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"Will you be home tonight?" I ask.

He turns back. "Yeah. Why?"

"I’ll have the test batches finished. If you want to try them."

"You’re giving me permission in advance?"

"I think you might know my cupcakes better than anyone right now. I could use your opinion."

He smiles. "I’ll be here."

Chapter Ten

Wolf

Dan is standing where Baylor’s mixer used to be, measuring the wall.

The kitchen is dry, but there’s nothing left in it. No cabinets, no counters, no appliances. The new cabinets are sitting in boxes in her living room, taking up most of the space between the couch and the television.

It’s Sunday morning, almost three weeks since the flood. My guest bathroom has a floor again, but the shower and tub still haven’t been installed. At least I have another bathroom. Baylor doesn’t have another kitchen.

"We’re on schedule," Dan says, writing a measurement in his notebook.

"Still the original deadline? Do you think your crews will be done in about three weeks?"

"That’s the target. Cabinets first, then we can measure for the counters. Flooring, appliances, hookups. There’s still plenty to do."

"And the gala’s the following Friday after the work is supposed to be complete. Will everything be hooked up and ready for her to bake in here?"

He looks up. "I know she needs this kitchen. We’re doing everything we can to get her back in it on time."

I nod, looking at the empty space where her oven stood. She’s been working around my schedule, keeping her orders on her side of the tape and asking whether she should clear out before I get home from a trip. Even now, she acts like I might decide I want the kitchen back.

"Do you need anything from me?"

"Access to your guest bathroom tomorrow. The fixtures are coming."

"I leave after practice. I’ll make sure you can get in."

He closes his notebook. "I’ll send Baylor an update once we’ve started installing these."

"Thanks."

I head upstairs before I’m late for practice. Baylor is at the sink rinsing a bowl. The island is covered with labeled sample containers, and there’s a cake pop lying on a folded paper towel beside her notebook.

"Did he say anything new?" she asks. She had a last-minute add-on order to try to frost in time for her delivery this morning, so I offered to meet with Dan for her.

"Still on schedule. He’ll message you when the cabinets start going in."

"Good. I’d like to see them somewhere besides my living room." She dries the bowl and puts it away. "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, I’m on my way out."

She takes the paper towel when I’ve finished. "Are you still leaving tomorrow?"

"After practice."

"Okay. I’ll bake what I can ahead, keep it covered, and finish the fresh frosting here Wednesday morning. The tasting’s in the afternoon."