“Are you angry with me?” Vivienne asked. “That I told Mom?”
“Of course not.” Tessa couldn’t help smiling a little because Vivienne suddenly reminded her of when she was a little girl, coming to Tessa with her troubles. Even though now Viv was twenty-eight and all grown up, Tessa could tell by the way she was shifting her phone from hand to hand and looking around that she had something on her mind. She’d had that very same tell since she was twelve.
“I know the surprise ceremony was a little shocking for everyone,” Tessa said. “But I’m so glad you and Juliet were there.” Truthfully, she might not have made it through without them.
“And no one even ended up killing one another,” Vivienne said with a little chuckle. “I’ve always liked Leo. I’m glad you guys worked things out. I always thought maybe you two would get together one day.”
“You did?” Vivienne was just fourteen when their dad died and Tessa had started her senior year. It seemed to Tessa that her relationship with Leo would be the last thing Viv would remember from back then.
“Yeah. You two had this competition thing going that was really…hot. He was always overly interested in what you were doing, and you two were constantly going at it. Your chemistry’s always been off the charts.”
Funny that Vivienne would remember it that way. For a short time, Tessa had thought that, too. Until Leo had shown he hadn’t really been interested in her at all. To be fair, she’d hurt him first. But she’d had no other choice.
With relief, Tessa noticed Vivienne looking distractedly at her phone. Hopefully that would mean no more questions.
“What are you making?” Viv scooted up to the counter and stuck her finger in the icing bowl. She was always the icing licker of the bunch. “Buttercream,” she confirmed by taste test.
“Your taste buds are correct. This is dacquoise.”
Vivienne examined the layers of cake. “I see frosting and sponge cake.”
“The layers are hazelnut sponge cake, and the icing is espresso-flavored.”
“How do you get the layers to line up so perfectly?”
“Ha! That’s the problem. This is the third time I’m making it this week.”
“It’s beautiful, Tessa. It looks just like the ones in Paris.”
“Thank you.” She forced herself to take the compliment for once. But what she was doing now was a lot more important than baking for stress relief. The recipes she was experimenting with had stakes attached. People dining in Leo’s restaurant would eat them, not just admire how pretty they were on YouTube.
“What do you do with the ones that don’t work out?” Vivienne asked. “I wish gluten didn’t hate me so I could help you with the leftovers.”
“Sometimes I take them to one of the churches to serve at meetings, or if I bring them on a Thursday, Mr. Cartwright drives them to a domestic violence shelter in Indy.”
“You’re always thinking of other people.”
“No, just being practical.” That’s who she was.
Not that she would begrudge her beautiful, sparkling youngest sister her glamorous Parisian life. It was just that Vivienne was a constant reminder of what Tessa’s life wasn’t. But she was too busy to really think about that now.
Tessa smiled. “Thank you for helping out in the bakery while you’re home. I know it’s a chore for you, but I want you to know it’s meant a lot to me to have extra time to practice my desserts.”
“I’m glad I can help in a small way.” Tessa felt Vivienne’s gaze on her as she iced a layer. “Because I haven’t exactly been here to help the family, have I?”
Tessa stopped icing. Vivienne’s blue eyes looked troubled. “You weren’t supposed to be here, Viv. You have a life somewhere else.”
“I was spoiled. I begged to go to Paris. You made sacrifices that enabled me to do that.” Viv’s voice was low and quiet.
Opportunity had knocked for Vivienne, and yes, they’d all sacrificed for her to take it. Although at times the fabulous photos from France had burned straight into Tessa’s soul. “That’s what families do, Viv.”
Vivienne tapped her phone on the worn wooden counter. “I—I just want you to know that everything you did for me wasn’t in vain.”
Tessa reached across and grabbed her sister’s hand. “Of course it wasn’t. Everything worked out. You’re a talented artist. One day we’ll see your work in a gallery.” She squeezed her sister’s hand. “I’m so proud of you.”
To her surprise, Vivienne swiped at her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She gave her sister a watery smile. “It’s just that I see how hard you’re working on your baking. And now you’ve found an incredible guy. And you’re trying to mend fences. Everything you’ve accomplished, you’ve done right here in Blossom Glen. I’m just so happy for you, Tessa.”
She was talking like Tessa was the one who had it all together, not her. Ha. That was ironic. Because every day Tessa woke up wondering if she’d ever have it together.
Tessa got up from her stool and walked around to hug her sister. “You sure you don’t want to talk about anything?”
While Vivienne hesitated, Tessa felt a twinge of guilt. Asking if her sister wanted to talk when she herself was holding any number of secrets seemed really dishonest.
Vivienne let out a sigh. “No, I’m just—I’m just emotional about being back home, I guess. I missed you. And I wish I could do something to help. More than taking shifts.”
Vivienne swiped at her eyes again. What was making her so emotional?
“You have no idea what a help it is to have you working in the bakery. I know how much you dislike it.” Not to mention Viv couldn’t eat any of the wonderful things they made. “I mean, taking two businesses on the brink of financial ruin and two families who haven’t talked in a hundred years and trying to make everything work out…yeah. It’s a lot. But because you’re here, I can focus on baking. And I’m so grateful for that.”
“‘Act like you have nothing to lose,’” Vivienne said. “That’s what you’ve always told us.”
Had her overly cautious self really said that? “So you really were listening, way back then, huh?”
Vivienne, seeming anxious to change the subject, picked up Tessa’s light ring. “What’s this for?”
Tessa felt herself blush as she walked back around the counter to tend to her cake. “I—well, I started a little YouTube channel. To document my baking. As a way to challenge myself, mostly, to keep trying new things.” She pulled out her phone and handed it to her sister. “Take a look.”