Something shifted inside her.
She had worked with Eric for four years.
He was impatient.
Competitive.
Sometimes sharp.
But she had never seen him afraid.
He looked afraid now.
Rosa walked toward the production computer.
Eric stepped in front of her.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking the order history.”
“You don’t have authorization.”
“I have bakery supervisor access.”
“You’re pastry lead.”
“Which gives me access to wedding order history.”
“Move.”
Rosa did not.
“Why?”
Eric’s face reddened.
“You’re not turning this into a conspiracy because Margaret made a mistake.”
Rosa looked at him.
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
Then the front bell rang.
The bride had arrived.
Emily Carter entered Hawthorne & Finch smiling so widely that the woman behind the register smiled back automatically.
Emily was thirty-two.
Dark hair pinned loosely beneath a knit hat.
She carried a garment bag over one arm and held the hand of her fiancé, Nathan Brooks.
David had not managed to call her yet.
He was still outside with Margaret.
Emily looked toward the cake display.
“I’m here for the Carter wedding cake.”
The cashier smiled.
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll let production know.”
Emily squeezed Nathan’s hand.
“I can’t believe it’s finally ready.”
Nathan laughed.
“You’ve talked about that cake for six months.”
“Peach roses.”
“Tiny white flowers.”
“Ivory piping.”
“Yes.”
Nathan smiled.
“I know the speech.”
Emily leaned against him.
“I want to see your face when you finally see how right I was.”
Nathan kissed her forehead.
Then Rosa pushed through the kitchen doors.
She had heard every word.
Her face changed.
“Mrs. Carter?”
“Not until tomorrow.”
Emily laughed.
“Emily is fine.”
Rosa looked toward the back.
Then toward Emily.
“I need you to come with me.”
Emily’s smile faded.
“Is something wrong?”
Rosa hesitated.
“Your cake is safe.”
“That was not reassuring.”
“I know.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Rosa looked at the cashier.
“Call David.”
“He’s outside.”
Emily frowned.
“My brother?”
Before Rosa could answer, the front door opened.
David entered.
Margaret stood behind him.
Emily’s face brightened.
“David.”
Then she saw Margaret’s expression.
“What happened?”
David looked at his sister.
“You need to see the cake.”
Emily followed them into the kitchen.
Eric was standing beside the finishing table.
The cake remained exactly where Margaret left it.
Emily stopped.
Her mouth opened.
For three seconds, she did not speak.
Then her face transformed.
“Oh my God.”
Margaret watched.
Emily walked closer.
“That’s it.”
She laughed.
“That’s exactly it.”
Nathan smiled.
“Okay.”
“You were right.”
Emily turned toward Margaret.
“You made this?”
Margaret nodded slowly.
Emily stepped closer.
“It is perfect.”
Margaret’s throat tightened.
Eric moved forward.
“Emily, we had a discrepancy in the order file.”
Emily looked at him.
“What discrepancy?”
Eric held up the revised sheet.
“The final file has blue flowers and silver trim.”
Emily stared.
Then laughed in disbelief.
“No.”