The sisters exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Evie felt a flush creeping up her neck to mingle with the flour on her skin. She knew what they were thinking - poor Evie, left behind while her ex-husband whisked their son away to paradise along with his sexy, young, new girlfriend.
The same man who had always eschewed Evie’s repeated requests for them to go away, even if it were just for a weekend, so they had some private time with each other, or later, a family holiday to make memories with Ollie. Apparently, that was an expense they couldn’t afford while they saved to buy a bigger house, because the modest two-bedroom apartment they’d moved into when they got married was another thing that wasn’t good enough.
Adrian’s previous parsimonious behavior seemed to have changed since he landed his ‘dream’ job for a huge conglomeratein the city that paid the big bucks. Now Adrian was content to rent a posh apartment, since even with his fat new salary, he’d never be able to buy something that fancy, and suddenly the holidays they’d never allowed themselves were on.
Not for her, of course. It would beBrandimaking memories with her son on a warm beach somewhere in paradise.
She pulled herself up short.You don’t need beaches and holidays to make wonderful memories, she scolded herself.
The two women, eying her keenly, obviously read her grievances.
"Well, you know there’s no place for a more wonderful Christmas than here in Frostvale," Iris said, patting Evie's flour-covered hand, her sympathy genuine. "I'm sure Ollie will miss all our wonderful traditions."
Evie's throat tightened. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The image of Ollie building sandcastles instead of snowmen, sipping tropical drinks instead of hot cocoa, flashed through her mind. Iris and Marigold were right, but that just made her heart ache all the more; Ollie loved Christmas, just like she did.
"Well, we best be going," Marigold chirped, sensing Evie's discomfort. "Lots to do for the festival. You'll be at the planning meeting tonight, won't you?"
The planning meeting. Evie's eyes widened. She'd completely forgotten. "Of course," she lied smoothly, mentally rearranging her entire evening. "Wouldn't miss it."
As the bell jingled, signaling the sisters' departure, Evie sagged against the counter and closed her eyes, inhaling the comforting scent of cinnamon and sugar that permeated the bakery that had been her dream for so long. One that was now bittersweet. Nevertheless, the aroma grounded her, reminding her of all the Christmases past - the ones filled with laughter, love, and the warmth of family.
She’d get there again - one day.
After all, she and Adrian had been happy once upon a time, although Gateaux knew it seemed like a lifetime ago.
A bump in the road, that’s all Evie had seen their issues as. Something every relationship went through. Something they needed to talk out and compromise on.
Except Adrian had wanted it all his own way and hadn’t been interested in compromise.
Apparently, her preference for staying in Frostvale, where she was so close to realizing her personal dreams of having her own bakery, was unrealistic. Even though her boss, Edith Channing, had been close to retiring and willing to sell the bakery to Evie at a discount since Evie had managed it for the past three years. Staying close to their support network, the good friends and family in this small, close-knit town who cared for Ollie while they both worked, who looked out for him, or stepped in during an emergency, was unnecessary. Not having to disrupt Ollie from the kindergarten he’d settled at with all the friends he’d made in pre-school was pandering. But by comparison, the commute Adrian would have to ‘endure’ if they chose not to uproot their lives, staying in the safe, friendly town they’d grown up in, avoiding the hassle of finding a new home, a new school, a new job for Evie, and new child-minders was far too much for Adrian to consider.
In the end, when it came down to the choice between a thirty-minute commute, combined with the happiness and security of his family in Frostvale, or uprooting them all so he could cut his journey time by fifteen minutes - because yeah, his fancy new digs meant he still had to drive - then that extra fifteen minutes won.
That’s when Evie realized just how selfish Adrian had become. A selfishness she’d been covering in frosting for years. Each snide remark about Frostvale being "quaint" - his codefor backwards - each barbed comment about the ‘slim’, driven women he worked with, each dismissive wave at her excitement over the bakery - they weren't isolated incidents but ingredients in a recipe she'd refused to taste.
Adrian had become a stranger to her. The man who once shared her dreams had vanished, replaced by someone who measured life's worth in salary figures and status symbols rather than snowball fights and bedtime stories. He was focused solely on his own desires and ambitions, and to hell with anyone else.
That’s when Evie finally admitted her marriage was over. She’d loved her husband, but she didn’t like the man he’d become… and Evie guessed the feeling was mutual, because when she stated her feelings on the matter, he told her he was going whether she came with him or not. And when she decided ‘not’, he wasn’t at all broken up.
‘Brandi’ appeared on the scene a scant two weeks after Adrian moved out - well, officially anyway. Evie preferred not to imagine Adrian had already been cheating on her, but the truth was, she wasn’t certain, either.
Not that it mattered any more. They were done; the apartment sold, their assets divided, and a co-parenting agreement in place.
Evie shook her head, pushing away the painful memories. She had a bakery to run, a Christmas festival to prepare for, and a son to cherish for the precious days they had left before his trip. She couldn't afford to wallow in self-pity or resentment.
The bakery was all hers now. She’d realized that particular dream, and if she no longer had anyone to share it with, then she comforted herself with the knowledge that at least she still had the dream, which is more than she would have had if she'd blindly followed Adrian.
He’d shown his true colors during their divorce. Not only had he tried to claim half of the college fund they’d started for Ollie,but he’d also kept a private savings account, which he claimed was his alone and shouldn’t be shared. His lawyers insisted Evie sign a document to that effect, even though she was the primary carer for their son.
Without a fuss, Evie had agreed. Oh, not to the college fund - she’d made certain that was in an untouchable trust when they started it.
But what Adrian didn’t know was that she had private savings of her own. Money she’d earned from making wedding and celebration cakes as a side business and religiously put away in preparation for buying Edith’s bakery.
In hindsight, perhaps she’d always known, deep down, that Adrian would never willingly fund her own dreams.
But it was money she’d been fully prepared to declare and share. Adrian’s underhanded tactics meant she didn’t need to… and her savings were a damn sight more than his. She’d always been better at budgeting.
She didn’t even feel guilty about it after he proved to be such a jerk. Knowing a man would take from his own child had that effect.
