Eva beamed, and I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.
“And Shanna,” I continued, “thank you for suggesting the coffee station. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Adding a high endcoffee machine will attract more customers and complement the bakery perfectly. We’ll keep the main menu focused on pies and pastries, but we’ll offer specialty coffee drinks alongside. If you’re still interested, I’d like you to be our barista.”
Shanna’s eyes lit up. “Yes. Absolutely. I’ve been dreaming of combining the bakery with a real coffee experience. People will love it.”
“There’s going to be a lot of work,” I added. “We’ll modernize the bakery while preserving the original menu. Exploring new drinks, seasonal flavors, and special pastries could really give us an edge.”
Shanna nodded enthusiastically. “I can’t wait to get started. This is going to be amazing.”
“Does that mean you’re coming back?” she asked eagerly.
“I’ll come back,” I said, “but not permanently. I need to review the proposal, the finances, and see how I can make it work. I have a life in Michigan, but I hope to find a way to split my time between the two places.”
Eva rose and pulled me into a tight hug. “I always knew you’d make the right decision by keeping this place. Marie would be so proud of you.”
I held her back, tears streaming freely. The weight I had been carrying for months, even years, finally began to lift. For the first time in a long while, I could breathe, and I felt a flicker of hope for what the future might hold.
Shanna joined us, her tears soaking into both of us as she wrapped her arms around us. For a moment, the three of us simply stood there, holding on, letting the relief, the gratitude, and the promise of new beginnings wash over us.
In that embrace, the past felt a little lighter.
And the future, a little brighter.
And in my mind, I already knew the perfect name for the bakery:
Haven & Hearth
A place of warmth, comfort, and a fresh start.
Chapter 34
BAILEY
I’m going to miss this place.
I took one last look around the cottage that had been my sanctuary for the past few weeks. It was small and quiet, but it had given me more comfort than I had expected. I had already packed my bag, put everything back where it belonged, and left a handwritten thank you note for the owner, grateful not only for the rental but for allowing me to extend my stay.
After one final check, I stepped outside and locked the door.
Ashton was already waiting. He had helped me carry my bag to the car earlier, and now he stood there in casual clothes, hands tucked into his pockets. Seeing him like this filled me with a strange mix of sadness and relief. Whatever tension had once existed between us had finally settled. From here on, we would move forward not as lovers, but at the very least as co parents to our son.
“You know I’m trying hard not to follow you back to Michigan,” he said.
“Afraid I’m going to run?” I teased.
“Don’t give me ideas. I didn’t sleep well last night. You know how badly I want to meet our son.”
“And you know we can’t tell him over the phone,” I replied. “I need to break the news face to face. But I think he already suspects you’re his father.”
“What?” Ashton looked genuinely startled. “How?”
“Well, after the video call, he got curious about you. Maybe because I’ve never introduced him to a man before. The only male figure in his life has been Adam.”
“Wait,” Ashton said, his face suddenly lighting up. “Does that mean you haven’t dated anyone for the past eight years?”
“That is none of your business, Ashton,” I scolded. He only grinned.
Of course I was not going to share my personal life with him or tell him how difficult things had been after we broke up. Being pregnant so young, trying to support myself and my late mother, and dealing with years of financial strain had left me with little space for relationships. I had gone on a few dates, mostly blind ones forced on me by Sissy, but nothing ever lasted, and none of it gave me butterflies. Most of the time, my thoughts were always with my baby at home. Was he safe? Had he slept? Did he miss me? It might have sounded excessive, but that had simply been the reality of being a single mother.
