Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
He grinned. “No, thank you, darling.”
“Cadie, sit down, please,” Opal said as she motioned for me to sit down.
Suddenly worried, I looked around the room as I made my way to the seat opposite Opal’s and across from her desk.
“I’ve been giving you more and more responsibilities here at the bakery.”
I nodded. “Yes, and I appreciate your trust in me.”
Opal smiled. “You have been such a wonderful addition to not only our family, but the bakery as well. And you’ve proven how talented you are. The customers love you, and more of them are requesting you to do their cakes, which has been wonderful for me. It’s freed up so much time that I’ve realized how much I have been missing by devoting my entire life to the bakery.”
“Your idea of closing on Sunday was also wonderful,” Macy stated. “Opal thought at first it would hurt the business, but it hasn’t impacted it.”
Only Opal, Kian, and Mark knew the truth about me owning a bakery back in Boston. We had decided it would be best if I kept going on as Cadie Waterford until the Bellucci trial was over. It would buy me a little more peace and quiet, especially with the press being all over the trial. They might learn Katy Reynolds, prominent local businesswoman and co-heir to the Reynolds fortune, was associated with Michael, but they wouldn’t bother Cadie Waterford.
“I’m glad to hear that. That one day of closing makes people miss you even more.”
Laughing, Opal nodded. “Yes, it does. Mondays used to be our slowest day, but now it is right up there with Friday and Saturday.”
“I’m glad,” I replied. “That makes me very happy for you.”
“It should make you happy as well!” Opal said.
“Of course! Yes. When the bakery is successful, we all benefit from it.”
Opal looked at Macy, who nodded.
“Cadie, since Jake came back into my life, everything has changed. I’ve enjoyed my days off, thanks to you.”
I smiled.
“But I want more. I want a life I never allowed myself to have before. So, I’ve decided that I’m retiring.”
My mouth fell open. “You’re selling the bakery?”
Opal’s eyes widened. “Oh no, well, not really.”
Confused, I looked between Macy, Opal, and Jake. I couldn’t read any of their faces at all. “I’m confused.”
Macy walked up and placed a folder on the table.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Open it,” Opal stated.
When I opened the folder, I started reading an attorney’s letter. It was prepared by Trey Carter, Macy and Kian’s uncle, who ran the family law firm in Moose Village. I kept reading, and my heart felt like it might leap out of my chest the farther I got.
“You’re transferring ownership of the bakery to me?”
Opal smiled. “Yes.”
“How? If you’re not selling it to me…how?”
“Opal can legally ‘gift’ you the bakery without receiving payment. This is often done when you want to transfer ownership between families. There is a gift tax, though, and we do want you to make sure you see that.”
I nodded. “I saw that, but, Opal, are you sure? You could just have me run the bakery and you keep ownership.” I looked at Macy, who smiled once again.
“Opal has been talking about selling the bakery even before you showed up, Cadie. Opal trusts that you’ll carry on with what she has worked so hard to build. If she trusts you to do it, then so do I.”
My hand went to my chest, and I blinked several times to keep the tears at bay. “I don’t…I don’t know what to say.”
Reaching for my hand, Opal said, “Say yes!”
Words were lost on me, and I opened and closed my mouth about half a dozen times.
Jake laughed. “I think the girl is speechless.”
Macy pulled out more paperwork. “All you have to do is look over this and sign it; the bakery is yours after that. The only thing is you have to agree to keep the name. Batter Up Bakery is a staple here in Moose Village and the surrounding areas.”
I nodded and wiped my tears from my face. “Of course.”
“You also have to keep Katherine on for as long as she wants. And continue to allow her to live in the apartment upstairs,” Opal added while wagging her finger at me.
“Yes, I adore Katherine.”
Jake stood. “Perfect! Now we can plan that cruise.”
I stood as well. “Cruise?”
Opal chuckled. “Jake and I want to take a cruise through Europe. It’s a four-month cruise.”
My eyes widened. “Four months?”
Looking at me with a raised brow, Opal asked, “You do think you can manage this place without me, don’t you?”
“Yes!” I said a bit too quickly. “I mean, of course, I’ll miss you, but I’m so happy for you both.”
Standing, I walked around the desk and hugged Opal, then Jake. “How exciting this is for you both.”
Jake nodded. “It is very exciting.”
“If you’d like to have a lawyer look over this before you sign it, that’s not a problem,” Macy stated as she gathered up all the papers and handed me the envelope.