Page 19 of Only Time Will Tell

Now, to find him again.

As soon as that thought finished, it came to me. Thomas. Thomas was the key to my locating Alex. He was making their wedding cake, I was certain of it. Ugh, their wedding. The mere thought of that forced the bile to rise again, burning my throat, but having an empty stomach would only guarantee the dry heaves.

I trotted downstairs with a bit more pep in my step and a definite start to my Operation Win Back Alex plan.

“Morning, Thomas,” I tied on my apron, awaiting his direction for the day.

“Morning, Charlie, you seem to have woken up on the right side of the cot today. What’s got you in such a good mood?” Thomas asked, kneading bread dough. The man’s forearms were massive from doing this so much.

“Just woke up with a good feeling, I guess.” Now, time to get my one-track mind on the task, “Do you do the wedding cakes for everyone in town?”

“I used to, before that new bakery opened up across town. But I still get my fair share of business. Why, you interested in helping? I’ve got a big one to make for that Travers wedding in a week. The town’s all a-twitter over it, being it’s the bank president’s daughter and all.” He went back to his mix, separating the dough and dropping it into tins.

Travers’ wedding. Alex’s wedding.

“I’ll help you wherever I can, but baking hasn’t ever been my forte.” Ugh, must engage filter. I hope I didn’t ruin this chance with my big mouth.

“Ha-ha.” He laughed. “Sometimes you talk like the out-of-towner you are. Forte? Isn’t that a fancy French word?” He turned to me, wiping the batter off his hands while chuckling.

“Um, I ah, think so.” I tried to play off my verbal mishap, mentally scolding myself for not engaging filter. “Guess I read one too many books, but I’d be glad to help out.”

He shook his head. “When we get to it, you can help. Well, boy, these goods aren’t going to bake themselves. Hand me that sack of sugar over there.” Thomas gestured toward the bag on the counter behind me. “Then sweep the lobby.”

Handing him the sugar was no easy feat, but I managed, then moved to the front room to sweep and wipe down the counters and display cases in preparation for the store opening. I had to devise a plan, and quickly, to win Alex back. His not remembering me was a challenge I hadn’t anticipated. And to top it off, he was engaged. The thought of that ice queen putting her hands on him made my blood boil. My only saving grace was the fact that he didn’t seem to be too thrilled with her either.

Mid-afternoon, Thomas’s wife Iris brought us sandwiches for lunch on her way out to run errands. I introduced myself and thanked her for all the meals she’d provided for me before politely excusing myself to take a break. Fresh air would do me good, as I stepped into the back alley and took a seat on an empty crate to eat. I didn’t think I’d ever worked as hard in my life as I did now. Teaching and dealing with hormonal teenagers was much better than manual labor. At least, to me it was.

By the end of the day, I was spent. Thomas told me he’d see me in the morning and locked up the shop. I went upstairs to change out of my flour-covered clothes, washing them in the basin as best I could then hanging them out to dry on the windowsill. Thomas shared the location of Alex’s wedding where he’d deliver the cake to. It was at the big church in town. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to find, but my hope was that Alex would be there, so I headed in that direction.

The sun was setting as I was nearing the church and I heard voices when I rounded the corner toward the front entrance. I crept along the tree line, keeping out of sight to listen in.

“Thank you, Pastor. I think everything is set for next weekend’s event,” a man said.

“Well then, I look forward to seeing all of you next Saturday. Enjoy the rest of your evening,” the Pastor replied.

“Alexander, are you walking me home?”

I’d know that voice anywhere, evil freaking woman. But at least I knew Alex was with the group, so that must have been one of their fathers speaking to the pastor before.

“Um, I have to head home. Goodnight,” Alex said.

As Charlotte and her father walked past the trees I lurked behind, I peered between the branches to see Alex sitting at the top of stairs. He was agitated, tugging at his hair in the way he did. While I didn’t wish to further that, I needed to get him alone somewhere. Slowly, I crept out of my hiding spot, stopping in front of the church, pretending I were engrossed in something I’d found on the sidewalk.

I heard his shoes scuff the stone pathway and glanced over my shoulder to find him following me, staying back a few yards and acting as though he wasn’t following me. But I knew he was. I kept walking toward the waterfront, down the stairs and under the pier then turned to face him.

“Why are you following me?” I said, trying my best to sound bothered by it.

“What—what makes you think I’m following you?” he stuttered, stunned by my response.

“You’ve been following me since I passed the church. Don’t think I haven’t noticed,” I said, pinning him against a post and sliding my right leg between his thighs. His breaths increased, but he wasn’t fighting me and given our size difference, he could’ve easily pushed me away. Leaning in, I whispered, “Tell me what you want, Alex. What you really want.” When I pressed my lips to his neck, he gasped.

“I-I don’t know what you mean.” Again, with the stuttering. My pants tightened with every word he stumbled over.

“Oh, Alex, I think you do. Tell me what you want, you only need to ask.” Being this close to him. Feeling him. Missing him. I ground my hardened cock against his thigh, noticing that he was just as hard as I was. The exhibitionist in me wanted to escape, take advantage of the situation. I cupped his erection, stroking him through the clothing that separated hand from heated skin.

Gasping breathlessly, he moaned, “What do you think you’re doing?” But he made no move to remove my hand or himself from this lewd act.

I ached to have him inside me, but I knew he wasn’t ready for that. At least, not yet but one thing my Alex loved was impromptu orgasms in unconventional places. I slid my hand down his pants, his eyes rolled back and his mouth fell open. A tell-tale signs that he wasn’t going to fight me. Nor would he last long.