The Sea Star Bakery: A Willa Bay Novel Read online

  The Sea Star Bakery

  A Willa Bay Novel

  Nicole Ellis

  Copyright © 2020 by Nicole Ellis

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  1

  Cassie

  Cassie pulled up to the Inn at Willa Bay, the brakes on her ten-year-old minivan squealing as she brought it to a stop. Better add that to the list, she thought. Since the divorce, it seemed like something broke every time she turned around. At this rate, her bank account would soon be depleted.

  She stepped outside and shut the car door slowly, taking in the view. The sun was already high in the sky on this beautiful June morning, its rays bouncing off the glittery blue waters of Willa Bay. A soft breeze fluttered the skirt of the sleeveless lavender dress she’d chosen to wear to church that day.

  The front door of the Inn opened about six inches. “I’ll be out in a minute, dear,” Celia James called out. “I just need to feed the dog.” Celia’s little white terrier, Pebbles, flashed in and out of view as he jumped around behind his mistress.

  Cassie grinned. Her ex-husband, Kyle, had wanted a golden retriever, but she’d vetoed that long ago knowing she’d have ninety-nine percent of the responsibility for a pet. She’d never been a dog person, but there was something about Pebbles’s antics that always brought a smile to her face. “Take your time,” she shouted back at Celia. There were definitely worse places to be stuck waiting for someone.

  Cassie regarded the Inn. Her good friends, Zoe and Meg, along with Shawn – Celia’s grandson and Zoe’s new boyfriend – had recently purchased a half-interest in the dilapidated old resort from Celia and had grandiose plans for renovating it. While Meg had chosen to keep her job for a while longer at the Willa Bay Lodge where she, Cassie, and Zoe had all worked, Zoe had quit her job as the Lodge’s event coordinator soon after purchasing the property.

  They had only been working on it for about six weeks, but their efforts had already made a difference. With the help of Shawn’s experience in carpentry and remodeling old houses, they’d replaced all of the rotten siding and repainted the exterior a charming shade of blue that matched the waters of the bay. The lawn had recently been clipped short, and roses bloomed below the wraparound porch, perfuming the air with their scent. When Cassie had been here last week with her ex-husband, their son, Jace, and daughter, Amanda, to celebrate Jace’s birthday at the beach, it looked like some work had been done on the old gazebo as well. Things were really coming along.

  The front door swung open and Celia’s walker peeked out, drawing Cassie’s attention away from the renovations – just in time to see a streak of white dart past Celia and down the stairs. “Pebbles! Get back here!” Celia slowly rolled the walker out onto the porch.

  Pebbles stopped on the bottom step and turned around to eye his mistress, his tongue lolling from his mouth. He yipped at Celia once, then turned back to the yard, his eyes lighting up as he sensed freedom. Celia sighed. “Pebbles, get back here. I’ll have Shawn take you for another walk this afternoon, I promise.”

  Cassie jogged forward as fast as she could go in her one-inch heels and grabbed Pebbles’s collar before he could get any further. Celia had assured her before that he didn’t usually venture very far away when he did get out, but Cassie wasn’t taking any chances.

  “Gotcha,” she said to the little dog as she picked him up. He wriggled in her arms, but didn’t fight too hard to escape.

  Celia waited on the porch, wearing a calf-length floral dress with cap sleeves. Her snow-white hair was wound into a bun on the back of her head and chunky clip-on earrings adorned her earlobes. She stepped aside to let Cassie take Pebbles back in. “I swear that dog thinks he’s a greyhound or something.”

  Cassie laughed and set Pebbles well inside the entry hall, hurrying to close the door securely behind her before he could follow. Celia locked the door and then made her way to the side of the porch, where Shawn had installed a long ramp for her and future guests with mobility issues.

  Cassie got Celia settled into the car, then sat down in the driver’s seat, tucking her flouncy skirt under her legs. She drove away from the Inn and down the long gravel driveway, which used to be littered with potholes that made her worry about her minivan’s suspension, but had been one of the first things Zoe and Shawn had repaired when they’d taken over ownership of the property.

  At the end of the driveway, Celia leaned over, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “I have amazing news for you!” She fidgeted in her seat, unable to contain herself.

  Cassie often gave Celia a ride on Sundays to the local Lutheran church they both attended. On weekends, when Cassie’s ex had the kids and it was just her and Celia in the car, it gave her a chance to get to know the older lady better. Normally, Celia was very even-tempered, so this level of excitement from her was unusual.

  Cassie lifted her eyebrows, but maintained her attention on the road as she turned onto Willa Bay Drive. “What is it?”

  The words bubbled out of Celia’s mouth. “Edgar Johnson is moving to Arizona.”

  “Okay?” Edgar Johnson was in his late seventies, and it was general knowledge that his wife hated the rainy weather in Western Washington, so this wasn’t exactly earth-shattering news.

  “He’s shutting down the bakery and leasing out the space.” Celia’s fixed her eyes on Cassie’s face.

  “That’s too bad. I always liked Edgar’s Bakery. His scones are delicious.” Cassie turned onto Main Street and then made a quick right to head up the hill to where First Lutheran Church perched high over the town.

  Celia sighed loudly as Cassie parked the car. She put her hand on Cassie’s arm. “You should lease the bakery space from him.”

  Cassie snorted. “I can’t afford my own bakery. I just need a small catering kitchen to work in.” She’d been decorating cakes on the side for years while working at the Willa Bay Lodge as their pastry chef. Up until a couple of months ago, they’d let her use the kitchen for her side business. That is, until the owner’s daughter, Lara, came back to town with cake decorating aspirations of her own. Cassie had been lucky enough to find a temporary solution in Meg’s mother’s catering kitchen, but with the busy summer event season now in full swing, it was becoming difficult to share the space.

  “I already told him you were interested.” Celia sat back in her seat, regarding Cassie with a smug grin.

  Cassie’s eyes grew so wide that she thought they might actually pop loose. “You did what?” Celia may have been outspoken and stubborn, and her heart full of good intentions, but this stunt took the cake – literally. “I’m not ready to open up my own shop.”

  Celia shrugged. “You’ll never truly be ready. Sometimes you just have to jump when life presents you with an opportunity you can’t pass up.”

  “But I have to pass it up. I barely have enough money as it is.�
�� An image of her two kids flashed through Cassie’s mind. Jace had ADHD and was recently diagnosed with autism, so she’d been researching programs that might help him be more successful in school. Even with her side job, funds were tight.

  “Didn’t you have an appointment with the Small Business Administration last week?” Celia asked.

  Cassie brushed her hands over the top of her head and through her shoulder-length blonde hair, the familiar motion soothing her. She had given some thought over the past few weeks to opening her own bakery, but the SBA had crushed that dream. “Yeah, and they basically confirmed that this isn’t the right time for me to open up my own business.” Without savings, the start-up costs would kill her, and even if the bank would approve it, she wasn’t going to risk putting her house up as collateral for a business loan.

  “Well, I still think it’s a good idea.” Celia put her hand on the door handle. “The location is excellent, and you’d have a built-in clientele.”

  Cassie closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to meet Celia’s gaze. “I’ll consider it.” She knew opening her own bakery wasn’t a possibility for her right now, but Celia looked so happy that Cassie didn’t want to stomp on her joy. She got out of the car and retrieved Celia’s walker from the trunk before coming around to open the passenger-side door.

  Cassie helped Celia out of the car, and they walked into church together, neither of them speaking of the bakery lease again. As they entered the building, a woman in her sixties, with curly hair and a huge smile, approached them. “Hey, Cassie,” she said.

  “Hi, Betty,” Cassie replied.

  Betty then wrapped an arm around Celia’s shoulders and addressed the older woman. “How are you doing, honey? It’s so good to see you. I’ve been visiting family in Texas and just heard about your accident.”

  Celia grinned. “I’m doing well. A hip fracture isn’t going to keep me down.”

  Betty beamed at her. “I’m glad to hear that. We need you here.” She moved her hand to rest on Celia’s, which was clutching the walker. “Mary Lou and I were just discussing a fundraiser for the library. Are you interested in helping with it?”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Celia said. “After the last levy failed, the library can use all the help it can get.”

  “No kidding.” Betty frowned. “We’re hoping to raise money for them to update their current collections, and maybe even renovate the sitting areas.” She tilted her head in Mary Lou’s direction. “Do you want to chat with us for a bit before the service begins?”

  Celia glanced at Cassie. “Do you mind?”

  Cassie shook her head. “Not at all. I was hoping to grab a cup of coffee first anyway. That cup I had this morning didn’t seem to do much.” It was an excuse, but she knew it was important for Celia to feel needed, and the library fundraiser was perfect for her.

  They met back up before the church service, and sat together a few rows from the front. Cassie found her mind wandering as the pastor sermonized. Celia’s news about Edgar’s Bakery closing had given Cassie a lot to think about. It wasn’t the right time for her to open a bakery of her own, but for a moment she let herself imagine what it would be like. Jace had given her the perfect name for a bakery in Willa Bay: The Sea Star Bakery. She loved his analogy about how she was regenerating her life after the divorce, just like a sea star could regrow its limbs.

  Until lately, Cassie would have said she was content in her job at the Lodge, but having Lara Camden back in town was making her miserable. Lara had taken over the kitchen in the mornings for the cake decorating business she’d started on the side, essentially stealing Cassie’s baking facility. But Lara’s father, George, owned the Lodge and let her do whatever she wanted. Cassie grimaced. Beside her, Celia must have noticed the sour look on Cassie’s face, because she nudged Cassie gently with an imploring look in her eyes.

  Cassie focused on Celia, giving her a small grin, then returned her attention to the pastor, who was speaking about “loving thy neighbor” – an apt sermon considering Cassie’s recent musings about Lara. A tiny bit of guilt flared in Cassie’s chest, but she tamped it down. She would try to be nicer to Lara, but that didn’t mean she had to like her.

  After partaking in the refreshments hour after church, Cassie drove Celia home and walked her to the door. As they neared the top of the ramp, she caught a glimpse of Zoe and Shawn, who were sitting on the far side of the porch, gazing out at the bay while eating sandwiches and drinking tall glasses of what looked like iced tea.

  Zoe stuck her head around the corner. “Hello! I thought I heard you pull up. Do either of you want to join us for lunch? Shawn made plenty of tuna fish salad for sandwiches.”

  A deep voice announced from behind her, “With extra pickles!”

  Zoe shook her head. “Shawn and his pickles.” She zeroed in on Cassie and Celia. “Are you interested?”

  Cassie smiled. “No, I’m having lunch with Kyle and the kids. We’re trying to do more things together as a family, for the kids’ sake.”

  Celia covered her mouth and yawned. “Thanks, Zoe, but I’m beat. I plan to take a long nap.”

  “We’ll be sure to be quiet for you then.” Zoe waved. “See you both later. Have fun at lunch, Cassie.” She disappeared back around the corner.

  Celia entered the house, pausing in the entryway while blocking Pebbles with her foot. “Promise me you’ll think about the bakery?”

  Cassie sighed. She should have known Celia wouldn’t give up so easily. “Yes. I’ll think about it.”

  Celia nodded curtly. “Good. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for you. I’ll make sure to let Edgar know you’re interested.” She smiled sweetly at Cassie and shut the door.

  Cassie’s mouth gaped open, but then she couldn’t help but laugh at the elderly woman’s moxie. When Cassie was eighty-something, she’d be lucky to have half Celia’s spirit.

  Cassie left the Inn, driving home to change quickly into jeans and a red tank top before meeting Kyle and the kids at Pizza Kingdom. The pizzeria’s parking lot was almost full when she arrived, probably due to the after-church crowd. When she got inside, she scanned the packed restaurant for her family and smiled when she saw them. Kyle had managed to snag a prime table near the arcade.

  “Mom’s here,” Kyle announced when she got close.

  “Hey, Mom.” Amanda jumped up from the table. “Dad said we could go to the arcade once you got here.”

  “Can I get a hug first? I haven’t seen you guys in two days.” Cassie held her arms out, and her daughter leaned in, allowing her mother to hug her. While they were embracing, Jace slid out of the booth. Cassie released Amanda and wrapped her arm around her son, giving him a quick squeeze. “Okay, okay. You can go play now. Did Dad give you money?” She glanced at Kyle, who nodded.

  “I ordered pizzas already, too, because they’re slammed here today.” He turned to the kids, “Have fun, but come back in about twenty minutes. The pizzas should be here by then.” Jace and Amanda were off to the arcade before he’d even finished his words. Kyle turned back to Cassie. “Man, I wish it were this easy to entertain them in my little apartment.” He frowned. “It’s fine when it’s just me, but they’re bouncing off the walls when three of us are in it.”

  She laughed. “Don’t worry, they’re like that at home too.”

  “Really?” He eyed her with disbelief. “I don’t remember it being like that.”

  “That’s because you were never home.” Her words came out sharper than she’d intended. He winced visibly and took a long drink from his soda. She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” After two years of divorce and mild animosity toward each other, they’d reached a truce a few months ago. She’d promised herself she’d try to be kinder to him in the future and not hold old grudges against him.

  “You did mean it like that.” His eyes were sad. “But you’re right, I wasn’t home enough when the kids were younger.” He picked up his napkin, n
ervously rubbing his hand against the rough edges. “I’m trying to do better now.”

  She took a deep breath. “I know you are. It’s okay.” There had never been any major issue that had led to their divorce, like financial or marital infidelities – it had been death by a thousand little cuts. They’d been high school sweethearts and married right after college. Maybe they’d married too young. All she knew was that as Kyle moved up the ranks at his accounting firm and she stayed home to take care of the kids, his late nights at the office had come between them, and they’d grown apart.

  The waitress came by with two steaming pans of pizza and set them on metal stands already at the table.

  “Thanks,” Kyle said, before the waitress scurried away. He slid a slice of the combination pizza onto his plate. “Should we go get the kids?”

  Cassie took a piece of the same pie, reaching to sever the string of cheese connecting her plate to the pizza pan. The aroma of warm mozzarella, spicy pepperoni, and herbed marinara sauce permeated the air, but she knew she’d burn her mouth if she tried to bite into it immediately. “Nah, let them play for a while longer. The pizza needs to cool a bit anyway.”

  “Remember when we were first married and could barely afford a cheese pizza from here?” Kyle’s eyes clouded over. “We’d splurge on a small pizza, take it home, then throw the couch cushions on the floor and watch movies together all night.

  A wave of nostalgia washed over her. They’d had a lot of good times together. “I remember.” She swallowed a lump in her throat. What she wouldn’t give to go back in time and fix everything that had gone wrong between them. But all of that was water under the bridge now.