I’d spent the day helping my mother, Chloe, Bonnie, and Aunt Maggie in the Bake Shop. We were prepping treats for the Christmas party this afternoon. After I’d finished decorating the last batch of sugar cookies, Mom had asked me to head over to the barn to pull the event linens out of storage. We had about two hours until the party started, and our friends and neighbors would be arriving soon.
The Judd family would be attending, as well as some of the other small business owners in Kirby Falls. Even our part-time and seasonal employees were invited along with their families. We were expecting a big turnout.
And Brady was coming too. The thought put an extra spring in my step as I unloaded my items and made my way around the back side of the bakery to Will’s adjoining office.
I rapped a knock before going inside.
The room was warm from the electric heater in the corner. Will’s desk was plain and mostly bare.
For once, his dog wasn’t fast asleep in his bed. The reason why was perched in the only other chair in the room. Becca smiled at me as she stroked Carl’s ears. She passed him a hunk of string cheese before standing. “Hey, Mac.”
I smiled back, so glad she’d returned to Kirby Falls where she belonged. She was good for Will, and I was happy for them. “Hi, Becca.”
“I’m going to head out and help Maggie and Chloe set up.” She squeezed my arm as she passed. “You two have fun.” Then she winked, and I wondered what that was all about.
Will gave Becca a small smile and followed her out with his eyes. Carl trailed after her, nearly as besotted as my grumpy cousin.
“What’s up?” I asked, taking the seat Becca had vacated.
Will’s face morphed into a serious one. “We were going to wait until next week, but I talked with my parents and your parents, and they thought it was best to go ahead. So it wasn’t hanging over you during the holidays.”
I straightened as sudden nerves clenched my belly tight. Was he about to tell me I hadn’t gotten the manager position? Were they going with one of the other candidates? I knew they’d interviewed Ethel Jennings. She was a transplant, but she’d been in Kirby Falls for a few years now. Her background was in sales. She’d retired early and moved from Florida because she and her husband had fallen in love with our town after visiting every autumn for nearly a decade.
Ethel was capable and smart. She served on a number of committees and even volunteered at the library with Mrs. Crandall. I bet they were picking her. She was older and more polished and about a million other things I wasn’t.
I took a deep breath to settle myself. “Okay. Lay it on me.”
Will paused dramatically, and I almost reached across the desk and punched him on the arm. “We would like to formally offer you the position of general manager.”
“Really?” I squeaked as some big, nameless emotion swelled in my chest.
My cousin fought a smile. “Yes. Really. You’ve stepped it up in the last few weeks.”
“Thanks, Will.”
“And since you’re family, you’ll be really easy to fire if you fuck up.”
I glared as he chuckled at his own joke.
With a smile still lingering, Will offered, “Congratulations, Mac. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Will,” I repeated, but this time emotion made my voice rough.
Something pride adjacent warmed me from the inside out. I knew it wasn’t some huge accomplishment when everyone on the hiring committee shared your DNA.But I’d gotten the job. From now on, I was determined to do more with my townie existence than just scrape by.
Clearing my throat, I let my gaze roam the small office. “So when do I get to redecorate?”
Will’s stare was baleful. “We’ll start training next week. And January first, it’s all yours.”
“I can’t wait.” I grinned.
When I stepped out of my future office, Will came with me. He said he was off to help Becca and our moms finish setting up for the party.
I carefully pulled the door shut with a quiet snick. It was at odds with the loud excitement coursing through my veins. I’d found a goal and set out to accomplish it. And it felt good to have succeeded. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually been working toward something instead of openly avoiding it. Probably high school, honestly, with my teammates on the soccer team.
As I walked slowly across the wooden decking to the front of the building, I pulled out my phone, eager to share my good news.
And I knew just the person to tell.
