Nothing Bundt Forever: Sweet Valley, Tennessee, #2

By Samantha Lind

Battered

Broken

Discarded

 

When the hard truths of my ex-husband were exposed, my world and that of our kids changed forever. We were tossed away like yesterday's trash by the man that was supposed to protect and cherish us.

 

With my life in tatters, I had to stay strong. I had to be the support for my kids. I had to show them that we could rise above, so I did the one that brought me peace – I baked.

 

I never expected to trust a man again, but fate had other plans. The moment he walked into my bakery, everything changed. It wasn't just my life but that of my kids as well. He lifted us from rock bottom and helped us heal.

 

Loved

Cherished

Appreciated

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samantha Lind
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201066031

Book preview

1

LACEY

I reach over, smacking at my nightstand for my phone that has startled me awake. What time is it? Who is calling me in the middle of the night? I think as I crack my eyes open, only to be greeted with daylight peeking through my curtains. Shit.

Hello, I say groggily after hitting the accept button.

Morning, Sleeping Beauty, are you not working today? my best friend, cousin, and business partner, Harper, asks.

Yeah, I apparently slept through my alarm. Let me get the kids up and off to my parents, and then I’ll be in. Sorry to leave you without help, I apologize.

I’ve got it all under control, but the repair guy should be here to start installing the new oven within the hour, she reminds me.

Oh, shit. I forgot that was today.

Gotta go; a line of people is walking in. See you soon, Harper says before hanging up.

I toss the covers off my body and force myself out of bed. I don’t hear the kids, so I head straight for the bathroom. I hope a hot shower will help wake me up and get me through this day.

Bang! The bathroom door hits the wall as my daughter, Hope, comes walking through, her blanket in one hand as she drags it along the floor.

Mommy is almost done, sweetie, I tell her from inside the shower. I’ve just rinsed my shampoo out, and quickly grab the conditioner bottle and squeeze some into my hand.

I’m hungry, she proclaims.

I’ll get you some breakfast before we head to Grandma and Grandpa’s, I tell her.

Pancakes? she asks, and I don’t miss the way her voice hitches up with some hope.

Not today. We’re late and I need to get to the bakery, but this weekend, for sure. Unless you want Grandma to make them for you, I suggest. I look over and find her contemplating my offer. Go see if Benji is awake for Mommy, I tell her.

Okay, she agrees and turns to leave the bathroom to find her brother.

I quickly finish with my hair before shutting the water off and stepping out. I throw on a clean pair of jeans and a bakery T-shirt before heading back into the bathroom to pull my hair up into a ponytail so it’s out of my face while I’m baking.

Morning, Benjamin, I state as I ruffle my son’s hair. He’s curled up on the couch, a cartoon playing on the TV screen.

Mornin’, Mommy, he greets, and I lean down and kiss the top of his head.

We need to get going. I’m late, so please go get dressed and put your shoes on.

He starts to grumble, not wanting to move very quickly this morning. You and me both, buddy, I think to myself as I turn for the kitchen. I pop two pieces of bread into the toaster, then grab the butter and cinnamon-sugar shaker to make the kids a quick snack to hold them over until I can drop them off at my parents’ house.

While I wait on the toaster, I grab my cell and shoot off a text to my mom, giving her a heads up.

Lacey: Running late, we overslept. I’m about to load the kids in the car and head your way. I’m making them some cinnamon-sugar toast for the ride over, but can you please feed them breakfast? Hope was requesting pancakes while I was in the shower.

Rita: Of course, I’ll feed those sweet babies. I’ll have the pancakes hot and ready for them by the time you get here. Does Benjamin want some bacon?

Lacey: I’m sure he’d love some, you know that boy can eat his weight in bacon.

Rita: Grandpa will be mighty happy to have an excuse to fire up the Blackstone grill and get to makin’ some breakfast.

Lacey: Thanks, Mom. I couldn’t do this without all your and Dad’s help.

Rita: Family doesn’t abandon family. Now get moving, you already said you were late.

I suck in a full breath and hold it for a couple of seconds before blowing it all the way out. When my emotions threaten to overpower me, my therapist gave me that as a coping mechanism, and it works wonders to help me refocus and move forward.

I smear some butter on the toast before sprinkling the cinnamon-sugar on top. It isn’t the healthiest thing, but it will tide them over for the car ride.

Are you guys ready? I call out. Both kids are near the door, attempting to get their shoes on. Benji is five and Hope is four, so they sometimes have trouble, especially if they want to wear their tie shoes.

All done, Mommy, Benji states proudly as he stands up and shows off his fully dressed state.

Looking sharp. Here’s some toast until you get to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. I hand him the slice. Now, go get in the van, and I’ll be right behind you once I get Hope’s shoes on, I tell him as I help my daughter slip her feet inside.

I get both kids into the car and buckled in. Thankfully, Sweet Valley isn’t that big of a town, so it takes me just under ten minutes to pull into my parents’ driveway. My mom is standing out on the wrap-around porch waiting on us. She comes down the steps and is at the passenger door by the time I shift into park.

Grandma! Hope greets her with cinnamon-sugar smeared all over her face.

How’s my sweet girl this morning? she asks her as she unbuckles her five-point harness.

I’s ready to play, she states.

Well, that’s good because, after breakfast, we’re going to the park, my mom tells her.

Where’s Grandpa? Benjamin asks her as he hops out.

He’s out back cooking breakfast on the grill. Making some pancakes and bacon.

Yes! Benjamin cheers as he takes off for the back of the house.

Bye, Mommy loves you, I call after his retreating back. I guess I’m chopped liver today.

You’d better get out of here; don’t want you to be any later than you already are, my mom reminds me.

Oh, crap, I say and look at the clock. I’ll call you when I’m leaving the shop. I have no idea how late it will be since the install of the first oven is today.

No worries, I’ll plan on the three of you being here for dinner so you don’t have to stress over it tonight.

Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it, I tell her before she walks back up the path to the porch, Hope’s hand in hers. I find myself watching them for another few seconds before I put the car in reverse and back out.

2

GARRETT

I grab the work order in my box and look it over. A new commercial oven install in a bakery in a small town about forty-five miles away.

I go in search of the oven so I can find the install instructions. I need to make sure I have all the required tools and accessories, especially since I won’t be near the shop.

Need help getting this loaded up? Paul, one of the warehouse managers, asks.

That’d be great. I’ll go back my truck up to the loading dock, now, I tell him as I jog out of the warehouse to do just that.

As soon as I drop the tailgate and back into place, he slides up with the oven on a pallet lift and sets it in the back like a well-oiled machine. I toss the additional materials in the back before we add some tie-down straps around the unit to secure it for the drive.

Do you know if we have anyone extra around today I can take with me for this install?

I can come with you, he offers.

If you’re sure. I just know getting this thing into place will be much easier with a second set of hands.

Absolutely, let me just go let the office know I’ll be gone, and then we can hit the road.

While I wait on Paul to come back, I get the GPS set up with the bakery’s address.

I’m all yours for today, he states as he hops in the truck.

Thanks, I tell him as we pull out of the parking lot. It doesn’t take long until we’re on the highway and rolling down the open road.

How’re things going? he asks, making small talk.

Can’t complain, mostly just work and hanging out with family during the off time. My sister, Miranda, had a baby a few weeks ago, so I’ve been going over to see them a lot. How about you? I ask.

My wife, Amy, is due in just a couple of weeks with our first baby, a boy. He beams.

Congratulations, man. Have you guys picked out a name for him yet?

We’ve got a shortlist, but she wants to meet him first before we settle on one.

That’s cool, make sure his name fits him.

Something like that. I’m still not sure how we’re going to know that in just a few minutes or hours, but she’s the boss.

What’s the saying; a happy wife is a happy life? I ask.

Sure is, he agrees. You thought of settling down anytime soon?

Yeah, just need the right woman to crash her way into my life, but it’s definitely something I’m ready for. With my sister settling down and getting married and having kids, I see how happy she is, and I’d really like our kids to be somewhat the same age, so I’m feeling the pressure now that she’s got a two-year-old and a newborn.

It will happen when you least expect it to, Paul says.

I’m sure it will. And I’ll be here waiting and ready, I tell him as the miles pass by.

We pass the time making small talk and catching up with the small-town gossip. Paul and I went to school together, from kindergarten to our senior year.

We pull up to