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Ally sipped her cappuccino and put the mug back down on a white saucer. “So I was thinking of the beginning of the episodes, the lead in, maybe we could film them around town. The best places, my favorite haunts. Sweet Falls is gorgeous and I’d love to really bring attention to that.”
Franklin sat back with a nod. “I thought maybe we could fly out to do a few outdoor shots to set the feel of the show. But now I’m thinking....now I’m thinking if you’re going cozy, cute which all your choices reflect, then we should definitely do it the way you’ve suggested.”
Ally beamed and sat up straighter. “Really?”
“Oh definitely. This town has a definite charm. I’m enjoying myself here. It is beautiful and a cozy kind of way. And the air here smells as good as this cinnamon bun.” Franklin pointed to the half-eaten dessert in front of him.”
Ally laughed. “You better hurry up and eat it before I take it from you.”
Franklin popped another bit into his mouth. “Desserts of Sweet Falls with Ally Dressen. How does that sound to you?”
She squealed and clasped her hands together. “It sounds amazing! I can’t wait to see pictures of the actual set.”
“Red with white polka dots for the mixing bowls, matching your apron. The merchandise possibilities.....”
Merchandise? With her name on it? Ally felt a bit faint. “Only if I get to sign off on designs and have input. I my name is going to be on it, I need to be involved.”
“You’re a shrewd business woman, Ms. Sinclair.” He offered her his hand.
Ally shook it. Maybe he was right and maybe that was nothing to be ashamed of.
The front door slammed open and Ally jumped. Startled to see Mitch storming in as if there was something wrong. What could it have been?
“What the—.” Mitch stopped short as he got to the table. Ally stared up at him with shock. Not because he was there but because he sounded so angry. She had seen that look on his face before. The one he got when his mind was spinning out of control. His face turned bright red and Ally worried someone was hurt. Maybe there was an accident.
“Mitch? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
He stared at Franklin Martin, who shifted uncomfortably. Franklin cleared his throat. “Mr. Dressen, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He extended his hand to Mitch who only stared at it and turned his attention to Ally. She was surprised, and mortified, that he’d be so rude.
“Can you explain what’s going on here?” Mitch placed his hands on his hips and Ally’s face fanned with embarrassment.
So, there wasn’t an emergency? The thing that was wrong was the fact she was meeting with Franklin Martin?
Awkwardly, she smiled a bit too wide to cover for Mitch’s rudeness. “I’m trying to introduce you to the producer of the baking show I’m going to film. We were going over set design and I was signing off on what I liked. Want to see?” She tried to keep her cool and tried to make sure Mitch could see nothing inappropriate was going on.
But Ally resented having to explain herself. She was a grown woman with business contacts—some of which were men. It was never a problem before. Why would he suddenly act like she was a piece of property? It wasn’t like him at all.
His posture shifted. Mitch stood a little straighter and his eyes seemed to clear of the fog hanging in them. “Right, Mr. Martin. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Plans look great. Really. I’ll just....You know what, you guys wrap up and I’ll see you at home.” Mitch turned for the door.
Ally pivoted in her seat and watching him go. Her heart sunk into despair.
“Is he all right?” Franklin asked and leaned forward as if concerned.
“I’m sure everything is fine,” Ally lied. She thought to stay and wrap up her meeting but the uneasiness growing in her made it impossible. “Excuse me, won’t you?” Ally tossed her napkin aside and ran out the front door, the little bell ringing frantically from how hard she bolted.
“Mitch!”
She spotted him walking down the street toward a pub and she sprinted after him. He stopped so it wasn’t hard to catch up to him. “What was all that about?” She asked and took a shaking breath.
“I’m sorry.” Mitch flailed his hands and turned around to face her. “I was out with the guys at the pub. I came outside for some fresh air and a walk. I wasn’t expecting to see you out with that guy...”
“That guy is a business contact.” Why did Ally feel like she had to explain herself? She didn’t. She was allowed to do business and talk to men if she chose to. There had been nothing inappropriate about what she had done and she wouldn’t be made to feel different.
“Well, I thought you had a bachelorette party tonight and it took me by surprise.”
Was that an accusation? “Excuse me, I did have a bachelorette party tonight but Daisy was tired. We took her home early and I saw an opportunity to get some business out of the way. Tomorrow is going to be busy and our wedding is the day after that. All of which I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded of.”
“Whoa.” Mitch lifted his hands toward her. “Settle down.”
Settle down? Her? “Funny coming from you storming in there like you owned the place. Or like you think I need a chaperone.”
“You’re right. I acted like a total jerkwad. I’m sorry, Ally. I shouldn’t have rushed in there.”
“You were rude to Franklin. I’d like this baking show to be a success. I didn’t want to do it at first but since I’m going to, I want to do a good job.”
“I want you to do a good job too. I guess I’m nervous. Please darlin, can we forget all about this?” He slid his arm around her waist but Ally wasn’t feeling in the mood for a little snuggle.
“Since when don’t you trust me, Mitch?” Ally backed up, tears beginning to form. She tried not to be an overemotional woman most of the time but he hit her right where it hurt. “I’d never lie. I’ve always been faithful.”
“I know.” Mitch’s eyes were wide and pleading. “I’m nervous about the wedding and the guys kidnapped me tonight.”
“I thought you’d think that was fun. It’s your favorite place.”
“You knew, huh? Well, none of that is an excuse for how I treated you. I’ll apologize to Mr. Martin. I’ll go on bended knee for you, Hannah, just let’s make this right.”
Ally felt like she had been sucker punched and all the wind was knocked out of her. He had never called her by his dead’s wife name by mistake before. It sent her reeling.
“Oh Ally,” Mitch ran his hands through his hair, looking desperate. “I’m sorry. It slipped out. That’s not....I wish I could take that back.”
“Is that what’s been going on? Are you....Do you want Hannah or do you want Ally?” She had never asked. Ally thought Mitch loved her. She was sure of it up until a few moments ago but what if that’s what was going on? What if Mitch really couldn’t let Hannah go? Could she settle to live the rest of her life in a dead woman’s shadow?
“It was a slip of the tongue. A bad slip of the tongue but you know I love you. You know it.”
She did. The scary part was she did know it but did Mitch’s heart belong to her? Or did it really still belong to Hannah? Ally thought they had dealt with residual emotions a long time ago. Mitch would always love his dead wife. Ally knew it. She accepted it. But she thought he was ready to move on.
What if he wasn’t? What if Mitch had discovered he wasn’t ready to let Hannah go?
“If you’re having trouble with the idea of getting married, of a wedding, tell me. Tell me and we’ll postpone, and it’ll give you time to deal with things.”
“That’s not what I want. Don’t make a big deal out of this. It was a slip of the tongue. It’s been a hard night and—.”
“Because your friends took you out? Because you saw me having coffee with a business associate? Mitch...” Ally’s voice pleaded. “Please.”
“Can we go home? We’ll go home and work this out instead of arguing on a street corner? Ally, I love the life we’ve built together. It’s the only thing that I want. It’s what we both want. Unless you need more.”
What was that supposed to mean? Ally stared at him and thought talking about it more would only make matters worse. “I was staying at my mother’s condo tonight. I’m surprised you forgot. You can’t see the bride....” Ally’s chin quivered and she turned away quickly, toward the limo waiting to take her away.
“Ally! Please!” Mitch called out but he didn’t chase after her. He watched her go.
It didn’t make her feel better. It made her feel worse. She slipped into the leather backseat of the limo and slammed the door. She cried, covering her face and buried her sorrow deep. How had things turned bad so quickly?
Had she lost Mitch for good?
*****
“I’M GOING TO KILL HIM,” Logan said. He paced back and forth, wearing a whole in the carpet between the sofa and the stairs up to the second-story loft. The anger on his face and the pulsating temple on the side of his head made Ally feel only worse. She knew she shouldn’t have told him.
Ally was sitting on the plush sofa with her mother. Elizabeth held her hand firmly and gave it a gentle pat. Tears leaked out of the corner of Ally’s eyes and she dotted them with a tissue.
“Now now,” Elizabeth said. “Ally you’re going to be okay and Logan—you’ll stop that right away or you’ll find somewhere else to go.”
Logan grumbled and made his way to the kitchen. “I can support my daughter however I see fit. If Dressen is breaking her heart....”
Ally didn’t want to hear it. Mitch wasn’t the enemy and she wasn’t some fragile flower that needed to be protected. “It was nothing like him, Mom. Nothing.”
“Mitch is solid. I wasn’t sure before but he is,” Elizabeth insisted, scooting closer to her daughter. “You’re both good for each other. This is nothing more than wedding nerves. I know it. The wedding’s stirred up old memories for him. He’ll get a grip on them.”
Ally wasn’t so sure. “Then why did he act so possessive when it comes to Franklin Martin? He’s nothing more than a television producer. I’m not interested in him.”
“Of course you’re not. Mitch knows that. He’s a little jealous. Give him time to adjust. Once the wedding is over and the stress is gone, everything will go back to the way it was. You’ll see.”
Ally hoped that was all it was but how could she get married if she wasn’t sure? “Being called Hannah really....it surprised me. I thought I it was going to happen, it would’ve happened when we first started dating.”
“I know, honey. Sometimes when we’re upset, our brain goes into auto-pilot and stupid things come out. Pretty much like anything your father says.”
Logan grumbled from the kitchen under his breath just loud enough for them to hear.
Ally laughed and Elizabeth leaned forward and fixed her daughter’s hair. “Why don’t you get ready for bed. Everything will be fine after a good night’s sleep. You and Mitch will make up and the wedding will march on—according to plan.”
Elizabeth hugged her and Ally was happy to fall into one of those warm, mother bear hugs. She loved those hugs so much. She was glad for her mother and how Mom always put her mind at ease.
This time, it wasn’t as easy. Ally wondered if after she talked to Mitch the following day, if everything would really be all right.
Was it possible maybe things would never be right again?