Bliss and the Art of Forever - Alison Kent Page 0,99
was . . .
Unless it was Shirley Drake telling the girl that Brooklyn was only her teacher—
“Is everything okay, ma’am?”
She looked up at their server. “Yes. Just a tired little girl. Can I have the check please?”
“Of course,” he said, pulling the folder from his apron. “Did you need a to-go box for the cake or the pie?”
“No.” She shook her head as she counted out enough cash to cover the bill and the tip. She didn’t want to wait for him to run her card. “Thank you.”
She scooted out of the booth and hurried to the parking lot. Callum was already straddling his bike, Addy on the pillion behind him, her helmet in place.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, frowning down at his helmet instead of looking at her.
She didn’t know who was more distraught: father or daughter. But she stepped close to Addy, took her in her arms, and gave her a great big hug. The girl hugged her back, and though Brooklyn didn’t know how much Addy could hear through her helmet, she whispered, “I love you, Adrianne Drake. It doesn’t matter if I’m only your teacher. I love you very much.”
Then she stood and placed her hand on Callum’s face, saying, “I’ll see you later,” before she leaned in to kiss him on the mouth. It was a quick kiss, and she didn’t care if everyone in Hope Springs saw it.
BACK ALLEY BURGERS’ TRES LECHES CAKE
For the cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
5 large eggs
⅓ cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, coating with nonstick spray.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, the baking powder, and the salt.
Separate the egg yolks and the egg whites into two large bowls.
Beat the egg yolks with ¾ cup of the sugar on high speed until the yolks are pale yellow. Stir in the milk and the vanilla. Pour the egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture and stir gently until combined.
Beat the egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form, then add ¼ cup of the sugar and beat until the egg whites are stiff.
Fold the egg white mixture into the batter very gently until combined. Pour into the prepared pan and spread out evenly.
Bake for 35–45 minutes or until an inserted tester comes out clean. Turn the cake onto a rimmed baking sheet or a serving platter and cool.
In a small bowl or pitcher, combine the sweetened condensed milk, the evaporated milk, and the heavy cream. Using a fork, pierce the surface of the cooled cake in several places. Remove and discard 1 cup of the milk mixture, and drizzle the rest onto the cake, paying close attention to the edges. Allow the cake to sit for 30 minutes, absorbing the milk.
For the frosting:
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1–2 tablespoons rum (if desired)
Whip the pint of heavy cream with the 3 tablespoons of sugar and rum (if using) until thick. Spread over the surface of the cake.
NINETEEN
Sunday night two weeks later found Brooklyn in the kitchen at Bliss, prepping for a run-through of Callum’s Monday-morning demonstration for her class. Since holding the attention of fifteen kindergarteners longer than half an hour was out of the question, he was going to have to shortcut the entire process. He’d asked her to come by and help. And since she’d had no chance to see him since the end of their first official date, both of their schedules keeping them busy and the timing at odds, she’d accepted. Plus, she’d missed him.
Their date. What a fiasco that had been. Poor Addy. What in the world had Shirley Drake been thinking, saying such a thing to her granddaughter? She knew Callum had talked to his mother; he’d told her so on one of the several times they’d talked, but he hadn’t said anything about the outcome. And Addy hadn’t mentioned the incident even once.
“I decided not to do the Root Beer Float candy,” he said. “If that’s all right with you.”
“Okay,” she said, having to jar herself back to the present. What was it they’d been talking about?
“I mean, if you’re set on that one I’ll do it,” he said, both hands spread out on the island counter between them. “But it’s more complicated than some of the other flavors in that the layers need time to