Home is Where the Heart is(28)

“I’m head of the Parent Association for our children’s class, and I was hoping I could get your assistance in baking some cookies or cupcakes for the annual fundraiser the school holds with the high school. You’ve probably heard about it before...”

“Um, yeah, you mean the Yellow Valley Annual Gala,” Jordan answered.

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, going into detail as if he didn’t know anything about it, despite living here most of his life. “The proceeds raised go toward the two schools’ improvements. This year, we’re aiming for a bigger auditorium to be built for all the schools in the district to share. We were hoping Cassie would be able to bake us something delicious as a sponsor in honor of this class. I’ve been meaning to catch up with her, but she’s always so busy.”

Jordan could see why Cassie always seemed so uninterested or too busy to chat to this woman, but nevertheless, he was polite toward her and smiled as genuinely as he could.

“I’m sure she would be happy to help out. I will let her know.”

The woman let out a dramatic sigh of relief, like she was completely counting on Cassie’s agreement to bake for them, and turned away from Jordan when she received the answer she was looking for. Could no one cook as well as Cassie?

“Did I hear you offer Cassie’s baking skills to Emma?” Sierra stood behind him.

Jordan turned back to her, startled by the astonishment in her voice. “I did. Why? Was it a wrong move?”

She shrugged her shoulders and didn’t say anything.

“I guess we’ll see soon if it was or not,” Jordan said cracking a smile, unsure now if Cassie was going to be upset with him.

Sierra chuckled and reached up to wrap an arm around his shoulders, offering friendly support as they made their way out of the school.

Jordan figured only time would tell, but what harm could it have been?





“You did what?” Cassie questioned after hearing about Jordan’s impulsive decision to sign her up to bake for the gala. They were now standing in the kitchen of Cassie’s single-story home, after she allowed him to retrieve Jake from school that afternoon.

He put Jake’s school bag down on the floor next to the island counter, then perched himself on the stool next to it.

He folded his arms in front of him and asked, “Was it a bad move? I was kind of put on the spot. Besides, I know how much you love cooking; I thought you might like to do it.”

“I love cooking, but not for a school with hundreds of children. Why do you think I have been avoiding Emma? She’s ruthless and brutal, and she knows how to get what she wants.”

“Sorry, Cassie, I thought I was doing the right thing. But you’re right—she is ruthless and brutal.”

Cassie waved him off. “It’s okay,” she said. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know how she is. Maybe I should have warned you what some of the mothers could be like. But it doesn’t change the situation…I still have to bake cookies.” Cassie frowned.

“I know I’m not as good a cook as you, but I can help. We would get them done quicker with two people anyway.”

For the first time in a very long while, Jordan saw Cassie smile, and her whole face was glowing. It was at this moment Jordan realized how beautiful his ex-girlfriend really was. She gave him butterflies still, and she didn’t even know it.

“Okay, you’re on. Call me crazy, and I will probably end up regretting you helping me, but I’m going to take you up on your offer. Obviously, we have to do it tonight so they’re ready for school tomorrow.”

Cassie went around to Jake’s bag and unloaded his lunch box. She never knew what she would find inside her son’s bag. There was always something she would find half-eaten, or a note from the teacher Jake forgot to tell her about.

Jordan flexed his hands together. “What’s on the agenda tonight?” he asked her out of curiosity.

She pulled her blonde locks into a high ponytail and responded, “I promised I would take Jake to the fair tonight. It’s always a lot of fun, and he loves it so much.”

“Yeah, I remember how fun it used to be when we’d go together,” Jordan said.

Cassie was reminded of the good times they had once shared. It seemed Jordan was reminiscing quite a lot too, and Cassie wondered whether he was hoping to rekindle the spark between them. She knew she was opening her life up so Jordan could be a part of their son’s, but that was it. She just wasn’t sure she could open herself up for the possibility of a reunion   with Jordan. She didn’t know if her heart could handle the idea of breaking all over again, or at the very least, a long distance relationship. She knew those never worked out well, judging by how it had turned out for both Cassie and Jordan the first time around.