to be?” I ask, trying to get over the fact that this is a deeply personal thing my mother has been holding inside her my entire life.
“With you of course.” She smiles affectionately and reaches out to tuck a strand of my messy hair behind my ear. “I loved teaching you to sew and bake and put on makeup. We got to do all the fun mother-daughter activities you see in those fifties movies.”
“You could have done that with a job, don’t you think?” I question, feeling almost guilty that my existence took her away from something she loved.
“Probably, but your father made good money, and once I had you, I didn’t care about my work anymore. I didn’t want to be on the road selling makeup. I wanted to be home with you.”
I blink back my shock and feel a strange warmth inside my chest over finally seeing how much my mother loves me to give up something she cared so much about. “Do you ever regret it?”
“Quitting my job? Heavens no.” She swats me lightly on the leg. “I loved what I did, but it didn’t feed my soul. Not the way baking does for you. I knew I had created a monster the minute you started asking for cookbooks for Christmas.” She laughs and gently touches my cheek.
I huff at that remark. “You made a cookie monster.”
She snorts at my lame joke, which causes both of us to burst into girlie giggles. It’s hard to make the ice queen laugh so I’ll definitely cherish this moment. When we both collect ourselves again, I ask her a question that’s been niggling in my mind ever since I asked Dean not to break up with me. “Do you think I’m strong enough to do it all?”
“What? Open all these bakeries?” She arches a knowing brow. “Without a doubt. You have been training for this most of your life, and you had a great teacher.”
I smile and shake my head before correcting her line of thought. “Not just the bakeries but maybe…have a family or a husband.” Or at least a boyfriend.
“Is that what you want?” She pins me with a look venturing on hope but trying to be pragmatic at the same time.
“I’m not sure yet. I’m just pondering,” I reply, chewing my lip thoughtfully. “I sort of feel like I’ve been so hyper-focused on the bakery that I’ve missed out on some fun experiences.”
“You can do anything you set your mind to, Norah.” Her lips twitch with a pleased smile before her eyes soften on me. She reaches over and caresses my arm affectionately. “I admit I’ve been pushing to set you up for so long because I didn’t want you to have any regrets in life. Business is a wonderful accomplishment, but being a mother…it’s my greatest joy in life. But just because it’s my great joy doesn’t mean it has to be yours. I’ve underestimated you for far too long, Norah. It’s clear to me you truly know your own mind, and I’m sorry it took me so long to see that.”
“It’s okay.” I shrug her off as a weird knot forms in my throat over her praise.
“It’s not okay.” She squeezes my hand so I’m forced to look at her serious face when she adds, “I’m proud of you and all you’re doing, and I can’t wait to see your bakeries popping up all over the nation. You’re incredible. And you did it all on your own.”
She shakes her head in amazement, and tears well in my eyes. Flashbacks of my mom and me in the kitchen together flood my mind. “I couldn’t have done it without you inspiring me,” I croak, the tears spilling freely as I swipe them away. “My favorite memories as a kid are you and me baking together.”
Her lips purse, and her chin trembles. “Mine too, pumpkin.” She smiles and sniffles loudly, clearing her throat almost aggressively because Elaine Donahue does not get emotional. “And I must admit something to you that I’ve been hiding for several years now.”
“What?” I huff, wiping my nose on the back of my hand.
She side-eyes me nervously. “Those weekly boxes of croinuts I buy for your father’s office every week?”
“Yeah?”
She rubs her lips together and shakes her head. “Sometimes I never deliver them.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, my voice rising in pitch.
“Some weeks, I keep the entire box for myself and hide them in the freezer from your father. They are sinfully addictive,