When the best of chocolates turn bitter

Chocolate day - Oliver gets threatened by his brother.

This is the fourth part of Valentine series. Click here to start with Prologue.

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Bitter chocolate

“How could you leave me like this?” The young man turned away from the lady, his heart broken at the prospect of her betrayal.

“It is not what you think. Give me a chance to explain.” Mia begged him.

“There is nothing more you can say. I heard you two last night.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Oliver rolled his eyes from behind the counter at Kerry. The drama had been going on for five minutes since Mia entered with the cookies and Kerry made his grievances known. He hadn’t touched his treat today. The milk was cold.

“I am hurt. Deeply hurt.” Kerry turned around with his hand placed over his heart. Why did Oliver expect anything else when he had stomped away last night after Mia left. He should have guessed that Kerry had heard the conversation after his bathroom break.

Mia looked at her man for help. Oliver could only raise his hands in the gesture of “your problem”. Oh, the supportive man he was.

“Look, we were just talking about the possibility of me leaving the teaching job after you pass my class.” She put up her finger when Kerry opened his mouth to protest, “And only if the cake thing takes off.”

“It did. I had to give away the last piece to Sheriff.” Oliver had frozen in fear. He had not gotten the chance to ask Beth about Kerry’s girlfriend. But the way his little chest had puffed up as he packed the last piece, adding a candy on the side, Oliver’s suspicions were rising.

Mia smiled at that. She had seen his hands shake and found it cute when Kerry rushed the “Sir, Yes, Sir!” after the officer asked if he studied in the same class as his daughter.

“Kerry, you will not be in my class next time.”

“I won’t be able to see you in school anymore!”

Mia sighed and took his hand to sit on the lone table they had in their shop, “As much as I like teaching, especially you, I love baking more.” It was what her family was known for before her mother stopped and shut down their café.

Kerry nodded in understanding, “I have an idea. Why don’t you stay here, then? We have a big kitchen!”

Oliver’s eyes widened and he scampered out from behind the counter. He picked up Kerry’s bag, thrust it into his hands and pushed him out the door, “Okay, buddy! Time to go. You are getting late!”

Kerry dug his feet in the ground, refusing to budge, “You know, I am right! She has to run around so much now. It would be easier for everyone if she just moved in here.”

Oliver looked heavenward for the power to deal with his brother. When that didn’t work, he turned to Mia who had an amused look on her face, “Actually, it is a good idea.”

Oliver stopped pushing, making Kerry fall down on the ground. He stood up grinning in an instance, “See!”

But Mia was looking at Oliver. She could see he was seconds away from melting to the ground with his heated cheeks.

“I mean I can bake here. I wouldn’t have to go back and forth. Do you have an oven I can use?” It was too hectic last day and if she could get here directly after school, it would be less tiring. At least, till she taught.

“No. I…Yes...I mean we have an oven. Are you sure?”

“I can bring over some of the stuff today. What time will you be back with the coffee machine?”

“Around six. I will take Kerry along with me.”

“You will?” Kerry looked up at him, the slight of letting him fall forgotten.

“If you behave.” Oliver raised an eyebrow at him.

Kerry scoffed. Mia interjected before another fight broke out between two, “Maybe this will help.” She brought out the sweet she had prepared for him, “Happy chocolate day, buddy!”

The couple didn’t stop him from eating half the bar first thing in the morning. His brown teeth conveyed his happiness before he expressed his gratitude, “This is the best.”

“For future, it is better to bring out the bribe before the tantrum.” Oliver whispered in her ear as he walked them out. She shook her head, laughing as he waved them away.

It took Oliver a minute to realize he would also like to gift the best chocolate to Mia. Maybe get some stuff for shop too. He didn’t know that would be the only thing he could bring home today.

Oliver could not open the door with Kerry when they tried to reach a quaint town in Italy.

Kerry was buzzing with the thought of his first time stepping into the unknown. Well, known, since Oliver had told him to imagine the best version of the country he could, and told him with a wink that the reality would still be better.

Kerry had also convinced him to at least get some gelato on his first trip and Oliver had agreed.

Yet, they couldn’t open the door on their first three trials. The first time, it led them to the back woods of their home. The second time, it opened inside Kerry’s bathroom with toothpaste tube left open, earning a glare from Oliver. And the third time, they found themselves on the edge of their town. Oliver shut the door before the passing cars could get a glimpse of two people standing behind a doorway midair on the side of the road.

Oliver bit his lip, squeezing Kerry’s sweaty hand before painting a smile on his face. He went back to get Beth’s key, finally opening the doorway.

Kerry rubbed his hand, grinned up to Oliver and stepped into the cobbled street behind the shop they had placed their order in.

Oliver watched his little brother jumping up and down on the other side of the world through the door. But the view vanished before he could join him.

Oliver’s heart dropped as the panic set in when it didn’t open for half an hour. He shut the door firmly for the tenth time, took a deep breath and put the key in again. His hands shook as he tried to visualize the street that he had lost his brother in.

Oliver didn’t roll his eyes when he found Kerry at the corner, licking chocolate gelato from a cone. A hug and a quick question on how he got the money followed.

Kerry shrugged his shoulder, “I am cute.” He didn’t need money when people offered to buy him ice cream when they saw him looking a little lost. A little white lie on how his brother had abandoned him for his work also worked wonders on ladies.

Oliver shook his head and took him back before they lost the door again. He would get the machine later if he figured out an end to his problem.

Kerry had to beg, bribe and finally threaten him to take a trip to Belgium to get chocolates for Mia before she arrived.

“It is the matter of my reputation, Oliver!” He was still hesitant and he came back in five minutes to avoid getting stuck there for hours.

The brothers knew they had to talk about it. Maybe Beth would have the answer. She was the one who had encouraged Oliver to start using it again when she saw him struggling, not only with the shop, but also his health. He didn’t know it, and Beth didn’t want to worry him more. So, she nudged the elder brother to do what he was blessed with.

“It tastes heavenly. Where did you get it?” Mia sat down on their kitchen counter and took a bite. The couple had set up the ingredients and utensils according to her. Oliver had sneaked some jars on the highest shelf. What? He was always happy to help her take them down. He would just be a shout away in the shop.

“It’s Belgian.” Kerry piped from his table, barely focusing on his homework as he waited for a text from his girlfriend.

“How do you like it?” She fed Oliver a bite with her hand, blushing when his lips brushed her fingers.

He smacked his lips together, “The best I have ever had” making her laugh.

Oliver made them dinner of pasta and salad. The thought of never being able to use the door again ran through his head as he tried to hide his trembling fingers from Mia.

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