SOUL TIES (The Sánchez Brothers Series, Book 1)

CHAPTER 26 : DEBBIE

I woke up with a sizzling headache and pains all over my body. Those were the repercussions of not taking a couple Advils before crashing into my bed after baking the pastries for the school bake. And the fact that I was woken up quite violently made me super grumpy during the drive to Pinecrest Elementary. The culprit? None other than my best friend and wingwoman, Eleanor Ruiz aka Nelly. 

She barged into my room and jumped incessantly on my sleeping figure beneath the covers. A few seconds later, Mikayla joined in the fun and continued the whack-a-mole game till I was fed up and screamed blue murder. After that, they knew better than to ask me to make breakfast for them. The dirty cereal bowls in the sink were the testament.

Mikayla rode in Nelly's car cos God forbid the pastries I slaved away to make be squashed, I'd literally faint. The masterpiece, my signature chocolate cake with white chocolate ganache and mocha filling, sat tall and proud beside me as I drove slowly to my daughter's school. 

From their stance and Nelly's foot tapping, I guess my driving was a little too slow for their liking. 

"A pregnant woman would have arrived at least 20 minutes ago." Nelly said distastefully but I ignored the bastard. Mikayla ran to hug my legs while her babysitter started to take out the baked goodies. "This is a elementary school bake sale. You're not baking for the whole America!"

I looked at the boxes she packed into a trolley and shrugged. "There are still more boxes in the trunk."

She gaped at me. "Chica, you're stupid. Just don't ask me to lend you any money, cos you've probably emptied your account to win a stupid trophy."

Mikayla tugged my hand and diverted my attention from Nelly's rants. "C'mon, let me show you my art project." 

The painting she showed me was like a typical kids painting. You know, stickmen and women with a smiling sun at the corner of the page. All the easels in the art room were set real low, probably cos the kids using them weren't so grown. 

"Honey, this is so pretty!" She beamed at my compliment and started pointing at the little characters in the paper. 

"This is me, this is you, aunt Lee, abuelo, abuelo, that is Gramps and Granny." She turned to me with a slightly forlorn look on her pretty face. "Maybe when I get a new dad, I'll put him right here." She pointed at the spot beside me that she had purposely left empty. 

Despite the small smile I gave her, my heart dropped with sadness and guilt. I hated the fact that my daughter felt she was lacking something or someone. "Guess we'd have to keep this painting real safe."

She nodded slowly and hugged my neck tightly. "I love you, mama."

God knew I really didn't want to break down, especially before a competition for the school moms. "I love you too, bebe." I choked out. 

On our way out of the art room, I met with her teacher and in her hand was a baggie that was filled with what looked like the cinnamon rolls I baked the previous day. Guess I'd already started making money without being present. The grade teacher's grin was so wide, it was a miracle the edges of her lips didn't snap. 

"Miss Rodriguez, I just met Miss Nelly at your crowded bake stand in the school hall and I've gotta say, you're a phenomenal baker." I gloated inwardly at the term she used. Phenomenal. I was that good, huh? "I never knew cinnamon rolls could taste this good. It's a shame you didn't attend the previous bake sales, you could have easily won."

I looked down at Mikayla who had a proud beam on her face. Ha, I was going home with that damn trophy. "Awww, you flatter me too much. But thank you for the compliment, I hope you come back for more than just cinnamon rolls. The chocolate chips cookies taste even better."