Even though it had really been Tessa’s dream, if you substituted pastry for art. Instead, Tessa had baked and decorated cakes at night, Juliet had taken on tutoring in addition to her bakery shifts, and the whole family had scraped together enough for Viv’s study-abroad experience. Since then, Vivienne had managed to support herself, and Tessa was proud of her.

All Tessa wanted now was the opportunity to find her own dream, instead of helping everyone else’s come true.

But when? When would it be her turn?

A thought formed in her still-throbbing head. Leo. His strange plan could make that happen.

She pushed the rogue thought aside. That “plan” would create havoc among both their families. Plus it was…marriage, fake or not. Something not to be taken lightly.

“How’s everything going in the bakery?” Viv asked. “Are things better? You can tell me since Mom’s not around.”

Tessa and Juliet exchanged a tacit glance off-camera. Vivienne didn’t need to know the whole truth, because she was too far away to do anything to help. Why ruin all her plans by making her rush back when it probably wouldn’t even matter?

Besides, Vivienne hated working in the bakery. Part of the reason was that she had gluten sensitivity—and that precluded her from eating anything they made there, which was a special torment for her.

“Business is…better,” Tessa lied. It might be if she and Leo joined forces. But surely there was a better way.

No lightning bolt suddenly struck her with a better idea, that was for sure.

If she agreed, she could use Leo’s resources to get more accounts for the bakery. Plus she could bake her desserts for real, showing her mom she was serious. Their parents would have to soften to each other, because they’d be family. And Leo’s father would be inclined to listen to his ideas.

She had to admit, as outrageous as Leo’s idea was, it could actually work. For both of them.

Then she would be free to pursue her dream.

“How’s Mikhail?” Juliet was asking.

“Mikhail is amazing,” Vivienne said in an overly bubbly voice. “He’s just started his surgery residency, so he’s pretty busy. But I am, too. So are the crab apple trees blooming? Could you use the phone to let me see?”

Tessa grabbed the phone and walked outside to show her the trees bursting with pink blooms along both sides of Main Street that gave their town its name.

Every year, they bloomed anew. A symbol of hope and promise.

“Oh, look,” Viv said excitedly. “They’re beautiful!”

“Yes,” Tessa said. “But they probably can’t compare to the trees along the Champs-Élysées, right?”