Chapter 24
Alex
Iknock against Emma’s door and wait for her to answer. When she does, she smiles, her eyes falling on the bouquet of red roses I’m holding in front of me.
“I’m hoping this will suffice as both an apology and congratulations.”
Emma laughs. “You apologized enough last night, Alex. Come on in.”
I step inside, planting a kiss on her cheek. She takes the flowers, telling me she’ll put them in water.
“Thank you for these,” she says. “I love them.”
“I’m glad.” I look around the apartment. Frankie’s on the couch, his head resting on a pillow. I walk over to scratch his head. “How do you feel about winning the competition?”
She turns to me, her face brightening. “Like I’m dreaming. I honestly never thought I’d actually win.”
“You deserve it, Emma. Truly.”
“That means a lot, Alex,” she says. “So, tell me, during the taste tests, did you know which was mine?”
I considered the question. Truth is, I wondered, but I wasn’t quite sure. It’s safe to say Emma surprised me, yet again. “I didn’t,” I tell her. “So, tell me something. What changed your mind? You’ve always been so set on traditional, and even during your preparations, you went traditional. What changed during the competition?”
Emma gives me a coy smile, shrugging nonchalantly. “That’s for me to know, and you to not, Mr. Critic.”
I laugh. “Fair enough. You ready to go?”
We’re heading to the park for our official first date. To redo the date I unintentionally stood her up on. After we left the town hall last evening, Emma and I took a walk to her apartment together, and I was able to explain everything. She was understandably still hurt, but I know she’s forgiven me.
“I am,” Emma says, grabbing her handbag by the door. “But first, we need to stop by Elmwood Falls Heritage Bakery. Mrs. Marlow has requested a chat.”
I raise a brow. “Think she’ll give you your job back?”
“I don’t know,” she says, opening the door. We step into the hallway. After she locks the door, we make our way toward the exit. “If she does, should I take it?”
I take her hand in mine. “I won’t tell you what to do, Emma. However, I will say I realized after you were fired from the bakery how much time and energy you put into Heritage Bakery. There’s certainly a distinct method from both of you, which I believe I’ve mentioned earlier. In my opinion, you are meant to do so much more than that bakery. But it all comes down to your happiness. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you. I hope you know that.”
“I do, Alex. And I’m so thankful to you. I feel like you’re right. Mrs. Marlow is a nice lady, but everyone I know has always told me she was holding me back. And I can see that now.”
I smile to myself as I say, “Seems you already know what your answer will be should she offer you the job.”
“Seems that way,” she says quietly.
When we reach the bakery, I open the door for Emma and then follow her inside. Mrs. Marlow is behind the counter, her back to us. Hearing the bell chime, she turns and offers a smile.
“Thank you for coming, Emma.”
“Of course, Mrs. Marlow,” Emma says. “How are you?”
“Hanging in there, dear. I hear congratulations are in order. It’s quite an achievement, winning that competition yesterday.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
Mrs. Marlow hesitates, then sets down the oven mitt she’s holding with a heavy sigh. As she walks around the counter, she says, “Emma, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since you…left.”
I bite my tongue to keep from pointing out that Emma didn’t simply leave, she was fired.
“I understand why what happened, happened,” Emma says. “No hard feelings, Mrs. Marlow. I was in the wrong. And I am sorry. Not that I did it, but because I betrayed your trust in me while you were gone. That was wrong.”
Mrs. Marlow’s lip twitches into a brief smile before she fills the minute-long silence. “I appreciate that, Emma. However, I’ve come to realize how wrong I was to let you go.” Mrs. Marlow’s gaze settles on me for a minute. “The day I let you go, Mr. Carter here came into the bakery. I offered him a brownie, and he commented that they were dry.”
Emma looks up at me, then back at Mrs. Marlow. “He doesn’t care for brownies.”
“Obviously,” Mrs. Marlow says. “Though after tasting one after he left, I must admit he was correct in his assessment. You’re the better pastry chef, Emma. I’d be honored if you’d come back to work for me.”
My heart’s racing as the silence in the empty bakery stretches long. I don’t want Emma to take the offer. I really don’t want her to. But I won’t try to convince her otherwise.
“Thank you, Mrs. Marlow,” Emma says finally.
Mrs. Marlow smiles. “You can start tomorrow morning, I’ll—”
“But I’m afraid I have to decline,” Emma interrupts. “Don’t get me wrong. I loved working here. But I need more than this.”
“You’re welcome to introduce any pastry item you’d like,” Mrs. Marlow urges.
“For as long as I’m working at Elmwood Falls Heritage Bakery, I might lose out on opportunities that fit me better. Opportunities that’ll allow me to own my own bakery one day. It’s my dream, and for as long as I’m here, I may not be able to live that dream.”
Another silence passes before Mrs. Marlow nods. “I understand, Emma.”
Walking up to the older woman, Emma takes her hand. “Thank you so much for taking a chance on me when you first gave me this job all those years ago. I’ll never forget it. And I have learned so much from you. Elmwood Falls Heritage Bakery has been a home away from home.”
“It’ll always be your home, dear,” Mrs. Marlow says softly.
Emma reaches out to embrace her former boss, then when she steps away, she heads for the door.
“Emma?” Mrs. Marlow says.
Emma turns back.
“Good luck on your endeavors. I know you’ll do well.”
Emma only smiles as she pushes the door open.
After we’re outside, she says, “You know, I feel like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”
“I’m glad,” I tell her.
“Listen, before we go to the park, I want to take a detour, if you don’t mind.”
She smiles up at me, making my heart skip several bits. How she manages to do that every time we’re together, I’ll never know. I don’t even believe I care. All I care is that we’re together now.
“I’ll go anywhere with you, Alex Carter,” she tells me.
“Good.” I pause a beat. “You know, I’ve known you for a long while now. I know how upset you were when the bakery you wanted was sold.”
I hear her let out a sad sigh.
“Yeah, I hated it. There’s not a lot of places that fit my expectations. But that building, from the second I looked at it, I knew it was the one.” She shrugs. “Or I thought it was the one. I do hope I find something I want just as much. Do you think I will?”
She looks up at me.
“I do,” I tell her.
“I hope so.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, walking through the small town that’s somehow woven itself around my heart. Exotic places such as Paris and Italy will always hold a piece of me, but Elmwood Falls, with its quaint charm and warmth, has etched a special place that I hadn’t expected.
“It’s a nice building, Emma,” I start, my voice tinged with a hint of something I hope she picks up as anticipation. “And it’s exactly what you deserve.”
We round the corner, and there it is—the bakery she’d set her heart on, the one she thought she lost. I watch her closely, eager to see her reaction.
As we approach, I can tell Emma’s puzzled by why we’re here. Her steps slow, a frown forming as she takes in the view.
“Why are we here, Alex?” She turns to look at me. “This isn’t a good way to start our first date.”
I chuckle softly, unable to keep the joy at bay any longer. “Well…I made a few calls. Spoke to the owners. Told them about an incredibly talented and passionate baker who deserved this place more than anyone.”
She turns to face me, disbelief and hope mingling in her gaze. “You did what?”
I step closer, taking her hands in mine. “I convinced them to sell it to you, Emma. That night we stood in front of the bakery, I knew how much it meant to you. I knew then it was this place or nothing. And when it was sold, well, I wanted to make your dream come true.”
Her eyes flit to the bakery, then back to me, searching. “But why?”
“Because I believe in you, Emma. In your talent, your passion. And,” I pause, swallowing the sudden tightness in my throat, “I believe in us. I wanted to give you a place where you can bring all your dreams to life.”
For a moment, she’s silent, her eyes darting back to the bakery. That’s when she notices it—the new sign above the door, elegant and inviting: A Dash of Love.
Her gasp is soft, but filled with so much emotion. “A Dash of Love?”
I nod, my heart hammering. “Yes. Because that’s what you’ve brought into my life, Emma. And I can’t wait to see all the love you’ll pour into this place. As a very good friend recently told me, ‘all one needs is just a dash of love to set the world right.’ That same friend also told me not to hesitate to tell you how I feel about you.”
Emma steps into my embrace, her arms winding around me as she buries her face in my chest. “I don’t know what to say, Alex. This is…it’s everything. It’s so perfect.”
I hold her tight, my emotions swirling. “You don’t have to say anything. Just promise me you’ll make the world a sweeter place, one pastry at a time.”
She laughs, the sound mingling with the light breeze, and I know, in this moment, we’re starting something beautiful. Not just with the bakery, but with us. Elmwood Falls might have captured my heart, but Emma, she’s the one who’s made it soar.