Cake Love: All Things Payne(45)

"Well, shit. Now I feel like the jerk. Morgana why didn’t you stop me from having him kicked out?" Aria has ceased eating. Good food is Aria's heroin, so I know she regrets doing that if she has actually put down her fork.

"It's not like you let me speak Aria. It's okay. I can always talk to him later. Right now I want to enjoy a nice meal with my family and you." I smile at everyone and put my hand on Aria's back.

We enjoy the rest of the meal, especially Aria who insists on talking to the chef. My mind drifts in and out during the meal to thoughts of Henrik. I wish he could have joined us, then perhaps he could have explained why he gave up his career.

I am a little sad that we don't have dessert, but my parents surprise me when we head back to their room. My mom brought a cake she made. I black out the rest of the evening. I wake up the next day, thankfully alone in my own bed, with frosting smeared all over my dress and face.

I told you her cake is like crack.





Chapter 4

Morgana’s Problem: Her Lack of Payne

I stand nervously at my parent’s window watching a black car drive down the lane. It doesn’t slow, just keeps on going. I drop my head shaking it, trying to rattle the nervous thoughts from my head.

Think positive Morgana!

I graduated the Executive Development Program, top in my class. Mr. Jacob Mimir even came to the graduation ceremony on Friday to give an award. After wards he offered me Henrik’s old job, temporarily of course, until they can find someone to fill his shoes. I’m honored just to have been asked to fill in, that position is second highest in the entire company.

Jacob has faith in me. My parents are proud of me, throwing me this dinner to celebrate my graduation and return to Chicago. Aria is even bringing her new boyfriend. All good things, so why am I so depressed?

I got what I want. The program. The job. But now what? It’s been three weeks since I saw Henrik in the bathroom, and I haven’t heard from him since. I tried calling, texting, I even sent an email to his Hi-Ed-Junior account. Nothing.

My mother told me she invited him to the party tonight, but he didn’t respond. So, I wait patiently by the window hoping to see that black Lincoln Town car pull up and Henrik hop out. I imagine it will be something like Fast Times at Ridgemont High where Henrik is Phoebe Cates character. Instead of coming out of a pool, he’s hopping out of the car dripping wet. Don’t ask me why he is soaked from a car ride, he just is. This is my fantasy! Don’t judge me!

My heart sinks further with each passing moment.

“I’m going to be outside for a minute, okay?” I yell back at my mom and grandma who are fighting about who does the cooking.

“You took up smoking Morgana?” My mom yells back.

“What? No! I said I would be outside.” I walk over and glance into the kitchen, witnessing both my mom’s and grandma’s hand on the same spoon, stirring the same pot, “Why would you think I was smoking?”

My mom laughs while shaking her head. I glance up at my grandmother who appears more perplexed than me.

“People who smoke ‘step outside for a minute’ to light up. That should be obvious Morgana.” My mom air quotes and my grandma uses that opportunity to seize the spoon, hip checking my mom away from the pot.

“Okayyyy. Well, I don’t smoke. It’s just a nice, warm evening and I want to take a walk.”

I turn to make my way to the door when I hear my mom yell out, “Okay, if your brother shows up with his new girlfriend tell him he needs to help Dad move the picnic table in the backyard.”

Why am I surprised Daniel has a girlfriend already? A twinge of jealously streaks through my veins. I want to be able to get over relationships quickly like my brother. Move on to the next fling without taking a moment to think about the last person I laid my head next to.

I storm out the door, slamming it behind me. That door didn’t deserve my anger but it got it anyway. I am feeling slammy right now, and hitty. I swipe my hand against the wide leaves on a branch of the Bur Oak that dominates my parent’s front yard.

“Take that! And that!” I yell at the green leaves as they float to the ground, while my hand rips them from their home.

I hear a car roll up. It’s a Bentley, not a Lincoln. Perhaps Henrik got a new car. My heart practically leaps out of my chest. I stand and watch as the driver, who also seems familiar to me but not from knowing Henrik, runs to open the back passenger door.

Out steps Aria and my heart takes a nosedive.

“Give my love to Vagina, Morgana. Tell Brain to suck it.” Heart closes her eyes and jumps off the cliff.

I force a smile onto my face and open my arms up so Aria can run into them. Which she does at full speed. That brings the natural grin to my face. I’m happy to see Aria. I don’t have to fake that. Pulling away, I gaze into her beautiful brown eyes. “Where’s your hottie?”

She pulls back and I see him getting out of the car. His hair is an inky black with a complexion the color of caramel, but his eyes knock the wind out of me. They are the lightest blue I have ever seen, almost gray. He’s big and, wait a minute! I recognize him.

“Isn’t that hypno-eyes from when we dropped off your painting a few months ago?” I ask while staring and pointing at him.

“Yes, he is the one who bought it. That’s Alexander Hawthorne.”