It was Sunday, and Liza had given them the day off. Nothing had slowed down after the same-sex wedding cake bake-off. They’d gone right back to work the next day. Liza had helped them perfect their scones for the second time on one day and pizza dough the next. Friday had been soufflé day, which Ava didn’t really need any help with, but she’d picked up pointers anyway. Then yesterday they’d worked on macarons, the most deceptively difficult cookie, in her opinion. It had taken her four batches before she got the feet just right on hers. Liza seemed to grow slightly impatient with her, and her scrutiny only made for more nerves for Ava, which didn’t help her to focus. Vienna had had the same issue—not able to get the feet right—and it was clear Liza’s continual criticism was flustering her. Ava felt bad for her.
Now she sat at her desk with her laptop open, initially reading an article on commercial mixers, but found herself gazing out the window more often than not.
Behind her, and on the other side of the room, Regan sat on her unmade bed, phone in hand. If Ava had to guess, she was texting with somebody, judging by how often her thumbs flew as she typed.
“I’m gonna go for a walk.” Ava blurted the statement out as if she was reporting to somebody, though she wasn’t sure why.
Regan looked up, clearly surprised. “Now?”
“Yeah.” She pointed out the window as she took off her glasses.“There’s a pond in the back with a path around it. It’s nice out. I thought some fresh air might be good. I’m tired of sitting around.”
Regan seemed to think about it for a moment, then gave a nod. “Can I go?”
Surprised, Ava turned to meet her gaze.Honestly, some company might be nice.“Sure.”
“Awesome. Lemme just send this text.” Her thumbs flew some more, and then she stood up and slid the phone into the back pocket of her joggers.
A few minutes later, they both had sneakers on and were headed out the front door of the mansion.
She’d been right about the day. It was gorgeous. Not too hot. Bright sunshine in an electric blue sky. She inhaled deeply and let it out.
“There’s something to be said for being surrounded by trees and grass and green after living in the city for a few years, isn’t there?” She didn’t really expect an answer. The question was kind of rhetorical, just thoughts she’d spoken out loud. But Regan answered.
“God, yes.” She mimicked Ava’s deep breath. “Can you smell that? Leaves and woods andearth. It’s intoxicating.” They started walking along the mansion, then around the side, Ava leading the way. “So, you’ve been out here before?”
“A couple times, yeah. I’m not usually up until after ten in my normal life, but for some reason, I wake up early here.”
“I’m sure it has nothing to do with the number of us that work bakery hours and are awake before the ass crack of dawn.”
Ava gave a soft laugh.
“Or maybe it’s the quiet.” Regan’s sneakers whooshed through the blades of grass as they walked. “I had a really hard time sleeping the first week because there’s no sound. No traffic, no sirens, no arguments on the street at midnight…”
“No garbage trucks emptying dumpsters at four a.m. or street cleaners buzzing by before dawn…”
They looked at each other, and Ava felt a solidarity with Regan she hadn’t before. City girls in the country.
They reached the back of the mansion where the pond became visible. “Oh,” Regan said quietly. “That’s so pretty.”
“Isn’t it? My watch says it’s not quite a mile around, so I’ve justbeen walking it until I feel like being done.” She shrugged and set her watch, then looked at Regan.
“Sounds good to me.”
They began the first lap.
They seemed to have an unspoken agreement to start off quietly, to simply enjoy the sounds of nature they didn’t get to listen to in the city. Birds singing. A light breeze rustling the leaves in the trees. The faraway sound of a jet high above them. They made it more than halfway around before Regan sighed, then spoke.
“I miss my cat,” she said, a wistful tone in her voice.
“Oh my God, me too,” Ava said in surprise. “So much. It’s just me and him. I hope he doesn’t think I left him for good.” It was a thought she’d had since the first week at the retreat, and it had only tugged harder at her heart as time went on.
“Who’s watching him?”
“My neighbor. She’s a sweet elderly woman who just loves him, so I know he’s being spoiled rotten.” She had a flash of Jiminy all curled up in Mrs. Carter’s lap, watchingWheel of FortuneorJeopardy, and she was both happy and sad. “Still…”
“You want to be the one spoiling him.”
“Exactly.” They walked. “Who’s got yours?”
