Sweet Nothings
Chapter One
Joanie Bigbee checked the display and the backup stock of the pink- and red-topped cakes one
last time to make sure everything was ready to go. Then she stared out at Sugar Springs High School
as if the force of her concentration alone would make the doors burst open and the kids flood out. It
was Valentine’s Day, so what better way to kick off her new business, Cakes-a-GoGo, than by taking
advantage of teenage hormones and the need to express their love? Or lust?
“A cupcake for your sweetheart” seemed like the perfect plan to her.
She’d have only fifteen minutes before the break was over and everyone returned to their last
class of the day. After that, she’d be off, turning her converted Volkswagen van toward Main Street to
catch locals and tourists in their small Tennessee town who might also be in need of a sweet dessert.
She ran her hands down the sides of her skirt and sucked in a deep breath.
“What are you so nervous about?” Destinee asked. She was Joanie’s only employee so far. The
girl worked afternoons as part of the high school’s school-to-work program. “You don’t get
stressed.”
“It’s my first day. I have a right to be a little nervous.”
The girl rolled her eyes and let out a long, dramatic sigh. “It is not your first day. We’ve been
open for two weeks now. If we weren’t, I wouldn’t be getting outta school early every day.”
“Ah, so you’re just using me?” Joanie teased as she peered out the open order window. She was
ready to kick this party off.
Destinee was right—the actual business had been open for two weeks—but today was the
inaugural trip for the cupcake van, thus making the full vision a reality. And yes, Joanie was nervous.
It was rare, but for some reason Cakes-a-GoGo seemed to mean more to her than past ventures.
“I thought you were working for me because you’re interested in learning about running your
own business,” Joanie added. “Not simply to get out of school early.”
Destinee produced a noncommittal shrug in a way only teenage girls were capable of doing.
“Sure. And the fact that you need the help. You couldn’t handle everything yourself.”
The smile threatening at Joanie’s lips remained hidden. Destinee had come into the space she’d
rented on the square about a month ago as word had gotten out that Joanie had sold her beauty salon
and would soon be opening a cupcake store in the postage stamp–size tourist town.
The girl had done her best—both then and since—to hide her enthusiasm for being a part of
seeing a business go from the ground up. Apparently it was uncool to be excited about working. But
she’d failed in keeping her exuberance under wraps. Joanie had seen it, as well as recognized a bit of
herself in the girl.
There were services and shops that needed to exist, and if no one else was going to make it
happen, then she would do it. She’d started and sold more local businesses in her thirty-two years
than most people ever thought about. All of them thriving under their current ownership today.
“The doors just opened,” Destinee squeaked, bouncing up on her toes. Heightened energy
vibrated through them both.
With a wide smile and a straightening of her shoulders, Joanie reached to the back of the van and
flipped the two switches that would turn on the lighted sign atop the vehicle as well as pump sixties
dance music through the outer speakers. Cakes-a-GoGo was open for business.
Fifteen minutes later, Joanie flipped off the lights and music and slumped back against the
counter as if her body had been beaten continuously since the school doors had opened. She was so
happy not to be a teenager with all those hormones and emotions running rampant through her.
“That was exhausting,” she moaned. “I’ve no idea how you go in there every day around all
that.”
“Girl,” Destinee began, “you ain’t that old. You hung in.” A gleam sparkled in the teen’s dark
eyes as she began to wipe down the counter where more than one cake had ended up top down.
“I feel like we did nothing but throw cupcakes out the window for a solid fifteen minutes,”
Joanie said. “Like we were being attacked and the cakes were our only weapons. Did we actually
manage to collect money or was that purely a fight we just lost?”
Laughter rolled from the teen as she flipped open the cash box and waved her hand with a
flourish over the mound of bills. “Poor Joanie. If you’re thinking of doing this every week, you’d
better start eating a heartier breakfast. It won’t get any easier.”
“I believe that.” She picked up one of the few remaining cupcakes and peeled the paper down to
Joanie Bigbee checked the display and the backup stock of the pink- and red-topped cakes one
last time to make sure everything was ready to go. Then she stared out at Sugar Springs High School
as if the force of her concentration alone would make the doors burst open and the kids flood out. It
was Valentine’s Day, so what better way to kick off her new business, Cakes-a-GoGo, than by taking
advantage of teenage hormones and the need to express their love? Or lust?
“A cupcake for your sweetheart” seemed like the perfect plan to her.
She’d have only fifteen minutes before the break was over and everyone returned to their last
class of the day. After that, she’d be off, turning her converted Volkswagen van toward Main Street to
catch locals and tourists in their small Tennessee town who might also be in need of a sweet dessert.
She ran her hands down the sides of her skirt and sucked in a deep breath.
“What are you so nervous about?” Destinee asked. She was Joanie’s only employee so far. The
girl worked afternoons as part of the high school’s school-to-work program. “You don’t get
stressed.”
“It’s my first day. I have a right to be a little nervous.”
The girl rolled her eyes and let out a long, dramatic sigh. “It is not your first day. We’ve been
open for two weeks now. If we weren’t, I wouldn’t be getting outta school early every day.”
“Ah, so you’re just using me?” Joanie teased as she peered out the open order window. She was
ready to kick this party off.
Destinee was right—the actual business had been open for two weeks—but today was the
inaugural trip for the cupcake van, thus making the full vision a reality. And yes, Joanie was nervous.
It was rare, but for some reason Cakes-a-GoGo seemed to mean more to her than past ventures.
“I thought you were working for me because you’re interested in learning about running your
own business,” Joanie added. “Not simply to get out of school early.”
Destinee produced a noncommittal shrug in a way only teenage girls were capable of doing.
“Sure. And the fact that you need the help. You couldn’t handle everything yourself.”
The smile threatening at Joanie’s lips remained hidden. Destinee had come into the space she’d
rented on the square about a month ago as word had gotten out that Joanie had sold her beauty salon
and would soon be opening a cupcake store in the postage stamp–size tourist town.
The girl had done her best—both then and since—to hide her enthusiasm for being a part of
seeing a business go from the ground up. Apparently it was uncool to be excited about working. But
she’d failed in keeping her exuberance under wraps. Joanie had seen it, as well as recognized a bit of
herself in the girl.
There were services and shops that needed to exist, and if no one else was going to make it
happen, then she would do it. She’d started and sold more local businesses in her thirty-two years
than most people ever thought about. All of them thriving under their current ownership today.
“The doors just opened,” Destinee squeaked, bouncing up on her toes. Heightened energy
vibrated through them both.
With a wide smile and a straightening of her shoulders, Joanie reached to the back of the van and
flipped the two switches that would turn on the lighted sign atop the vehicle as well as pump sixties
dance music through the outer speakers. Cakes-a-GoGo was open for business.
Fifteen minutes later, Joanie flipped off the lights and music and slumped back against the
counter as if her body had been beaten continuously since the school doors had opened. She was so
happy not to be a teenager with all those hormones and emotions running rampant through her.
“That was exhausting,” she moaned. “I’ve no idea how you go in there every day around all
that.”
“Girl,” Destinee began, “you ain’t that old. You hung in.” A gleam sparkled in the teen’s dark
eyes as she began to wipe down the counter where more than one cake had ended up top down.
“I feel like we did nothing but throw cupcakes out the window for a solid fifteen minutes,”
Joanie said. “Like we were being attacked and the cakes were our only weapons. Did we actually
manage to collect money or was that purely a fight we just lost?”
Laughter rolled from the teen as she flipped open the cash box and waved her hand with a
flourish over the mound of bills. “Poor Joanie. If you’re thinking of doing this every week, you’d
better start eating a heartier breakfast. It won’t get any easier.”
“I believe that.” She picked up one of the few remaining cupcakes and peeled the paper down to