Page 82 of The Soulmate Bakery

‘You know, I used to hate baking,’ Melodie said, looking down at the cupcakes that she was icing. ‘I always found it too hard, and a dream that belonged to my parents more than me. But you helped me get past that. You helped me fall in love with it too.’

I felt my smile push against my cheeks. ‘I’ve loved working here.’

Melodie nodded, but there was a sadness to her smile that didn’t suit her usual bubbly self. Today’s your last shift, and tomorrow, it won’t be the same in here without you.’ Then she breathed deeply, reached into her apron pocket and glanced around before handing me a thick packet. ‘But, as a parting gift, I wanted to give you this.’

I dusted my hands on my apron before taking the envelope from her. When I opened the seal, I saw cash staring back at me.

‘What is this?’ I asked, horrified.

‘That’s everything you earned while working at the Treasure Trove.’

‘Melodie,’ I said, touched by the gesture. ‘You didn’t have to do that. You know I had an agreement in place with –’ I couldn’t say his name for some reason, so I let the words falter.

‘I know,’ Melodie replied, that sad smile still on her mouth. ‘But it didn’t feel right. You didn’t just teach me a couple of recipes; you saved the bakery. You brought it light and joy. Made my parents’ dream a reality. And more than that, I know you risked your apprenticeship at the Wishing Well for this. For me, a person you barely knew – even if you were getting something out of it from Orion. This is just a mere token of what you deserve, Maya.’

I was going to cry. I could feel the moisture building in my eyes, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from getting overwhelmed. Melodie saw this and discreetly handed me a paper towel.

‘Thanks,’ I said, sounding a little watery. ‘I really loved working with you.’

‘I’m sad it’s going to be over, but Orion gave me that warning when this all started,’ Melodie explained, bracing her shoulders. ‘It was my fault for not preparing for it.’

At the mention of his name, I darted my gaze away from Melodie to the remaining bakes that were on the table for the festival: moonlit blueberry muffins, garlic & thyme stopping knots, cinnamon passion palmiers. And my experiment: the fly, fly away doughnut holes that gave you temporary faerie wings.

I watched as Melodie put her headphone back in and got swept away with baking again. I did the same. I let myself sink into every part of what it felt like to bake at the Treasure Trove for a final time. And it was the dream that Orion had helped blossom in my mind that came to life as I pottered around, imagining that this wasn’t temporary; that this was my bakery.

When Melodie and I finished the final bakes, I offered to clean up while I waited for Orion to meet me. She handed me the key and wrapped me into a hug, before saying goodbye. When she was gone, it was harder to keep my swirling thoughts at bay: was I ready to close the door on all of this? Was being an assistant all I wanted?

When I was midway through wiping the countertops down, my phone buzzed.

SILAS MOON

Hey, just wanted to let you know how excited I am for tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with you.

My heart clenched, painfully. Silas was always so open with his feelings – wearing his heart on his sleeve the way I thought I did. I couldn’t help but notice the way Orion was different, how all of his emotions felt like a puzzle I was trying to understand.

MAYA

I can’t wait either!

SILAS MOON

Where do you want to meet?

My fingers hovered over the screen; this was when I should tell him to meet me in the Firewood Forest. The festival would come into full swing once the moon was high in the sky, the forest turning golden. Then everyone would come back to Main Street for the stalls and the makeshift rides.

Just as I was about to type the message, I heard a rap against the bakery door. I opened it to find Orion standing there. But he didn’t look like he usually did – there was a flush to his cheeks, and the silver of his eyes was more than gleaming.

‘Is everything OK?’ I asked, immediately stepping back so he could come in.

‘Everything is brilliant,’ Orion said, a smile splitting his handsome face wide open. From his leather jacket, Orion pulled out a sheet of folded paper that was closed with a blue wax seal. I recognized the Maple Falls High crest. ‘I was speaking to some of my teachers at Maple Falls High about teacher apprenticeships. I really wanted to get one with my old hexes professor, Dr Willow, and then I got this letter. She read my application and loved it. Offered me a place starting next year, after winter break.’ Orion sucked in a breath, continuing with excitement. ‘I mean, yes, I’ll have to start from the beginning because I have no teaching courses from MAC. I’ll also have to teach the younger years, which will mean dealing with children, which will mean answering inane questions and having to clean up after them all the time. But I’ll be one step closer to teaching and doing what I want to do.’

He was breathing hard by the time he was done, and I was looking at him feeling entirely stunned.

‘You – you’re actually doing it? Choosing to be a teacher,’ I said, disbelievingly. ‘You’re going against your parents and you’re truly going for it. Congrats, Hawthorne!’

Orion’s smile was unlike anything I’d seen on him before – pure joy. ‘What can I say? You’re rubbing off on me.’ His tone softened. ‘If you can do everything in your power to become a better spellcaster, overcoming every doubt, every fear, then I can prove to my parents that my dreams are just as valid as the legacy they’ve made for me.’

I felt my throat turn dry and my heartbeat become faster. My neck flushed from the way he was looking at me. And it was suddenly overwhelming. I couldn’t handle it; I couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t look at me like that because it made not choosing him feel less like the right thing to do. Like I was afraid to show the same bravery he had, going after something that was a risk but that made him happy.