Bachelor at Her Bidding (Bachelor Auction Book 2)(19)

“Thanks for asking, honey, but I’m a little tired,” Phyllis said – just as he’d half-expected her to.

Maybe she was right. It was cold and there was still snow on the ground, so the churchyard would be slippery underfoot. Better not to take the risk. But, even so, he worried about her. “I’ll put some flowers on for you,” he said.

“That’s pretty,” Phyllis said, pointing to the croquembouche. “Is that for us?”

Exactly as she’d asked only a couple of minutes before – and even the intonation was the same. His heart sank. She was definitely getting worse. Just a little bit every day, but it was adding up. Like when she’d written out a second batch of Christmas cards, identical in every way to the first – fortunately he’d seen them and promised to go to the mailbox for her, and quietly put them away in a closet.

He couldn’t really leave her on her own. He’d have to ask their neighbor to come and sit with her before he went out.

He made a quick call to Rocco’s Italian first. “Hi – it’s Ryan Henderson,” he said when Ella, one of the wait staff, answered. “I know you have a booking this evening for Rachel Cassidy and five others, and I wondered if I could drop off a surprise birthday cake for her this afternoon.”

“So your date last night was enough of a hit for you to make a cake for her?” Ella teased him.

Well, of course she’d know where he’d spent yesterday evening. Even if Ella hadn’t been at the bachelor auction, she would’ve heard about what had happened. The whole town was buzzing about how much money they’d raised and how Molly could at last talk to a contractor about the work she needed done on the house. “It wasn’t a date. It was a birthday dinner,” he said firmly. “But the people Rachel’s eating with tonight are the ones who bid for the dinner at the auction, so I thought it would be nice to make something they could all enjoy. Y’know, as a kind of thank you. Though I know it’s a bit impertinent to ask.”

“Because they’ll eat your cake instead of ordering dessert from us?” Ella asked. “Ry, in the circumstances, I think we can live with it. Though if you’re feeling guilty enough to make some of those red velvet cupcakes for the poor, put-upon waiting staff here…”

He laughed. “I can take a hint, Ella. Consider it done – and thank you.”

It didn’t take long to make a batch of cupcakes. Then he dropped round to see their neighbor, Mrs. Rodgers. “Can I ask a huge favor, please? Would you keep an eye on Gram for half an hour while I deliver something in town and put some flowers on Grandpa’s grave?”

“Of course I will, Ry. Any time.”

He still felt guilty for asking. For making other people take on his responsibilities. Which was why he hardly ever asked anyone. It felt wrong.

As if his feelings showed on his face, Mrs. Rodgers said softly, “Phyllis has been a good neighbor to me all these years, and it’s nice to be able to do something back for her for once. Go. Take as long as you need.”

“Thank you.”

He delivered the croquembouche to Rocco’s, along with the finishing touches which he explained to Ella how to use, and a box of cupcakes.

“Aw, Ry, I was only teasing you,” Ella said.

“OK.” He shrugged. “I can take them over to Grey’s if you don’t want them.”

“Not on your –” She stopped and rolled her eyes. “You were teasing, right?”

He grinned. “Just a little.”

She cuffed his arm. “Go on. And I’ll sort out your – what’s this amazing cake called again?”

“Croquembouche. It’s a French celebration cake, made from vanilla cream puffs, caramel and spun sugar,” he said.

“Got you.” She smiled. “I didn’t even know you could do this kind of thing. They’re going to love this.”

“They deserve it.”

From Rocco’s, Ryan went next door to the churchyard to put flowers on his grandfather’s grave. He lingered awhile, crouched down by the headstone. “I’m worried about Gram. She’s getting frailer and more forgetful. She doesn’t walk very far and she’s not too steady on her feet – she needs me at her side so she doesn’t fall.” She’d always said she never wanted to use a walking frame and see people give her pitying looks. “I wish I could do more to help her.” He bit his lip. “Maybe I should cut my hours at Grey’s back again and do three days a week instead of four, so I can spend more time with her.” He swallowed hard. “I miss you, Grandpa. I miss your common sense, and you were so right about my ex. Lucille was totally wrong for me.” She’d always put her own needs first. The complete opposite of Rachel. He paused. “You’d like Rachel, but I just can’t start dating her. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us. Apart from the fact that I don’t have the time to spend on her, she had an ex who really hurt her.”

So had he, but he’d had a few months to bounce back from that.

“I’m not saying Gram’s a burden – of course she’s not, and I’d never think that way about her – but I can’t ask someone to share my responsibilities. Especially as Rachel’s a doctor. I don’t want her thinking I’m only interested in her because I want free medical advice.” He’d already worked out that Rachel’s ex had trashed her confidence when he’d cheated on her, so it was a fair bet that Rachel would think his motives might not be entirely pure if he asked her out properly. Particularly given his circumstances.