C.A.K.E

“What are we going to do?” Arden asks.

Eli rests his hands on the edge of the vanity, hanging his head over the sink. He curls his fingers into fists so tight, that his knuckles begin to glow a pearly white.

He shakes his head, then slams his fists against the quartz vanity. Arden flinches at the sound of his hands hitting the slab of stone. Eli lifts his head and stares at the mirror. His eyes are hooded marbles of ice.

Arden places her hand on Elliott's shoulder, keeping her focus on the reflection of the distant man in the mirror. He doesn't acknowledge her touch. The growing tension in his jaw drains the anger from her, making room for another emotion.

“Eli?”

Elliott rushes past her, out the bathroom. He grabs his keys and heads for the front door.

Arden follows him, pleading for him to talk to her. Still no answer. He steps onto the elevator with a scowl painted on his comforting features.

“Elliott, wait.” She reaches for his hand. But he slips out her grip. So she steps onto the elevator with him.

She asks where he's going. Again, he stares straight ahead. He's moving like a robot on autopilot. A shutdown like this doesn't happen often. But when it does, he's colder than an Alaskan winter. Jamming the stop button with her index finger, she brings the elevator to a halt.

“I understand that you're upset.” Arden steps in front of him and lifts his chin. “But you'd better talk to me.”

“You know where I'm going, Arden.” He places his hands at her waist and moves her aside. Then he starts the elevator on its way again.

She does know where he's going. But just as he reminded her not too long ago, that woman isn't worth the jail time.

“I want to throttle her just as much as you do. But we're not going to be much help to Rowan and Teagan if we're both behind bars.”

Elliott stares back at her like he's trying to process what she just said. The elevator stops on the ground floor. Its doors open, revealing the underground parking garage that's accessible only to residents. He pauses on the threshold, leaning his back against the pocket where the elevator doors disappeared.

“You're right.” He nods at her. “You should go back upstairs.”

He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and starts a very determined walk toward his car. Arden chases after him. Her eyes travel down to his bare feet. Their reddened state, and his apparent oblivion to the cold concrete floor, quickens her own feet.

“Elliott,” she screams after him. Her voice hits the bare concrete walls, before bouncing back to her ears.

He keeps walking, even seeming to speed up into more of a trot. He unlocks his sedan and reaches for the door handle. Arden places herself between him and the car, pushing the driver's side door closed again with her back.

A silent standoff ensues. His eyes stare down into hers, neither breaking the trance. Another minute or so passes, before he attempts to move her aside. He places a hand on her waist, exerting a gentle pressure against her weight. She doesn't budge.

He sighs and scratches at the forming stubble along his jawline.

“Arden, please. Get out of my way.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I'm not going to let you do something stupid.”

“She has been using drugs around our kids. Letting that anorexic piece of shit model shoot up in the same house where our kids sleep.” His voice drops to a darker tone, one that Ardi doesn't recognize. “Nothing is more stupid than that.”

She takes a breath. “No disagreement here.”

“Then, please . . . move,” he says through gritted teeth. Tears pool on the brims of his eyes, making them glisten like a moonlit lake.

“No, Elliott.”

Arden places a hand on either side of his face. The tears in his eyes win the battle against the rims of his eyes. Hot, salty rivers begin to paint his face, marking her hands as well. She uses her thumbs to wipe away his heated tears.

Arden's mobile begins to ring, making them both flinch. The device announces her brother's name, then begins playing the Ghostbusters theme song. She lets it ring, ultimately sending her sibling to voicemail.

She relaxes a bit as she watches the hint of a smile spreading across Eli's lips. He folds his hands around hers.

“Does he know that's your ringtone for him?”

She shakes her head, and they both ease into a small laugh. As it fades into a shared sigh, Arden leans up and places her arms around his neck. He pulls her closer, letting his arms settle at her waist.

Arden tilts her head and kisses Elliott. The softness of her lips melds into him, imparting a calm as easy as a low country breeze. She pulls back and rests her forehead against his.

“She's not going to change us, Eli,” she whispers, staring up at him. “Ro and Tea deserve better than that.”

He nods. She feels his hand tighten into a fist against her back. As he stares off in the direction of the other parked cars that surround them, she smooths her hands down his shoulders over and over.

After a few seconds, he turns back to her. His eyes have returned to their usual vibrant blue. The tension in his muscles has relaxed. She breathes. He's back.

He hugs her close, resting his head in the crook of her neck. Then he pulls back and kisses her forehead. “Let's go.”

Eli taps the lock button on his car's key fob and intertwines his fingers with Arden's. The couple takes the elevator up to the lobby. They find Adam standing at the concierge desk about to place another call to his sister.

“You two suddenly forget how to answer your phones?” Adam asks, coming towards them.

“Sorry.” Eli glances at Arden. “We were in the middle of something.”

“Oh God, I know what that means.” Adam makes a face.

“We weren't ...” Arden tries to explain. But Adam puts his hands to his ears and begins humming. She tries to pull one of his hands away from his head. He resists, accenting his humming with defiant grunts. “Oh grow up, Adam.”

He shakes his head and starts for the door. “You two are freaks. I'll be in the car.”

She rolls her eyes at her brother's back, as he exits the building. Sometimes, it astounds her that he's the older child. No wonder her parents tried a second time.

“You sure he's older than you?”

“I'm not even sure we're related. I think he followed my mother home from the grocery store one day.”

“That must be it.” Eli chuckles and takes her hand again. The smile fades from his face, while he plays with her fingers.

“You okay?” She takes his other hand.

“Yeah.” He nods, staring down at their feet. “Think I might take the kids to see my parents for a little while this afternoon.”

“Sounds good.” She pushes a thick lock of honeyed curls away from his face. “Then maybe we could all meet at Dad's place for dinner tonight.”

“Good,” he whispers, still transfixed by the floor.

“Hey, we'll figure this out.” She lifts his head and locks eyes with him. “With your parents and my father behind us, all of Alabama will burn before Melinda gets anywhere near our children again.”

“I know.” He pulls her in close and kisses the crown of her head. “See you tonight.”

Eli agrees to meet her at the Mitchell estate with the twins and his parents. They share another quick kiss and whisper I love you, before parting ways. Arden glances over her shoulder, as she makes her way out to Adam. Elliott waves at her, before stepping onto the elevator. Sighing, she steps through the lobby's revolving door.

“Everything okay?” Adam opens the car door for her.

“It's fine. Why?”

“Well, you're sporting the I don't give a fuck hair bun. Eli looks like he could spar with Satan right about now and win.” He smirks at her. “Wanna try lying to me again, Elmer?”

She purses her lips and looks away from him. “I'll tell you in the car.”

Adam helps her into his Porsche Cayenne and jogs around to the driver's side. While he tries his best to navigate the downtown streets, she relates the night's insanity to him. He listens without much interruption, throwing in a whispered remark here and there.

“You call the police?”

“No.”

“And why not?”

“I don't want to have their mother arrested.” She stares out the window at the silent structures passing by in a blur of stone and mortar. “We'll handle this as quietly as possible.”

“Melinda doesn't deserve your discretion.”

“But Ro and Tea do. This arrangement has been hard enough on them. The last thing they need is to find a TMZ article about their absentee mother's drug abuse.” She chews the inside of her cheek, then shakes her head. “I will not make them a headline.”

Adam sighs and then brings the car to a stop behind Arden's Audi S7.

“I swear, little sis. You some kind of saint. Any other woman would have taken a razor blade to Melinda's crazy ass a long time ago.”

scoffs. “I've murdered her in my dreams

her to grab the flashlight and his semi-automatic handgun from the glovebox. “Stay

back seats of the sedan. He starts the vehicle's engine and even goes so far as to survey the trunk as well. Finding no apparent threats, he

his car and makes her way over to where he's standing holding open the door of the sedan for her. Arden

“Thank you.”

You

tighter and plants a kiss on her cheek as well. Then he takes one more look in the backseat before he lets her settle

Adam to flash his headlights, then they both pull away from the curb. They

both late ...again. She sighs and parks the car in her designated space in the far corner of the lot. Instead of going inside to

time illuminated on the center console. It's 4:30 in the morning. Her father is often up by five every day. Though he's essentially retired, he wakes every

customary cup of coffee in less than thirty minutes. The trip from the bakery to the Mitchell estate should take about that long,

she heads for the highway. She takes 65 South toward Montgomery, keeping careful watch of her speedometer. Forty miles

the three-story house. Before Arden can reach for the handle, Ivana opens the driver's door

her father's routine, the woman is already dressed in one of her smart sweater sets and starched slacks. Her dark hair is in the same effortless fishtail braid she's been wearing for years, a style that

doing here so early? ...Is something wrong?” The older woman's brow

her

one side. She's been with the family since Arden was six years old. So she can

fine. I promise.” Arden squeezes Ivana's hands. “I just wanted to talk

The strength of

when she's excited or angry. When they were younger, Adam and Arden would often play pranks on her just so she would

“I guess not.”

tell me.” Ivana sighs. “Your father's in his

on the cheek and jogs up the porch steps into the house. She makes her way to her father's

tater tot.” A booming voice greets Arden, as she steps into the large

stands and pulls her into a hug. She allows

she says, her voice muffled by his

at arm's length. “You came to have breakfast with your old

“I need some advice.”

“About Melinda?”

“How did you...?”

“Adam called me.”

have known.”

over to the quilted leather sofa and sits down with her. “What's your

Eli to file for sole

were younger. But a legal fight

takes a deep breath. “So what

themselves emancipated.” Warren continues his point before Arden has a chance to become alarmed. “That way no one, namely Melinda, has a say in where they choose to

Ardi looks down at her hands. “They

up. Doesn't mean we have to stop being their parents.” He kisses her

and rests her head on his shoulder. “Where

at you when you were born, and the name just came to me. Ever since then, you've been my little tater tot.” He scratches his

good enough for me.” She smiles at him.

moments before that gnawing seed of doubt in Arden's gut

her shoulder a gentle rub. “Harrison will have

to breathe a little easier for the moment, she lets him change the subject. They spend another hour or so discussing simpler matters, like her Aunt Hillary's annual gem social.

her Uncle Sebastian. Hillary is impossible enough without feeling slighted. So Arden will suck it up for the sake of her mother's brother, and the sake of anyone else who has to deal with that

she'll have a chance to catch up with her cousin, Scott. Since he moved to Phoenix, life hasn't left them much opportunity to see each other. He's like the younger brother who she never wished she had. But much

Scott's bringing his new fiancee,

have Hillary Nolan for a mother-in-law.” Arden rolls her eyes

nudges her knee, smothering a

was the

his head. “You need to get to

of the house. As she's stepping out the front door, Ardi tells her father

kisses her forehead. “Drive safe,

her tiptoes

front gates. She takes advantage of the car's voice command and requests that it play an old Snoop Dogg track. Turning up the volume, she hits

her mood brightens a bit when she spots her employees' vehicles. Joe and Nadia's cars are in the

package is unloaded from the truck and into her office, she searches

of them. A few of them are even gift wrapped in

same packaging. She opens it to find a pair of crystal earrings. A coy smile lights on her face. It gets wider with every package she opens. Something made of

seat at her desk. She reaches for the phone and notices that there are several messages waiting for her. Arden grabs a pen and

by the woman's theme and colors, she makes a quick sketch. She jots down the woman's information

on the other end is dead air, and maybe the faint sound of someone breathing. Then a symphony of baritone sounds and syllables kisses her ears. Arden recognizes the utterance as her name being whispered by one of the sexiest voices that she's

chair and backs herself against the wall. It's him. The man who has invaded her subconscious,

announces the time and date received of the next one in the lineup. Again, nothing

drown out the entire world. She closes her eyes, wishing she had recognized the number and deleted them. All of them.

pretty packages wink back at her as if they knew all along. These weren't gifts from her sweet and hardworking husband. No, these were bribes meant to entice

of a sudden, she flees her office and runs smack into Joseph. The baking sheets he was carrying land on the

trays. “I have been running this operation by myself for over two hours.” He folds his arms across his chest. “Now,

of exaggeration are staggering. If anyone has been “running this operation,” alone, it's Nadia. Joe might crack an egg every once in a while. But he won't do the time-consuming baking required to keep this business running. Plus, he has a tendency to call her bitch a lot. So Arden decides

She smirks at

He narrows his eyes at her, then

penicillin or

the cookie sheets on their designated shelf. Then he gives Arden a quick kiss on each cheek. “Now

morning.” Arden sighs, and rubs

calls at the crack of dawn.” He folds his arms across

in town.” Arden lets the words rush out like air escaping a

stool and holds it in place for her to take a seat. “Just

even told

he raids his private stash of liquor that Arden pretends not to know

you also know

saying that bitch's name is enough to make a priest hit

a shot of vodka. She refuses to touch

with a firm nod of her

shot and pours himself another. Once he's properly hydrated,

top of them. He rests his head

silent for a moment, while she considers whether airing her issues at work is the best thing to do. But Joseph has

begins relaying the last twenty-four hours. She details

that, her little boyfriend used our bathroom to shoot up.” Arden shakes her head and sighs.

you know every man has one.” He smirks. “That one

definitely Eli's

gon'

I'm going to get started on the coffee cake, and the dough for the croissants.” Arden finds her apron and slips

He shrugs. “Besides, you sign my checks. When the rent is due, I'll listen to you all

rolls her eyes and laughs. “Joe, get out

duties at the front of the cafe. She joins Arden in the heat of the kitchen to perform a small miracle. They open in less than an hour. And there's still quite a

and the two women manage to make their usual breakfast pastries and six different types of bread. They even get the bakery's desserts and lunch items prepared on time. Arden is putting the finishing touches on an anniversary cake by

the double doors that divide the kitchen from the dining area

be able to take a

Arden mutters, spinning the revolving cake stand to study her work. “Never thought I'd be happy

sticky buns for the display case and heads for the doors again. “Oh, and Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome is back,” she adds

groans to herself. Furrowing her brow, she pipes another buttercream rose

him I'm

it, boss.” Naddy scoots out of the kitchen, leaving Arden to brood.

what she intends to say to Casper when she feels someone's fingers tracing a trail up her arm. Her breath catches in her

on her waist. Then he whispers to her. His accent wraps every word in dark velvet, making each syllable seem special.

“Good morning, love.”

yes to a lot of things that she shouldn't

throat and tries again. “You

to save her from taking a nosedive onto the

He smiles at her, bringing

hands over her clothes. “What are you

his touch. He tucks his hands into his pockets and nods. “Did you get the things I sent

she answers, near breathless. “Plus every one of

his shoes, and then back up at her.

half of the Swarovski fall collection over here.” Arden shakes

and kisses it. “I'll return