Life is Sweet Read Online Free Page A

place!”
    She’d been rattling on about it all week—every day after school she’d begged to go to the Strawberry Cake Shop. According to Olivia, other kids got to go all the time, but apparently Nicole wasn’t as keen on the place. As Matthew opened the door and found himself stepping into a warm world where the smells of butter and baking chocolate wrapped around him like a comforting, aromatic blanket, he could see why Nicole wouldn’t be a fan. He couldn’t imagine any of the desserts behind the glass case passing her lips. She wasn’t big on sweets.
    If the mouthwatering smell had left him in doubt whether the creations behind the case were good, the line inside would have convinced him. The clientele today was heavy on perfectly made-up moms and girls in ballet clothes, all of whom seemed to know exactly what they wanted. Cupcakes flew off the shelves. There were also double cupcakes—more like mini cakes—and full-sized cakes that were available either as whole cakes or by the slice. Iced brownies cut into wedges sat under a cake cover, and next to the cash register were two glass jars—one filled with peanut butter cookies, one with chocolate chip.
    Aside from the food offerings, he saw at once what attracted Olivia to this place, and kept Nicole away. There were horses everywhere—pictures of horses, figurines, a bridle hanging on the wall. ( Is that sanitary? he wondered.) Olivia was wild about horses, but after a year of begging she hadn’t succeeded in wheedling Nicole to shell out for riding lessons.
    â€œSee that?” Olivia pointed at a picture of a horse, a white one, with a woman standing next to him in one of those ridiculous black helmets. “That’s Harvey.”
    â€œHelp you?” the woman behind the counter asked Matthew, goosing his attention forward.
    Before he could decide what he wanted, much less speak, Olivia piped up for both of them. “A small green cake, please.”
    Matthew had no idea what she was talking about until the woman reached under the counter and carefully picked up a small green-iced cake by the doily it was sitting on. “What is that?”
    â€œGreen cake,” Olivia said, as if that made any sense.
    â€œYeah, but—”
    The woman working the counter interrupted him. “It’s strawberry cake. White cake layered with strawberries and cream, thin layer of marzipan, and then icing.” She plopped it in a small box and tied it with string before he had even absorbed what she said. Her no-nonsense, slightly husky voice distracted him. Also, he had a difficult time processing the words because he was so busy looking at her. His gaze felt riveted by her face.
    â€œIt’s really good,” Olivia assured him. “I have it whenever I come in with friends.”
    â€œAnything else?” the woman asked.
    He shook his head.
    â€œThat’s eight dollars and twenty-eight cents.”
    Matthew dug into his jeans pocket, hoping he had enough. He’d been thinking a dollar for a cookie, maybe. Or a cupcake—he looked longingly at them sitting next to their cheery $2.25 price markers.
    He fished out a five and several ones and forked them over. Olivia grabbed the box off the counter while Matthew waited for the change. “I see Monica outside!” she said, and darted toward the door.
    He had only a vague memory of who Monica was.
    â€œShe’s a sweet kid,” the cake lady said to him, handing him a fistful of coins.
    At first he thought she was reassuring him about Monica, then realized she meant Olivia. “Oh yeah.” Why is my brain not working? “Thanks—she’s great.”
    â€œOlivia introduced herself the first time she came in here. She’s nuts about horses, just like I was.”
    â€œHer mom isn’t nuts about them,” he said.
    â€œMine wasn’t, either.” She laughed, nodding around the room. “Maybe she was