Cass was silent for a moment. “I can’t believe I’m suggesting this, but I don’t feel ready to see Brett. And, as I said, I’m okay with Sweet and Salty! I’d love to finish what I’ve started, if you trust me enough?”

Charlie was about to object, but she stopped herself. She did trust Cass. Entirely. And as she stared out the window at her snowy and familiar hometown she felt a warmth bloom inside her at the idea of staying a bit longer. There were loose ends she needed to tie up here as well. “I mean, if you’re sure you’ve got everything under control I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad to just stay here. For now,” Charlie replied.

“Okay, so we agree. Let’s stick to the original plan. I’ll handle Sweet and Salty and Austin, you handle Brett and the bakery, and we’ll see each other on Christmas Eve, just like we agreed in the first place.”

11

Cass

Saturday: 7 Days Until Christmas . . .

Los Angeles

Cass was dressed in a deep red waterfall skirt and a silky cream-colored off-the-shoulder top. Wardrobe had also added gold-hued heels that shimmered with glitter, and Priya had chosen a chunky gold bracelet to finish the outfit—and to hide her lack of a wrist tattoo. On the outside Cass knew she looked flawless. And yet, she was still uncomfortable in her “costume.” She was becoming more accustomed to life on the Sweet & Salty set, but these outfits irritated her for their impracticality while also making her feel like the imposter she was.

It was Saturday, and this week they were only getting one day off so they could stay on schedule. At least bakery life had prepared her for working every day of the week. But even Priya was having trouble fully concealing the ravages of not enough sleep all week, along with a bit too much wine with dinner the night before.

“I’m sorry, but these dark, puffy circles are an emergency, level ten,” Priya said. “I’m going to have to break out the big guns.”

“Is that . . . hemorrhoid cream? Never mind. I don’t want to know.” Cass closed her eyes and relived the romantic kiss with Miguel, unconsciously clicking and unclicking the clasp on the bracelet around her wrist as she did.

“So, she has her sense of taste and smell back?” Priya said quietly as she finished dabbing concealer on the dark hollows under Cass’s eyes. “That’s good news.”

“Yeah, it’s a real relief,” Cass murmured.

“But she doesn’t want to come back to L.A. yet? Almost done here, just stay still. Stop playing with that bracelet.” Priya was now applying Cass’s fake eyelashes, a tenuous task that required absolute stillness.

“I kind of convinced her not to. It makes sense for both of us to just stick to the original plan. Logistically speaking,” Cass said. During her call with Charlie the night before she had realized she wasn’t ready to go back to Starlight Peak. To face Brett; and the monotony of holiday orders; and the, at times, tediousness of small-town life.