Brad came in the back entrance of SugarBakers. Kayleigh was busy working on a two tier cake. As usual, she had her headphones on as she worked. Brad knew from experience it was best not to sneak up on her. He smiled when he noticed the cakes decorations. It was a Ninja Turtle theme and Kayleigh had all 4 turtles made of fondant drying. He moved closer and looked at what she was doing to the bottom layer. It appeared to be a manhole cover. The top layer looked like a brick wall. Kayleigh was using an airbrush to spray graffiti on the wall. The New York skyline was jutting out of the top of the cake. She had already written happy 5th birthday in the scrawling script. His girl was a bad ass when it came to sugar, and pretty much everything else. Brad moved slowly around her station until he came into view. Kayleigh immediately smiled and pulled her headphones off.


"What do you think?" she asked.


"I'm a Ninja Turtle expert." he replied "I like the old school turtles."


"Is there such a thing as a Ninja Turtle expert?" she questioned as he inspected the cake.


"Of course there is!" he exclaimed "I am the teams resident expert. We play it on the plane."


"I stand corrected." said Kayleigh. She leaned over and brushed a kiss across his mouth. Brad immediately pouted at the loss of contact.


"We can do better than that, Doll." teased Brad.


"No time if I want to be done by the time Hadlee's appointment is over." she explained
Brad of course ignored her objections. He managed to kiss her breathless and somehow end up sitting on the counter near where she was working all at the same time. He then winked at her and pulled out his phone "Always time, Doll." Kayleigh just shook her head and started adding details to the cake.


"Hey, Marchy." said Raven coming through the kitchen entrance "We are all out of your donuts."


"I'm a hit." said Brad.


"I'm not sure if people loved them, or the idea that you made them." replied Raven


"Wow, way to burst my bubble, Ray!" called Brad


"Keepin' it real, Marchand. Gotta keep the ego in check." said Raven depositing empty trays near the dishwasher "Make yourself useful, do the dishes."


"UMMM..." said Kayleigh looking at Brad and Raven "I'm not sure he knows how to use the machine. And I'm also not sure he won't flood the kitchen."


"Ye of little faith." said Brad stripping out of his hoodie. Raven and Kayleigh both laughed seeing that he was still wearing the bright pink Sugar Baker's shirt. "I'm a fast learner." Kayleigh just shrugged and went back to decorating the cake. She heard Raven give him instructions. She then heard Raven squeal when water hit her. After a few minutes Raven left him to his own devices. He was quickly working his way through the dishes and trays in the pile. Kayleigh was boxing the cake as he put the last of the pile in the industrial dishwasher. He clicked the machine on as Kayleigh joined him.


"And you didn't even flood my kitchen."


"Nope." he said smiling at her "I can do lots of stuff."


"Good," said Ty coming the back door "You just got promoted to chief dishwasher."


"I thought I was your baking assistant?" pouted Brad


"You just got promoted." laughed Ty "Never show ability, or we will exploit it."
Kayleigh started laughing at his stricken expression. Brad was never at a loss for words. He was eyeballing Ty trying to determine if he was serious.

"Et tu, Doll?" asked Brad climbing onto the counter beside Kayleigh.

"Yep, you did good with the dishes. In normal restaurant situations, you start out as a dishwasher and work your way up." she supplied stepping between his legs. "So you've bypassed a few steps." Brad leaned in and kissed her up turned face. He then started smirking. "And why are you smirking when just 10 seconds ago you were pouting?"


"Because I've never slept my way to the top before." smirked Brad. Kayleigh smacked him across the abs. He started manically laughing.


"Very funny, Bradley Keith." sassed Kayleigh "I'm sure your momma would be so proud."


"Speaking of which, we need to get home and get you, Caro, and Hadlee over to meet them before I'm broke." he said kissing her again "My credit card can only handle so much abuse from Melissa."


"Yes, poor poor professional hockey player." mocked Kayleigh


"The girls are right." said Brad


"About what?" asked Kayleigh


"I am rubbing off on you." he replied "Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing."


"It's a great thing!" called Raven taking more cupcakes from the racks out to the shop.


"The kid for the Ninja Turtle cake is here. And he has on a Marchy jersey."


"He does, does he?" said Brad jumping off the counter "You're only 5 once, and we do love Ninja Turtles. And that cake looks heavy."


"And your bouncing." laughed Kayleigh.


"Please?" he said as he continued to bounce.


"Normal Brad, be normal." pled Kayleigh.


Brad crossed his fingers over his heart "Best behavior, I swear." Kayleigh was trying not to bounce herself. She was pretty sure a birthday cake and a Bruin might make this kids day. Brad lifted the box carefully from the counter. He hefted and then looked at Kayleigh "You're gonna have bigger guns than me lifting these cakes."


"And don't you forget it." she stated opening the door to the cake consult room. She had Brad place the cake on the table. She and Brad waited for Raven to lead the family into the room.


"Normally I'd just give you all the cake and let you go, but I noticed Zach's jersey. So we have a little surprise for him." explained Raven.


Mrs. VanHoose and her husband shrugged and led Zach into the room. Raven wasn't sure who's eyes got bigger the dad or the kid. She gestured to Brad and tossed him a sharpie. Brad snatched the marker out of the air. Zach was standing behind his mom peeking around her at Brad. Brad waved at the small boy.


"Hi Zach," waved Brad "Happy Birthday." Zach smiled at him but was still behind his mom. "So I got to watch Kayleigh make your cake. It's awesome. And I happen to be a Ninja Turtle expert."


Zach started to giggle. "He still plays with Ninja Turtles." said Kayleigh in a conspiratorial tone "We have action figures and the video games at home." Zach's mom then looked at Kayleigh and then at Brad. "Do you want to see your cake?" The little boy nodded and came closer to his mother. She ushered the little boy in front of her to stand in the chair so he could see into the box. Zach's face lit up into a huge smile.



"Pretty awesome, right?" said Brad "Check them out, old school turtles. And look at your name in the graffiti."


"There's Mikey!" exclaimed the little boy "He's my favorite."

“Mine, too!” agreed Brad “He’s all bang, pow, and cowabunga.” Zach grinned at Brad who was punching like a Ninja Turtle. “Kayleigh made them out of sugar. You can eat them,” He then shrugged “But I’d rather play with them.” Zach nodded in agreement.


“Will you sign the cake box?” asked Mr. VanHoose. Brad nodded and popped the cap off the marker. He paused and whispered something to Raven. She nodded and left the room. Brad signed the side of the box. He was finishing up the 63 when he asked if Zach wanted him to sign his jersey. Zach nodded. The little boy turned so that Brad could sign his jersey. Kayleigh loved to watch Brad with his littlest fans. His loopy scrawl said “Happy Birthday Zach” and was signed with his typical signature.


“Zach, can Kayleigh help me with something on your jersey?” asked Brad. Everyone was stood watching as Brad whispered. She quickly drew a birthday cake with candles next to Brad’s signature. Mr. VanHoose had snapped a picture of Brad signing. He was showing to Brad and Zach. They then took a photograph of Zach and Brad beside his cake. The last photo was of Brad holding a smiling Zach in his lap.


Brad and the little fellow discussed Ninja Turtles and other cartoons. They discussed the upcoming season while Kayleigh reboxed the cake. Raven came back into the room with Brad’s hat, his phone, and the receipt for the cake. Brad took the phone and fired off a few texts. While waiting for the response he signed the underside of the ball cap. He handed it to Zach. “We just got these today.” Brad explained “They won’t be out until after opening night. But you have one now, Happy Birthday.” He gave the ball cap to the little boy. His phone beeped. He turned his phone towards Zach. His phone rapidly started pinging. Kayleigh stepped over to be able to see the phone. There were texts pouring in from all the Bruins wishing Zach happy birthday.


“Mom, the Bruins are texting me!” he said excitedly “Look that’s Bergy. And Krug. And Rask.” Zach was rapidly listing Bruins.


“When is the party?” asked Brad.


“It’s at 6.” he said excitedly “OHH, look Looch!”


“Did you know Looch is a big marshmallow?” asked Kayleigh.


“Nope, he’s big and mean.” said Zach.


“If you say so.” replied Kayleigh. She was watching the Bruins wish the little guy happy birthday. It was little things like this that made her realize how special Brad was. She watched him shake hands with the dad. The dad was protesting, but Brad was insisting it was fine.


“So, it’s okay?” Brad clarified.


“More than.” said his father “Thank you, Mr. Marchand.”


“Brad.” he replied “But my dad’s in town so you can call him Mr. Marchand.” Mr. Vanhoose nodded. “So what are you planning on doing tomorrow night, Zach?”



“My big brother and I will watch the game with dad in our man cave.” said Zach.


“It’s hard to compete with a man cave,” teased Brad “But I think for your 5th birthday it’s very important that you go to your first hockey game. So, I would love for you and your family to come be my guests tomorrow night for the home opener. If you wear that jersey we’ll get the rest of the guys to sign it.”


“Really?” asked Zach with his mouth wide in surprise.


“I don’t say things I don’t mean.” said Brad “Just come to will call and I’ll leave 4 tickets for you.”


“You really don’t have to do that.” said Mrs. Vanhoose “He never even expected to meet you. In a bakery of all places.”


Brad shrugged “I hang out here a lot.” he replied “Kayleigh practically lives here. We get tickets for these very reasons. So please, be my guest tomorrow night.” Kayleigh knew damn well that he had just shuffled his parents to the boxes so that he could give those tickets to Zach.


“Please!” pled Zach. His dad smiled and nodded.


“Awesome,” said Brad “I’ll take care of snacks and drinks. Just have a happy birthday, buddy.” Zach hugged Brad.



Kayleigh was explaining how to best cut the cake to Mrs. Vanhoose. While Mr. Vanhoose was attempting to pay for the balance of the cake.



“We’re good.” said Raven “Happy Birthday, Zach.”



“No, I only paid the deposit.” replied Mrs. Vanhoose “I have the contract here.” She said rummaging in her purse.



Brad was smiling and rocking on his feet. “It’s fine, Mrs. Vanhoose. He can’t help himself.” explained Kayleigh nodding at Brad. “Little Ball of Hate. They don’t know him.”



“What? I said I had snacks!” exclaimed Brad.

“Thank you.” said Mrs. Vanhoose “It’s all too much.”



“That’s Brad,” said Kayleigh “It’s just how he is.”




Brad and Kayleigh walked the family to door. She had Zach sign the wall. Brad gave them instructions on the game and after. Brad waved at the little boy as he walked away.



“Sorry, I got excited. And he was little. And in my jersey. And he had never been to game.” he rambled.

“Shut up!” exclaimed Kayleigh towing him closer by the neon pink shirt. Kayleigh stood on her tiptoes and whispered close to his ear “I love you more every day.” Kayleigh then pressed her mouth against his. “Every day.” she said against his mouth. “You made his day perfect.”


“So, that was normal?” he asked


“It’s our normal,” she answered “And you aren’t paying for that cake.”



“Ummm, I kind of already did.” he glanced at Raven “Doll, you put so much work into it. Raven did ApplePay. Sorry.” Kayleigh looked at the sheepish expression on his face.



“Okay, I am totally not sorry. But it’s our normal, right?”


Kayleigh just shook her head. She nodded toward the kitchen “Come on, Lil Ball of Fluff.”


“You’re totally ruining my reputation. Pink shirt, calling me a Lil Ball of Fluff.” pouted Brad following her through the swinging door. He turned to Raven “If you hear screaming send re-enforcements.”



“You are such a drama queen.” laughed Raven.


“Give me 10 minutes and I’ll be ready.” said Kayleigh “Go sit on the counter and think about what you’ve done.”



“I’m not sorry!” he called as she headed to her office “You started it with the TMNT cake.”


“And I wouldn’t have you any other way.” She laughed as she sat down to work on the day's final notes.


Brad flopped down near his hoodie and pulled out his phone. He fired off a text to Millsy.


Brad: What’s the doc say? Boy?? Girl?? Hadlee okay?? Do you need back up??


Brad stared at his phone. After a few minutes he sent a second text.


Brad: Miller don’t leave me hanging!!

After another minute he dialed Hadlee. She was at the doctor. If she didn’t answer he would wait. He could wait. But what if something was wrong. “Hi, Brad.” answered Hadlee.


“Miller, okay?” asked Brad “He didn’t answer.”


“I don’t know why he didn’t answer. He's with his mom.”


“I was just checking on you and polka spot.” replied Brad “He’s with you, right?”



“He’s right here, Brad.”


“Everything okay with the baby?” asked Brad “Is it a boy. A girl?”


“Yes, we don’t know anything yet.” She replied.



“I’m excited. So you know nothing?” He asked.


“Bradley Keith, I have only filled out forms and peed in a cup.” She sounded exasperated “I know you're just worried.”



“Sorry, I am worried. I love you and Millsy.”



“Yes, I love you and KK too. I’ll call as soon as the appointment is over.” She responded.



“You are a hot mess.” said Kayleigh “She has been at the Doc all of 10 minutes.”


“See, why am I not in that loop?” he asked.



“I’ll put you in the loop.” replied Kayleigh.


“Now you’re just being mean.” he pouted.


“No, I promise, what I know you’ll know.” She answered “And stop calling her polka spot.”


“She is my polka spot.” said Brad “Want to see her jersey?”


“Really, Brad?”


“Oh yeah,” he said “wait til Caro sees it.”



“Brad.” she admonished.


“It has my number and says #1 Uncle.” replied Brad


“You didn’t.” laughed Kayleigh.

“...No”



“Brad! West and the boys might kill you.”

“Relax, it says Polka Spot on the back.” he laughed.

Notes