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Lara stood next to the counter in the bakery as Tate opened the front door for his parents.
His mom ran up to him first and hugged him for a long time. He looked like her. Dark hair, dark eyes, beautiful. His dad entered next. That’s where he got his height from. And his build. They were both broad shouldered, muscular, and confident. Tate hugged his dad, then turned to her.
“Mom and Dad, this is Lara. Lara, my parents, Sophie and Gaige Vickers.”
She walked forward, and Sophie hugged her warmly. “It’s nice to meet you,” Sophie whispered in her ear.
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
Gaige hugged her next. It was a friendly hug, firm and welcoming. He stood back and met her gaze. “We’re happy to meet you, Lara.”
“I’m happy to meet you, too.”
She stepped back and Tate wrapped his arm around her.
Sophie looked around. “Lara, this is a lovely bakery.”
“Thank you. Would you like the tour? It won’t take long.” She laughed and Sophie smiled.
“I’d love a tour.”
Lara held her hand out to the tables. “My friend and I painted the tables. My dad had the glass tops made for them. I fill the cases every morning. Coffee is made fresh each day, several times a day. This town has been very good to me. I’m busy most days.”
She led them into the kitchen, and Sophie inhaled. “Oh, wow. This room smells heavenly.”
Lara smiled, and her cheeks heated. “Thank you. I put in extra effort today to welcome you. Fresh bread, beef brisket in the Instant Pot, and cookies baked just for you and the team members at the house. They seem to like them, too.”
Sophie looked at the cookies. “You’re an artist.”
She shrugged. Tate stepped forward. “Wait till you taste them.” He picked one off the plate, and she giggled.
Sophie exclaimed. “Tate. They were arranged so nicely.”
“Mom. Seriously, they are so good,” he said with his mouth full.
Gaige picked one off the plate, bit into it and moaned. “He’s right.”
Sophie leaned forward and took a cookie with her name on it. She took a quick bite, closed her eyes and hummed her appreciation. Lara’s heart felt ready to burst. Her mom had never eaten her cookies. She said she didn’t want the sugar.
The timer on the Instant Pot dinged, and Lara picked up a wooden spoon. She used the spoon to move the pressured top and release the steam. The room filled with the additional aroma of beef brisket. She felt proud at the impression she’d made so far.
Her phone rang, and she laid the spoon down and glanced at her phone. She looked at Tate. “My dad.”
He nodded and ushered his parents into the bakery, and she answered her phone.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, Lara. Did you try calling me earlier?”
“Yes. An older woman from Hickory Hills came into the bakery today and gave me a message to share with you. She said, ‘Tell your father to honor his word. Please.’ What does that mean?”
“What did she look like?”
“She was older, with gray hair. What does it mean?”
Her dad avoided answering the question. She pressed. “Dad...”
Tate came back into the kitchen and stood next to her. She tapped the speaker on her phone, listening in the silence for some kind of response.
