Chapter 18

SARAH

Sarah tilted her head as she listened to the bell tinkle overhead when she entered Silver Reflections. The bell always made her think of Amelia, the way her daughter could make any day seem happier. The shop was empty except for an elderly couple who was finishing their purchase, a smiling Grace helping them at the cash register.

“Hey,” Indie called as she placed a tray full of rings into the cabinet and locked the door.

“Hey.” Sarah walked over to the bassinet where her nephew slept and placed a gentle kiss on his blond hair. She loved her soon-to-be sister-in-law. She was so capable and confident and inspired Sarah to take the next step in her culinary journey. “Do you have some free time?”

They greeted the couple as they left the shop and Indie looked over at Grace who waved her hand. “Go. I’ll watch Connor as long as you bring me churros from Pablo’s stand,” Grace said.

“That will be my treat.” Sarah laughed.

“Thanks, Grace.” Indie grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and led the way out the door. She hooked her arm through Sarah’s and stared at her.

“What?” Sarah asked, feeling the blush sting her cheeks.

“You look…happy. Is it Gabe?”

Sarah shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since the christening. He’ll text me to ask about Amelia but says that work’s been keeping him pretty busy.”

“Wait till I get that…that…stubborn donkey alone in a dark alley after midnight! I swear! I thought he was smarter than that!”

Sarah’s heart melted at Indie’s indignation on her behalf. She couldn’t help but smile at the idea of the five-foot-six Indigo taking on the six-foot-three military-trained giant in a dark alley. She would lay down odds that Indie would win with little effort, spearing Gabriel with a flash of her golden eyes. Sarah wished she had as much courage as her friend to fight for her happiness.

After her disaster of an involvement with Christiano, when she realized that she had been fighting a losing battle, her fight had turned to make her daughter happy, and nothing was important enough to ignite that passion in her…until Gabriel Von Ashner came along.

And for a while, he showed her what it was like to be…cherished…until he had shut her out without a reason, avoiding their weekly get-togethers at his grandmother’s house, somehow always working. Even at church, he had taken to the habit of slipping into the last pew just before the service started, and then slipping out just before it ended. Sarah knew he was there without needing to turn her head because she could ~feel~ his presence behind them, and the way her skin warmed as if he was touching her with those magnetic blue eyes of his. She missed him.

She leaned over and kissed Indie’s cheek. The only person who would defend her without question was Sethford, but that was because she was his older sister, even if it was by four minutes. “Thanks, but Gabe is not the theme of my day today.”

“Oh? Really?” Indie gasped in shock as she arched her eyebrow at Sarah.

“Yep. Really,” Sarah breathed as she stopped in front of the bakery. It was one of the original buildings on the block, and still maintained its beautiful red brickwork. The windows were large, and Sarah had always been in love with the old-fashioned curly font painted in gold across them. The sign hanging from the door was candy-pink with the same gold writing. “This is.”

“Old man Griffin’s place?” Indie asked in confusion.

“Yes,” Sarah whispered, unable to speak louder in case she broke the spell the place had woven into her soul. The bakery had been empty for some months after old man Griffin had a stroke, none of his six kids or eight grandkids were interested in taking ownership. When Sarah found out he was going to sell it, she spoke to Seth who helped her put a down payment on it, Mr. Griffin sold it to Sarah with all the equipment for a kiss and a song on condition that she incorporated the name into the new bakery.

Indie looked up at Sarah, then glanced at the shop, suspicion darkened her eyes as she looked at her friend again before looking at the shop, then turned to see her own silver sign a few doors down. “Oh, no! This is the worst idea ever!”

“~What~?!” Sarah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Seth had been completely supportive of her and even Indie had told her to go on her own. She didn’t understand Indie’s reaction. “What do you mean it’s the worst idea? ~You~ told me to take the plunge!”

“I did, and I meant it. I just didn’t mean four doors away from my shop!”

“Indie, you’re not making sense. I thought this was perfect,” Sarah whispered, swallowing the tears that threatened to fall.

“No, Sarah. It’s not perfect for me.”

Sarah tried to unhook her arm from Indie, but her friend held on tighter.

“Can you imagine how often Grace, or I will be emptying your shelves? You’ll make a killing, but we’ll be as big as buses! Your brother will run to the next county.”

Sarah blinked away her disappointment and then gaped at her friend. “Wait. What?”

“Old man Griffin’s pastries had nothing on your croissants with that blueberry jam filling. We’ll probably buy them before they come out of the oven and leave none for your customers. We won’t visit Jimmy’s for lunch or get dumplings from Lani. We’d have to pass you before we get to them. They’re not going to be happy.”

“I—I was hoping we’d have breakfast together before we had to open our places, and Connor could come to spend some time with Amelia and me when we bake Christmas cookies.”

Indie frowned at her. “Only Connor, huh?”

“Well, you’re not too bad with a piping bag.”

Indie looked up at the romantic façade and then squealed as she turned to Sarah and took her in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you! This is wonderful! Oh, Sarah, I’m so proud of you!”

“You are?”

“Of course I am!”

“But, all that about—”

“Seth will just have to deal with a few extra pounds of me while I support my new sister. Come on, show me what you’re planning!”

With an excited giggle, Sarah led Indie into the empty bakery and laid out her ideas, her hands flying across the spaces as she described the images she envisioned.

***

“Hey, Sar,” Seth greeted her as he entered the apartment.

“Hey. I thought you were going to Indie’s?” Seth spent most of his nights at Indie’s place now that Connor was born, but the darkness in her brother’s green eyes told their own story.

He shook his head slowly. “I need to wash this day from me before I head over there.”

“Okay,” Sarah said softly as she put the tray of cinnamon buns into the oven. “These will be ready when you want to leave.”

“Indie will never forgive me if I forget those.” He smiled as he hugged her close.

“Pops!” Amelia cheered when she heard his voice and they laughed when she ran into the kitchen and straight into his arms. “Are you going to Connor? Can I come? Can I share my gummy worms with him?”

“Whoa!” Seth laughed, kissing Elli’s cheek. “He’s still a bit young for gummy worms, bambina. But I tell you what…”

Elli lifted her eyebrows as she looked at her uncle. “What?”

“On Friday, while Mommy is at work, Indie and Connor will visit here, and you can help us read him stories.”

Sarah smiled as her little girl’s face lit up. She was glad that Seth had not changed his relationship with Amelia when he and Indie became a couple. He was the closest to a father figure for Amelia, and Indie had accepted that with the grace that was typical of her. When Seth took Elli for their usual Saturday milkshake dates, Indie and Connor made cookies with Sarah, and she never interfered with the arrangement Seth and Sarah had about taking care of Amelia when she worked. Indie had accepted that Sarah and Amelia were a part of Seth’s life, and her brother had kept his vow.

“When are you letting Ricky know that you’re finishing?” Seth asked, making himself comfortable on the counter.

“Last night, in fact. He asked me to stay till the end of the month till I’ve trained Selena to take over. She’s good and capable.”

“And you’re sticking to the name ‘M And G’s Melting Gateau’?”

“Yep,” she confirmed as she wiped the counter, knocking against Seth’s hip to get him to move. She took a deep breath as she saw the line of flour on his black uniform pants. Before she could scold him, Seth leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“I’m proud of you, Sar.” And with that, he left to take his shower, leaving Sarah with a silly smile on her face and her heart full of love for her twin brother.