Damned If I Do Ya
Cake, Wine & Surprises
Ember placed her small hand in my own and let a smile spread across her face. Her eyes scanned the glass windows in front of us, which in gold letters, described the bakery we were about to enter. We wanted something fun for the eye, but yummy for the mouth, so I'd decided to bring her here. It was really Alex who suggested it, said they have the best wine around. Of course, they specialize in dessert wines, but that was fine with me.
I tugged her through the door and held sucked in a deep breath. The sweet scent of freshly baked cake and other goods danced around my nostrils. I pulled Ember over to the counter, where the samples were held and let my eyes graze over every inch of the chocolatey goodness.
"I have a feeling this was a bad idea for a date," Ember poked me in the side, a smirk on her lips, "you're going to make yourself sick from eating so much."
"Sick, perhaps, but it might be from the wine, not the deliciousness in front of me."
She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh, glancing away from me to take in the shop. It was a really cute place. Wood floors, bright walls and dozens of cakes set up around us, along with books to describe them and their price. Apparently, even the service was good here, which I quickly found out as a girl that appeared only a few years older than Ember and myself joined us on the floor, a big smile on her lips.
"You must be Mr. Barakat. We spoke earlier on the phone."
"I expected you to be older. I feel like shops should be run by old women."
"Jack," Ember sighed, smacking my stomach. "Ignore him, he hasn't matured yet. I'm Ember."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Gracie. And actually, my mom owns the shop. I just work here to help her out sometimes. So what can I interest you in first, cake or wine samples?"
"Wine, definitely. I hear chocolate wine is amazing."
Ember let out a soft giggle and shook her head. I wasn't sure if I was embarrassing her or not, but honestly, I was just trying to keep her in a good mood for at least the next five minutes. She'd surely have a death wish on me soon, so I figured I could at least have fun while the moment lasted.
"Follow me. Your table is all set up. Will the rest of your party be here soon?"
"Shouldn't be long now."
"All right. Have a seat and I'll round up four glasses and some samples. Feel free to enjoy the cake while I'm gone."
Gulping, I pulled out Ember's chair and let her sit first. Her eyes were locked on my features as I raked my chair across the floor and started shoving pieces of cake in my mouth. My attempt to stall her didn't work. She leaned across the table and rose an eyebrow, confusion swimming in her dark orbs.
"Why four cups, Jack?"
"Ohyouknow," I mumbled, taking my time with chewing, hoping she wouldn't understand me. "Justneededanotheropinion."
"Swallow the cake and answer me."
"Idon'twanna."
"Jack!"
Groaning, I managed to chew up what was left in my mouth and force it down. I admit, it tasted amazing, but I definitely needed something to wash it all down. Clearing my throat, I let my eyes trail to the door. Any moment now, Ember would probably try to kill me, but it'd be worth it.
"Jack? The rest of our party?"
"Yeah, about that..."
Ember shot a glare my way, but I continued to stare at the door. Shadows were coming close and I could only hope it was who I wanted it to be. Two seconds later, the bell went off over the door and Ember let her eyes follow the wooden floors to the feet of our guests.
For a moment, I saw a softness in her eyes, a longing, hope.. But it was quickly replaced by horror. Either she was completely disgusted by me for thowing this on her, or she was just afraid of how it'd go.
Truthfully, with her anxiety, this was a stupid thing of me to do. But I thought if we met up in a place more public, a place with less memories to haunt her and less of a warning, she'd be better off.
My mouth went dry and I desperately wanted that wine. Footsteps were coming closer and Ember's eyes held mixed emotions. She swallowed a lump in her throat and managed to part her lips far enough to murmur one word:
"Dad?"
I tugged her through the door and held sucked in a deep breath. The sweet scent of freshly baked cake and other goods danced around my nostrils. I pulled Ember over to the counter, where the samples were held and let my eyes graze over every inch of the chocolatey goodness.
"I have a feeling this was a bad idea for a date," Ember poked me in the side, a smirk on her lips, "you're going to make yourself sick from eating so much."
"Sick, perhaps, but it might be from the wine, not the deliciousness in front of me."
She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh, glancing away from me to take in the shop. It was a really cute place. Wood floors, bright walls and dozens of cakes set up around us, along with books to describe them and their price. Apparently, even the service was good here, which I quickly found out as a girl that appeared only a few years older than Ember and myself joined us on the floor, a big smile on her lips.
"You must be Mr. Barakat. We spoke earlier on the phone."
"I expected you to be older. I feel like shops should be run by old women."
"Jack," Ember sighed, smacking my stomach. "Ignore him, he hasn't matured yet. I'm Ember."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Gracie. And actually, my mom owns the shop. I just work here to help her out sometimes. So what can I interest you in first, cake or wine samples?"
"Wine, definitely. I hear chocolate wine is amazing."
Ember let out a soft giggle and shook her head. I wasn't sure if I was embarrassing her or not, but honestly, I was just trying to keep her in a good mood for at least the next five minutes. She'd surely have a death wish on me soon, so I figured I could at least have fun while the moment lasted.
"Follow me. Your table is all set up. Will the rest of your party be here soon?"
"Shouldn't be long now."
"All right. Have a seat and I'll round up four glasses and some samples. Feel free to enjoy the cake while I'm gone."
Gulping, I pulled out Ember's chair and let her sit first. Her eyes were locked on my features as I raked my chair across the floor and started shoving pieces of cake in my mouth. My attempt to stall her didn't work. She leaned across the table and rose an eyebrow, confusion swimming in her dark orbs.
"Why four cups, Jack?"
"Ohyouknow," I mumbled, taking my time with chewing, hoping she wouldn't understand me. "Justneededanotheropinion."
"Swallow the cake and answer me."
"Idon'twanna."
"Jack!"
Groaning, I managed to chew up what was left in my mouth and force it down. I admit, it tasted amazing, but I definitely needed something to wash it all down. Clearing my throat, I let my eyes trail to the door. Any moment now, Ember would probably try to kill me, but it'd be worth it.
"Jack? The rest of our party?"
"Yeah, about that..."
Ember shot a glare my way, but I continued to stare at the door. Shadows were coming close and I could only hope it was who I wanted it to be. Two seconds later, the bell went off over the door and Ember let her eyes follow the wooden floors to the feet of our guests.
For a moment, I saw a softness in her eyes, a longing, hope.. But it was quickly replaced by horror. Either she was completely disgusted by me for thowing this on her, or she was just afraid of how it'd go.
Truthfully, with her anxiety, this was a stupid thing of me to do. But I thought if we met up in a place more public, a place with less memories to haunt her and less of a warning, she'd be better off.
My mouth went dry and I desperately wanted that wine. Footsteps were coming closer and Ember's eyes held mixed emotions. She swallowed a lump in her throat and managed to part her lips far enough to murmur one word:
"Dad?"
i love this story so fucking much
6/21/14