Aidan had suggested a music-themed party and Shelby agreed. They were going to have a lot of fun with that. They’d decided on the 1950s as their musical era, which opened up so many possibilities.
Amber walked into her office and took a seat. Her business partner wore a loose yellow shirt over jeans. Her hair was pulled back, her makeup light. She was barely showing, but she radiated a contentment Shelby hadn’t seen before.
“You’re glowing.”
Amber laughed. “Thank you. I feel good. Healthy. The morning sickness is gone, thank goodness. That was awful. How are you doing?”
“I’m great. Business is fantastic, as you know. My teens are doing wonderful work with the cookies. I want to start putting a schedule together for the summer tourist season. We have the food cart for the festivals and some of the other projects we’ve been talking about.” She held up her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it all.”
She expected her business partner to tease her about her plans, but instead she seemed to crumple a little.
“I’ve made a decision,” Amber said as she squared her shoulders. “I know it’s the right thing to do, but it’s going to mean a lot of changes.”
Shelby didn’t like the sound of that. “What kind of changes?”
“This pregnancy is so unexpected. So life-altering. I want to experience it fully. I want to be there for my baby.” Amber drew in a breath. “Shelby, I’m going to sell the bakery and I’d like you to consider buying it from me.”
* * *
AIDAN HAD PROMISED that riding a BMX bike up the side of a mountain would clear her head. Shelby was less sure. Mostly because she wasn’t able to think at all. Or breathe. But maybe that was the point. Maybe all the panting and gasping and dealing with the shooting pains in her leg were meant to distract her from the indecision she’d been wrestling with for the past couple of days. And if they were, they were working.
It was a beautiful day. Sunny and cool. Signs of spring were everywhere. Buds and new leaves covered the trees. Wildflowers carpeted the ground. She could hear birds calling to each other, and a light breeze whispered through the branches.
All of which would have been much easier to observe if she weren’t so worried about falling off her bike.
“Stay in the middle of the trail,” Aidan called from behind her.
She didn’t know which was more annoying—the instruction or the way he was barely breathing hard.
She was in shape, she told herself. She worked out. Although apparently not enough, she thought as she bounced over a rut in the path. She rounded a corner, then came to a stop when she saw the trail went up the mountain. Pretty much in a straight, vertical line.
Aidan pulled up next to her. “I promise, the view is worth it.”
“Couldn’t we just buy a postcard?”
He laughed.
The sound made her smile. Being here like this, even on a bike, was good.
“My butt’s going to hurt later, isn’t it?” she asked.
“No pain, no gain.”
“That’s total crap, invented by a masochist. You can’t convince me otherwise.”
He pointed to the top of the trail. “Can you make it?”
“Let’s find out.”
She began to peddle. Her thighs screamed in protest and her lungs soon followed. She kept her head down, focusing only on the next couple of feet. Up and up. Eventually she would get there.
“Come on, Shelby,” Aidan called. “Just a few more feet.”
She made it over the crest of the trail and found herself staring down at the town in the valley below. A view that would be a lot prettier if she stayed conscious.