Page 87 of Fire and Icing

“She is. She’s doing great. Everything is smooth. You’re missed, but we’re holding down the fort. Don’t you worry. Just focus on winning that contest.”

“I will. Thanks,” I say. “And how’s the other baker? The one who got the city council order?”

“Vanessa? Why on earth would you be asking about her?”

“Good. Good. I’m so glad. I always thought she needed a little getaway.”

Syd pauses. I wait for her to catch on. And then it clicks.

“Wait a minute!” Syd shouts. “Vanessa’s out of town. She’s not … No way! She can’t be!”

“Sometimes you don’t know what’s going to pop up. Keep an eye out,” I tell Syd.

“She popped up at the contest? Oh, girl. Do I need to drive out there and run interference? Wait. How did she enter? She doesn’t have a partner.”

“Well, you be thejudgeof that.” I give the supervisor a look of what I hope is pure innocence.

“A judge? She’s a freaking, flipping, frogging, flaming judge?”

“Yep,” I smile widely at the guy overseeing me. “All the flaming frogs you can imagine.”

“Girl. Well, hang in there. That woman. How does she finagle her way into everything?”

“There’s no telling. We’re just doing our best. Thanks for cheering me on.”

The phone is muffled for a moment. I think I hear Syd say, “Wait. Don’t go. I’ll be right there.”

“Syd, you said you’re alone.”

“Did I? Well, there’s a customer. Customers. Always them, you know.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” I ask again.

“I’m totally fine!” She practically shouts. “Couldn’t be better. Honestly, this has been the best week. I mean, not the actual best week. It’s fine. A good week. One where I think of you returning all the time.” Her tone is so bright—too cheery. She suddenly says, “Tell Dustin I said hi.”

“I will.”

“Okay. Gotta go. Bye, Em.”

The line clicks before I even have a chance to say, “Bye, Syd.”

That was strange.

I stare at the phone like it has answers as to why Syd is acting so unusual lately. From the guarded way she responds to questions, to the way she rushed the conversation … something’s up. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not getting the whole story.

After everyone has made their phone calls home, we gather on set for today’s round of baking. This round is called Hearts on Display. We’re tasked with making a signature dessert that echoes back to the time we fell in love.

“Donuts,” Dustin says.

“What?”

“I fell in love with you over the blueberry-lemon donut.”

“You fell in love with the donut,” I correct him.

“Potato, Potahtoe,” he winks. “We need to do donuts.”

“Hmmm. You might be on to something.”

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