Jane’s voice stayed even. “Yes.”
Carly waited, as if expecting Jane to justify it. When Jane did not, Carly gave a small nod.
James tried again. “She had feelings. It complicated things.”
My stomach tightened.
Jane’s head snapped up. “That is not what happened.”
The room went still.
Molly and Erin froze in place, eyes flicking between Jane and James. Carly’s expression sharpened. James looked pleased, like he had finally found the button.
I stepped closer to Jane, not touching, but present in her line of sight.
Jane kept her voice controlled. “Do not talk about me like I am not here.”
James held up his hands in a mock apology. “I am just explaining. Carly should understand the context.”
Carly’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Context is useful. But you seem eager to provide it.”
James laughed. “I have nothing to hide.”
Carly glanced at Jane. “Do you agree?”
Jane’s jaw tightened. She looked as though she wanted to say a hundred things and was choosing none of them.
“I am here to feed a wedding,” Jane said. “That is my focus today.”
It was a clean boundary. Practical. Final.
Carly watched her for a moment longer, then turned to the pastries again, as if the conversation had never happened.
James shifted, annoyed that he had not achieved what he wanted.
I felt the weight of it all settle in my chest.
This had been my idea.
Invite Carly and give James someone else to perform for in an attempt to give Jane space to breathe.
Instead, I had brought another audience into the kitchen. Another set of expectations. Another voice that could reinforce James even when it did not mean to.
The door to the kitchen opened again, letting in a gust of cold air and the sound of boots scraping snow.
Dex appeared in the doorway, cheeks flushed from the cold, gloves already on. William stood just behind him, hat pulled low, his expression practical and mildly concerned.
“Braxton,” Dex said. “We need you.”
I looked at him, then at William. “Now?”
William nodded. “Parking lot is drifting back in. Guests are arriving early. If we do not clear it properly, people are going to have trouble getting in.”
Dex added, “And if someone gets stuck, Kitty will panic. Then Lucy will panic about Kitty panicking. It is a chain reaction.”
Jane looked up, concern flickering across her face before she smoothed it away.
“I will be fine,” she said quietly.
