Miguel took over serving the customers in line so Cass could come out from behind the stall to talk with Sasha.
“He’s adorable, you know,” Sasha said. “Does he have an older brother by any chance?”
“He does, but he’s already spoken for.”
“Ah, well. Worth the ask.”
Cass laughed, then took in Sasha’s outfit—snow pants and a ski jacket, solid winter boots on her feet and a skate bag in her hand. “You came prepared.”
“You wouldn’t know this—actually, Charlie doesn’t even know this—but I grew up in northern Canada. The snow arrived early and left late. Basically, if you didn’t play ringette or hockey, or love the bitter cold, you were miserable most of the year.” Sasha glanced around the square, a wistful look on her face. She seemed so different from the Sasha Cass had been used to on set, and it was then Cass realized this was probably the “real” Sasha.
“It’s beautiful here. It reminds me of home,” Sasha said. “I can see why Charlie wants to stay.”
Cass looked over at the Peak Pub’s stall, where Charlie and Jake sat on a picnic bench, eating chili from take-out containers and laughing frequently as they nuzzled each other, staying warm and staying close.
Sasha followed her gaze. “That’s what I see, anyway. “
Cass turned to Sasha. “I’m sorry for how things were left on set that day.” She gave Sasha an apologetic smile. “I accidentally eavesdropped on you and Austin in the greenroom, and when I heard that he was getting the job over Charlie, well, I knew I had to come home.”
Sasha pursed her lips. “I’m sorry you found out like that. The mistake was mine. I should have told Charlie as soon as I knew. I guess we all mess up now and then, right?”
Cass nodded, taking in the truth of that statement. “I hope you know I had no intention of messing up anything with the show, or with Charlie’s career.”
“Don’t worry a second longer about any of that,” Sasha said. “I should thank you, actually.”
“Thank me? Can’t say I was expecting that.” Cass let out a short laugh.
“It helped me see what I really want,” Sasha said. “Which is not to spend one more minute with jackasses like Austin Nash! Or as part of an executive team that couldn’t see how much better of a choice Charlie would have been for Bake My Day.”
“He really was the worst.” Cass scowled, remembering how awful Austin had been.
“Ugh, the absolute worst.” Sasha looked over again at Charlie and Jake. “I think we’ve all made better choices, don’t you?”
Cass stole a glance at Miguel. “I sure do.”
“Well, now that we have that behind us, I came here for a party and a skate because there is nothing more depressing than going to an ice rink with palm trees around it and sand instead of snow.” Sasha opened the zipper of her bag, pulling out a pair of figure skates. “But I can’t wait to chat with you and Charlie more about this new show idea. Outside of a proper white Christmas, there is nothing I am more excited about right now than the three of us ambitious, talented women putting our heads together and coming up with something magical.”
The week before, when Charlie had called Cass, desperate to swap places, she would never have imagined the seismic shift that would take place in such a short time. And if Charlie had told her the two of them would soon be starring in a new show, with Woodburn Breads and Starlight Peak as the setting, she would have told her that the knock on her head had possibly done some permanent damage.
Cass wasn’t sure exactly how it had happened, but she was not the same person she had been before the swap. She was even looking forward to being back on camera, except this time she would be in charge of wardrobe—comfortable clogs, yoga pants, and Woodburn Breads aprons. Bringing a reality show to Starlight Peak, and sharing the spotlight and bakery with Charlie hadn’t been part of the original plan, but Cass couldn’t wait to see what adventures awaited them.
“Oh, before I go. One question.” Sasha leaned toward Cass. “What happened to Austin’s cake that last day?”
Cass shrugged. “He forgot to add the baking soda. That’s all I know.”
Sasha chuckled at that, then went off to get her skates on. A few minutes later Charlie and Jake were back, ready to relieve Cass and Miguel from their shift at the stall.
“How are you doing?” Charlie asked her sister, looking to where Cass’s stitches were, even though they were hidden by her hat.