“You figured right.” I try to dislodge my arm from her grip, but with a surprising amount of strength, she keeps me locked in place.
“Please, Cam. I have to go in there and sign paperworkand didn’t you tell me not to sign anything without having a lawyer read it first?”
“I didn’t know I would be the lawyer in question. And I didn’t know all the paperwork signing would happen at my ex’s office,” I grumble, though I push through the door of the office, succumbing more for the promised warmth than anything else.
Noah greets both of us with a pleasant but fake smile, leading us into a conference room much cozier than any I’ve been in before, with cushy chairs, a large oak table, and windows overlooking actual nature and not the concrete jungle of Manhattan.
He slides a stack of papers across the table. “I’ll give you some time to look through everything. Let me know when you’re ready to discuss.”
As soon as he leaves the room, I glare at Emma. “You’re lucky I love you.”
She gives me a stiff grin in return. “You’re the best, Cam.”
Luckily, the paperwork Noah handed me is pretty straightforward, documenting the sale of the bakery to Emma for an agreed upon price. I haven’t looked at a lot of real estate contracts lately, but I remember enough from law school to make my way through. By the time we leave Noah’s office a couple of hours later, everything is signed and Emma has the metaphorical keys in her hands.
We’ve barely stepped outside when we’re stopped by Noah’s receptionist.
“Wait!” she calls, grabbing her coat and shoving her arms into her sleeves.
I assume we must have forgotten to initial something and turn back with a sigh.
But the receptionist, Celeste, I think her name is, doesn’t beckon us back into the office. “You’re Campbell, right?” she asks, though she obviously knows exactly who I am.
“That’s me.” I tighten my scarf around my neck. There’s something about the cold here that’s just colder than it is in New York.
“I have a favor to ask.”
I raise my eyebrows, but don’t say anything, gesturing for her to continue.
“It’s not so much for me, but for a friend of mine. Anna. She’s been working at the local toy store for years and she wants to take over the business since the owner has passed. He basically promised her he would leave her the shop, but now his long-lost nephew is coming back to town and claiming he has more of a right to it than she does.” Celeste pushes out the words in a rush, as if she doesn’t believe I’ll stand there and listen.
“I’m not sure what you’d like me to do.”
Celeste gestures to Emma, who’s standing next to me and flashing me weird looks. “We all saw what you did for Emma. I don’t think anyone in this town has ever bested Noah before, and you managed to bring him down in just a few weeks.”
“I didn’t exactly bring him down.” Though I obviously knew from the beginning there was no way I was going to let him take the bakery from Emma. “And really, Celeste, that was a one-time thing. I don’t think we can expect everyone in town to shell out for fundraiser after fundraiser.”
Celeste shakes her head. “Anna doesn’t need money. She has money, she just needs someone who can represent her, be her advocate.”
“I don’t know.” I feel myself starting to waver because I can’t lie—helping Emma felt good. More than good. It unlocked something inside of me that has been buried for a long time.
Celeste must feel me wavering too because she clasps her hands together and flashes me a huge smile. “Please, Cam, just talk to her. Any advice you could give her would be much appreciated.”
“I don’t have time to full on take her case,” I warn. “I work at the bakery full-time and then I…”
Celeste’s smile turns borderline salacious. “And then you have to get home to Ben. I know.”
“Great, well, love that everyone in town is talking about my personal life, but—”
“We’re all just so happy to see both of you happy!” Celeste insists.
I roll my eyes, though I know the sentiment is genuine. “Fine. I will go talk to her. One time.”
“Amazing! Thank you!” Celeste looks for a minute like she might throw her arms around me, but then thinks better of it, offering us a two-handed wave before bouncing back into Noah’s office.
Emma and I turn to walk back toward the bakery, and I can practically feel her vibrating with excitement.
“Oh my god, just say what you need to say, Em.”
