Chapter 24
“What’s going on? Is everyone okay?” Sophia’s hands fell to her sides, and she glanced around the half-empty kitchen.
Without the usual sound of pots and pans banging, it was unusually quiet, with half of the kitchen staff standing near the double doors that led out into the main part of the bakery, arms folded over their chests and wearing identical determined expressions.
The crowd parted, and Valerie stepped out, sleek hair falling down her shoulders and a cruel glint in her eyes. “This is all your fault.”
Sophia blinked. “My fault? How? I don’t even know what you’re doing.”
“We’re staging a walkout,” Valerie announced with a quick look around the kitchen. “These are all the people who agree that I should’ve been chosen as Nora’s successor, and they’re willing to walk out of here with me.”
Sophia glanced between Valerie and the other employees who wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Have you spoken to Nora? What are your demands?”
Valerie’s expression turned triumphant. “Turn down the manager position, submit your resignation, effectively immediately, and we’ll consider staying.”
Sophia frowned and ignored the tight knots in her stomach. “That doesn’t sound like a fair deal. I can’t do all of that in the hopes that you’ll maybe change your mind. Going to need some kind of guarantee that you’re not going to screw Nora’s over.”
Because even if Sophia doubted her own worth and her leadership skills, it didn’t mean she was going to leave Nora’s without a fight—and in Valerie’s hands, of all people. Already, Valerie was proving that her own needs and wants came before the bakery’s, and Sophia knew enough to realize that didn’t make her a good manager.
Valerie scowled. “You’re one to talk. You’re the reason we’re in this mess. If you hadn’t swooped in and stolen the promotion out from under me—”
“I didn’t sweep in and steal anything, Valerie,” Sophia interrupted with a pointed look. “I might not have worked here as long as you, but I’ve been in the business a lot longer, and at the end of the day, Nora wanted me. That’s all that matters. You need to respect that.”
“And you need to get on board.” Nora materialized by Sophia’s side, an eerily calm expression on her face. “If you don’t like the changes I’m making, you’re welcome to leave. But I am the owner of Nora’s Delights, and this is my decision.”
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.
Nora stepped forward, and her eyes swept over the room. “If anyone has any kind of problems, now is your chance to talk. Let’s see if we can come to a satisfying compromise together.”
A few of the employees coughed, but no one said a thing.
“Don’t be unreasonable, Valerie.” Nora twisted to face her and gave her a tight smile. “It’s not too late to do the mature thing.”
Valerie sputtered, and her face turned bright red. “You’re the one who did the wrong thing. I’m the best thing that ever happened to this bakery. You’ll regret not choosing me.”
With that, Valerie spun on her heels and stomped off.
After a brief hesitation, a few of the people who’d rallied around her followed, earning a few curious looks from the regulars. The rest of the employees scurried back behind the counter and busied themselves around the kitchen.
Nora and Sophia were in her office, discussing the next plan, when Emily came in, a slew of her employees behind her.
Wordlessly, she gestured to the kitchen, and they went to work.
“What’s going on?”
“I heard about what happened, and I wanted to help.” Emily stepped forward and held her hand out. “Hi, I’m Emily Mason, Sophia’s cousin and owner of Decadent Treats. I know we haven’t officially met, and we’re supposed to be rivals, but I’m a big fan of your work.”
In a daze, Nora rose to her feet and gave Emily’s hand a quick shake. “I see no need for us to compete. There’s plenty of room for both of us.”
Emily nodded. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. I’ve already spoken to some of my staff, and a few of them agreed to help out here until you can find replacements. They’ll be splitting their time between both bakeries if that’s okay with you.”
Nora sank back against her chair, her lips lifting into a half smile. “Yes, of course, that’s okay with me. Thank you. That’s very nice of you.”
Emily draped an arm over Sophia’s shoulders and squeezed. “I’m happy to help. We ladies have to support one another, don’t we?”
“Thank you.” Sophia turned to face her cousin and gave her a genuine smile. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”
Emily removed her arm and waved Sophia’s comment away. “You would’ve managed just fine because you’re a survivor, and I’ve seen you overcome a lot. You’ve got to have a bit more faith in yourself, cous.”
“That’s what I keep telling her.” Nora glanced between the two of them, and her smile grew wider. “I’m glad we’re all on the same page. Sophia, why don’t you take a beat?”
“What?”
“Take an hour or something to clear your head. Talk to your cousin. I’ve got everything under control here.”
“But—”
“That’s a direct order from your boss.” Nora gave her a quick wink before reaching for the phone on her desk. “Now, go.”
After they left Nora’s office, Sophia pulled Emily into the locker room, threw her arms around her cousin, and exhaled. “You really are a lifesaver.”
And Sophia had no idea what she would’ve done if Emily hadn’t walked in when she did. Half of her had been gearing up to offer her resignation and run after Valerie to beg her to come back. She’d even envisioned herself on her hands and knees while Valerie gloated and smirked.
For the good of the bakery, Sophia would’ve done anything.
It was a good thing Emily had saved her from doing something she would’ve regretted for the rest of her life.
When she pulled back from the hug, Emily took her hand and led her through the double doors toward one of the booths in the back.
Emily started scanning the menu as soon as she sat down. “You know, I can see you putting your stamp on this place. You and Nora have similar styles.”
Sophia sank into the booth opposite her and buried her face in her hands. “Except Nora knows what she wants. I don’t want to be ungrateful after everything Nora’s done for me, but I’m not even sure she made the right decision.”
Emily set the menu down and linked her fingers together. “What are you talking about? Of course, she made the right decision.”
Sophia lifted her head and glanced around the half-full bakery. She swung her gaze back to her cousin and ignored the twinge in the center of her chest. “Half of the stuff walked out because of me.”
“Half of the staff walked out because of Valerie,” Emily corrected with a shake of her head. “There’s a big difference, and most of them will be back by tomorrow once they realize what idiots they’re being.”
“And what if they don’t?”
“Then it’s a good thing the rats abandoned the ship, didn’t they? You don’t want employees you can’t count on.”
“How am I supposed to expand or have a mobile bakery all over the town if the staff doesn’t even want me?”
Emily leaned forward and reached for Sophia’s hands. “You’ll figure it out. There’s a learning curve, Soph.”
Sophia swallowed past the lump in her throat, her chest still tight. “What if Nora’s made a mistake? I’m not exactly the shining example of success after having to start over.”
Emily snorted. “You think people figure it out right away? Soph, everyone screws up and makes mistakes when they have to start from scratch. It’s just that some people hide it better than others.”
The knots in the center of her stomach unfurled. “Really?”
Emily released Sophia’s hands and nodded. “Oh, absolutely. You should’ve seen me the first year I opened up Decadent Treats. I was a mess, but I managed to pull myself together and turn things around.”
“How?”
“You take it one step at a time, and you surround yourself with people who care about you and who will help you succeed.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
Emily threw her head back and laughed. “Far from it, but listen, you’re not alone. I’m going to be there to help you every step of the way.”
“Lucy?” Sophia kicked her shoes off and set her purse down by the door. “What are you doing here? Are you okay? Are the kids and Ian okay?”
Lucy rose to her feet, and Teddy followed her. “Everyone’s fine. Your dad let me in on his way out to the store. I hope it’s okay that I’m here.”
Sophia wiped her hands on the back of her jeans. “Yeah, of course, it’s okay. Is everything alright?”
Lucy’s hand went to her hair. “No, I didn’t know where else to go. I’m sorry. I know you’re Ian’s sister, and I have no right to put you in the middle, but I—”
Sophia crossed over to Lucy in a few strides and pulled her in for a hug.
Lucy’s shoulders shook, and her voice was scratchy and hoarse. “I just don’t know if I can do it anymore. Ian has been putting in a lot of hours at the station and volunteering for dangerous cases, and I just can’t keep doing this.”
Sophia drew back and led Lucy back to the couch.
After draping a blanket over Lucy’s lap, Sophia stepped into the kitchen and rummaged through the cupboards. While she waited for the kettle to boil, she messaged Ian and tucked her phone back into her pocket. Then she carried two mugs of steaming hot chamomile and a bowl of nuts out into the living room.
Instinctively, Lucy reached for the mug and curled her fingers around it. “I don’t know how you did it when you were married to Darren. It’s so hard.”
“Being married to someone who has dedicated their lives to helping others is,” Sophia agreed, pausing to blow on her tea. She winced when the hot liquid stung her tongue. “But we knew what we signed up for, right?”
Lucy’s grip on the mug tightened. “I don’t know. Sometimes, I think I know exactly what I signed up for. Other times, I wonder if I was just kidding myself. What if I thought I was okay with it because I didn’t think it was forever?”
“Have you spoken to Ian about this?”
Lucy turned tear-filled eyes to Sophia and shook her head. “I don’t know how. I don’t want to be that wife, you know. I don’t want him to think of me as selfish.”
“Worrying about your husband isn’t selfish.” Sophia took a few more sips of her tea and set it down. “I think you should talk to Ian. Communication is really important in cases like this. It’s how Darren and I managed.”
“I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“Start at the beginning,” Sophia offered with a small smile. “I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Before Lucy could respond, someone rapped on the front door. Sophia got up and opened the door to reveal a frantic-looking Ian. He stepped in—his uniform wrinkled—swept Lucy into his arms, and buried his head in the crook of her neck. Sophia brushed past them and opened the back door that led into the hallway connecting her apartment to the main house.
Wordlessly, Ian took Lucy’s hand and led her away.
Sophia spun around, and her hand flew to her chest when she realized a shirtless Darren was standing in the doorway to her old room, his hair a ruffled mess on top of his head and his eyes heavy with sleep. Her stomach gave an odd little dip when he pushed himself off the wall and raked his fingers through his hair.
“What did I miss? Was that Ian and Lucy?”
“Yeah, Lucy and I were talking about how hard it is to be in love with men who have lives dedicated to saving people. It’s difficult to know that you guys willingly put yourselves in danger for others.”
Darren nodded. “Yeah, I’m—hold on a second; did you say how hard it is?”
Sophia paused, took a deep, calming breath, and then nodded. “I did.”
“Not how hard it was to be in love?” Darren’s eyes searched her face, a strange glimmer in her eyes. “Sophia Railings Cheff, are you trying to tell me that you still have the hots for me?”
Sophia covered the distance between them, pushed herself up on the tips of her toes, and kissed him. Her heart was thundering now, drowning out almost everything else. “No, you dummy. I’m saying that I’m still in love with you. I’ve never stopped loving you, Darren.”
Darren’s lips spread into a grin. “Well, it’s about time. Jeez, I was beginning to think I was going to actually have to move in here and give up wearing shirts forever to get you to admit that you still loved me.”
Sophia slapped his arm. “You could’ve just said something.”
“And miss out on this?” Darren wrapped his arms around her waist and brought his forehead to rest against hers. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Soph.”
Before they could say anything else, Darren’s emergency phone went off, and he had to race out the door. He gave her a bright smile before the door clicked shut behind him, and Sophia sagged against the nearest wall, heart hammering unsteadily against her chest.
She had no idea if kissing Darren and admitting her feelings was the right move, but she did know that she didn’t regret it one bit.