Best Kept Secret

Chapter Two

~~Present Day~~

Emmy had grown up. Her blond hair turned darker, but she highlights it with blonde. She still had the same big brown eyes. Her slender body was overly plump now. She was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for work.

Her family had moved to a small town just outside Nashville, TN. That was 16 years ago. Emmy's parents were killed in a car accident when Emmy was 18. Dalton was almost two. With the life insurance and the lawsuits, the estate she inherited paid off that house that she and Dalton lived in. She went to culinary school and opened a bakery in her small town.

She had a made decent life for them. Her parents never questioned who Dalton's father was. She was sure her mother knew, but she never pushed her. Her parents just loved them and moved on. The day they died, it almost destroyed Emmy. It was the first time she thought about reaching out to Kevin. She didn't, though. She couldn't ruin his career, knowing what he did for a living. She didn't know it back then what he did. She did now.

She had her best friend Riley, who she worked with at the bakery. Emmy had met Riley at culinary school; they had an instant connection. They had been working together ever since..

Emmy/EmmaGrace: "Dalton Andrew James get your butt out of bed right now."

Emmy walks to Dalton's room. She pushes the door open, throws a pillow at him.

Emmy/EmmaGrace: "Dalton get up we're going to be late."

Dalton: "I'm up, I'm up."

Dalton says, sitting up.

Emmy/EmmaGrace: "If you're not downstairs in ten minutes, you're walking to school."

Five minutes later, he was downstairs and ready to go. He was an easy child and always had been. She drove him to school and headed to the shop. Riley met her at the door.

Riley: "Good morning. The donuts are done. I'm about to head out. Darcy will be here soon."

Emmy and Riley rotated the morning shift. This morning was Riley's morning.

Emmy/EmmaGrace: "Thanks, Riley."

Riley: "I will be back at 2:00 pm."

Emmy looked at her watch. Ten minutes and Darcy would be here. Then she could get started on her custom orders for the day. Emmy and Riley were both very talented and could do almost anything. When clients came in, they chose which baker they wanted. It was never a competition for them. It was always about giving the customer the best possible experience.

The day went reasonably well. There were no significant mishaps or anything like that. Riley had come back at 2:00, and Dalton walked through the door at 3:15, like every day. He found his table at the back of the bakery and started on homework. Emmy brought him out a cinnamon roll and chocolate milk. 

Emmy/EmmaGrace: "How was your day, Dude?"

Dalton: "It was ok. My math is killing me." 

Emmy/EmmaGrace: "I can ask Aunt Riley to help you; she is the math whiz."

Dalton: "That would be great. I hate math."

Emmy knew he got that from her. She had never been good with numbers or math. Money is different she had to be good with money.

Emmy was cleaning the dining room when she heard a familiar voice.

Darcy: "Hello, how can I help you?"

Darcy was at the counter.

Kevin: "Yeah, I need to place an order for a cake."