Chapter 3: 02- They Are Overusing My Precious Name

02

I parked my car and stepped out. I could recognize a few of these kids as Liam’s classmates since I was the one who often fetched Liam because my sister and her husband usually worked over time or had  a meeting.

“Bethany!” Mrs. Garfield cried out. She was with her daughter, Annie.

“Good evening Mrs. Garfield.” I greeted her with a smile. “Please, do call me Beth. Bethany is kind of a mouthful.”

“Nonsense!” she cheered on. “Are you picking up Liam?”

I smiled again and just nodded.

“Well dear it looks like you are going to have to wait a little while.” Mrs. Garfield continued. “That boy is playing with someone and it looks like they are having fun.”

“I guess I could manage a few more minutes.” I shrugged and Mrs. Garfield just giggled and left me to see Liam.

“Goodbye Bethany!”

“Goodbye and Good night Mrs. Garfield!” I called out and entered the fast food function room.

It looked kind of messy inside. There were paper plates scattered on the kids table and a few plastic wrappers. There were balloons and streamers and buntings hung on the walls and a ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ sign in the center. A cake- which I proudly made with the big help of my staff back at the bakery was underneath the sign and only a few slices were left. And gifts were neatly piled beside it.

“Liam?” I cried out and out of nowhere a little girl knocked on me with a sweaty Liam behind. The girl muttered a quiet sorry and just continued running around. Liam waved at me with a grin and just went back to chasing her.

“Sorry about that.” I heard a voice from behind me.

It was a guy. He was dressed in black slacks and in a blue dress shirt. He sat on one of the small kid’s chair that seemed a little bit too small for him and a paper plate in front of him with a slice of cake.

“Allie doesn’t really care what’s happening around when she’s playing.” He continued and offered a smile. “And she’s pretty clumsy so she tends to bump onto things.”

“Liam is kind of the same.” I shared to him. “And he gets easily distracted too.”

“Beth!”

I swear I have no idea how many times my name is called. It’s getting kind of annoying. Beth! Beth! Beth here, Beth that, Bethany! They are overusing my precious name.

“Hey Sofia.” I greeted as Sofia encased me in a hug. We really weren’t that close. I just met her a few days ago when she wanted a special cake for her daughter’s birthday party. “How was the cake?”

“The cake was delicious.” She praised and used her hands to gesture as if money was falling down from the heavens above. “It exceeded my expectations. I loved the quilting you did and the tiara! Annie loved it too, so much in fact that she didn’t want to cut it. She wanted to wear the tiara but I told her she was going to get ants on hair. Thank you so much Beth.”

“Thank you Sofia.” I smiled. This was why I love baking. “And thank you for trusting your daughter’s birthday cake to us.”

“Oh it was worth it! Here, eat some of your creations.” Sofia rushed to the table where the cake was and prepared one for me. “Here. Liam is still playing with Allie so I suggest for you to sit and eat this while waiting.”

After placing the plate in front of me, she quickly left since she was called by her boyfriend. I followed her orders and sat down, taking a bite size of the cake and tossing it in my mouth.

“You made the cake?” The man suddenly asks me impressed.

I could only nod.

“Well, it was absolutely delicious.”

“Thank you.” I really did mean every single thank you’s I give. I felt appreciated, and it felt good knowing your hard work pays off. I stuck my hand in front. “Bethany Hamilton but you can call me Beth.”

If I could advertise my bakery here off hours, why not?

“I actually like Bethany better.” He smiled and shook my awkward hand. “Blake Greene.”

“Beth!” I heard a squeal and tiny arms hugged me, trying to enclose my entire body but just couldn’t.

“Hey Liam.” I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Mommy can’t pick you up tonight, so I am picking you up.”

Liam nodded. “Can we stay for a while little so that I could play with Al-ee?”

I smiled. “I think it’s supposed to be Allie.”

Liam blinked at me and shook his head, his golden locks moving along left and right. “It’s Al-ee!”

“Alright whatever you say.” I gave in. He was so cute.

“Can I play?” Liam asked, his little eyes twinkling like stars as he gave me a grin with a tooth missing. “Pwease? I won’t ask cupcakes from you for a week if you let me. Pretty pwease?”

“Go ahead kid.” I messed up his hair and he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before running off with Allie to play. How many sweets does he eat?

“He’s not yours?” Blake suddenly spoke.

“What?” I asked. I didn’t hear him well.

“Liam.” He spoke and placed a forkful of his cake and placed it in his mouth. Oh, the cake. I forgot about that. “He’s not your son?”

“Oh no,” I shook my head and took a part of my own cake. “He’s my nephew, my sister’s son.”

He nodded.

Blake had gray eyes, and brown hair. He had an athletic build which was clearly shown by how his shirt gripped his body but it wasn’t one of those shirts that were three sizes smaller. He also didn’t look athletic by steroids or one of those crazy body builder’s body that looked like a cloud.

In addition to that, he is absolutely gorgeous. Definitely. He looked hot.

“Where is this bakery of yours?” Blake asked as he sets aside his empty paper plate and wipe his lips with a pink princess table napkin.

“It’s in La Guardia.” I shrugged. “Sugar Rush.”

“Sugar Rush?” he repeated. “Allie loves it there.”

“I’d give my business card but it’s in my car.” I said, checking my pockets simultaneously hoping one of my cards happened to just appear.

“Well you could write your number here.” Blake grinned, taking out a crisp off white card from his wallet and a pen from his pocket and slid it in front of me.

Is he asking for my number or the bakery’s? (Secretly hoping mine.)

Wait, stop right there. Why on earth am I hoping that he’d be asking for my number when he is married with a child?! And I’m not supposed to be interested in a relationship, ever.

It’s time to put the covers up, Bethany.

I grabbed the pen and scribbled Sugar Rush’s number on it and passed it back to him. He peaked at the card and a look of disappointment flashed on his face for a millisecond before replacing it with a smile.

Was he disappointed?! He shouldn’t be wanting my number. Oh my gosh, am I going to be mistress or something?

That smile. He is just gorgeous I tell you.

I mentally shook my head. No, with a capital N. I can’t and I won’t.

“If I was to call Sugar Rush, would this lead me directly to you?” Blake questioned me as he tucked the card in his wallet. “Or do I still have to undergo FBI and the Secret Service just to talk to you?”

This made me laugh. “Actually someone else would answer it; usually it’s the people in the front.”

“So I can’t talk to you?”

“Just ask for me.” I couldn’t help but smile at this.  “Unless of course I’m busy.”

Blake nodded. “I hope you don’t mind-”

A loud cry interrupted him. Both of our heads snapped towards the source of the high pitched cry. It was Allie. She was on the floor, her face red as a tomato and shrieks came out of mouth. Liam was beside her and engulfed her in a hug. What did Liam do this time?

Blake stood up from his seat in a snap, and I followed suit. He crouched down to Allie and held Liam by his arm gently.

“What happened Princess?” Blake asked Allie, pushing all of her blonde locks away from her face. “Are you alright?”

“Liam?” I faced the kid when Allie refused to answer. He didn’t look scared but worried. His short arms were still wrapped around Allie’s small figure. “What happened?”

“There was a th-thing on the floor and Al-ee she uh slipped.” Liam looked down, still hugging her, as if he was the one to blame.

Blake took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Allie tears and sweat from playing. “We should get home now Allie.”

Little Allie shook her head. “I don’t w-want to leave yet.”

“Princess you got hurt.”

Allie persistently shook her head again. “No. What about Liam?”

“Don’t worry about me Al-ee.” Liam said as he slowly let go of Allie. “Aunt Beth is here with me.”

I sighed. “I have cupcakes in my car.”

It was my attempt to cheer up Allie and well get Liam home. I was tired, exhausted from today’s work. First, I had to deliver two cakes in two different places, second I had a lot to bake and decorate- this is a normal day of work for me though but let’s just add that up to lengthen my list and third, I had to handle my sister’s nonstop calls.

Allie looked up at me, her gray eyes- much like her dad’s were twinkling at me like stars at a dark night. And apparently so did Liam’s as he jumped beside me.

“Cupcakes!” Liam and Allie squealed.

And cupcakes or anything sweet is always a child’s magic word into agreeing everything.

“But,” I gave my condition and looked at Allie. “You have to be a good girl and follow what your dad says, okay?”

She nodded faster than the speed of light.

“Alright.” I stood up from my kneeling position, helping Liam up as Blake did the same to Allie. “Let’s go.”

I walked towards the door, waiting for Liam to hold my hand like he usually does but holds Allie’s instead. Is he replacing me?!

I guess Blake waited for the same thing with Allie too but just joined me in front when he noticed that he wasn’t the only man now in Allie’s life.

“Looks like someone just got replaced.” I teased Blake hoping to alleviate the somewhat awkward atmosphere we had.

“I know, it hurts. Being replaced by your own three years old daughter for another boy, it’s just sad.” Blake huffed and lowered his head. “Then can I get a cupcake too?”

I laughed and nodded. “Of course you can.”

When we reached my car, I unlocked it and pulled out a box of cupcakes from the back seat and opened it in front of Liam and Allie and I saw their eyes gleam like Christmas just came early.

“Cupcakes.” Liam whispered as he took one. Allie nodded.

“Can I have the one with the rainbow sprinkles?” she asked, looking at me. “Pwease? It’s so pwetty!”

“Of course you can.” I was just about to hand it to her when Liam did it himself. Carefully, he took out the rainbow sprinkled cupcake form the box and handed it to Allie. Then he took one of his own.

Allie gave Liam a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

My jaw dropped. They looked like a couple! I then turned to Blake. “You better keep your game up Blake or else someone’s really going to get replaced. I mean come on; can’t you just see them as a couple? They look so cute!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop it right there.” Blake shook his head and took a cupcake from the box. “They’re too young Bethany.”

“Still, they look cute.” I took one of my own cupcakes and discarded the box. “I totally ship them, all the way to their wedding and babies.”

“Oh whoa, whoa.” Blake looked at me, his eyes wide. “Whoa, too much. No. Not my princess.”

I laughed at this. He was protective over his daughter. I liked that, and that is the way every father should behave over their children.

When Allie was pretty much satisfied, she gave out a yawn and so did Liam.

“See, princess?” Blake scooped her up on his arms. “It’s time to go home.”

“Okay.” She nodded and rubbed her eyes. “Bye Liam.”

Liam looked up at her and waved back and with a sad voice he replied, “Bye Al-ee.”

When Blake and Allie left us, I turned to Liam with a look. He looked at me with his innocent face. He tilted his head to one side, “What?”

“Allie eh?” I teased him and opened the car door for him. I saw him blush. I can’t believe a little boy could have a crush this early! “So you like Allie?”

“Aunt Beth she’s my fwiend.” He said and sat comfortably on the seat.

I let out a laugh. He was just so cute. “Does your mom know about this?”

I swear Liam blushed even further. He was so red now! “…Al-ee is my fwiend.”

“Okay.” I teased him in a sing song voice.

“Is that for me?” his voice suddenly hyped up, looking at the back seat. “More cupcakes!”

“That’s for your mom Liam.” I rolled my eyes. This kid really loves sugar. “And you already had yours.”

Liam sulked down to his seat, the belt over his chest too big for him and crossed his arms. “You’re beginning to sound like mom.”

“Me?”

“Yes.” He nodded and pursed his lips. “No cupcakes.”

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Well? How was it?

Another filler chapter yes, but Bethany and Blake met! Oh my, i just noticed both of their names starts with B, great.

Honestly Liam's original name was Noah but when starting reading it a bit- just a tad bit not enough for proof reading, I noticed they made a Noah and Allie pair, like in The Notebook so i decided to change it to Liam.

Tell me what you guys think in the comment section below :)

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