79

Kaleb's pov

I stared at the ingredients on the countertop, my arms folded as I

glared. I blinked and some flour dusted off my lashes and fall to the

floor. I pressed my lips into a frown.

I had everything to make the perfect red velvet cake for my girl's

birthday tomorrow. Red velvet cake was Bailey's favorite and I wanted

to bake her it myself.

Unfortunately mom didn't bless me with a baker's hands and I was

failing miserably. This was my third batch of batter and I mistakenly

added too much salt in this one. I groaned, wiping my hand down the

white now batter covered apron.

Fuck me.

"Is baking a damn cake supposed to be this hard?" I hissed under my

breath, glaring at the batter I am to throw away. I gripped the bowl,

grumbling cusses under my breath.

" My lovely kitchen," A soft feminine voice whined from the entryway. I

looked over to see mom's eyes are wide and her lips parted into a

shocked gasp. " Kaleb-

She swallowed, stepping into the kitchen cautiously. * Why does my

kitchen look like it has been bombed by the government?"

I winced and grinned sheepishly, lifting my hand in my hair and getting

some batter in the strands. “ Sorry, I'm trying to bake a cake for Bailey's

birthday tomorrow."

Mom eyes snapped to mine in surprise and then she roamed her gaze

over the countertop and flinched. " Kaleb."

"Hmm?" I winced.

" How did you manage to destroy my mixer!" She yelled, running over

to the ruined thing. She gripped it, whining. "My baby. My poor baby.

What did this monster do to you?" She hugged it and glared at me. "

Don't worry, I will get you away from this monster.” She whispered to

the mixer and backed away.

" Wait mom!" I stopped her, sheepishly scratching my ear. " Do you

have a velvet cake recipe lying around here? I could have sworn you

did but I couldn't find it."

She looked around, her face pained as she witnessed the opened

draws and the scattered pans. " Yes I can tell you couldn't find it." She

croaked in pain, stilling clutching her mixer and backing away.

She shook her head. " I will get it for you but give me a few minutes to

mourn my mixer you destroyed, okay?" She whispered, kissing her

mixer and turned around to leave the kitchen.

I could hear her wail and begged dad if she could sell me to replace her

mixer. I winced.

After five minutes mom returned, her eyes still red from mourning. In

her hand, she's clutching a book I am sure contained the recipe for her

famous red velvet cake Bailey loves. Even though I am happy she

found it I am embarrassed that I made her cry.

My shoulders slouched. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-

" Kill my mixer?" She cuts in, sniffling. * Me and that mixer have been

through so much. Your dad gifted it to me." She set the book down on

the countertop where she could find some space seeing as I had a

bunch of ingredients scattered everywhere.

I winced, feeling awful. * I'm sorry mom. I'll get you a new one."

She waved a hand and sighed. " It's okay baby, at least it died for a

good reason.” She looks at me and cups my face, her eyes gleaming

with so much love and tenderness. " I'm so proud of you Kaleb. I'm so

happy you finally knew it was her all along.”

She patted my cheek. " You better never let her go."

"1 won't." I promised, my voice thick with emotion as she opens the

book and shows me the velvet cake recipe. She leaves me to it after

warning me to not destroy any of her other kitchen appliances.

Ten minutes later and the batter this time taste a bit better. Not perfect

but better. After putting it in the oven I waited with impatient breaths

until it was ready. I cringed when I saw how flat and ugly it looked.

" Fuck." I groaned, throwing my head back in frustration. This won't do.

Another try again I suppose.

On my fifth try, Mirabella walks into the kitchen and the air shifts. She

freezes when she sees me and her eyes drop to the ugly cake and then

shift to the bowl I had the new batter in. I could see how much she was

taken aback.

I cleared my throat. My sister has never seen me go through this much

trouble to please any girl before. But Bailey was my girl and I'd do

anything to make her happy. And if that meant burning my fingers while

taking out the pan from the oven or standing for hours trying to make

the perfect cake for her, then so be it.

" Sorry it's a mess. Did you want something?" I asked sheepishly,

knowing I blocked the way to the fridge and the pantry with scattered

flour, some eggs that slipped by accident and some spilt milk.

She looked over at me and surprised me when she answered. " Only

came for a bottle of water." She stepped further into the kitchen,

making sure to not step on the mess on the floor.

We haven't talked in a while and she has been avoiding me from the

moment she found out about Bailey and I. I do try to speak to her but

always got silent treatment. Her responding to me just now made me

freeze and stare at her as though she grew a second head.

She opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water, opened it and

took a small gulp. " Can you stop staring?" She grumble after peeling

the bottle away from her mouth. She looks at me with a raised eye

brow and then flicked her eyes to the countertop I made a mess on.

" Sorry," I said sheepishly. Even though Mira and I always argued, I

missed her speaking to me. " It's just you finally said more than two

words to me. Are you sick? Coming down with the flu-

She rolled her eyes. " Shut it." she put the cap back on the bottle, her

eyes falling to the batter and the ugly cake once more. Her gaze soften

and her voice comes out so faint that I nearly missed her words.

"You really do love her, don't you?"

Instantly I knew who she meant and nodded in a heartbeat, my

response full of truth. * With everything I have.”

Mira's eyes flickered back up to mine and she nod. She said nothing

else as she walked away but she didn't have to, I already saw that she

believed me. For the first time, she finally believed me.