Page 109 of This Moment

Laughing, Opal nodded. “Yes, it does. Mondays used to be our slowest day, but now it is right up there with Friday and Saturday.”

“I’m glad,” I replied. “That makes me very happy for you.”

“It should make you happy as well!” Opal said.

“Of course! Yes. When the bakery is successful, we all benefit from it.”

Opal looked at Macy, who nodded.

“Cadie, since Jake came back into my life, everything has changed. I’ve enjoyed my days off, thanks to you.”

I smiled.

“But I want more. I want a life I never allowed myself to have before. So, I’ve decided that I’m retiring.”

My mouth fell open. “You’re selling the bakery?”

Opal’s eyes widened. “Oh no, well, not really.”

Confused, I looked between Macy, Opal, and Jake. I couldn’t read any of their faces at all. “I’m confused.”

Macy walked up and placed a folder on the table.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Open it,” Opal stated.

When I opened the folder, I started reading an attorney’s letter. It was prepared by Trey Carter, Macy and Kian’s uncle, who ran the family law firm in Moose Village. I kept reading, and my heart felt like it might leap out of my chest the farther I got.

“You’re transferring ownership of the bakery to me?”

Opal smiled. “Yes.”

“How? If you’re not selling it to me…how?”

“Opal can legally ‘gift’ you the bakery without receiving payment. This is often done when you want to transfer ownership between families. There is a gift tax, though, and we do want you to make sure you see that.”

I nodded. “I saw that, but, Opal, are you sure? You could just have me run the bakery and you keep ownership.” I looked at Macy, who smiled once again.

“Opal has been talking about selling the bakery even before you showed up, Cadie. Opal trusts that you’ll carry on with what she has worked so hard to build. If she trusts you to do it, then so do I.”

My hand went to my chest, and I blinked several times to keep the tears at bay. “I don’t…I don’t know what to say.”

Reaching for my hand, Opal said, “Say yes!”

Words were lost on me, and I opened and closed my mouth about half a dozen times.

Jake laughed. “I think the girl is speechless.”

Macy pulled out more paperwork. “All you have to do is look over this and sign it; the bakery is yours after that. The only thing is you have to agree to keep the name. Batter Up Bakery is a staple here in Moose Village and the surrounding areas.”

I nodded and wiped my tears from my face. “Of course.”

“You also have to keep Katherine on for as long as she wants. And continue to allow her to live in the apartment upstairs,” Opal added while wagging her finger at me.

“Yes, I adore Katherine.”

Jake stood. “Perfect! Now we can plan that cruise.”

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