Page 67 of Shattered Hearts

I like having Sadie here. She’s one of my closest friends, and we get along so well. I just wish the house was bigger, or that Mum and Dad weren’t always suffocating me as they have been, and it seems to be only getting worse.

Golden Hour has blown up online, which is a positive. All the work Macie and I have been putting into promoting the place seems to be rubbing off. Our last couple of videos took off, with thousands of views, and people commenting that they want to come and visit during the holidays. This is what makes me giddy, knowing that there are others out there just excited as I am over baked goods and aesthetics. Plus with Marigold fitting in and becoming more comfortable with the cafe, I feel as though I can take a short breath.

“I finished off the batter for the apple, pumpkin, and raspberry pies,” Marigold tells me from the other side of the smaller stainless-steel kitchen. “I’m going to grab the fillings from the fridge.” She grabs the filling bowls and sets them down.

Nodding, my eyes don’t move from the cake I’m currently decorating. Being the only place in town that bakes custom cakes, I make everyone’s birthday, wedding, engagement, promotion, and retirement cakes. I even make one every year for Mrs Turner’s pet dog. She’s obsessed with her border collie, and I always like having a challenge.

This one is for Doris’s seventh birthday, which is in a few days. I know her favourite colours are purple and red, so I’m trying to find ways to incorporate the two colours without making it look like a superhero cake.

Macie’s head swings around the corner, making me flinch. “I would just like to announce that Grant Hellner is now following us online.”

My hands freeze as I peer up at Macie, who is bursting with excitement. I feel my insides cool as I drop the piping bag on the bench and take the phone she’s holding out to me.

Holy crap, Grant Hellner is following us! One of the biggest food critics and judge of the local dessert awards in New South Wales.

I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe.

Inhaling deeply, I drop the phone in my apron pocket and throw my arms around Macie’s shoulders. “What the—”

“I know!” she whisper-yells into my ear. “You’re being noticed.”

“We,” I exaggerate. “You’re just as much part of this as I am. We all know how terrible I am with making content.”

She giggles, bubbly and uncontrolled. “And we all know how much I can’t bake.”

Soaking up her hug for a moment longer, I then pull away to see flour all over her sweater. I brush it off quickly. “Sorry about that.”

Macie shrugs. “Who cares. We’re now recognised. This is so wild! Maybe you’ll be considered for an award or something. That would surely bring more customers into the area.”

My teeth chew on my lip as I fight off a grin. This seems a little too good to be true. That my tiny little bakery cafe is having this much popularity.

“It might,” I murmur, a grin breaking free.

Macie squeals with happiness. “All right, I need to go back out there, but we need to celebrate this.”

I chuckle. “We haven’t won an award yet. It’s just a follow and… one comment on a photo.” But the comment about the presentation of my cheesecakes is enough to make me fan my face.

“Yeah,” she drawls, holding onto the frame of the doorway, peering over her shoulder with a wide smile. “But this is only the beginning. I can feel it in my fingers.” She disappears into the cafe once more, and Marigold and I get back to work.

I can’t help but think some more about how good this is for the business. Pulling out my phone, I shoot a text to Grayson.

LAYNIE: Guess what!

BLONDIE: You finally found that old charger you misplaced weeks ago?

LAYNIE: Ha, no, it’s well and truly gone. I can’t find it anywhere and Sadie said she didn’t take it.

LAYNIE: So odd.

BLONDIE: So, the news???

LAYNIE: Right!

LAYNIE: Golden Hour has been recognised by a national food critic and judge!

LAYNIE: We’ve reached a bigger audience. This is wild!

BLONDIE: That is awesome news!