Bake Your Way Into My Heart ✔️

Episode 3: Dessert week

Summary:

On this week's episode of the Great British Bake Off: contestants crying over cheesecake, trifles that reduce people to tears and romance is in the air!

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"What do you think, Bear? Shall I just try and be friends with him or should I dare to hope for more?"

The little boy stares up at him from his booster seat for a moment, clearly confused and then he just turns to the tiny bowl of cheesecake Liam had placed in front of him.

"Yeah, I know, sorry." Liam continues to speak to him softly. He's only just woken up from his afternoon nap and is always quiet during his snack at this time. "I shouldn't really be asking you for dating advice huh?"

Bear scoops up a spoonful of the rose cheesecake mixture and brings it to his mouth effortlessly, he's always been good at feeding himself. He frowns as soon as it hit his tongue and then promptly spits it back out.

"Alright, alright, you don't like it. I get it. Worth a shot."

Liam huffs in mock annoyance but he still has a smile on his face. He ruffles Bear's curly brown hair affectionately to show him he isn't really annoyed at him and then swaps his bowl for a small bowl of chocolate mousse that he made yesterday and had ready.

Bear loved it yesterday and his face lights up when he saw it again.

"Thank you Papa." He says cutely before tucking in.

Liam gets a clean spoon for himself and finishes the bowl of cheesecake. He's a bit sick of it now but it's a shame to waste it.

"You think your mother would have liked it at least?" He asks Bear in vain.

"She would have loved it, Li." Comes a quiet voice from the doorway.

Liam looks up in surprise but gives Gillian a soft smile when he sees her standing there observing the scene with the same wistful look she always has whenever Cheryl was brought up.

"Yeah?" He asks hopefully and holds out his hand for her to come closer.

She walks over to stand next to his chair and squeezes his hand tightly. "Absolutely, you go and make her proud."

Liam feels a tear threatened to spill over but Gillian isn't one for sombre emotions. Just as the atmosphere is becoming slightly too tense she goes to help herself to a portion of the cheesecake and turns to look at him mischievously.

"Now, tell me more about why you were asking your three year old son for dating advice."

Liam groans. "You heard that?"

"Yep, now spill." She demands as she hops onto the counter, despite Liam telling her several times not to sit on the worktop.

"Nope. Not going to happen." Liam insists as he stands up quickly and put his empty bowl by the kitchen sink. "I need to go pack now you're here."

He walks out of the spacious kitchen diner and heads towards the grand staircase. Liam jumps down immediately and follows him.

"You can't leave Bear unattended in his chair while he's eating." Liam gently shoos her back and continues on in mock dramatics. "Shocking child minder you are, he might choke!"

"On chocolate mouse?" She raises an eyebrow at him. "You're not getting out of this that easily."

Liam is already halfway up the stairs and as much as she might joke he knows Gillian wouldn't go out of Bear's line of sight for long.

"I wish I could stay and chat but I really have to get going. Such a shame." He calls out sarcastically over his shoulder.

"I won't forget." She calls back and annoyingly he knows that she won't.