Page 28 of The Holiday Swap

“But you’re amazing at what you do,” Walter said, so earnestly. “You always tell me the truly talented pastry chef is one who can master the basics and understand the fundamentals rather than all the... What is it you call it?”

Charlie had no clue. “Um...”

“Razzle-dazzle! That’s what you always say. That those fancy restaurant desserts and the ones on television are just a lot of razzle-dazzle.”

“Right,” Charlie said, her smile fading. Was that really what Cass thought of her work?

“I want to go to culinary school, like Charlie, and I thought that between working here and getting some experience on a show likeSweet and Salty, well, I’d have an easier time getting in?”

“I’d be happy to write you a glowing reference.”

Charlie bent down to check on the lemon squares she’d put in the oven earlier. “I don’t know how anyone lives in Starlight Peak past high school, to be honest.” She froze, realizing her mistake. “I mean, I don’t know how anyone who wants to be aworld-class pastry cheflives here forever.”

“But you’re world-class! Andyoulive here not because you have to, but because you want to.”

Charlie considered that. It had been years since she’d left Starlight Peak, and her family always assumed she would be the one to go because her aspirations stretched beyond what the bakery could offer. That meant that Cass, who had never expressed a desire to leave their hometown, would stay and help their parents with Woodburn Breads. But now Charlie wondered if Cass ever felt stifled here. If it really had been as easy for her to stay as it had been for Charlie to leave.

Charlie pushed aside this niggling doubt, and the hint of guiltthat came with it, and smiled at Walter. “Listen, IknowCharlie would love to talk to you. I promise to hook you two up as soon as the show wraps and we get through the holidays, okay?”

“Thanks, Cass.” Walter was about to go back to his dough rolling when the bakery’s phone rang. “Happy Holidays! Woodburn Breads, Walter speaking.”

A moment later he held out the handset. “It’s for you.”

Charlie slid off her oven mitts, then took the handset from Walter. “Char—Cass speaking.” She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, annoyed at her endless mistakes. By the time she finally got the hang of things, it would be time to switch back.

“Cass?” A familiar voice greeted her.

“Hey, Jake.” Her stomach flip-flopped, and she glanced over at Walter, who seemed oblivious to her change in demeanor.

“I hope I’m not calling too early,” he said. Then she heard him muffle the phone on his end while he spoke with someone. “Before I forget, Gran would like to order a dozen lemon squares for her book club. Clearly that’s the priority here this morning... at six-thirty a.m.”

Charlie laughed as she wrote the order down in the book. “I just took some out of the oven. We’ll box them up for her.”

“Hey, thanks,” Jake said, and Charlie twisted the cord around her fingers, her whole body warming as she remembered the evening before—something she had been trying to avoid thinking about all morning. “So, I thought I could come by later to scope out some shots, once the bakery closes? Only if it works for you. I know you’re pretty slammed right now.”

“That works,” Charlie said, her mood lifted even further by the prospect of seeing Jake again. She tried to tell herself her excitement was more about getting the photos done and the website upand running, rather than the person on the other end of the phone. But she knew it wasn’t true. “What time are you thinking?”

“How about five-thirty?”

“That’s perfect. Can’t wait.” Walter looked over now, his eyebrows raised. She smiled at him, aware she was blushing.

“Me, too. Okay, see you then, Cass. And Gran says thanks for the lemon squares.”

Charlie hung up the phone, her smile still in place.

“How’s Jake doing?” Walter asked, cutting out sections of gingerbread for baking.

“Good! Yeah, he was just calling about lemon squares. And, well, I was thinking this place needs more of an online presence, and Jake offered to take some photos for us, for a website.” Charlie focused on transferring the squares to the cooling racks. “I was thinking maybe we could start some sort of livestream of the bakery?”

Walter wiped his hands on his apron, then walked over and pressed a palm against Charlie’s forehead. “Nope, no temperature.”

“Very funny,” Charlie said. She bent her head over the lemon squares, hoping to detect their fragrant smell.Nothing.

“But your parents prefer the old-fashioned way, right?” Walter said. “No website, no social media, a landline.”

“If a chain bakery moves into town and Woodburn Breads hasn’t joined the twenty-first century... I’m worried what that could mean for business.” Charlie may have only been tasked with running the bakery for the week, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help her family—and the future of Woodburn Breads—in a more permanent way.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Walter said. “You know, Live.Li could be a good option.”

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