Christmas Town Bake-Off: A 7-Book Connected Holiday Romance Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: ChelseaBeth Publishing
Published: 2022-10-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 3

“Hey, Tabitha.” Olivia Charles appeared in front of Tabitha’s workstation, clipboard clutched against her chest as if had been stuck there with Super Glue. “Heard you’ve requested a change of plans for today. What’s up?”

“Oh.” Tabitha glanced down at her lineup of ingredients. Ingredients she’d dumped into a shopping cart in record time with the Knotty Elves trailing behind like aged reindeer. It couldn’t matter that her head was still spinning from Stefan’s kiss. A kiss she’d convinced herself she’d never experience in this or any other lifetime. A kiss that deposited a thick fog of confusion directly around her brain. Despite having memorized her recipe years ago, she’d gone over the notes in her phone at least a half dozen times before she felt certain she’d gotten everything. And then she practically zombie-walked her way through town to the event tent.

“Tabitha?” Olivia waved a hand in front of her face. “You in there? What’s going on?”

“Oh, sorry.” Tabitha needed to kick herself into gear. “Well, my sister—”

She balked as the event judges—Fannie Frazier, Ira Faulkner and Kyle Marconi—sidled up behind Olivia.

“Tabitha’s shaking things up,” Olivia told them quickly. “Go on.”

“My sister had planned to make her annual lemon custard tart, but, well.” She searched the growing audience for a sign—any sign—of Stefan. She sighed. Stress always twisted her tongue tighter than a candy cane. “A friend advised me I should try baking from my heart. So that’s what I’m going to do. If that’s okay? It’s a tray bake, so I’m not straying outside the rules.”

“Mind if I ask what you’re planning to bake?” Ira asked in a way that was promising. His raggedy white hair and grizzled chin always made him seem so casual and non-intimidating.

“I call it my holiday baklava. It has my YaYa’s special twist. But I don’t want to give it away just yet. Since we don’t have a technical round today, it’ll be an added challenge that could give me a boost.” Tabitha attempted a smile, channeling Stefan’s faith in her.

“Sounds interesting. But don’t stray too far from the traditional,” Fannie advised. She was as approachable as Ira. Dressed in black boots, faded blue jeans, and an oatmeal colored sweater, her words were always carefully measured and softly spoken. “It’s all about the sticky syrup for me. And that nice, crisp dough.”

“Agreed,” Kyle said with an overly serious nod. Where Fannie and Ira were casual, Kyle was dressed all in black with every dark hair on his head in place. “We look forward to your creation, Tabitha.”

Olivia gave her a thumbs up before they all moved along.

“Thanks.” Her sigh didn’t bring an ounce of relief. How could it when—she glanced at the hanging clock. Stefan wasn’t here with her phyllo dough yet and she was due to start baking in less than ten minutes! “Oh, YaYa, I’m going to need your help with this one. Mom! Dad!” Her knees wobbled at the sight of her parents heading her way. “Why aren’t you at

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