Amber nodded. “I agree. Once Taylor gets here, I’ll use my spare key to her apartment and go in.”
“I’m done with the baking,” I said, standing immediately. “Give me the key, and I’ll go.”
She swung her head a hair and pursed her lips. “I think you should let me, Brady. This situation feels like a two-part process. She needs to cry on my shoulder about it first before she’ll be able to hear what you have to say.”
I tossed up my hand and let it fall to my side. “My voice should be the loudest voice Haylee hears!” I exclaimed, angry that Haylee wouldn’t talk to me.
Amber held out her hands to calm me. “It should be, but Brady, being in a relationship is new to her, and the things Darla said, they implied she doesn’t deserve that relationship, right?”
I nodded, some of the anger draining away. “She said I could be dating and fucking a beauty queen every night instead of dating the fatso no one wanted.”
Amber leaned on the counter and sucked in air deeply, her eyes flashing with anger. “Darla so needs to disappear from this town,” she ground out.
“Don’t let anyone hear you say that,” I warned, just in case she had plans to make it happen.
“I meant to find a new city, Brady.” She shook her head. “I’m so tired of the way she poisons this town.”
“There’s always one in every town, I’ve learned. Eventually, something will happen to put Darla in her place. When it does, things might change. For now, we have to take care of our cupcake.”
“And you have to trust that I know the best way to do that.”
I held up my hand. “Okay, you’re right. There is so much history between Haylee and Darla, and you and Haylee. I just want to be the one she runs to when she’s scared, not away from.”
“Did you do anything to upset her?” she asked, her head cocked to the side.
I held my hands up against my chest. “Not that I’m aware of, no. I didn’t even get a chance to tell her that I passed my master baker exam and am officially certified. They called me while we were waiting for the judging. By the time I got back into the building, the judges were back with their decision.”
“Brady!” she exclaimed, running around the counter to hug me. “Congratulations! That’s a major accomplishment! I remember when Hay-Hay finally got hers. It’s like getting a master’s degree after years of hard work.”
I patted her back before I released her. “Thank you. It is exciting. It would be more exciting if I weren’t worried about Haylee, but you’re right. It takes four years of hard work even to apply to take the test, so finally getting the accreditation feels wonderful.”
“Why don’t you go home and take a nap? I’ll call you once I talk to Hay-Hay.”
I shook my head, my earlier fatigue vanquished by the coffee and knowing Amber had my back with our girl. “I know I’m not the lead cupcake baker here, but I can hold my own when it comes to making and decorating them. I’m going to get her special orders done for tomorrow, so she can breathe when she comes in tonight. If she comes in tonight,” I added, biting my lip.
“She will,” Amber said with confidence. “This is her business, and she won’t neglect it for long. I can promise you that she knows exactly what she has to do and how long it will take her. If you want to do it, though, I won’t stop you. Besides, it will show her that you’re her partner in the relationship and the bakery. Sometimes seeing someone’s thoughtfulness for where you are in life says more than any words can.”
I pointed at her and winked. “Exactly what I was thinking. You know where I am if you need me.”
I headed straight to the cooler to get the first batch of cupcakes that were already made but not yet decorated. I would work all day and night again if it meant Haylee trusted me to have her back in life.
Twenty-Two
I took a deep breath before I knocked on the office door in the 4-H building. It was only eight a.m., and I should be at the bakery, but there was something I needed to do before the parade started at noon. If I were smart, I’d turn around and pretend I didn’t know this information, but I couldn’t with a good conscience. The town of Lake Pendle deserved to know the truth.
“Come in,” called a voice from the other side of the door.
I pushed it open, and Mrs. Mulberry sat at the makeshift desk with piles of paperwork and ribbons around her.
“Hi, Mrs. Mulberry,” I said, scooting sideways to fit into the small office. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
She motioned around and chuckled. “Hi, Haylee. I’m just working on the usual stuff that has to get done before the parade. I’m secretly glad today is the last day of the fair. I’m exhausted, but it sure was well attended this year, wasn’t it?”
I nodded my agreement. The older woman was echoing what I was feeling about it, too. “It grows every year, which is wonderful to see.”
“Did you hear the good news?” she asked, standing up to join me by the door. “Mrs. Barton had a baby boy last night at six o’clock. Phillip John Barton was six pounds and healthy as a horse. Probably all those cupcakes,” she said with a wink.
I chuckled and gave her a little shoulder bump. “That’s wonderful news. We were worried when we hadn’t heard anything when we left last night. I’m so glad everything turned out well for them.”
“Was this a social visit, dear, or did you need something?” she asked right before she snapped her fingers. “I bet you’re here for your sticker, aren’t you? Oh dear, I wonder where that is,” she said, tapping her chin.
I waved my hand immediately. “No, the committee always delivers it once everything is ready. Don’t worry about it, please. I’m here about a different matter. Well, two, actually.”
“Oh, well, hopefully, I can help,” she said, “I don’t have much time.”
“I know, that’s why I’m here early. I wanted to let you know that we won’t be competing in any further cupcake competitions as a bakery. I think after all these years, I can no longer consider myself anything but a professional, and that’s not fair to the other teams who want to compete.”
“Hmmm,” she hummed, her lips in a frown. “I suppose you are right in that matter. There is no rule about it, though.”
“I know there isn’t, and the committee should probably consider changing that. If they do, they could even consider doing a bake-off between bakeries or something that gives the professionals a handicap. The bragging rights are fun and all, but I feel like when others know they’re going up against professional bakers, they won’t even bother to sign up. Does that make sense?”
“It does,” she agreed. “I’ll bring it to the rest of the committee to consider before next year.”
“Great. Let me know if I can help with judging or for ideas on ways to get the professionals involved but still keep the competition clean for the amateurs. I knew it was time to stop competing when I decided to give the trophy to the second-place winner if we won again this year. It no longer felt right to keep it.”