Morning only brought a headache, neck ache, and soul ache. I woke hoping it had all been a nightmare. A rich, snooty, condescending dream.

The sight of Aunt Cathy’s guest room told me it wasn’t. It was all true. I had to face it. And I wouldn’t let anyone―not my mother, not the Dumonts, not Ashton―ruin my life the way my mother had.

I wouldn’t cry myself to sleep another night. I wouldn’t sacrifice everything to care for someone else. Both my sisters were grown, and capable of taking care of themselves. It was time I thought about me for once. I needed to get home to bake for the county fair.

“Are you sure you need to drive back today? Cathy should be home by this evening.”

I grabbed my purse and headed for the door. “We both know that Cathy’s mad at me, and I can’t handle that right now. Tell her I love her, and I’ll try to talk to her soon. Right now, there is something I need to do for myself. It’s time I work on my own dreams, instead of focusing on everyone else’s.

Devon forced a worried smile. “Drive safe.”

I threw my arms around him. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what would’ve happened last night if it hadn’t been for you.”

He hugged me tight. “Listen, I’m here if you need anything.”

“If you really do have the power over Cathy that I saw while you were at the country club, please get her to call me.”

Something flashed across his face, but his reassuring smile replaced it so quickly that I couldn’t figure out if it was concern or sadness.

“I’ll do my best.”

With those few words, I knew the rift between Aunty Cathy and I was bigger than I had realized, like the valley between two tall and proud, stubborn mountain peaks. I opened the front door, pausing on the top step. “Tell her I love her.” My legs, arms, and heart weighed on me, but I managed to walk down the front porch steps.

“I will. For now, you win that baking contest. Don’t let all this nonsense get in the way of your dreams.”

I nodded, unable to manage words. It was as if any extra movement was too exhausting. That any words would break the fragile silence and bring reality crashing down around me again.

The entire drive back to Magnolia Corners I debated if I even wanted to enter the contest anymore. I’d had this crazy vision of everyone there celebrating with me when I won. That dream of family and friends surrounding me to share in my accomplishment. Yet, now it seemed impossible and stupid.

For hours, I ignored the buzzing of my phone and drove. I drove down winding roads and long crowded interstates. My mind rolled over the memories of my mother walking out on me, of the way I treated Cathy and her walking out on me. And now, of Ashton walking out on me. Did he leave me because I didn’t fit in, because I wasn’t worth loving?

When I finally pulled into the bakery parking lot Zoey stood on the front walk with swollen eyes, her arms open wide. I crawled out of the car and fell into her embrace.

“I’ve been so worried. I’m in shock, and I don’t know what to do.” She held me tight until I finally pulled away and eyed her.

“I’m supposed to be the big sister.”

Zoey took my hand and tugged me inside. “It’s our turn to take care of you. Tell us what you need.”

Avery came out and held out a cup of coffee to me. “So, is it going to be cyanide in the country club’s water supply? Arsenic in their catering? A hired hit man? Shaving his perfect hair off so he can never show his face in public again? Don’t hold back, we’re here for you.”

We all laughed, not a happy laugh, but a sister-gone-mad laugh.

“I think we’ll spare his life.” I took a sip of coffee. If anything in life could take the edge off it was laughter and Avery’s special Italian coffee with hazelnut cream. “If you really want to help, grab an apron. We have twelve hours to get everything ready for the fair.”

“You’re worried about the county fair? Now?” Avery asked, her voice hitching.

“I have a commitment. Unlike some people, I take that seriously. I’m going to head over there now. No sense in putting it off. It isn’t their fault my life’s in shambles. Everyone else might break their word to me, but that fair is something special to this town. A town that helped us when we were alone. A town that brought us groceries, offered me a job when I needed one, picked Avery up when she was in trouble and set her straight.”

“Hey,” Avery protested, but no sarcasm followed.

“This fair brought us happiness when we needed it most. Do you two remember?”

Avery nodded. “When Mom left, we all went to the fair and ate way too much food and played games. You made us believe that everything would be okay.” Avery toed a worn spot in the linoleum. “You were younger than I am now. I don’t know how you did it. I don’t know how you’ve done any of it all these years.”

I smiled. “Yes, well, I have this amazing sister that I couldn’t stop thinking about last night. The one who pulled herself together when the love of her life walked out on her with no word. Today, you’re my inspiration. I’m channeling my inner-Avery to keep going.”

Her eyes filled with rare tears. She swiped them away, but Zoey grabbed us both and pulled us into a huddle of sister love.

“Let’s get to work. There’s a lot to do and only a little time to get it done.”

Avery started heating up the cotton candy machine while Zoey pre-heated the oven. I shut off my phone and shoved it back into my purse. Today there would be no distractions, no empty promises, no lies. Today I’d work until I was so tired I’d forget who Ashton Dumont was and how happy he’d made me.

For a few hours, I managed to bury my grief in baking, and I knew that I could never do anything else. From the time I was four and baked my first batch of chocolate chip cookies with Aunt Cathy, I had fallen in love with baking and how it could connect people through warmth and sweetness.

When we finally finished making most of the food for the fair, I decided I wouldn’t give up on my dreams and began work on my cookies. Retrieving my phone, I held my breath and turned it back on then waited for it to come alive. I would’ve continued to ignore it but I needed my recipe app so I could review my notes. When it finally finished booting up, I expected to find a thousand messages from Ashton full of empty-promises and lies I thought I didn’t want.

But there were none.

Not one single message from Ashton.