Page 124 of Frosting and Flames

Ah. So that’s what it boils down to. “Just because I’m handling it doesn’t mean I’m not drowning. I’m only human.”

“You are,” she agrees.

“So, are you on board with us hiring someone else in your absence?”

“I suppose,” she concedes.

Great. “Then as a gesture of good faith, I’ll work with Sydney to developoneof the ideas you’ve sent inspired by your travels. Within the budget,” I add, before she can get carried away.

“Oh, I had the best idea for these hand-painted marzipan figures of European landmarks. We could get molds of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower.”

That’s going to be a hard pass from me, but we’ll cross that bridge later.

I listen to her ramble on for a few more minutes, her latest obsession with baklava since they’re in Greece right now. Even she agrees we’re not making phyllo dough by hand, though.

“I also heard another little something from Cathy,” she says, mischief in her voice. “That you’re dating someone. Even though you’reso busyat the bakery.”

I roll my eyes. She never learns. “Yes, I have a boyfriend.”

“Well, who is it? She wouldn’t tell me who.”

I pause. I never considered what Mom and Dad may think of Nick. I was more concerned with my sisters’ opinions. “It’s Nick Henderson.”

“Oh.” She sounds taken aback, and I wince.

“He sincerely apologized for what he did as a teenager,” I tell her. “Even though it was an accident. And I… I really love him.”

“Oh, honey.” I relax at the warmth in her voice. “That’s wonderful. Honestly. I admit, I’ve kept my distance from him. But I’ve only heard good things about him lately. It sounds like he’s turned things around. And Cathy speaks highly of him.”

My heart gives a warm, fuzzy squeeze in my chest. It’s nice to hear others recognize him for the good person he is.

“Maybe we can all get together for dinner when you get back,” I suggest. “So you can get to know him.”

“I’d love that.”

I make chitchat with her for a little while longer, then remind her I have to finish morning prep, leaving off on a high note. Well, that’s one less thing to worry about. Now to get someone to actually apply for the job.

I relay the good news to Sydney and Hailey when I head into the back again.

“Wow, what kind of magic did you work?” Sydney asks.

I shrug. “You know dealing with her is an art form. Even though I swear she was trying to sabotage us.”

“I don’t know how you still live with them,” Sydney says to Hailey. “Don’t they drive you nuts?”

Sydney and I both moved out at eighteen, but Hailey still lives at home.

“It’s not so bad. They don’t make me pay rent, and college is expensive.”

I was lucky to get a full ride scholarship, but Hailey didn’t get the same test scores I did and is paying her tuition out of pocket while she goes part-time.

“I mean, working with Mom all day and then going home with her at night, too? Doesn’t it—”

“Can we drop it?” Hailey interrupts. “I have the apartment to myself right now, so it’s not even an issue.”

She strides away to the walk-in cooler, and Sydney gives me a look as if to say,what was that about?

I shrug again. That was pretty out of character for her, but I don’t have time at the moment to worry about it, conscious that it’s nearly six now. I need to cram as much prep as I can into the next hour before Nick gets out of work.

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