Page 123 of Frosting and Flames

What is she talking about? “I told you we need help.”

“No, I know. But even with just the three of you.” She makes a little huff. “Cathy said the place is thriving.”

Who’s Cathy? Oh, Mrs. Montour. I never think of her having a first name.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Of course.” She sounds annoyed.

“So, what’s the problem?”

There’s silence, and then what sounds like a tussle, a faintgive me thatcoming over the line.

“Rachel?”

“Hi, Dad.”

I haven’t heard from him at all since they left, but that’s not unusual. He’s not much of a talker. Or more like he’s grown used to Mom talking over him and decided not to bother anymore.

“What your mother is trying to say is that she wishes you needed her more.”

There’s a muffledyou weren’t supposed to tell her thatand then Mom comes back on the line, sounding embarrassed. “It sounds silly when he says it like that.”

I take a moment to think about it, then give up applying logic. Mom and logic don’t mix. “How is it supposed to sound?”

She gives a half-hearted laugh, attempting to appear breezy, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. “I…”

“Have you been wanting us to struggle?”

“Well, no—”

“So, what? We’ll beg you to come back or something? And say that we need you?”

“No, you’re twisting my words.”

“Then explain.”

She sighs. “It just would be nice to feel appreciated. To know we’re actually missed. Instead, it’s allstaffing needsandwe’re missing forty percent of the workforce. Notwe’re missing you, Mom and Dad.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I can’t believe I messed up this badly.

I mean, obviously I didn’t mess up. Mom’s batshit crazy. But in all the madness of working so much and everything going on with both Nick and Kyle, I forgot the number one rule of dealing with Mom.

Make it emotional.

She doesn’t respond to facts and figures the way any rational person would. She needs a personal connection.

“Of course we miss you,” I tell her gently. “And your absence is so noticeable in the bakery, both by us and the customers.”

“It is?” She can’t hide the delight in her voice.

“Yes. And us needing some help isn’t trying to replace you in any way. It’s actually a testament to how much you do.”

She makes ahmmsound. “I guess I was hoping a little you couldn’t do it without me,” she admits.

Her thought process is completely fucked up, but calling her out on essentially sabotaging us won’t solve my problems. Stuff like this is exactly why I had to come back to Aurora in the first place.

“I am proud that you have things under control,” she continues. “And maybe a bit jealous that running the bakery comes so easily to you.”

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