9. EMMA
Mia”s bakery, Dough Dreams, smells like absolute heaven. It”s a small, quaint place, and the sweet aroma of fresh bread and delicious desserts surrounds me. I”m sitting on a plush chair in a corner booth. A tiny round table sits in front of me. The seats are red, and the walls are painted burgundy. There”s a chalkboard on the wall listing all the treats available for sale, and a colorful mosaic art piece hanging over the counter.
The whole place is cozy and inviting, and if it wasn”t after closing, I”m sure it would be packed. Mia is an incredible baker, and her cakes, pastries, and cookies are delicious. She”s always experimenting with different flavors, and her latest concoctions are scrumptious.
It’s probably a good thing I don’t live here anymore. Otherwise, I’d gain about fifty pounds a week from her treats.
I asked the girls for an extra get together here to talk about the new idea Sterling and I are working on. I”m enjoying a cup of coffee while we wait for Zoe, and Mia is in the back putting together a batch of lemon cupcakes.
”This place is adorable,” I yell over to her, admiring the space.
”Thanks,” she says, coming out of the kitchen and walking over to my table. “I”ve worked hard to keep it simple, but I like a bit of flair and color. It”s my happy place, you know?”
”Yes, I do,” I say with a nod. ”It”s nice. Very sleek and modern. Did you design it yourself? Or did you hire an interior decorator?”
”I designed it, yeah,” she replies, her eyes sparkling. ”But I have to give credit where credit is due. This place was a wreck when I bought it. The previous owners had closed down, and the building was a mess. It had been sitting empty for years, and I got a deal on it. It took a lot of elbow grease, and our favorite realtor helped me out a lot, but the payoff was worth it.”
”Our favorite realtor?” I ask.
”Yeah,” she says with a smirk. ”Zoe, naturally. She helped me with the loan, the renovation, all the legal stuff. She”s my secret weapon. I would”ve never gotten this place if it wasn”t for her.”
”Zoe is a real whiz,” I agree. ”She has a knack for finding great deals. It”s no wonder she”s so successful. She”s a hard worker, and she gets results.”
“I agree,” says Mia. “Now let me go get those cupcakes.”
As if my compliments have summoned Zoe, the soft jingle of the bell above the door announces her arrival. She walks into the shop, dressed in a tailored blouse and slacks. Her dark hair is tied back in a sleek ponytail, and a pair of gold hoop earrings hang from her ears.
”Hi, Zoe,” Mia calls out as she appears from the kitchen with a tray of heavenly-looking cupcakes in hand. ”We were just talking about you.”
Zoe”s expression brightens as she glances between us. ”Oh, yeah? In what way?”
”I was telling Emma how awesome you are,” Mia replies, setting the tray on the table.
”It”s true,” I agree, nodding. ”A regular powerhouse. The both of you. Which is why I wanted to meet with you guys today. I”ve got a project in the works, and I need the dynamic duo”s expertise and enthusiasm.”
”We”re listening,” Zoe says, taking a seat beside Mia.
”Hold that thought.” I grab a cupcake and close my eyes as I take a bite. Mia has always been a good baker, ever since we were little kids. But as she”s grown, so has her skillset, and I can”t stop myself from groaning.
”Oh, this is amazing. I have died and gone to heaven. Okay, where were we?”
Mia laughs. ”You were about to tell us about your project.”
”Oh, right. You two won”t believe what Sterling and I are cooking up,” I begin, excitement bubbling in my voice.
Mia wipes her hands on her apron before she leans across the table. ”You and Sterling? All right, Em, spill the beans. What”s got you all fired up?”
I lean in, lowering my voice conspiratorially. ”We”re talking about a community-driven animal shelter right here in Cedar Creek, the current one is way too small and overrun. We want to kick things off with some events that”ll have the whole town buzzing.”
Their eyes widen, and Mia leans forward, her apron dusted with a hint of flour. ”An animal shelter? That sounds incredible. Tell us more.”
I start painting the picture for them, describing the vision Sterling has for the shelter and the impact it could have on the community. As I speak, their expressions shift from curiosity to genuine interest, and by the time I finish, they”re both grinning like Cheshire cats.
Zoe crosses her arms, a playful look on her face. ”Em, this is big. I can see the gears turning in your head. What do you need from us?”
”So, we’re thinking about three events, one being a raffle. Mia, you”re the queen of baked goods,” I say, nudging her. ”I need your magic touch for that. Can you whip up some of your famous desserts that we can sell?”
Mia beams, her eyes twinkling. ”Consider it done.”
I turn to Zoe. ”And you, my real estate guru. How about using some of your connections to offer free staging or appraisals for the silent auction?”
Zoe grins. ”Not only will I do that, but I”ll also help you find the perfect spot for the event. We want this to be a massive success, right?”
I nod, grateful for their support. ”Absolutely. We want the town buzzing about this.”
Mia leans in, ”We can also get some of our friends involved. You”ll have the whole town backing you up, Em.”
The warmth of their enthusiasm and willingness to help fills the bakery with positive energy. ”Thank you both so much. This means the world to me.”
Zoe playfully nudges me. ”Anything for you. Besides, it sounds like a fantastic cause.”
Mia chimes in, ”And you know we”re always up for a good challenge. Let”s make this unforgettable.”
With the plan in motion, Mia starts jotting down ideas, her enthusiasm contagious. I can”t help but smile at her creative energy.
”So, Em,” Zoe says with a sly grin, ”you and Sterling came up with this idea together, did you?”
I chuckle, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. ”He”s been wanting to do this for a long time, and I offered to help organize a fundraiser to get it off the ground. We”re hoping to make a real impact in Cedar Creek. That”s it, of course.”
But I can’t hold back a grin. I definitely won’t mind spending more time with him, but I’m not going to tell them that.
And there”s no chance I”m mentioning my thank you massage and kiss. Clearly, I didn”t think through. I knew it was moving past friendly but I”m not sure I wanted to stop it, either. I was definitely enjoying myself.
Mia glances over at her cupcake and lets out an exaggerated sigh. ”Strictly business.”
I shoot her a playful glare. ”You two watch too many rom coms. Sterling”s been a great friend, and I”m just happy to be working with him on this project.”
Half-truth, moving on.
Zoe smirks. ”Ok, maybe we’ll start to believe you if you stop blushing every time you say his name.”
Mia adds, ”We’ll be here waiting when the ‘just friends’ fa?ade starts to crack.”
I shake my head, laughing at their antics. ”You two are incorrigible.”
Mia grins. ”What are best friends for?”
”Listen, I”m going back home at the end of the summer, and I─”
”Oh,” Zoe remarks, ”you”re staying the whole summer now, are you? That”s new. What changed?”
I can”t help but chuckle, shaking my head at their silliness. ”Well, Sterling and I─”
Zoe and Mia look at each other, then start laughing so hard they both fall off their chairs, purposely landing in a heap together.
“Oh, Sterling, I’m so sorry. I definitely don’t mean to accidentally on purpose fall on top of you every couple of days while we’re innocently working on our project together,” Zoe says.
Mia gets in on the act. “Oh, Emma, it wasn’t you, it was me. I’m just so clumsy sometimes, even though I’m very athletic and muscular. Good thing there’s not like a tiny mouse around or it could happen again at any time. I’m easily tripped up by the smallest of animals.”
They start making kissy faces at each other.
“Sterling, could you help me up, please?” Zoe bats her eyes at Mia.
“Of course.” Mia reaches out her hand for Zoe and they start to stand, but then fall down… again.
“Oopsie, Emma, like I said, so clumsy. Could you fall a little more to the left so you’re actually close enough to kiss me this time?” Enter more kissy faces.
Their laughter echoes through the bakery. I can’t imagine the shade of fire engine red my face must be. Especially since their little act is more accurate that they realize.
“All right, you two. You’ve had your fun. Now let’s get to work.” Zoe and Mia pull me into a group hug.
“That was fun,” Zoe adds. “You know we love you, Emma.”
“I know.” I give them both a quick squeeze.
Mia gets us refocused. ”You need the summer for the project. We understand. Now, tell us more about the nitty-gritty details of this event. What else do you need from us?”
I dive back into the plans, discussing logistics, potential contacts, and ways to maximize community involvement. Mia and Zoe offer valuable insights and suggestions, their enthusiasm matching mine. As we brainstorm, the atmosphere in the bakery becomes charged with creative energy, and I can”t help but feel grateful for the support of these incredible friends.
Once we”ve covered every angle, Zoe leans back, her gaze thoughtful. ”This sounds like it”s going to be quite the event.”
Mia nods, her eyes gleaming with determination. ”I love it. A shelter that”s not just a temporary home for animals but a permanent fixture in the community. Count us in for the long haul, Em.”
Zoe adds, ”Like I said, I”ll do my best to find the perfect location for the event. And I’ll help with the silent auction. Let”s make this shelter a reality that Cedar Creek can be proud of.”
Gratitude wells up in my chest. ”Thank you both. Your support means everything to me.”
As we wrap up the meeting, Mia insists on sending me home with a box of assorted cupcakes. She gets no complaints from me. Once the treats are safely stowed away in the car, I drive home, feeling more hopeful and excited than I have been in a long time.
The summer sun is starting to set as I drive down the highway, and I let out a sigh of contentment. The wind is blowing through the open window, and the warm breeze is soothing.
The whole fiasco with Dean turned into an amazing adventure with some old friends, and now I”m working on a huge project with Sterling. Sometimes the messiest of beginnings turn into the most beautiful endings.