Before answering, I took a large gulp of the wine. She hadn’t filled it, knowing that I needed to pick Avery up after this. “When is it not Gemma?”

“What’d she do this time?” Penny crossed her legs in the chair.

“Apparently Erica is under the impression that I’m having problems at home and can’t work to my best ability.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”

“Who else would’ve said something like that if it wasn’t her?”

She held her hands up, the glass gripped in one. “Definitely not me.”

“Exactly. Do I say something to her?”

She mulled it over in her head, taking a sip while she thought about it. “She probably wants you to so she can create drama. You know how she is.”

I slumped in the chair. “But why pick on me? And why now?”

Penny shrugged. “She’s probably bored. But hey.” She sat forward, setting a hand on my wrist where it rested on the arm of the chair. “Don’t think too far into it. Erica will see that you’re doing just fine. You won’t lose your job over it.”

“If I do, I don’t know what I’d do.”

“You won’t. Don’t let Gemma get under your skin like that. That’s what she wants to happen. Just keep doing what you’re doing and Erica will have no reason to fire you.”

I blew out a breath. “Alright.”

Besides, I hated confrontation. Even if I wanted to, I probably wouldn’t approach Gemma on this. She could spin whatever lies she wanted, but I wouldn’t let her ruin my life over it.

I was good at my job, I was a great mom, and a damn amazing baker.

Nothing could ruin any of that if I didn’t let it.

***

Avery jumped out after I pulled into our driveway and turned the car off, still going on about her playdate with her best friend, Lucy. They’d been friends since we moved to Bell Buckle three years ago and thankfully, were in the same grade. 

I beeped the locks on the car and headed up the path to the front door, unlocking it and stepping inside as Avery barreled in ahead of me. I couldn’t comprehend how she still had this much energy after her playdate. 

As she rounded the corner of the hallway, our cat, Pudding, let out a strangled noise like she’d been spooked and darted out of Avery’s way. Instead of heading for the kitchen like she typically did when we got home so she could beg for food, she aimed right for the front door. I was just setting my purse on the entry table when I saw her blur of a body run by, and before I could reach the door to close it, she ran out.

I cursed, shoving the door open the rest of the way, and quickly followed her outside. I always warned Avery to be careful with Pudding because she could try to run out one day, but she must’ve thought it would never happen as she would still storm into the house like a tornado.

“Pudding!” I called as she darted under my car. 

I dropped to my knees on the driveway and quickly wished I’d slowed my pace as pain ricocheted through my legs. But I couldn’t pay attention to that right now. Losing Pudding would crush Avery.

“Mom?” Avery called from the doorway to the house.

“One second, Aves! Stay inside,” I yelled back to her as I narrowed my eyes, checking for Pudding under the car. She was a gray tabby, which meant she practically blended into shadows. 

“Why are you on the ground?” Avery asked from somewhere behind me. So much for staying in the house.

My hands slapped on my thighs as they dropped to my jeans. Pudding was gone. 

I quickly stood, looking out at the street, then around our yard and the neighbor’s lawn from where I was standing.

“What are you looking for?”

I could cry after everything that happened today. The knot in my throat formed and my eyes burned. No parent wanted to tell their child that their beloved pet was gone, but I couldn’t see Pudding anywhere.

I turned to Avery, crossing the few feet to her and pulling her into my arms. “Mama, what’s wrong?”

I sniffled, trying my best to hold back my tears. I had to be strong for her, because once I told her, she’d be a mess and I had to be there to pick her up.

“Let’s go inside." I gabbed her hand and walked alongside her up the path to the door. 

After I closed the door behind us, I knelt down to her level, my knees aching from the impact outside. There was no time for that now—no room for my feelings when I’d be holding hers in just a second.

“Do you remember how I asked you to come inside calmly after Pudding almost escaped that one time?” I asked. I really didn’t know how to tell her. No one trained you to be a parent. You just figured it out as you went, and that made it even more scary.

Avery nodded, her brown hair falling in her face a bit. “I remember.”

“I think the way we came inside today scared Pudding and she ran out the door.” I braced myself, wishing there was an easier way to say that.

“She ran out the door?”

I ran my hands up and down her arms as I nodded. “That’s what I was looking for, but I couldn’t find her.”

Avery’s bottom lip swelled a bit as her eyes turned to glass. “Pudding’s gone?”

I sniffled, my heart breaking at the crack in her voice. I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her as she broke on a sob. “We’re going to find her, okay? I promise. I’ll keep looking for her.”

“But what if she doesn’t come back?” she cried into my shirt, soaking the fabric.

Was I supposed to tell her she would? I couldn’t make promises to her that I couldn’t keep.

“We’ll find her,” I said, doing my best to keep the waver out of my voice. 

We had to find her, for Avery’s sake and mine. I hated seeing her upset. If only I had been faster and shut the door, this all could have been avoided.

If we didn’t find her cat, it’d break me as much as it was breaking her right now.

11

Callan

Christopher, one of my students, hopped off the lesson horse while his mother and little sister stood from their bench and made their way to the gate of the arena to meet us. 

“Do you think one day I can try cutting?” Christopher asked as we walked side by side through the sand, the horse following behind him.