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“I do. I may even be falling in love with him.”
“Is he falling in love with you?” Her aunt’s concern mirrored her own. Jessica was known for having her share of heartaches.
“I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “Things feel different with him. There’s definitely a connection.”
Her aunt raised an eyebrow. “I thought I heard some odd noises coming from that walk-in freezer of yours.”
Jessica’s cheeks flamed. She’d forgotten the freezer wall was connected to her aunt’s shop.
Her aunt squeezed her hand. “I think it’s wonderful, sweet girl. I love seeing you happy and you know I want you to do what your heart tells you.”
Her heart was telling her to go with Mitch. See where this adventure could take her. If it didn’t work out she could reopen a bakery with the money from the sale. She’d miss Blue Moon Bay and her family and friends, but she didn’t need to constantly travel the way Mitch did. She could just do one mission a year with him… There were options. One step at a time. It would actually be one of the safer risks she’d taken financially. Emotionally, it was her biggest gamble.
“Why don’t you do it?” Aunt Frankie said.
Jessica’s eyes widened. “Like now?”
“Your heart’s made up, now let your head follow. Call Mr. Dorsey and accept their offer.”
“What about you and Mrs. Barnett?”
“We will be fine. Let us figure that out.” She nodded toward Jessica’s cell phone. “I’m here for moral support,” she said, but she did reach for a third cookie.
What would she do without her aunt? Her continued love and support had always been there when she’d needed her. And if she thought this was a good idea, confirming Jessica’s own desire, then maybe it was the right thing to do.
She picked up her cell phone and scrolled through the contact list for Mr. Dorsey’s cell number. She stared at it for what felt like an eternity.
A text message chimed and she jumped, nearly sending her off of the stool.
“Sweet baby Jesus,” Frankie muttered, hand to her heart. “That was intense.”
“It’s Sarah.” She fought for a calming breath as she opened the message.
Sarah:S. O. S. Come right away! Bring those chocolate cinnamon cookies.
Jessica frowned. An emergency that required baked goods?
Maybe she should call for clarification, but she was actually ahead of schedule that day, and she really could use her friend’s advice on her own emergency. Having her aunt’s support was just one opinion, albeit an important one, she should consider before making this huge, life-changing decision.
She climbed off of the stool. “Sarah has some sort of emergency. I have to go.” She reached across the counter and hugged her aunt quickly. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, honey,” her aunt said, her mouth full of cookie.
In her bakery, Jessica packed up Sarah’s favorite cookies, locked the bakery door, and jumped into the van. Ten minutes later, she pulled into the lot of the inn and parked next to Whitney’s yellow convertible.
Damn, Sarah had called in all reinforcements. Something was going on. She climbed out and ran to the door.
Sarah paced the foyer as she entered. Whitney leaned against the staircase railing, typing an email on her cell phone. “What took so long?”
“You texted ten minutes ago. What’s going on?”
Sarah looked slightly pale as she paced the foyer of the inn, dressed in yoga pants and a loose-fitting tank top. “Did you bring those chocolate cinnamon-filled things I love?”
Jessica nodded, retrieving the pastry box from her purse. “Right here. Now, what’s wrong?” She glanced at Whitney, but her other friend shrugged a thin shoulder. One that suggested she’d lost more weight. Concern for both her friends had her anxiety rising.
Sarah took the box and opened it. She took a huge bite of a cookie and closed her eyes to savor the flavors. “Mmmmm…I desperately needed this.”
“Sarah! Do not tell me your emergency was a sweet-tooth craving.”
