Melanie from the coffee shop closed the box of scones and taped it shut. “I need five dozen tomorrow morning for the town council meeting. I’ll deliver for us.” She hugged me tight then released me and stepped back. “You know, between the two of us, we keep this town strung out on sugar and caffeine.”

“County Commissioner Dunken says if it wasn’t for us they’d never stay awake long enough to hear all the town complaints during open meetings.”

She stacked the boxes and I held the door open for her. “I heard Tom from the general store and Blake from the florist are having a turf war.”

“I expect a detailed small town report by the end of the day.” I winked. If there was one thing about small towns, there was always entertainment, fighting, and lots of love. We were all just one big dysfunctional family.

With Melanie’s exit came the morning rush of customers filling up on donuts and pastries. When it finally ended, and I had already been filled in on the great grocery store-florist battle, I welcomed a few minutes of quiet to wipe down the tables and clean up a bit, but first I had to try Cathy one more time. I dialed her number and after the second ring, she rejected my call and it went to voice mail.

“You’ve reached Cathy West,” her voice mail message said. “Leave your number and if I want to talk to you I’ll call you back. If not, take the hint, Ms. Sadie Dixon-Dumont to-be.”

The usual beep sounded, and I took a quick breath. “Cathy, I’m so sorry. I want you to understand that I didn’t know. If Mom would’ve told me how you were after Uncle Sam died, I would’ve been there for you.” I toed the linoleum floor, searching for the right words. “Listen, it’s time for us to duke it out good southern family style. You can tell me how awful I am, and I can tell you how much I miss you. Please call me.” I hung up and closed my eyes, holding the phone to my chest. With a silent prayer, I willed her to call me back, but after several minutes of silence, and a jingle at the front door, I had to abandon my hope.

I turned and spotted the one person I never thought I’d see in Magnolia Corners, let alone this tiny bakery. Mrs. Dumont stood only a few feet away, and all of a sudden the counter between us didn’t seem large enough. My breath dried out quicker than day old French bread.

Her judgmental gaze hopped around the room until it finally settled on me. “This is where you spend all your time?”

I pushed my shoulders back. Maybe Cathy had a point. It was time for me to stick up for myself, or the rest of my life would be miserable. “Yes, I started working here right after I was let go from the country club. I run the place for the owner now. It’s paid the bills, mostly, and provides food for our table. I know it isn’t glamorous, but it’s been a great and friendly place to work.”

She held up a gloved hand. Considering it was ninety degrees outside, I knew the layer of protection wasn’t due to the temperature. “I’m not here to fight with you. I know I’ve been…difficult.”

Expensive and strong perfume wafted across the counter, murdering the aroma of fresh baked bread. She turned to one of the tables and motioned to the seat. “May I?”

I grabbed the table rag and hurried around the counter. “Of course. Sorry, it was slammed in here a few minutes ago, and I couldn’t find the time to clean up.” I wiped down the table and then tossed the rag on the counter and wiped my hands on my apron.

The timer dinged in the back, indicating the bread and my next batch of cookies were ready. “Please excuse me. I don’t want it to burn. I’ll be right back. Can I get you anything?’

“How about one of those new cookies my son’s been raving about the last few days. An oodle?”

“A snickerdoodle-oodle.” My heart flew into another hemisphere with happiness. He’d really liked my cookies. Maybe they did have a shot at winning the baking contest at the fair. “They aren’t gluten free though.”

“It’s fine. I’m not allergic.” She delicately tugged on the fingers of her gloves one at a time until she pulled the gloves from her hands. “I just try to eat clean.”

Unsure what clean eating meant, and not sure I wanted to know, I retrieved the bread and set it on the cooling rack, then the sheet of cookies. After plating the cookies, I returned to the small table and set them down, retrieved two napkins and two glasses of milk and settled in for a conversation I hoped would go better than the one with Cathy.

She nibbled on the cookie as if it were a bomb she was trying to diffuse, but after a few seconds she took a real bite. I’d never seen Mrs. Dumont take a real bite of anything before.

“It’s not polite to stare at someone while they’re eating, you know,” Mrs. Dumont scolded.

“Sorry, I’m just anxious to know what you think. You see, I’ve tried to win this contest since I started working here. Of course the owner has won, but I’ve never won on my own.” I realized how small town that sounded, and I sat back, willing myself to sound a little more cultured.

“I believe you have a shot. I mean, it’s not a chocolate religieuse crafted by Chef Pierre at the club, but it is good for a small-town bakery.”

At the hope of bridging the eight-lane highway dividing the Eagles Landing Country Club lifestyle and tiny town Magnolia Corner’s country-isms, I’d check her statement as a win. “Well, good thing I’m competing in the small-town fair then.”

“Yes.” As if she’d returned to her real persona, she dusted off crumbs and inferior remnants of the shop from her hands and replaced her gloves. “Listen, I’d like to speak to you about Ashton and your future. I heard he’s found a house and that your sisters will be moving in with you.”

“No.”

Mrs. Dumont raised a brow, one that indicated she wasn’t used to being interrupted or told she was wrong. “Excuse me?”

I toyed with the cookie on my plate, inhaling the sweetness and steadying my resolve to not back down. “My sisters didn’t want to intrude on our new married life, so they told me they wouldn’t move in with us. That, and I think they want their big sister to stay out of their lives for a while.”

“I see.” She scooted the plate away as if the scrumptious cookies would break her veneers if she took a bite. “That is good news. So, how do you feel about living up on the north side of town after being down here your entire life? How do you feel about attending corporate events and fundraisers? I know Ashton has told you these things are not important, but do you believe he wants to be successful at his job?”

I nodded, knowing where she was going with this. “Yes, and I plan to support him.”

“I’m happy to hear that, but what about you, Sadie? Will this make you happy? If you’re not happy, then your marriage won’t work. I want you to carefully consider the fact that you will be entering into Ashton’s world. I have no doubt you love him, but trust me when I tell you love isn’t enough when life gets complicated. I, too, struggled for a while with having to be the emotional support for Ashton and my husband. I graduated at the top of my class and could’ve been the president of a company like my husband, but I knew the two of us couldn’t both take on the corporate world.”

“Why not?” I asked. “I mean, why can’t a wife be a career woman and a mom?” I wanted to show her the world had changed. That the stay-at-home mom wasn’t a necessity any more.

“All I’m saying is that I grew up in this world, you didn’t. It is difficult enough to live something you are accustomed to, but when you must pretend you’re someone that you’re not, it’s much harder. You aren’t a debutant? You never had a coming out party. Are you prepared for long nights at corporate events where the wrong words from a wife could end a career? If so, then I will believe you, and I will support your relationship with my son. If not, please walk away. As a mother, one who stayed and raised her son, I assure you I only want what’s best for him.”

I opened my mouth, but she held up her hand.

“Don’t answer me now. I want you to think about this. You can tell me your answer tomorrow night. If you decide that you want to be part of our world, then join my husband and me for dinner. It won’t be a big production, but we can help you understand what you need to know to support Ashton. If you are fully committed to him, then we want to help make your transition into marriage easier.” She stood and offered her hand to me. She’d never even came close enough to accidentally run into me, let alone touch me on purpose. “For once, consider yourself, what you want. Not what’s best for everyone else.”

I stood and took her hand, but I didn’t need to think about it. I knew how much I loved Ashton. There was no way I’d ever walk away from him.