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Ally had an about average workday until Stephanie, the local TV news personality, came in to interview her in the bakery. They stood right in front of the glass display case with customers all around and Stephanie dumped a bombshell on her. “When your television series starts production, will you be filming in Sweet Falls or will you be scouting outside the area for the perfection location?”
Ally blinked her eyes in surprise but the customers nearby started clapping and screaming. People couldn’t wait. Meanwhile, Ally only felt dizzy at the notion. She coughed into her hand before bursting out with a loud chortle. “A baking show? Oh, Stephanie you are a hoot!”
Stephanie blinked her eyes several times. “Ally, be serious for a few minutes, would you? I know all that delicious pie has gone to your head—”
“Better to my head than to my hips!” Ally joked with a flourish of her waist. “Funny as this is all, there’s not going to be a baking show. I’m not sure where you heard that.”
“I have my sources!”
“And who are your sources?”
“You know I can’t tell you that but what I can tell you is this. My sources say Franklin Martin has guaranteed through his firm that your first season will be a four episode mini-season. You know, to test the waters before you break into super stardom. Look out Great British Bake Off! And hello Sweets with Ally Sinclair.”
“Soon to be Dressen,” Ally said before shaking her head. “Wait a second...”
“Ahh ha!” Stephanie waggled a finger at her. “So, there is going to be a baking show!”
“No!” Ally felt her cheeks heating up from embarrassment. “I promise you there isn’t a baking show. If there is, it’s news to me.” It sure was and Ally felt a surge of heat flaming against her cheeks even worse than before, her palms were sweaty, and her heart skipped along to a fast beat. A television show sounded amazing but it wasn’t something he signed up for. She wasn’t the long star of the Sprinkles Mix-Up bakery. Lauren was the one who built it from the ground up.
Why was no one trying to celebrate her?
What if Lauren thought Ally was trying to snug her. Ally would never forgive herself if that’s what people though. She was all about working with a team. She loved everyone at the Sprinkles Mix-up Bakery!
Stephanie smoothed things over with a wink and a joke to the audience. Once the cameras stopped filming, she turned privately to Ally. “I didn’t know you didn’t know. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I was surprised.”
“I wish I knew what you were talking about,” Ally admitted. She wiped her hands clean on the hem of her apron. “I’m getting married in a few days. I don’t need these kind of surprises.” Mitch and Lauren didn’t either. The family had been through enough lately and Ally wanted stability—for all of them. She wanted to relax and enjoy life not jet off to film a television baking series.
“Look,” Stephanie put a hand on Ally’s shoulder and it held a sparkling engagement ring, “let me give you some advice. Talk to your manager or whoever got you the cookbook deal. They’re clearly doing things behind the scenes with a production company and Frederick Martin. Get them under control. You’re the one who needs to be in charge not them.”
It was good advice. Ally nodded, her lips narrowing. “You’re right. I need to take back control.”
Stephanie nodded. “You’ll feel way better if you do. Get your career and finances in order.”
Thanks, Steph.” She stormed into the back and took off her apron. “I need to take a break and run a quick errand. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Lauren held a calendar in one hand and a pen in the other. It was clear she was in planning mode and while Ally loved it, she hated to be around for it. Lauren crossed her arms and studied her with a quick look up and down. “You all right? You look fit to be tied. I hope this isn’t wedding related!”
Ally shook her head. “It’s just about a business deal. Nothing to worry about. I just need to go over to my mom’s and straighten out my father.”
Again.
****
“ALLY!” LOGAN SINCLAIR, otherwise known as Dad, was relaxed on the living room sofa of the condo owned by Ally’s mother. His leg was crossed and right above his Italian leather loafer were signs of the ankle monitor he wore as part of his probation requirements. He relaxed and threw his arms around the back of the sofa.
His smile stretched wide and his eyes glinted with happiness. Sun shone in from the huge bay window behind him. Up on the ledge by the window Elizabeth, Ally’s mother, was busy painting a new canvas and dressed in a speckled smock.
“What do we owe this pleasure?” Logan asked.
Ally frowned and opened her mouth to speak as Mom bustled away from behind her art easel and hurried over. She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “What an unexpected pleasure! Would you like some coffee or some lunch? I can whip you up a sandwich.”
“No, thank you. I’m here to—.”
“You don’t have to worry,” Dad interrupted. “We hired a cook.”
“Logan!” Mom swatted at the air. “I can make a sandwich. Don’t listen to your father. You know how he is.”
“Your hands are soft, sweetheart. Why toughen them up if you don’t have to? Oh, sorry, Ally. I didn’t....I like your hands plenty rough.”
“And tough.” Mom nodded in agreement.
Her parents legit drove her crazy. “Please, I need to say something to Dad. Maybe to both of you.” Ally sighed and stepped toward the sofa. “It was you, wasn’t it? You got me a television special. A series. All without asking me.”
Logan grinned and held his hands up. “Guilty as charged!”
“Surprise!” Elizabeth cheerfully proclaimed from behind her. “An early wedding present. Should we celebrate? Let’s make a toast! Our charming beautiful daughter is going to be a celebrity on television!”
Ally’s eyes widened as she spun around and took in the happy face of her mother. “Mom! You knew? You were in on this?”
“Well, of course I was.” Mom’s eyes shined brightly. “You know your father turned over a new leaf.”
Dad waved his finger in the air. “I don’t make any decisions anymore without your mother’s input. I’m not an island onto myself, you know. If she thinks it’s a good idea, then it must be a good one.”
Ally couldn’t take all the cheerfulness from them or how they still tried to control her life. Now instead of doing it with ultimatums, they did it with happy faces. “I don’t want a TV series. I don’t want to be famous. My wedding is in a few days. I want to get married, be happy, and live my life.”
Mom’s smile faltered like a caving cake. “You can do all of those things with a television series. It’s just a few episodes, Ally. You don’t even need to leave Sweet Falls to do it unless you want to. The television station has a big enough soundstage. You can setup whatever you like. Just think of the opportunity.”
Ally didn’t want anymore opportunities. Didn’t they get it?
“I thought you’d be happy.” Dad bristled, his lower lip twitching into a frown. “Far as wedding presents go, it’s better than a toaster. What do we get the girl who already has everything she wants?”
Ally plopped down on the sofa beside him. “Well wishes? Love.”
“You already have that from both of us.” Logan lowered his arm from the back of the sofa to Ally’s shoulder. He gave her a squeeze. “Now, come on. You’re a shining star. Shouldn’t everyone know that? Is it really so bad to celebrate our daughter’s talent?”
The disappointment in his face made everything Ally wanted to say hard. She had taken the wind out of their sails and while she didn’t want that, she had to live the life she wanted to live. “Of course not, Dad. But I’m only one half the cookbook. What about Lauren? What about what I want? It should be my choice. Not yours. Not Mom’s.”
And to be honest, Ally was disappointed that her mother hadn’t realized that. They had come so far in the last half a year. Had all that been for nothing?
“Lauren can guest star,” Mom suggested.
Ally shook her head. “It’s her bakery. Everything I am is because of her and what she built before I even showed up!”
Logan ran his tongue along his teeth. “You give her too much credit.”
“And you don’t give her enough,” Ally said firmly. “Love me enough to allow me to make my own choices.”
“I do,” Logan admitted. “I.... got excited. My baby girl’s getting married. I wanted to do one final thing for her that was from us. I want to give her her dreams.”
“And I want to make my dreams come true myself.” Ally leaned in and kissed his cheek. She didn’t say anything because there were no words to convey what it was she was feeling. She was grateful but a little offended. She wasn’t a kid and maybe her parents would never really see that.
“Contracts can be broken,” Mom said. “Talk to Mr. Martin and we’ll call the production company and tell them we made a mistake.” She said it while standing tall but her cheeks reddened and Ally knew how hard this was for her.
“Thanks, Mom. I mean it.”
“Now,” Logan said as if the subject was settled, “let’s talk about this wedding of yours and who is going to walk you down the aisle.”
Ally’s brow furrowed. “Christopher was going to. We know the terms of your probation are you can’t leave the condo, Dad.” She hated to hurt his feelings again but the truth couldn’t be changed.
Logan broke out into a huge grin. “I’ve got special permission from the courts. One day. My probation officer will escort me to your wedding, and reception. I can do everything a father should.”
Ally’s mouth fell open in shock as her mother and father both hugged her. She wished the sofa would swallow her whole and never spit her back out. Her father’s house arrest had been convenient and given her an out with her father and with Mitch. What would Mitch say when Ally told her?
How would she phrase it?
Her father had covered up Mitch’s first wife’s murder because he thought he was protecting his family. How could Ally let Dad walk her down an aisle when it was Mitch who waited at the other end?
*****
ALLY RACED INTO THE Sprinkles Mix-up kitchen and grabbed her apron. “Sorry, sorry—it took longer than expected.” She slung the apron over her head and quickly tied it on in the back.
Lauren took a step forward and leaned an arm down on the prep table. “It’s no big deal.”
That’s what she said but her face said otherwise. With splotchy cheeks and a downturn smile, it wasn’t hard to see she was upset. “Was this...did you leave because of the television special?”
Ally stopped dead cold, hearing the hurt in Lauren’s voice. Her best friend had hurt in her soft eyes and her mouth twitched like it wanted to frown and smile at the same time. Darn it, Ally hadn’t wanted her friend to find out but how could she not? The interview had been in her bakery and it had already aired on television. Clearly everyone was going to find out about it.
Lauren held her hand up. “Mitch stopped by. He was looking for you and he looked...well, he looked conflicted. He didn’t want to tell me but I pulled it out of him. I’m good at that, you know. I just wish.... wish you had told us. I wish you told me.”
Ally’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know. I didn’t find out until today. It was my parents. They thought it’d be.... a great wedding gift.”
Lauren scrunched her face up. “Haven’t they heard of buying a toaster like everyone else?”
Ally laughed. “Clearly not but I told them I have no interest. If anyone should have a television special, it’s you. Not me.”
Lauren’s chin quivered and the next minute, she burst into tears. It was so uncharacteristic for her Ally stood in shock. Lauren had always been the strong one. She had the stiff upper lip. Ally felt horrible that her friend had been so hurt. “Oh, Lauren!” Ally threw her arms around her and hugged her.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to get so mushy.” Lauren pulled away and wiped her eyes clean. “I guess I was....sadder than I thought. But if you didn’t want it, then there’s no reason to feel that way.”
“I don’t want it. I’m not going to do it,” Ally said, shaking her head.
“I’m sorry we thought you were keeping secrets. I don’t know why we thought that other than what other option was there? A wedding present from your parents certainly wasn’t the first thing that sprang to mind.”
“Tell me about it,” Ally said with a roll of her eyes.
“What will you do?” Lauren asked and crossed her arms.
“I’m going to tell Mr. Martin no and where he can stuff his contract. Like Mom said, contracts are made to be broken. And I’m going to talk to Mitch. I don’t want him to think I’ve been hiding this from him.”
“That’s exactly what he thinks,” Lauren said and stepped forward. “He can’t figure out why you just wouldn’t have told him. Us. We would’ve been happy for you if you had told us. Oh Ally, maybe you should do it.”
Ally scrunched up her face. “Now you’re getting confusing.”
“I know, I know. I was hurt but I shouldn’t have been. It’s such a great opportunity, I mean, a baking show of your very own! It’dd be great for you and for Sprinkles Mix-Ups! Maybe you should think about it.”
As far as Ally was concerned, there was nothing to think about. “Trust me, I’ll be happier when all of this is behind us.”
Lauren touched her shoulder. “Then call Mitch and then let’s get back to work. Tomorrow’s your bachelorette party and I don’t want anything to ruin it for you. Or me. I can’t remember the last night I had out!”
Neither did Ally. All she wanted to do was get married and have her perfect day. Was that really too much to ask?