But the faster she walked, the faster it came.
Soon, she was running, panting with the effort, a terrible stitch in her side. She could hear the cupcake running, too, its massive footsteps closing in. Gasping for breath, she’d realized she was now on Hill Street, running toward the Stewart house. Once she got close, she leapt up on the curb, planning to dive over the hedge into the yard. But just as she got there, her shoe caught the curb and threw her to the ground.
Behind her, she could hear the thunder of the cupcake as it bore down on her.
Terrified, she’d thrown her arms over her head and— Bam! She woke up.
Wide-awake and shaken, she’d lain in her creaky, old bed, trying to calm down her still-racing thoughts before getting up to get a glass of water. That was when she’d found a long streak of beautifully piped pink frosting swirling from her ring finger all the way up to her shoulder like an elaborate 3D henna tattoo.
The whole thing was disturbing. Maybe next time, I should stop running and just eat that stupid cupcake. Maybe that’s what’ll put an end to this nonsense.
“So, can you?” Tiff asked, a hopeful note in her voice. “At least a few. They’d make great vid ops.”
Wait. What? Ella forced a smile and picked up the phone. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that? I was thinking about something else.”
Tiff’s permanent smile flickered. “That’s the second time you’ve zoned out. Why don’t I just send you everything in an email so you’ll have notes?”
“Yes, please. So sorry, Tiff. I didn’t sleep well.”
Tiff nodded in sympathy. “We all have those nights.”
“Thanks for understanding. I’ll get to those content requests as soon as I can. But in the meantime, you should be planning my exit strategy here. I’m not staying any longer than necessary.”
“Sure.” Tiff tapped her pen on her notepad. “We’ll need a defining event for the grand finale of ‘PM to CC.’ ”
“A finale?”
“Some sort of shindig, like a hoedown or a country fair. You know, something with that rich small-town flavor, and lots of photo ops. A ‘Goodbye to Dove Pond’ sort of event.”
“I’d like that.” Actually, she’d love it. Ella nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Tiff brightened and continued to talk about the perfect finale while Ella’s gaze wandered to the large windows opening onto the backyard. Ava had planted purple, pink, and yellow flowers along the gray stone path that led to the back of their yard, where the fresh, bubbling blue water of Sugar Creek wound its way past. A huge weeping willow trailed its green leaves into the clear water, as graceful as the rushing creek under it.
Ava’s plants gave her peace. Ella had seen her sister’s expression go from outraged to completely calm as she walked through the long, decadently green rows of her greenhouses. Kitchens make me feel the same way. Nothing calms my soul more. For Ella, baking was like taking a deep breath. It let out all the bad and gave her room to see the good. Which was why she’d gotten up at the break of dawn this morning and started baking. It wasn’t just because Angela wanted scones, although Ella would probably skim off a few and give her some. Instead, she was baking to lift her own spirits, which were dismally low this morning.
“I think that’s it,” Tiff said, interrupting Ella’s train of thought. “The team and I will be looking online for events to use for that grand finale. Maybe you should ask your sisters for some ideas? They know that area well.”
“Will do.”
“Just one more thing. Once we pick this event, we should fly the team down to cover it. Would you be up for that? I mentioned it at our last staff meeting and they were psyched about it.”
“Of course,” Ella said. She’d be more than happy to pass the videography and interview chores to her people.
“Great! I’m going to offer our main sponsors a place at the table if we can find a big enough event to attract a crowd. What fun!” Tiff looked through her notes. “I think that’s it. Check your email for those deets.”
Ella managed a smile. “It all sounds great. Thanks, Tiff.” Wiggling her fingers in a goodbye, she hung up. She wished she had Tiff’s enthusiasm. Sighing heavily, she dropped the phone into her apron pocket just as Sarah came in.
“Scones, cupcakes, and chocolate tea cakes?” Sarah set a stack of books on the counter and went to get a plate. “What’s gotten into you?”
Trust her sister to know she baked en masse like this only when she was upset. “A little of this and a lot of that.”
Sarah pulled the butter crock from the counter and then slid a warm blueberry scone onto her plate. “You should take the extras to Ava’s.”
“I thought of that.”
“I’m surprised Kristen and Ava haven’t been here, stuffing their cakeholes. I could smell those scones all the way upstairs in my bedroom.”
“Kristen left for school around seven, and Ava headed out about the same time. Said she had to meet a delivery truck.”
“She’s way too busy.” Sarah sighed happily as she looked at the pastries. “I’ve had dreams that started like this. Just me and delicious desserts. Mm. Such good dreams.”
“At least none of your desserts chased you.”
Sarah’s gaze flew to Ella. “Chased?”
Ella waved her hand. “It’s nothing, really.”
Sarah looked at the line of pastries. “Nothing?”
Ella had to laugh. “It’s a little something, but that’s all.”
Sarah’s eyebrows rose. “What’s going on? You came home unexpectedly, then we found out Jules and her mother think you stole their family cookbook years ago, and now this. Even weirder, you’re staying, even though it’s obvious you’d rather be somewhere else.”
Ella winced. “Is it that obvious?”
“We know you pretty well.”
“Too well. To be honest, I’ve had a stressful few months.” Ella got a plate and picked out a tea cake. “I didn’t tell you this before because I don’t understand it myself, but a while ago I started having these weird dreams where I’m being chased by a giant pink-frosted cupcake. I came back here to talk to Aunt Jo about it because when I wake up, I usually find strawberry frosting somewhere on me.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Wow! What did Aunt Jo say?”
“She said the dreams have crossed into the real world, which means I’m supposed to do something.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not sure. The cupcake always chases me to the Stewart house, which is why I thought it had to do with the lost Book of Cakes. I’ve been hoping that if I can convince Angela I didn’t take that silly cookbook, the dreams would stop.”
“And?”
“She won’t believe me. Meanwhile, Jules has done everything she could to keep me from even seeing her mother.”
“That’s not surprising. Jules has always been nice to me, but she seems strict, while Angela seems self-centered and—” Sarah made a face. “I’m being judgy, aren’t I? Sorry. I hope you figure things out soon.”