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She glanced at the organist who played the intro again. She closed her eyes. She knew the words. She’d sung them thousands of times. She opened her mouth, but while the words were on the tip of her tongue, there was no sound. Her eyes wide now, she looked at Megs who watched her with a frown. She glanced at Sam who waited in the back of the sanctuary with the coffin. She shook her head, and hot tears filled her eyes. She looked at the floor, letting her hand with the microphone drop.
Then Megs was standing next to her, putting her arm around her. Megs led the congregation, singing the first words of “Amazing Grace” as the pallbearers carried the casket with Grammy to the front.
* * *
EVERYONE GATHERED AT the Sweetheart after the cemetery, so it was a good thing that Megs had gone crazy with baking the last couple of days. Kelly rushed around pouring coffee and tea. Refilling napkin stands and plates. Making sure trays of pastries stayed full. Playing the ultimate hostess to her grandmother’s wake. She and Megs had debated about providing a luncheon, but anyone who knew Grammy would want pastry.
Someone gently touched her arm. “Kelly, I’m so sorry for your loss.” Rick Allyn tried to give her a smile. “Your grandmother was really special.”
“Thanks, Rick.” She eyed him from head to toe. “You’ve certainly grown up since high school. And Megs told me you got married.”
He gestured to a short woman with long dark hair choosing a pastry. “That’s my Lizzie right there.” He waved her over and introduced her to Kelly. “Kelly and I dated briefly in middle school.”
Kelly laughed. “Very, very briefly. It lasted all of a week.” She turned to Lizzie and smiled. “Jennifer Harrison suddenly grew boobs.”
Lizzie laughed and almost choked on her bite of kruszczki. “These things are amazing. What are they called?” she asked.
“They’re Polish angel wings.” Kelly glanced at the buffet of strudel, baklava, napoleons and mille feuille. “We always said Grammy was the United Nations of baking. And I guess my sister has kept up the tradition.”
“Your grandmother made our wedding cake. It was fabulous.” Lizzie snuggled closer to Rick’s side. “But then the whole day was magical.”
Kelly swallowed at the lump in her throat as the happy couple walked through the crowd, hand in hand. She’d never had a chance to do that. She was almost thirty and had never even had something close to love. What would her life be like if she had pursued romance as hard as she’d pursued her singing career? Maybe she’d have someone to hold her hand and help her through this day.
She pivoted on her heel and banged into a wall of chest muscle. Before she could stop herself, she started to fall, but strong arms caught her and pulled her close. She looked up into startled hazel eyes. “You?”
“Me.”
She backed away from Sam. “You don’t need to keep an eye on me.”
He shrugged. “Seems like every time I’m near you, something pushes us together, Kelly.”
“Well, it needs to stop.” She ran her hands down her dress, smoothing it. She eyed him warily. “Maybe it’s you that’s doing that. How do I know that you aren’t pushing us together?”
“I’m not that desperate for female attention.”
No, he certainly didn’t look like he was desperate. She’d noticed the appreciative glances of women as he walked by them. The way they tried to get his attention. But he seemed oblivious to their drooling. She didn’t want to join the crowd and become one of their bunch. “The only attention you seem to want is mine.”
“That’s not what’s going on.” He looked at her as if she talked gibberish. “It’s not like I’m seeking you out or anything.”
But his actions made his words seem hollow. She didn’t reply; didn’t have any more time for this kind of debate. “Have you seen Megs? We’re running low on Black Forest cake, and I need more tea bags.”
“Don’t worry about that right now. How are you holding up?”
“Fine. I’m fine.” But she wasn’t. That’s why she wanted to keep moving and concentrate on anything else. “But I need Megan.”
He took her hand and led her over to a quiet corner. She tried not to let the warmth of his hand in hers mean anything more than comfort. “You’re not fine, Kel. And staying busy won’t change anything.”
“It’s what I have to do for now.” She let go of his hand reluctantly. “I don’t want to think too much.”
He searched her eyes. She glanced down, uncomfortable at how intimate his gaze felt.
“I understand what you’re thinking. When I lost my grandfather, it felt as if the bottom had dropped out of my world. Sound familiar?”
Yes. But she couldn’t peek up at him. Otherwise, she’d lose what little control she had of her emotions and be weeping in his arms. She needed to stay confident. And not give in to the despair that tinged the edges of her life. “I need to find my sister.” She rose and started to leave, but stopped and faced him. “Thanks, Sam.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Exactly. That was exactly what I needed right now.” She pushed through the swinging doors to the kitchen where she found Megs sitting on a stool and staring at the floor. “Hiding?”
“No.” Her sister glanced away, wiping at her eyes. “I needed a moment alone.”
Kelly noted the empty kitchen and sighed. “There was always something going on back here. It doesn’t seem right to see it like this. Cold ovens. Empty trays. There’s no warmth without her.”
“You know Gina, right? My cashier? She asked me this morning if we’re closing the bakery. And I’m sure the other baker Tom is wondering the same thing, too.”
Kelly frowned. “What? No. Not possible.”
Megs rested her chin on her fist, leaning on the marble work counter. “I don’t know how to run a bakery. I’ve been working next to Grammy for twelve years, but I don’t know the first thing about what she really did. I know her recipes. I know the rotation of the menu. But the business side of things?” She gave a shrug. “Nothing.”
“You know more than you realize.” Kelly approached her and took her hands in hers, then flipped them over to expose her sister’s wrist. “Your veins are filled with butter and cream because this bakery is your life. Grammy always said to find your passion and this is where it is.”
Her sister looked up at her, eyes shining with fear and something else. Doubt?
Megs let her hands drop to her sides. “Is it?”
Kelly hated to see her sister like this, full of worries and second-guessing herself. How could someone so talented with flour and sugar be so insecure in her future? This wasn’t the Megan she knew. “The reading of the will isn’t until tomorrow, but we both know she’s going to leave you this place.”
“It’s not that simple.” Megs rose to her feet and straightened her dress. “Come on, let’s get back to work.”
* * *
SAM GLANCED BEHIND MEGS, looking to see if her sister would be joining her. She gave him a soft smile. “Searching for someone?”
He frowned. “Who?” She eyed him until he sighed. “It’s not what you think. I’m worried about her. That’s all.”
“If you say so.”
“You know, Addy always said Kelly was beautiful, but I assumed she was being a proud grandmother. Puffing her up so I’d like her, you know?” He ran a hand over his jaw. “But she’s more than what I expected. I’m uncertain as to what to do about her.”
“Well...she’s my sister.”
“Right.” He leaned in closer to Megs and dropped the volume of his voice. “She’s gorgeous. And it’s got me rattled.”
Megs wrinkled her nose. “Gross.”
“Come on, you’re my best friend. If I can’t talk to you about this kind of thing, who can I talk to?”
She peered at him, then broke into a smile. “You’re trying to distract me.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. That had been part of it. “Did it work?”
“Maybe a little. It may sound weird, but I still wish Grammy could be here to see this. She’d be so grateful, and probably taken aback by everyone showing up for her.” She collected a couple of empty coffee mugs on the table closest to them. “I’ve got to get back to playing hostess.”
She started to walk away, then glanced back at him. “I think the lawyer told you about the reading of the will tomorrow?”
Zac Hall, the family lawyer, had approached Sam at the funeral home and mentioned that he would need to be there, since Grammy had named him in her will. Not that she owed him anything or that he deserved it. “Which doesn’t make any sense. Why do I have to be there?”
“Just remember that Grammy wanted what was best for all of us. And that includes you, too.” She paused to watch Kelly behind the glass pastry cases, handling a new box of tea bags. “Tomorrow is going to change a lot of things around here. I hope we can still all be friends at the end of the day.”
She rushed over to a table at the far side of the bakery, and he was left confused. What in the world was that all about?
* * *
KELLY COLLECTED THE last of the china tea cups and brought the full tray into the kitchen where Megs was washing and placing them on the rack next to the sink. Her sister had told her that Grammy had meant to replace the old dishwasher, but had never gotten around to it. Now she never would.
Kelly grabbed a dish towel and started drying the cups and other dishes, and stacking them neatly on the standing carts. They worked in silence until every bowl, fork and last cookie tray was put away.
Megs gave her a soft smile, collapsing onto a stool. “Glad that’s over.”
“It’s been a long day.” Kelly yawned and rolled her shoulders, trying to ease away some of the tension that seemed to have lodged there.
“More like a long three days.” Megs pulled her hair off her neck and twisted it into a knot on top of her head. “We could have a late dinner at the diner before going home.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Megs stood and grabbed up a cleaning rag. “Nah. Me, either.”
Kelly stretched her arms above her head and gestured to the front of the bakery. “Sam’s almost finished sweeping out there. He said he’d mop, too. I don’t know where he’s got all this energy after a day like this.”
Megs wiped down the last counter then turned to her. “I told Gina and Tom that we’ll reopen Saturday at four a.m. I need one more day before we attempt normal life.”
“Everybody understands that.”
Megs flicked the rag back and forth. “The longer we stay closed, the less money the bakery brings in, which means the less available to pay my employees. And our suppliers.”
“And you said you don’t know anything about running the business.”
“I’m serious.” Megs slowly ran a hand down the clean counter top. “I won’t lose the bakery because Grammy isn’t here anymore. I’ll do everything required to keep it going.”
Now that sounded like the Megs she knew and loved. “So take a small-business class or something. Get educated so you can manage it all better.”
Megs bit her lip, looking hesitant. “You think I could do that?”
“Doesn’t the library offer things like that? Or the community college?” Kelly took out her phone and started the search app. “I know they’ve got stuff like that online at least.” She found one course and held the phone out to her sister. “You can do it on your own time at your own pace.”
Megs took the phone and read the screen, then gave a shrug. “What own time? With Grammy gone, it’s all on me. I won’t have time to breathe much less take a class. I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you can.” Kelly walked over to her sister and took her phone back, slipping it into one of the front pockets of her apron. “You can do anything. Especially if you have help.”
Her sister stared at her with undisguised skepticism. “Who’s going to help me?”
Kelly took a deep breath and pointed at her chest. “Me.”
Megs laughed as she scooted away to retrieve the stack of dry trays that needed to be stored away. She continued to chortle while she placed them on the shelves. Kelly frowned. “It’s not that funny.”
“You don’t know the first thing about the science of baking. Or what it requires to create a superior product.”
There was a science to it? She’d barely passed that particular class more than once. “Okay, so I don’t.” Kelly narrowed her eyes. “But you do. And so do Gina and Tom. Surely there’s something I can do to lend a hand around here.”
Her sister grimaced and put her hands on her waist. “And what about Nashville?”
“I’ve been thinking about that for the past few days, and Nashville will still be there once you get the bakery going again.” She hoped the panic that rose in her chest wouldn’t show on her face. She would go back to her singing, eventually, but it wouldn’t hurt to take some time to assist Megs. Or make it something more permanent. She frowned. “Besides, it could be time for me to come back home. Give up that pipe dream.”
Megs shook her head. “Oh, no. No way. If I have to keep Grammy’s bakery dream alive, then you have to keep pursuing your music.”
“Maybe I’m done with music. Or maybe it’s done with me. You heard what happened at the funeral when I tried to sing.” She’d barely been able to choke out the words after being rescued by her sister and the congregation. “Are you actually turning down my help? After everything you’ve said to me about not doing my fair share?”
For a long moment, the swish of Sam’s mop was the only sound that could be heard, until Megs sighed. “Fine.” She held up one finger. “But it’s only temporary. Grammy would never forgive me if I let you give up on your talent.”
“Don’t you think she’d appreciate that I’m helping you, so that you don’t?”
Sam pushed through the swinging doors. “It’s all set up front. Do you need my help back here?”
Megs and Kelly kept their eyes on each other rather than turning to face him. Sam asked, “Uh. Am I interrupting something?”
Megs gave him a quick smile. “Thanks for staying and cleaning up.”
Sam grinned. “Have to be honest. It wasn’t without an ulterior motive.”
Of course, Kelly thought. No one ever helped out for free. She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for him to continue. All of a sudden, he looked sheepish. “I was hoping to take home some of those leftover cheese croissants for my breakfast tomorrow.”
Megs’s smile widened and she hurried to retrieve a white paper bag. She took several pieces of wax paper and carefully wrapped three rolls. Once they were inside the bag, she folded the top over a couple of times and then handed it to him. “Payment in kind. Thanks again for your assistance.”
He clutched the bag to his heart. “I’m getting the better end of this deal.” He peered around the kitchen. “Are you done in here? I’ll follow you two back home.”
Kelly couldn’t stifle a yawn. “I’m done in. Megs?”
She shook her head and swept a look around the kitchen. “You two go ahead. I have something I need to do. Alone.”
Kelly put her hand on her sister’s arm. “It can wait until tomorrow, can’t it?”
She felt someone pulling at her other hand. Sam.
“Let’s give her some time. I’ll get you back to the house.”
She took her hand away from his, then watched her sister who was fussing with canisters and some cutlery on the marble counter. Megs waved her off. “Go. I’ll be five, maybe ten minutes behind you.”
Kelly retrieved her sweater from the hook by the back door as well as her purse then followed Sam out to his pickup. She waited while he hit the button on his key fob to unlock the doors. She turned to look at the bakery. When Sam got in on the driver’s side, she got into the passenger seat, but kept her gaze out the window. “Do you think she’ll be okay there alone?”
