Page 54 of Loving Carter

“I know,” she says. “Working on the dude ranch isn’t what you want to do, and I understand. I tried many different things in my life, and none of them worked for me until I started the bakery. It’s important to find your place in this world and do what you are meant to do.”

She’s right, of course, and we both know it. I simply nod, then stand.

“You know I love you,” I say. It’s the first time I’ve admitted that, even to myself. But it’s true. I do love her.

“I love you, too,” she says.

“I feel terrible ending things like this,” I say.

Skylar stands and walks over to me, and the sadness on her face tugs at my heart.

“I want you to be happy,” she says softly. “You can be happy in Dallas. I also want me to be happy, and I’m happy here.”

Then she hugs me. It’s a long, long hug, and when it ends, I kiss her on the top of her head, just like I did so many nights ago.

Then we walk to the front door.

“Goodbye, Carter,” she says.

I draw in a deep, shaky breath. “Goodbye, Skylar.”

Her eyes are starting to tear. “Take care of yourself.”

I’m finding it increasingly difficult to talk. The best I can manage is, “You, too.”

I turn and head toward my truck. I hear her close the door behind me. The sound of the door clicking shut has a finality to it that breaks my heart.

***

Skylar

“YOU’VE DONE A GREATjob on the expo,” Miriam Dupree says to me.

I’m in the middle of setting out more snacks for the swarm of visitors when her comment stops me in my tracks. I must have heard wrong. Miriam doesn’t compliment people, especially not me.

“I’m sorry?” I ask, sure I heard wrong.

Miriam meets my gaze. “The expo is a huge success and much of that is due to your hard work. You’ve done a good job.”

Her words startle me, and the smile that follows is even more unsettling. What is going on? I’m as shocked as if a rattlesnake wandered over and told me it liked my dress.

“Um, thank you.” That’s all I can think to say.

“Both your bakery and the expo are successes. Good for you,” she says, then pats my hand. “Your family would be proud.”

With that sentiment, she disappears into the crowd.

Holy cow.

I need a moment to absorb her praise. Then I look around the expo and realize, Miriam is right. I did do a great job. The expo is a big hit. The crowd is huge, and every business in Endearing is sure to reap the rewards.

Looks like I’m not a failure after all.

That thought makes me smile. Sure, my love life didn’t work out, but the rest of my life is going great. On that thought, I turn my attention back to my booth. The number of people who have stopped by is phenomenal, and many of those people took a flyer about the pet cakes. I’m sure to get some orders.

Beyond that, I now personally know what it feels like to hand out samples in one of those bulk stores. Most people are nice and remember the manners they learned as toddlers. But a few are—well, let’s just say they need a time-out. One sample per customer means just that, bub!

The people I feel sorry for are the ones working the café’s booth. They’re giving out small cups of chili. Risky move in a place with limited bathrooms. Still, lots of people are heading to the café for lunch, and based on the phone call I had from Melanie a while ago, lots of people are also heading to the bakery to buy cinnamon rolls. The little samples I’m giving out seem to have done the trick.

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