“What do you mean?” Aubrey frowned. She’d left her parents’ house ages ago. Why would her mother be worried about how she was doing after all this time?
“Comfort Zone. I read that horrid review a month ago. I’d brushed it aside as nonsense when I first read it, but I’ve had this bad feeling recently. Are you in trouble?”
She covered the phone mic to take a huge breath. She and her mom never spoke about anything beyond the niceties—like the weather and royal weddings. It felt oddly wonderful to have her mom worry about her. “I’m okay. We’ve lost most of our out-of-town customers in-store and online, but the locals are still loyal. I’m sure the review will fade away soon. Comfort Zone can hang on till then.”
That was a total lie. The impact of the review seemed to hit Comfort Zone harder and harder every day. Aubrey had written to the food magazine’s editor in chief explaining that the chocolate Bundt cake indeed had been filled with gummy worms, cream cheese, and peanut butter, but it was a specialorder for her favorite mini-customer. However, despite Aubrey’s many-flavored pleas, the editor gently and firmly refused to give Comfort Zone a second chance.
“Thank goodness,” her mom said, the relief palpable in her voice. Aubrey didn’t regret her white lie. “But for the time being, are things difficult for you? Is there anything I could do to help?”
I could use some money. Ha!Like she would ever ask her mom for money. Aubrey knew who the money would come from, and she would rather starve than accept his help.
“I’m okay, Mom. Everything will be okay. Thank you for calling, though.”
“Are you sure? I could—”
“I’m sure. I’ll call you if I need your help.”
“Good. I’d really like that.” Her mom paused as though wanting to say more, but she sighed softly. “Bye, Aubrey. Hang in there.”
Talking to her mom left her listless and melancholy. Aubrey had never been there for her. It wouldn’t be fair to accept her help no matter how dismal things looked. With a forlorn sigh, she stepped through the swinging kitchen doors, and the ancient hinges screeched in protest. They needed a spurt of WD-40. Everything needed WD-40 or Krazy Glue in her shop. Comfort Zone had outgrown its tiny, old home months ago.
That was part of the reason why Aubrey had decided to lease the diner. It had been a good year for the bakery, and it was generating a steady profit. Most important, her gut told her it was time, so she put away everything she could for the expansion. It took her months, but she finally paid the security deposit two months ago, spilling a barrel of happy tears.
Landon Kim’s review came out only two weeks after the building owner handed her the keys to the place.
The foot traffic had decreased instantly. There were no early-morning lines out the door. The out-of-town customers trickled down to nil. If not for her loyal customers, she’d already be packing her bags, and their patronage alone couldn’t keep the bakery afloat for long. Aubrey blinked away the bitter tears that rose too readily to the surface. This couldn’t be the end of Comfort Zone. This could not be the end of her independence.
Her father’s parting words still rang in her head.You’re going to fail, because that’s what you do. Don’t worry. I’ll clean up your messes like I always do, but when you come crawling back, I expect you to be a very obedient and humble daughter.
She would never crawl back to him. As a failure three times over. As a family embarrassment, who left home at eighteen, never attended college, and bankrupted her small business. She just couldn’t do it.
It was sink or swim, and Aubrey could not sink. Cold sweat broke out on her scalp, and she clenched her eyes shut. She refused to lose her dream because of one scathing review. She would get a bank loan. Or sell off some equipment. Something. She couldn’t sit back and watch her life crumble apart.
Landon heard a small commotion in the lobby before a red-faced teenage girl ran up to his desk.
“You can’t just barge in there, young lady.” Craig’s secretary was tugging at her arm.
“Please,” the girl sobbed. “I just need a minute of Mr. Kim’s time. This is all my fault. Please.”
Craig rushed out of his office and took stock of the situation. He nodded at his secretary to leave them and gently led the distraught girl into his office, motioning Landon to follow. She sat in one of the guest chairs. Landon leaned against the closed door and crossed his arms.
“What’s this about?” he asked gruffly.
He’d been tense and restless since he’d learned that Aubrey was the recipient of his scathing review. He wanted to fix it, and his inability to help was eating away at him, but that was no reason to be short with a kid.
“Christ, Landon. You’re scaring her.” Craig shook his head at him and turned to the girl with a kind smile. “Okay, young lady. We do need to know who you are and why you’re here, but go ahead and catch your breath. Would you like some water?”
The girl shook her head and made an effort to breathe normally. After several seconds, she squared her shoulders and faced Landon.
“My name is Lily, and I work part-time at Comfort Zone.”
Landon groaned and ran his hand down his face. He belatedly placed where he’d seen her before.
“What my friend means to say is”—his editor paused to glare at Landon—“please continue.”
“Mr. Kim, that day you came to Comfort Zone. I was the one who gave you the wrong cake. It was for Andy’s birthday party, but I screwed up. Aubrey is an amazing baker and a wonderful person. Everyone in town adores her.”
“Lily, I understand the cake wasn’t meant for me, but what’s done is done.” He did his best to soften his tone. “I never review the same place twice, and I can’t make an exception.”
