Lizzy hesitated. “Is it supposed to be that green?”
Her sister nodded eagerly.
They had both been there for hours while the latest summer rainstorm raged outside, keeping almost all customers away. Kitty’s laptop was open on the counter beside her and she had been back and forth to the kitchen so many times, Lizzy had almost asked what she was up to, but she was too busy trying to forget the night before. Still, the memory managed to pop up at the most inopportune moments, making her cringe. God, had she really endured an entire evening with Will Darcy and his insufferable aunt and not come away with one new bit of information about Charlie?
“Go ahead. Try it,” Kitty said, eyeing the seaweed-colored blob in Lizzy’s palm. “It’s matcha and almond butter.”
Lizzy braced herself as she took a bite. She had barely closed her mouth before she gagged.
Kitty’s expression deflated. “That bad?”
“Are those ginger crystals in the icing?” Lizzy asked, forcing herself to swallow.
“I was experimenting.”
“With muffin flavors?”
“No. With cakes,” Kitty said.
“But we don’t sell cakes.”
“That’s the point,” Kitty replied, eyes lighting up again. “Last year, cake sales represented twenty-five percent of the bakery market in the U.S. alone, and we don’t sell any! Just muffins and breads and the same old, same old. We’re missing an entire revenue stream.”
Lizzy discreetly threw the rest of the cake in the bin beneath the register. “Have you talked to Dad about any of this?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve been busy.”
“Working on your top secret business plan?” Lizzy asked, smiling.
“It’s not top secret,” Kitty replied, even as she closed her laptop. “I just want my ideas to be perfect and organized before I show anyone. Besides, Dad only listens to you when it comes to the bakery.”
“That’s not true,” Lizzy said. “You suggested those new recyclable cups for the coffee.”
Kitty rolled her eyes. “Cups? Spare me. This place might as well be yours.”
Lizzy tried to brush off the comment, but it snagged someplace deep in her chest. Suddenly Birdie’s words from the night before roared back to life.
I’m jealous of you being able to just work at your family bakery and never having to think about it.
It had hurt, not only because she said it out loud, but that she was right. Lizzy never had to think about it, and neither did anyone else. Everyone took for granted that she was the Bennet sister whowould take all of this over, so much so, they had started to assume it was what she wanted.
Except that wasn’t true. Will hadn’t.
You don’t decide to be a foreign affairs journalist just so you can stay in one place forever.
Lizzy had wanted to answer him, to say he was right, even though she hated to admit it. But it felt too honest. She had already revealed too much as it was. She wasn’t sure now if the regret was much better.
“What’s wrong?” Kitty asked.
Lizzy paused. “What do you mean?”
“You have that weird wrinkle between your eyebrows,” she said, pointing to Lizzy’s face. “You only have that when you’re stressed about something.”
“I’m not stressed, and I have no wrinkles,” Lizzy replied, batting her hand away. She hoped it sounded convincing.
