Cass grimaced. “Turmeric treats?”

“Oh right. Jake wouldn’t have told you, he would have told Charlie. You know he and Charlie are a thing, right?” Sharon dropped the tray on the counter and gasped. “Oh my God, does he know that you’re Cass, and Charlie is Charlie, and . . . oh my God.”

Cass was momentarily speechless. Well, that explained the bizarre interaction she’d had with Jake outside the bakery. But now wasn’t the time to unpack any of this, so she refocused on Sharon. “Sharon, you know how you said earlier that some things never change? How you suggested it was a touch immature of my sister and me to still be swapping places when we’re twenty-eight years old. Well . . . perhaps the same goes for you.” Uttering difficult truths like this had not been her style—until recently. It felt good. “We’re not in high school anymore, Sharon. Spreading rumors around town might not be the best use of your time—especially if you’re trying to start a business.”

For a moment, she thought Sharon was going to fire back an angry retort. Instead, she returned to the table and sat across from Cass. “You know, you’re right. All I wanted was to fit in when I came back—and I guess that feeling of needing to fit in really did remind me of high school. So, I started behaving that way again. But it’s not what I want. What I want is to belong here, the way you do. What I want is . . .” But she shook her head and didn’t finish. Maybe Sharon didn’t have it all sorted out, either—something Cass could definitely relate to.

“I have a favor to ask, which is why I’m here,” Cass said. “There’s something wrong with the starter at Woodburn, and it’s a terrible time of year for this to be happening. It’s too late to get some of the backup starter we keep frozen and in dried strips going because it takes a few days. I know things have been odd between us—well, between you and Charlie. But is there any chance you’d be willing to share some of your starter and help save Christmas in Starlight Peak?”

“Wow,” Sharon said.

She paused dramatically and Cass wondered if she should leave.

“Cass, I can’t believe you’re asking me. I’d love to! I can’t think of any better way to feel like I fit into this town again.” She paused again. “But . . . as a businesswoman, I have to have a condition, which is that you give public credit to Top Dog, and hopefully send some business my way.”

Cass nodded. “Of course.”

“And you start stocking Top Dog biscuits in a special, prominent display at Woodburn Breads.”

“Of . . . course,” Cass said, with a touch of trepidation.

Sharon smiled. “Okay. And one last thing, Cass. I’m going to take off my businesswoman hat for this one. You need to stop leading Brett on, now that you’re back in town. If you want to be with him, be with him. And if you don’t, make that clear.”