“Thanks.” Chrissie shakes her head, smiling at the next customer in line while holding up her finger in a “just a moment” gesture. “Most of the people have been cool about not seeing her, but a few like her have been persistent.”
“Is she okay?” I glance at the doorway that leads to the kitchen, and even though I know she’s back there, she isn’t visible.
“She’s annoyed by the attention, but she’s all right. I’m sure she’d be happy to see you.”
“Are you good with me going back there?”
“Of course,” she says brightly, and I see her husband roll his eyes.
“Thanks.” I head through the open door and stop to watch Anna beating a rolling pin into a large lump of dough on a metal table. “That bad?”
She jumps at my question and spins around to face me. I notice then that she’s been crying. “Hey, how did everything go with work last night?” she asks, wiping the tears off her cheeks with the sleeve of her shirt.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m not.” She drops her hands to her sides. “It’s just the flour making my allergies act up.”
“Are people actually allergic to flour?”
“Yes, haven’t you heard of gluten allergies?”
I smile; I can’t help it. “It must be hard on you, working in a bakery and being allergic to flour, then.”
She shrugs, and I close the distance between us and hold out my arms.
She looks unsure for a moment, but then her face crumples and she drops her forehead to my chest, wrapping her arms around me and holding on tight. “Lance went on the news last night and made it seem like I just needed a break but we were still together.” She tips her head back to meet my gaze. “Can you believe that?”
“Yes,” I say easily, even though I don’t like the idea of him laying claim to her. “He’s probably realizing he was an idiot for letting you go.”
I swipe the last bit of wetness from her cheeks, and her expression softens; then her nose scrunches adorably. “I’m not going back to Chicago, and I’m not getting back with him.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
“Do I need to convince you?” she asks, studying me, and I shake my head. “Then I’m just saying it out loud.”
Good to know. I’m not sure how I’d deal if she told me she was having second thoughts about her ex. “Have you talked to him today?”
“No, but he’s called, and so have my parents and a few of my friends.” She steps back and lets out a deep breath. “I don’t know what to do. I never thought I’d be dealing with this kind of situation, and now Chrissie is dealing with it too.”
“I don’t think she’s upset about having paying customers.”
“The shop doesn’t need my drama.” She leans against the table behind her.
“I won’t be happy if you use this as an excuse to run off,” I warn her.
She sighs. “All I’m saying is I don’t know what to do to put an end to this mess.”
“Maybe you should make a statement to the press.” That comment comes from the doorway, and we both look at Gaston as he walks into the kitchen. “I’ll reiterate what Calvin said and tell you now that I’ll be pissed—and Chrissie will too—if you up and leave. That said, I get why this situation is stressful. But I think if you make it clear publicly that you’re not going back to your old life and that you are happy where you are, people will leave it alone, including your ex.”
“I’m not going to run away. I wouldn’t do that to Chrissie,” Anna says quietly, holding Gaston’s stare. “And I’m not going to go to the media. I know that would only fan the flames and, in the end, create more problems.”
“So what’s your plan?” I ask.
“I need to talk to Lance.” She chews the inside of her cheek. “I don’t know why he’s doing this now, but I need to make him understand he needs to stop and that there is no chance of us getting back together.”
“My guess is he’s doing all of this to save face. Right now,” I say, and she looks away. “It’s not about you; it’s about protecting his image. That’s why he spoke to the media about you two.”
“He’s right, Anna,” Gaston agrees, picking up a metal sheet pan with rows of cookies off a rack and heading toward the door with it. “Whatever you decide to do, you know we all have your back.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.” He gives her a smile, then disappears.
When he’s gone, she focuses on me and eyes me from head to toe as she frowns. “Have you been home since you dropped me off last night?”
“No, I was heading that way but stopped to see you first.”