An 'Old Friend'

CHAPTER 6: Three Weeks Later

CARRIE

For the last few weeks, I feel like Sam and Hunter both have been acting as though they both want to tell me something but end up not. So luckily I have had this new client to help keep my mind off of it. 

Maurice has been keeping me real busy and it seems as though Hunter and Sam have both been busy at the shop as well in working late. 

Bessie's best friend Jill is having a birthday party today and I was asked by her mother a week ago if I would make cupcakes for her party, in which I was able to pull it off at the last minute. 

Hunter said he was going to go with us since him and I were invited to stay and at first I wasn't sure if rather or not he'd want to go but last night when Bessie brought it up at dinner, he surprisingly said 'yes'. 

After I finish getting Bessie dressed up and all ready, I have her watch some cartoons while I finish putting the final touches on the cupcakes before we head on over. I look at the clock and notice that there's fifteen minutes before we need to leave and Hunter still isn't up or ready. Then sure enough, here he comes walking downstairs and into the kitchen with his hair not combed and whole not-showered-look. I just roll my eyes in frustration and finish putting the final decoration on the last five cupcakes. 

"Hey." He says after taking out a some orange juice and pouring some in a cup. 

I just remain silent. 

"What's wrong?" He asks me. 

"Really?" I scowl at him. 

"What?" He asks genuinely looking confused. 

"Forget it." I tell him and finish then plating the last cupcakes I had just finished decorating when Bessie comes up to him. 

"Good morning daddy." She greets him. 

"Good morning princess." He replies and picks her up. 

"Daddy, we're leaving soon, you need to get dressed." She reminds him. 

"Aw sweetie, I'm sorry, I forgot." He says. "I have to work today." He tells her. 

"Bessie honey, why don't you go get in the car. I'll be there in a minute." I smile at her. 

"Okay mommy." She says and she hugs Hunter as he returns the hug and places a kiss on her forehead before setting her down. 

I cover the platter of cupcakes and start making my way out of the kitchen. 

"Wait." He stops me while grabbing my arm. 

"No. Look, I don't know what the hell is going on with you and Sam lately, but it's starting to piss me off, not to mention that you have not been spending any time with Bessie or me. But mostly with Bessie. You promised her last night you would go with her to this party and now all of a sudden, you can't. Do me a favor alright? Either you tell me what the hell has been going on that has made you and Sam both act weird lately or...." I was stopped by him. 

"Or what? You're gonna take Bessie and leave me?" He asks me assertively. 

"No." I snap back at him as I remove my arm from his grasp. "Don't you EVER talk to me like that again. Besides, if I was going to take her and leave, trust me, I would let you know. Because I would actually tell you what was going on." I snap at him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go to OUR daughter's best friend's birthday party." I grab the cupcakes and walk outside. 

Just walking towards the car and securing the cupcakes in the trunk while letting out a breath of relief. Why the hell did he snap at me? Why would he even mention that? Whatever, I can't think about that right now. So I get into the car and start heading towards the party and force a smile on my face so that Bessie doesn't see me upset or anyone else at the party. 

The party was long but was nice and all the parents that I already knew from the school meetings and events, it was nice to talk to them and feel somewhat normal. 

When the party was over, I noticed that I had a missed call from Maurice and he left a voicemail about having me meet him tomorrow morning at the place he was holding his event at. I called him back while on the way back to the house and after noticing Hunter hadn't called or messaged me all day, I just messaged him 'goodnight' and after putting Bessie to bed, I went as well. 

When I woke up the next morning, I dropped Bessie off at school and went to the bakery to quickly whip up some samples to bring to the place I was meeting Maurice at in an hour and then made my way on over. 

The place was a two story Colonial house that was built in the early 1800's and from the looks of the outside, it seemed he kept the style of it. 

As I grabbed the samples from the trunk and was walking up towards the front door, it opened up before I got there and there a man stood who reminded me of someone from the Goodfellas movie. 

I ignored my imagination and told him I was here to see Maurice, he smiled and had me come inside. 

"Mmm. Those smell delicious." He says while hovering over the platter. 

"Yes well, you'll have to ask Maurice if you can be a taste tester." I chuckled. 

He just smiled at me and then began to escort me towards a hallway straight ahead when I noticed Sam, Hunter and Maurice all walking out of what I'm assuming was his office?

Both Sam and Hunter stopped in their tracks as they looked at me the same way I was looking at them - surprised and shocked. 

"What are you guys doing here?" 

Next chapter will be posted soon! :)