“What if we didn’t raise enough?” I whisper, my stomach feeling heavy with nerves. I truly haven’t slept the past few days. Between preparing for the fundraiser and preparing for today, there was no way I could sleep peacefully. At least that’s what I keep telling myself instead of admitting my bed felt far too empty without Camden’s warm body next to mine.
“Open your eyes,” my dad instructs from my side. I don’t listen, afraid that if I open my eyes, I might cry from worry. I’ve tried keeping a brave face since the moment I returned to Sutten, but I’m nearing the end of my rope. I won’t be able to handle it if I lose Wake and Bake today. Because losing to Jason will be that—he’s said it himself. There’s no way I can pay the rent he expects. He’ll force me out, and the dream I’ve worked on for years will go up in smoke.
“Pippa Linda Jennings,” my father all but growls. “Open your eyes.”
I’m a grown adult, but my eyes have never popped open so fast. His booming voice scared me as a child, even though he never raised it to Cade and me. Right now isn’t any different.
“This is going to work out,” he assures me, his voice confident. He reaches out and smooths my hair.
“You don’t know that, Dad.” My voice trembles, the tears pooling in my eyelids threatening to spill over.
“I do. I can feel it.”
I let out a sad laugh, rolling my eyes. “You can’t feel this sort of thing.”
He scowls at me. “Don’t tell me what I feel, darling. Your momma is here with us. She won’t let you lose the shop. I can assure you of that.”
At the mention of Mom, I can’t fight the tears another second. They freely run down my cheeks, ruining the little bit of makeup I managed to put on this morning.
“She’d be so disappointed if I lost Wake and Bake,” I croak.
“She could never be disappointed in you,” he answers, his voice full of conviction.
Mare squeezes my hand, reminding me that she never let go. I don’t look at her, but knowing she’s right there next to me is enough to have me taking a deep breath in an attempt to settle my nerves.
“She was so proud of me when I got the place. And now I might lose it.”
People start to fill in next to us, taking me by surprise. I see so many familiar faces, the people of Sutten showing up to support us. Tears spill all over again, my stomach turning in knots.
Now, I could disappoint all of them if we aren’t able to bid the highest number for the block.
I look away from Rosemary, carrying her grandson in the terrible sweater she knitted, and look back to my dad. Everything is foggy through the tears in my eyes, but even through the tears, I can see his features soften. He pulls me into him.
“Your momma was proud of anything you did, Pippa. You could do no wrong in her eyes. I can feel her with me right now—with us—and I know with everything that I am that she’s incredibly proud of you. You hear me?”
I nod against his chest, taking in a shaky breath.
“Then you also know that if she were here right now, she’d tell you to take a deep breath and compose yourself. Believe in yourself, Pippa. Because if you believe in yourself only half the amount she believed in you, I know that this will all work out, and the cafe will remain yours.”
A hand covers Mare’s and my intertwined fingers. When I pull away, I find Cade’s overlapping ours.
“That Jack guy should be fucking terrified of you, Pip,” Cade says, trying to lighten the mood.
It works—I let out a laugh, wiping underneath my eyes. “It’s Jason, and if he should be scared of anyone, it’s Rosemary back there. She’s a loose cannon.”
All of us laugh, and it does something to my soul. It soothes it. And as I let my eyes drift shut, for a moment, I feel my mom. I feel her calming presence. It gives me the confidence to straighten my spine and grab my auction paddle from the ground. I grip it tightly, waiting for everyone to show up so this can get started.
I don’t have to wait long. Only a few more anxious coats of lip gloss later, a representative from the realty group is standing at the podium, covering how the process will work.
I risk a glance over at Jason. He’s got two men sitting in the row with him, but other than that, everyone else in the room are all Sutten locals. It’s all of the people who have worked tirelessly with me the last few days to even give me the chance to fight for my business.
“Good morning,” the man comments, clearing his throat. His eyes anxiously roam over all of us seated in the crowd. He doesn’t hold eye contact for long before he looks down at the piece of paper in front of him.