A Long Time Coming Chapter 9: Cupcake Class, The Beave’s Fall, and Wedding Plans

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Breaker reluctantly agrees to join Birdy at a cupcake decorating class hosted by her friend Callie. Despite hating baking, he finds himself enjoying the evening: they share jokes, create tie-dyed frosting, and later share a brief, closed‑mouth kiss that feels sweet but lacks any spark. After the date, Breaker confesses his confusion to Lia, admitting he felt nothing during the kiss. Later, they visit a florist with The Beave to plan wedding arrangements. Lia asks for daisies—her late mother’s favorite—and reveals she intends to carry a hand‑knitted bouquet made with her mother and grandmother. The Beave dismisses the idea and insults Lia’s purity. A bee frightens Lia, and in swatting it away she accidentally punches The Beave in the chest, causing the older woman to fall into a display of hydrangeas. Humiliated, The Beave insists on red roses only and storms off. Over burritos, Breaker comforts Lia, offering to walk her down the aisle so she doesn’t have to go alone. He then receives a text from Huxley asking to meet tomorrow about updates on Shoemacher.

Key Events

Breaker goes to a Pussycat Cupcakes decorating class with Birdy, despite his hatred of baking.
During the class, they improvise a tie‑dye frosting effect and make each other laugh.
After the class, Breaker and Birdy share a closed‑mouth kiss; he finds it nice but feels no real attraction.
Breaker tells Lia about the date, admitting he didn’t feel any spark and that the kiss was merely “sweet.”
At a florist meeting with The Beave, Lia requests daisies and a knitted bouquet; The Beave mocks both.
A bee frightens Lia; she accidentally punches The Beave in the chest, causing her to fall into hydrangeas.
The humiliated Beave insists on red roses and leaves in a rage.
Over lunch, Breaker consoles Lia and volunteers to walk her down the aisle alongside his Pickle of Honor duties.
Breaker receives a text from Huxley about an update on Shoemacher.

Character Development

Breaker – Shows vulnerability by admitting an emotional void. He enjoyed Birdy’s company but cannot manufacture romantic chemistry. His unwavering support for Lia—from defending her wishes to offering to escort her at the wedding—underscores the depth of their friendship.

Lia (Ophelia) – Struggles to preserve her mother’s memory through wedding details (daisies, knitted flowers). She grows more assertive with The Beave, but still crumbles under humiliation. Her physical blunder (the bee incident) reveals her anxiety about judgment.

Birdy – Portrayed as witty and self‑deprecating (“I have a problem with baking TikToks”). She relaxes around Breaker and shows genuine care for her friend Callie.

The Beave – Remains rigid, class‑conscious, and openly disrespectful toward Lia’s family traditions. Her fall is both comedic and symbolic of her fragile authority.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Knitted bouquet – Represents Lia’s desire to honor her absent parents and her grandmother. The conflict with The Beave highlights the tension between tradition and personal meaning.
Cupcakes and baking – Breaker’s distaste for baking contrasts with his growing openness to spending time with Birdy. The cupcake class acts as a metaphor for trying something new despite discomfort.
The bee / “polvo de tetas” – A moment of chaotic humor that deflates The Beave’s control. It also shows Lia’s physical clumsiness under pressure.
The closed‑mouth kiss – Becomes a symbol of Breaker’s emotional disconnection. He performs the gesture correctly but feels nothing, raising questions about what he truly desires.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 9 deepens the central tension of the novel: Breaker’s inability to feel romantic chemistry despite his genuine desire for connection. His conversation with Lia normalises this uncertainty and strengthens their bond, while the florist scene solidifies The Beave as an antagonist. The chapter also sets up two plot threads – the possible growth of Breaker and Birdy’s relationship, and Huxley’s impending update on Shoemacher – that will drive the next phase of the story.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Breaker feel nothing when he kisses Birdy, and what does he believe this says about him?
Breaker feels only “sweetness” and no spark during the closed‑mouth kiss. He worries that something is wrong with him because he never feels attraction when dating. Lia suggests the kiss method was too brief to judge chemistry, leaving Breaker willing to try again on their planned hike.

2. How does The Beave’s reaction to the daisies and knitted bouquet reveal her character and her attitude toward Lia’s family?
The Beave dismisses the daisies as “not formal enough” and the knitted bouquet as “not real flowers,” saying a wedding is a celebration, not a memorial. She also comments on Lia’s purity using white roses as a symbol, directly insulting Lia’s character. This shows The Beave values appearance over emotional meaning and does not respect Lia’s loss.

3. What does Breaker’s offer to walk Lia down the aisle reveal about his role in her life?
Breaker steps into the role her deceased father would have played, providing both emotional and practical support. He is willing to bend wedding protocol (Pickle of Honor normally walks ahead) to ensure Lia feels loved and not alone. This gesture reinforces that their friendship is the novel’s core relationship.