Page 77 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

Something about her tone sent an unpleasant shiver down Elliott’s spine. “I’m good. Is everything okay? How’s Tristan?”

The shaky breath on the other end of the line told Elliott she didn’t want to hear what came next. “I’m sorry to call so early, and under these circumstances. But I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. Tristan passed away over the weekend.”

Elliott’s hand covered her mouth. Almost immediately her eyes burned with tears. “Oh my gosh, what happened? Did the leukemia come back?”

Mrs. Underwood sniffled. “We’d just confirmed the diagnosis last week. She hadn’t been feeling well, but we hoped ... after all this time that it was something else. It was aggressive and quick, and by the time we got an answer and made a plan, she was gone. We didn’t even get a chance to start treatment.”

Hot tears slid down Elliott’s cheeks. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“We are, too. I really thought we were past this, you know? She’s been in remission so long, and ...” She trailed off, openly crying now. “It just doesn’t seem real.”

Elliott swiped her hand under her chin where tears dripped onto her shirt. No matter how intimately involved she was in the cancer community, nothing would ever prepare her for news like this. “She was such an incredible person and meant so much to me. Is there anything I can do for your family?”

“No. Tristan’s the only thing I want, and you can’t give me that. No one can. I just wanted you to know what happened, and to tell you Tristan loved you so much. You were like her big sister that year she was in the hospital, and I know it would have been a dark time for her without you. I can never thank you enough.”

“She was the same for me. She never let cancer stop her.” She’d been a bright light no matter how low the circumstances, even earning the nickname Sunshine from the nurses. It suited her then and she’d lived up to it ever since.

Mrs. Underwood laughed softly through her tears. “That was true until the end. She went after every single dream she had. Held nothing back. If there’s anything that makes this any more bearable, and I don’t say that lightly because no parent should witness their child leaving this earth, it’s that I know she lived every second of this life to the fullest. She experienced love, happiness, and joy, and I’m so grateful for it.”

“Me too.” Elliott swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Please let me know if you think of something—anything—I can do. I mean it.”

“I will. Just ... take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” Elliott said, suddenly wondering if she was really doing all that good a job. “I promise.”

Several hours and a good, healthy cry later, Elliott pulled herself together and made her way to Melt My Tart. The updated website had been live for several weeks, and the menus were the last piece of the business agreement with Blythe. Elliott was a little bummed she wouldn’t have an excuse to spend time with her anymore.

She entered the bakery, which was busier than Elliott had ever seen it. Customers occupied most of the tables, and five people stood in line, waiting. A harried Blythe rushed around behind the counter, and her eyes went wide when she spotted Elliott. Blythe frantically waved her closer, and the second Elliott was near the pastry case she said, “Thank God. Could you pop back here for a second?”

“What?”

“My closer had car trouble and couldn’t get here. I just need someone to help pour coffee and box things up. Do you mind? Just until this line dies down?”

Elliott glanced around. Why not? “Sure, I can do that.” She rounded the corner and put her purse down. “Just tell me what to do.”

“Wash your hands. Sink’s back there.”

Elliott did as she was told and spent the next hour helping Blythe with her customers. The setup here was pretty different from Starbucks, but she could follow directions. The pies, tarts, and cakes were already pre-sliced, so all she had to do was put things on plates or into pre-sectioned boxes. There was a minor snafu with a chocolate mousse brownie that ended up on the floor, and Elliott was just glad Yuka hadn’t been there to witness it. She might have cried or eaten it straight off the floor.

When they’d cleared out the line, Blythe handed Elliott a bottle of water. “Thank you so much. You saved my ass.”

Elliott leaned her hip against the back counter and took a long drink. “That was crazy. Is it always like that on Monday nights?”

“Didn’t used to be, but it has been getting steadily busier, which is why I started scheduling two of us here in the evenings. Being on my own tonight confirmed how necessary that is.”

“Agreed.”

Blythe pushed hair back from her face. “You get to take some credit for that, you know.”

That was taking it a little too far, but Elliott grinned despite herself. This was exactly why she loved this job. “Not true. Your food is that good.”

“Obviously,” Blythe allowed. “But most of the new business has been driven by online orders. Which you set up for me.”

“Okay, okay.” Elliott laughed. “I’ll own that. But really, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me. This place is the best in town, and soon you’ll be voted Best Bakery inEnjoy Omahamagazine.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

“Ready to see the menus? Or do you wanna wait until you close?” They had five minutes to go, and Elliott was in no hurry.

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