Page 83 of The Best I Never Had

I love the idea of having a connection to Dad outside the business. “Why’d he stop?”

She laughs, loud and unencumbered, and it fades to an indulgent smile. “You know Dad. As soon as he mastered something, the hobby wasn’t interesting to him anymore. I think his guitar phase was after that. He was always determined to do things well. You remind me of him.”

There’s a stinging behind my eyes I can’t get rid of, no matter how many times I blink. “I’ve always thought Harrison’s more like him than me. So carefree and enthusiastic.”

She smiles down at the buttercream. “I guess you were both lucky to get parts of him.”

Talking about Dad like this is nice. Her sharing stories without it being about my duty to his memory. I think this is what Dad would want, us celebrating who he was while he was alive instead of stressing about doing right by him in death. And the more I think about the way he lived, the more I think he’d encourage me to explore what I love. Something warm and vibrant expands inside me at the thought as I crumb-coat the cake tier.

“Baking again has been great.”

She pats my cheek. “I’m sorry you haven’t had time for your hobby. You’ve been working so hard, and it shows. Dad would be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

I focus on the cake to avoid looking at her. “I was thinking about starting a baking side business. Just something small out of my house for custom orders. Nothing that would take away from Hayes, but it’d be a fun way to make some extra money.”

“I’ve seen the Hayes financial reports. You don’t need to make extra money. Why don’t you just spend your free time enjoying it.”

My instinct is to back off, to take that little dismissal of my plans and dreams as a statement that I shouldn’t pursue them at all. But Thea’s thoughtful eyes flash through my mind. “This would be something I’d enjoy. I think it would be rewarding to hear people think it’s good enough to pay for.”

“And what about all your other responsibilities? You haven’t had time to bake for fun. How are you supposed to find time to bake for others?”

“I don’t know, but I’d like to explore it.”

She huffs. “And how exactly would you do that?”

I’ve been thinking the same thing. If Harrison’s serious, I could start training him. Make sure he knows the business inside out so I could have a true partner. Or, who knows, maybe let him take over Hayes completely one day.

“Harrison brought up wanting more—”

“Harrison’s still a child,” she cuts in.

Her words grate on my nerves, reminding me of what he said about Mom dismissing him. “Harrison’s not a child. He’s a grown man starting a family, and he’s older than I was when I took over as president.”

She waves the comment off. “You’re considering rearranging your life for something you don’t even know if you can do. We have a plan. Just follow it.”

“Aunt Dawn thought I was good enough for the wedding.”

“Aunt Dawn was desperate.”

The words land like a blow to the stomach. Not her saying I couldn’t do it—I’ve seen her react to enough things I’ve baked to know she thinks they’re incredible—but her trying to manipulate me into giving up what I want in favor of her plan.

I grind my teeth together. “Camila and Thea think I could do it.”

“I wouldn’t give much credence to anything they say. This is just the latest in a long line of your grandmother’s efforts to tempt you up here. She’s so conniving. First with getting Thea to move here, and now this.” The blood in my veins turns to ice. “It’s a new low, even for her.”

“What?” I say, but the word sounds far away with my blood churning in my ears. “What do you mean, Thea moving here?”

“She’s going to work for Camila, managing the restaurant.”

She’s taking a job up here? There’s no way my mom has that right. Thea wouldn’t take a job six hundred miles away from me and not say anything. We haven’t officially decided anything, but after our conversation yesterday—the way we both poured out our hearts—I can’t believe she was planning on leaving me the entire time. It’s just not possible.

Right?

Heat burns beneath my skin as I think back over our conversation. She opened up about her own fears, but she didn’t promise me anything. Hasn’t our relationship always been me seeking her out, desperate for her attention? We acknowledged we have feelings for each other, but that doesn’t mean she’s planning on a future with me. I filled in the blanks with what I wanted to see while she was busy building her own future—one that doesn’t include me.

“When did this happen?” I ask. The words feel like sandpaper in my throat.

Mom hums. “I’m not sure, but you’ve seen how chummy Camila and Thea have become. When I came down to check on Thea that night at the restaurant, the two of them were chatting, so I assume then. Camila needs the help, but it’s selfish to take Thea when there are plenty of other managers out there.”