Leo’s neck was prickling. Because Tessa’s mom was fidgeting her hands in the exact same way Tessa did when she was nervous. And he got an uncomfortable sense that she’d brought him back here for more than just moving old doors. “Have you talked to her about this?”

He did not want to discuss this behind Tessa’s back. They were partners in this effort, and he wasn’t about to make any decisions without her.

“Well, I was actually hoping to talk to you for a moment.”

Oh no.

“I don’t know what she’s told you, but when we lost her dad,” Joanna continued, “Tessa held us together. All of us. And in doing that, she missed her chance.”

“You should talk to her about this, Joanna. I think she feels—”

Before he could back politely away, Joanna thrust a piece of paper at him. “I want to sell you and your father the business.”

Stunned, he let the paper drift to the floor. “What? Why?” No. Absolutely not. He did not want this. He held his hands up and backed away a step. He really did not want to take part in something that did not involve Tessa. Something serious and important.

And why on earth would her mom be trying to sell him their bakery?

Joanna picked up the paper and insisted he take it. “I know your father wants to have the ability one day to bake his own bread for the restaurant. And he’d probably like to put in a wood-fired oven for pizza, too. This would be the perfect space. I would just ask that you’d keep me on as an employee until I could make another plan.”

“There’s really no need—”

“Tessa’s going to get accepted into pastry school.” She clutched a religious medal on a gold chain around her neck. “And when she gets in, I don’t want there to be anything holding her back.”

“Have you”—Geez, he really did not want to get involved with this—“Have you considered taking out a loan?”

She snorted. “Not the way the business is doing now. I’d never get one.”

“Look,” Leo said, “I—Tessa and I don’t have secrets.” They’d concocted this plan, and they were on the same side, with the same goals. He tried to hand the paper back. “Why don’t you sit down with her and talk this through?”

Joanna shot him a look that appeared way too much like Tessa at her most stubborn. “Because she would get upset, of course. I want the money to be ready for her when she needs it. So show this to your father, okay?”

“Leo, your lunch is ready,” Tessa said, appearing in the doorway with a little bag and a coffee.