When baking is your thing but your parents say it's just a hobby
Amber Ann and Cristina were in Cristina's home office-production room, putting two huge corporate orders together. They were just about finished when Cristina looked up at her best friend.
"Okay. This is the last time I will ask. You are just giving your husband—your husband—away? Your hus—"
"Okay. My husband." Amber Ann sighed. "The ugly truth is, he never really was mine. You know he only married me because Tiffany."
Cristina always got quiet when Amber Ann talked about the baby she lost. Her friend had been just as invested in the pregnancy as Amber Ann had been—maybe even a bit more.
"It's for the best, Cris. It's time I stopped trying things against the grain and to please others."
Cristina sealed a huge box and stood up with an exaggerated sigh.
"Done! I am so glad your sister is a horrid cow. I may have never finished without you." She paused and looked at her friend. "But honestly. What will you do now? You can definitely live here with me. But, jeez, Ann! Did you really need to resign?"
Amber Ann shrugged. "I wanted a complete change. Are we cooking or ordering in?"
"Ordering. There isn't any food in my fridge. Thai it is." She pulled out her phone without looking at her friend.
"Don't change the subject, Ann. I know you're not hurting for money, but you aren't the type to go without work."
Amber Ann shrugged again. "I am going to find a place and open the bakery I have always wanted."
Cristina paused and slowly looked up at her best friend—a wide smile slowly spreading across her face.
"Your oat breads any time I want?! That is exciting—and Carson City needs it. You are truly insane. Why have you not learned by looking at me? Sure I make money, but not as much as you made at the lab, and it is insane work." She shook her head and shrugged.
"It will be hard, but I will definitely help whenever I can."
Amber Ann smiled at her friend, gratitude welling up within her.
"Okay, I ordered dinner and drinks. Order groceries on my app. I will enjoy the live-in chef."
Amber Ann scoffed. "I actually have a place. I just bought it—out on the old lake development."
"You bought something out there?"
"It was going to be a surprise for Dan—I actually bought the entire development. I have actually finished two of the houses, so I can live in one, and the old general store can be the bakery."
She paused and looked at Cristina. Her friend just shook her head in disbelief.
"You are absolutely insane. Are you opening a bakery or a resort?"
"Don't start."
Cristina shrugged. "I need a drink."
The next day, Amber Ann met Virginia at their favorite coffee shop. Her younger sister had been looking at her—without speaking—for a full ten minutes.
Amber Ann sipped her coffee and ignored her sister.
"What the hell is going on? Why did you give your house away?"
Amber Ann stood, with a smile, and hugged Samuel. He was standing between Paul and Damon Jr. with his arms open wide and waiting for her. She just stood in that embrace for a while, saying nothing.
Her siblings looked to each other, worry in their eyes. She pulled away, reluctantly, and looked at her siblings, then gestured to the table.
"Why did we need an emergency meeting?"
Damon Jr. looked at his second sister incredulously. "'Why did we need an emergency meeting?'! Sis, you gave your home and husband away last night without a word and exited stage left. I think that is a hell of a reason for a siblings' intervention."
Amber Ann scoffed with a smile. "And Jessica?" All of her siblings rolled their eyes. Amber Ann laughed. "Fair enough." She shrugged. "Don't you think it's about time I am honest with myself and my situation? How long should Dan stay in a situation he is unsatisfied with?" She shrugged again and took a sip of her coffee.
All of her siblings frowned at her in unison.
"And where will you live?"
"Jessica does have a house of her own."
"You would think she could find a husband of her own as well."
Damon Jr. stepped forward and took Amber Ann into his arms.
"Calm down everyone. What's the plan, little sis? We're here to help."
"Exactly! And our big brothers will kick Dan's ass when he comes back with his tail between his legs." Amber Ann laughed and looked to Virginia, but before she could speak, Paul chimed in.
"And he will be running back—once he finds out how delightful Jessica really is."
The sarcasm in Paul's voice matched the knowing looks on her other siblings' faces. Amber Ann's heart swelled as she thought of her siblings' love for her.
She sat forward and pushed out a puff of air.
"I bought the old Blue Serene property and fixed up two of the houses already. I will live there." She took another sip of her coffee and waited for her siblings' reactions—she didn't have to wait long.
"Fantastic! Why didn't you tell me? Let's go now and do some decorating!"
"Calm down, Virginia. That old place has been abandoned for a while. Is it safe?"
"You worry too much, Paul. I am with Virginia, we should help Am settle in. What do you think, Damon?"
Damon shrugged. "I am free all day."
As Amber Ann and her siblings prepared to settle her into her new place, Jessica and Dan were returning to Amber's old house after breakfast out.
Dan switched off the engine and watched Jessica on her phone. They had breakfast at his favorite restaurant—the food was good, but it wasn't home-cooked. It wasn't Amber's cooking.
He was jolted from his contemplations when a courier pulled up next to him in the drive. Jessica never looked up. He sighed and got out of his car.
"Good morning, sir. I have a letter for Mr. Dan Marcus Trace."
"That's me."
Dan showed his ID and signed, receiving the envelope—all before Jessica got out of the car. He rolled his eyes internally, his nerves suddenly pricked by her behavior.
She looked to him with her simple smile. He reflexively smiled back, but that smile was beginning to lose its allure.
"What is it?" She kissed him softly on the cheek and placed her hand on his back.
"I am not sure." He frowned as he focused on the documents. His heart froze as the words registered and made sense in his brain.
"Divorce papers?" His frown deepened, and confusion laced his words.
Jessica froze for the briefest of moments—then she burst into righteous laughter.
"My sister is too dramatic." She shrugged. "It's for the best, she needs to under…" Her eyes went wide just as she pecked Dan on the cheek. "She better not have taken anymore clothes! I didn't finish taking what I want!"
She rushed off, quickly unlocking the door—with her key—and leaving Dan standing alone, in a state of incredulity and bewilderment.
His life felt like it had just crashed like a very expensive race car on a treacherous track.
Amber Ann—his wife—was gone.