The Sweetest Words: a sweet small town romance (Three Sisters Cafe Book 1) Read online

  “The Sweetest Words”

  Three Sisters Cafe #1

  By Laura Ann

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  THE SWEETEST WORDS

  First edition. February 1, 2022.

  Copyright © 2022 Laura Ann.

  Written by Laura Ann.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  NEWSLETTER

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  EPILOGUE

  DEDICATION

  Every first book is dedicated to my husband.

  Without your support, I would never had put

  pen to paper. Here’s to eternity.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  No author works alone. Thank you, Tami.

  You make it Christmas every time

  I get a new cover. And thank you to my Beta Team.

  Truly, your help with my stories is immeasurable.

  NEWSLETTER

  You can get a FREE book by joining my Reading Family!

  Every week we share stories, sales and good old fun.

  Go to lauraannbooks.com to sign up!

  PROLOGUE

  Aspen Harrison wiped her brow with the back of her hand. Her hand was shaking, and she clenched it into a fist. “Okay,” she breathed, observing the cake set up. “I think that does it.”

  Estelle, her older sister, wrapped an arm around Aspen’s shoulders. “You’re amazing,” she cooed. “Mom and Dad are going to be so proud.” Letting go of Aspen, Estelle pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “In fact, I need to get a bunch of pictures so we can show them to our customers.” She began to click away, then paused and looked back to Aspen. “And so we can put them up as products of the new owner of the Harrison Bakery.”

  “You mean The Three Sisters Cafe,” Aspen corrected. As happened every time she said the new name of the business she and her sisters were inheriting from their parents, Aspen’s mouth moved into a wide smile.

  Her parents, Antony and Emory Harrison, had been running a bakery in Seagull Cove, Oregon for almost thirty years. In fact, it was on the thirtieth anniversary of the shop that they were planning to hand the reins over to Aspen, Estelle and their younger sister Maeve. The only child not involved was their brother, who was currently away on a military tour.

  The sisters had decided that in order to truly get a fresh start out from under the shadow of their well-loved parents, they wanted to rename and revamp the whole shop. It would still be a bakery, but they wanted it to be just a little bit more.

  Maeve, who was an accountant, would be running the books. Estelle, who had majored in marketing, would run the front and work on building the business from the advertising side. While Aspen, who had followed in her parent’s footsteps and gone to culinary school, would be baking and creating the masterpieces in the back.

  And it all started with the wedding cake display in front of them right now.

  Aspen knew she had more than likely gotten the gig for Jude and Ruth Lisbon’s wedding because she had underbid every other cake decorator, but right now she needed to build her catalog if she was ever going to really show her parents that she could carry on the family tradition of excellence.

  It was intimidating to be the daughter of two acclaimed bakers. They had chosen to stay in small town Oregon in order to raise their family, but their names and creations were well known throughout the world, thanks to the magic of social media.

  Their father’s chocolate creations were internationally award winning and it was an honor to be his daughter.

  But more than anything, Aspen wanted to be known for herself, not for her lineage. Taking over the cafe was her chance to do that. Her parents had left to visit family in Italy and it was time for the girls to sink or swim.

  Swim, she assured herself. “We’re definitely going to swim.”

  “Who’s swimming?” Maeve asked, coming up to Aspen’s side. She tucked a curl behind her ear and studied the display. “It’s perfect.” She smiled at Aspen. “You’re a miracle worker.”

  Aspen turned and hugged Maeve tightly, ignoring her less exuberant sister’s complaints. “We’re going to do this!” Aspen cried.

  “I’m sure we will,” Maeve said primly, backing up from any further touching. “But we’re not going to do it by assaulting each other in full view of our patrons.”

  Aspen laughed and bounced on her toes. “I can feel it,” she whispered. “This is just the beginning.”

  Estelle came back their way. “This is a great start,” she agreed. “But I have something even better lined up.”

  Aspen frowned. “What’re you talking about?”

  Estelle looked around to make sure they were alone before leaning in and dropping her voice. “Who can make or break a restaurant just by posting a picture online?”

  Maeve groaned. “Who cares?”

  Aspen’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my gosh, you’re talking about Eat It Austin, aren’t you?”

  Estelle nodded, a small smirk on her face. “And guess who managed to get ahold of his boss and finagle an actual review?”

  “You didn’t,” Aspen said flatly.

  Estelle pumped her eyebrows. “I did.”

  “Estelle! He could ruin us!” Aspen hissed.

  “Or...” Estelle said firmly, giving Aspen a look. “He could send us racing right out of the gate.”

  Maeve shook her head. “That guy seems like a jerk.”

  “That guy is the biggest food critic in the Pacific Northwest,” Estelle pointed out. “He’s based out of Portland. With his endorsement, we’re a sure thing.”

  Aspen felt as if she might faint. She could barely breathe and her vision was dimming.

  “Aspen!” Estelle gave her sister a shake. “Breathe!”

  Aspen sucked in a breath, her mind clearing and quickly working through everything Estelle had just revealed. “He’s going to have to like my stuff before he’d give us an endorsement,” she said hoarsely.

  Maeve sighed and made a face. “If that’s all, then I don’t see what you're freaking out about. No one can eat your desserts without raving that heaven fell onto their plate.”

  Aspen shook her head. “That won’t be enough. He’s tough.”

  Estelle put her hand on Aspen’s shoulders. “And so are you.” She tilted her chin and gave Aspen a motherly look. How did older sisters always manage to pull that off so well? “You’re the best baker I know. It’s time everyone knew it.” She winked. “Just don’t tell Dad and Mom I said that.”

  “You’re just trying to make me feel better,” Aspen said, shaking her head. She had never been so terrified in her life. Eat It Austin was the creme de la creme of food critics. He was young, handsome and knew how to pose for a camera, which meant his female followers gobbled up everything he said as if it were pure gold. But he was also manly, well educated, and knew how to throw down an insult if something didn’t live up to his expectations, making men enjoy a good laugh while following him as well.

  “OH MY GOSH!”

  All three sisters spun to see Ruth, the bride rushing into the banquet room. She put her hands over her mouth, her short hair standing up in darling spikes on top of her head. Not many people could pull off such a bold look, but Ruth did it with unexpected elegance.

  Ruth turned from the table and stared straight at Aspen. “It’s perfect,” she breathed.

  Before Aspen could absorb the compliment, Ruth spun and grabbed one of the cheesecake bites from a tray, downing it in one bite.

  “Oh my gosh,” Ruth said again, this time with her mouth full. She closed her eyes as if in bliss and didn’t open them for a few moments. When she finally looked at Aspen again, Ruth was smiling wide enough to give the Columbia River a run for its money.

  Ruth walked over and took Aspen’s hands. “Thank you so much,” she gushed, “for making my wedding perfect. I’ll be recommending your bakery until the day I die.”

  Aspen couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. Ruth was a little on the dramatic side, but it was easy to see she was completely sincere.

  Estelle elbowed Aspen’s side and gave her an I told you so look.

  “Thank you,” Aspen said to Ruth. “It was such an honor to be a part of this.” She squeezed Ruth’s hands. “You have an open table at our cafe any time.”

  Because they would have a cafe. This was exactly what Aspen lived for. Making people happy with food. Food critic or not, Aspen was determined to succeed. She didn’t
come from a family of quitters. She came from a family of achievers, and now it was her turn.

  Eat it Austin could come take a bite of anything he wanted. Aspen knew what she was doing and she wouldn’t let his fame intimidate her.

  The Three Sisters Cafe was going to officially open for business in two months, and when it did, it would dazzle even the toughest of critics.

  CHAPTER 1

  “No...” Aspen tapped her bottom lip. “I think we definitely want the ginger pear cake. It’s an unusual flavor and better suited for fall than lemon raspberry.” Her dark brown, nearly black eyes continued to scan the menu she held in her hand. “I love the graphic details you put on here,” she gushed to her sister, Estelle, who had designed the page featuring the baked goods for the grand opening.

  Estelle preened slightly. “I thought the cupcake motif was fun as well.”

  “What did that cost you?” Maeve asked wryly from her seat across the table. She casually licked her fingers free of the frosting left after eating one of Aspen’s donuts, her eyes on a spreadsheet as if it were the most interesting documentation in the world.

  “Probably like three bucks,” Aspen snapped. “Why are you always so uptight about it? Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.”

  “The problem comes when you don’t have money to spend,” Maeve retorted, finally turning away from her study. She peered at her two sisters over her fake glasses. Maeve was convinced they made people take her more seriously, though her eyes definitely didn’t need them. At only five-foot-two, the thin, youngest sister had a hard time getting other adults to assume she was anything other than sixteen, with the brains to match.

  Aspen, however, knew better. Maeve was brilliant with math, something that no one in their family could quite figure out. The Harrison family was one of passionate creatives, not studious number crunchers.

  Aspen internally shrugged. She supposed it really didn’t matter. Maeve was who she was, and the fact that she was the financial advisor for their little shop was a blessing...until they needed to purchase anything. “We have three dollars,” Aspen argued.

  “We do now,” Maeve said coolly. “But we won’t if you continue to spend it.”

  Estelle held up her hand when Aspen went to retort. “Ladies...this is a useless conversation.” Ah...Estelle...always the peacemaker. As the oldest of all the Harrison children, she seemed to take great delight in being their mother while their real mom was across seas.

  Aspen snorted quietly. Who was she kidding? Estelle had come out of the womb playing the mother figure. Sometimes it was comforting, and sometimes it drove Aspen insane. She and Maeve both hated being treated like children, but sometimes Estelle seemed to forget that they had grown up just as much as she had.

  “Anyway...” Aspen drawled, turning back to the menu. “What do you think about the ginger pear cake? We could do a caramel drizzle around the edge, maybe some crumbled cookies on top and display it right on the corner.” She pointed to the spot she meant. The shop was just about complete, but the extra large display counter was still there from when their parents ran it.

  The renovations the women had made had mostly worked around that centerpiece. There was new paint on the walls, new flooring under their feet and the decor was partially put up. The kitchen area in the back had seen several appliances replaced, giving Aspen brand new, up to date machinery to work with. Including some fun new toys that Maeve had been less than pleased to write down in the expense book.

  “That does sound nice,” Estelle mused. She cocked her head, her artistic eyes narrowing. “If we put that on the corner, we need something lower around it. Perhaps a small pumpkin display? With a garland of leaves?”

  “Yes,” Aspen said excitedly. “That’ll be perfect.”

  Maeve groaned and let her head fall back. “How much is that going to set me back?” she asked.

  Estelle sighed. “Mae, we have some small pumpkins at home. I can use those. All I need is the garland, which will only cost a couple dollars.”

  Maeve huffed. “I suppose we can do that.”

  Aspen shook her head and stood up. “We open next week. I need to finalize my grocery order and make sure I have all the stuff I can bake early taken care of, or I’ll be running around like a chicken with my head cut off come opening day.”

  Ignoring her sisters’ conversation, Aspen went into the kitchen. She grabbed the clipboard she had hanging next to the walk-in freezer and headed inside. She shivered immediately. The weather in Seagull Cove, Oregon was already starting to cool off, but it was nothing compared to a sub zero freezer.

  “Idiot,” she muttered to herself. When she had worked with her father, she had kept a coat hanging next to the freezer for occasions just like this. When grabbing supplies, she was in and out quickly, but when doing inventory, it required staying in the cold much longer.

  With the renovation happening, the coat had been taken home and now Aspen was severely regretting not bringing it back. She made a mental note to fix that tomorrow when she came back.

  “Two hundred cupcakes,” she muttered, double checking her list. “Eggs, milk, butter...check, check, check.” She accounted for boxes of cream cheese and bottles of sprinkles. Bags loaded with fruit fillings and pudding were also noted.

  Finally, she stepped out, goosebumps breaking out on her arms and neck as the heat brushed over her skin. “Brrr...” she muttered under her breath.

  “One of these days you’ll come out of there a popsicle,” Maeve teased from her place at the sink. She was hand washing her mug of tea from the morning. She kept a dozen or so of her antique teacups at the shop, and Aspen did her best not to complain about the loss of space.

  Maeve was an early riser, which made her especially helpful when opening for the day. And if the woman needed a cup of tea in order to feel ready to tackle the world? Who was Aspen to judge? At least...mostly.

  “I don’t know how you drink that stuff,” Aspen said with a dramatic shiver that was only half fake. “It’s hot water with almost no flavor.”

  “Better than consuming enough sugar to fill the Grand Canyon,” Maeve said, obviously not the least bit concerned about her sister’s dislike. “Besides, herbs are good for us. They help me stay healthy.”

  “If by healthy, you mean looking like you’re still a teenager, then I would have to agree.” Aspen grinned, knowing that was one of Maeve’s sore spots.

  At twenty-three years old, Maeve should have been old enough not to care, but getting asked if you were old enough to own a credit card when you were buying groceries would bend any woman out of shape.

  Maeve sniffed. “Better than the other way around.”

  “True...but no one’s going to think you’re old enough to date until you’re in your forties, and then—” Aspen laughed as she ducked the dish towel headed toward her head.

  Maeve was smiling when Aspen straightened. She pushed her glasses up her nose. “It’s good to see you laugh.”

  Aspen’s smile immediately fell. “Sorry,” she said softly. “I’ve just been stressed, I guess.”

  Maeve nodded sagely. Her large, quiet eyes often saw more than most. “You know that Dad’s proud, right?”

  Aspen shrugged, her eyes on the ground. “I hope so.” The words were quiet and vulnerable, and anyone with an ounce of compassion would hear them for what they really were. A little girl who desperately wanted her father’s blessing.

  His little trip to Italy had a much deeper meaning than anyone outside of the family understood. She wanted...needed...his legacy to live on. Which meant there was far more riding on this grand re-opening than just three sisters taking over a family bakery.

  AUSTIN LACED HIS HANDS behind his head and kicked his heels up on the desk with a sigh.

  “Dreaming of that tiramisu?” his brother and coworker Tye asked with a smirk.

  Austin grinned. “Something like that.” In actuality, Austin was enjoying a rare moment of peace. His latest review was finished several hours ahead of schedule and there was nothing on the schedule for several days. He hadn’t had a day off in months and it was starting to wear on him. Ever since his online persona, Eat It Austin, became popular on social media, Austin’s editor had been running Austin into the ground with appearances and reviews.