Ever since that first pie, Renee had gone out of her way to bake for neighbors who were housebound or under the weather, friends with new babies. Whenever she got wind of someone feeling down or needing a bit of a pick-me-up, she was on their doorstep with a freshly baked pie. Her friend Myles “ordered” two pumpkin pies for his Friendsgiving feast every year. Bree often requested a peach pie for her knitting group. Even Essie sometimes dropped elaborate hints regarding cherries and her favorite flaky crust.
“No, I mean it. This is literally the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. Forget warm chocolate chip cookies. Forget maple-walnut ice cream. Forget Boston cream pies.” Sadie’s angular face grew serious yet excited. “Stop everything you’re doing and open a pie shop. Like, yesterday.”
Renee laughed. “Oh, come on. You’re the one with baking in your blood.”
Sadie grinned. “Because of Grandma Hester?”
Renee nodded.
“Unfortunately my gene pool didn’t come with a talent for the kitchen. Still, some of my favorite childhood memories are spreading my coloring books across her kitchen table as she rolled out dough. She always explained everything as she went, almost as if she was on a cooking show. I loved it,” she said with a laugh. Sadie handed Lincoln one of the cooling muffins and the toddler actually squealed. “Yummy! Yum, yum! More?”
“I’m serious,” Sadie continued. “Why don’t you sell these? The world deserves this pie, or at least Cranberry Cove does.”
“Because I have a perfectly nice job at Dr. Hanlon’s.” Renee dabbed the corner of her mouth. “Thanks for the compliment, but I’m happy with my life, just as it is. I like to bake for my friends. That’s enough.”
Just then, the front door swung open and a deep male voice called, “Sade?”
Sadie and Renee exchanged a quick glance before a subdued Ethan entered the kitchen, carrying a bouquet of pink tulips.
“I’m— Oh! Renee,” he murmured sheepishly, giving his neighbor an awkward half wave. “Hi. I didn’t know you were over.”
“She saved my sanity and the birthday party.” Sadie gave the flowers a hesitant nod. “For me?”
“Sweets for the sweet.” Ethan kissed Sadie’s forehead and traded her the flowers for a squirming Lincoln. But not before whispering something into Sadie’s ear that caused her lips to curl into a pleased smile. “It smells incredible in here.”
“Renee just whipped up the best blueberry pies.” Sadie gestured to the counter.
“It’s no big deal. Seriously. But I should go.” Now that domestic bliss seemed to have returned to the Landry household, Renee felt like a third wheel. The evening had been a welcome surprise, but it was time for everyone to return to their real lives.
As she strolled back to her empty house, breathing in the cool, briny air, her own words echoed through her head.
I’m happy with my life, just as it is.
In her quiet kitchen, she made chia seed pudding for tomorrow morning’s breakfast before taking a hot bubble bath upstairs. She flipped through the most recent issue of Real Simple, being careful to keep the magazine from falling into the tub while bookmarking a recipe for a Mediterranean couscous dish.