties Patrice has set out. “ How do you want to do this sweetheart?” Ace asks. I think about it as I look at the tables. I suddenly get a thought. I turn to Merigold and Ace “ You happen to know if anyone in the club or the kids have any food allergies? I know we can’t worry about everyone that is coming but we could at least watch out for them.” Merigold says “ I know Bastian is allergic to bananas.” “ Callen is allergic to coconut. So we won’t do anything with those two.” I said. I see Evalyn remove two pieces of cake from the table and put them aside. “ Thank you.” I said.

We talked and decided we would try all of the remaining cakes and then we would choose our top two cakes. I would make the final decision from there. We even got Evalyn involved. We sat and talked and ate so much cake I thought I would explode. I only took a bit or two from each piece but after trying ten different kinds I was on a sugar overload. Ace had to stop at five before he said he couldn’t handle anymore. When we had our top choices I mulled it over and had Evalyn call Patrice back.

“ Have you made a choice?” she asked. “ I have.” I told her. She went and grabbed some paperwork, binder and sat down with us. “ So what would you like?” Patrice asked. I told her I wanted a square vanilla cake with the strawberry cheesecake filling. I needed it to be at least three tiers. “ If it isn’t too much trouble could you make up a card to set next to the cake as an allergy warning?” I asked. I didn’t want to send anyone to the hospital because they didn’t know what they were eating. Patrice smiled “ That’s not a problem. What did you have in mind for your design?”

Merigold, the best cousin ever, pulls a paper out of her purse. I explain to Patrice that Lug and I both love the changing of the leaves. “ I would like some maple leaves in various fall colors.” Patrice grabs the binder, flips a few pages and turns the book to me. I see a five tier circle wedding cake with fall leaves in every color at the base of the tiers. Oranges, red, light browns, yellows. I love it. “ Very close. I would like to add some copper if it doesn't take away from the rest.” I told her. I explained roughly how I would like the leaves to look like they are falling from the top.

I slid the design of my kutte over to Patrice. “ I want this as the topper.” I said pointing to the cowboy hat and ice crown. “ Is that possible?” I ask nervously. I really want this included. Patrice looks it over and nods “ Yes. I can do this for you.” I light up “ Thank you. Now I would also like four dozen cupcakes for the wee ones.” Patrice pulls out a list of flavors to choose from. I pick basic vanilla and chocolate as well as cotton candy, orange sherbert, cookies and cream and chocolate and peanut butter.

After I finalized everything with Patrice she said she would personally deliver it to the hall grandda had rented out on the day of the wedding. I like that idea. I told her we would have someone escort her to the tables we would have set up for her. She is even adding allergy cards to the cupcakes so no one gets sick. I like the extra touch. Ace gives her the deposit after we argue back and forth about it.

I tried telling him that I could pay for it but then he pulled the da card. He said that grandda and him were both paying and I should just let him do it. I have learned from the time we have spent together he is just as stubborn as I am so I dropped it. I hug Merigold bye. She had to head back to the kids. She said the last time she left Rowdy with the kids they somehow convinced him to make jelly bean milkshakes and fries for lunch. She said the kids were bouncing off the walls when she and Axel got home. I laughed and sent her on her way.

Ace grabs my hand “ Walk with this old man. I can’t get on my bike just yet after eating all that cake.” I link my hand through his elbow “ You aren’t old. Aye I will walk with you. I could use it myself.” We didn’t talk much as we walked but I didn’t feel the need to. I was just enjoying spending time with my da. We found a park path and walked along it.

“ Are you getting nervous yet?” Ace asks. I shake my head “ No da. And I don’t think I will. I can’t believe it is only three months away. It is coming fast yet not fast enough.” Ace is quiet for a second then laughs. “ What’s funny?” I asked. Ace shakes his head “ Twenty years ago if someone had told me that one day I would not only be seeing my little girl get married but helping her plan it. I would have told them to share what they were smoking because they were out of their mind.” Ace stops and turns to me. “ Yet here I am. And you know I couldn’t be happier. I may not say this enough Ailee but I love you sweetheart. And I am damn proud to have you in my life. I can’t wait to see you walk down that aisle. Even if it is to a bonehead like Lug Nut.”

“ Da.” I giggle whine at the last part. I know he likes Lug and is only poking fun at him. Ace had me misty eyed with his words. “ Da, you know I love you. I never thought I would ever meet you. Now you are by my side helping me plan my wedding. Because of you my family has grown so much bigger than I could have imagined. We didn’t start out in the best way but we both turned it around. I’m proud to be ye daughter.”

We turned and started walking back to where we parked. It seems like my life couldn’t get any better. But there is still a part of me that thinks something is coming. I just wish I knew what. It isn’t the wedding. Or da. I’m not even sure it is bad. I just know something is going to happen and soon.