was bigger than the entire Richmond farmhouse. The furniture was antique

said, pointin

ng her back straigh

have?" Helen asked, getti

"Blueberry basil, and rosemary

n you produc

ace, limited ingredients. But she had time, and she had sk

the arm of her chair. "Twen

beat, but she kept her fa

een a

For a pie of this quality, using fresh herbs and premium fruit, it w

andard order, that would be acceptable. But you're asking for my entire weekly production on an exclusive basis

sn't used to being challenged

"And I'll develop a new, exclusive flavor just

e. Three hundred and sixty dollars a week. I'll pay for the first week upfront. Cash." She reached into her

han she had seen in months. It was enough to fix

by Friday," Kaitlynn s

signaling the end of the

r purse. She walked out of the mansion in a da

bought new shoes for Paige, a warm jacket for Cason, and even a set of clothes for the bo

ater Creek. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange an

ad woken up in this nightmare,

own. Kaitlynn gathered her bags and steppe

ad toward her house, she saw som

ple on her por

th grey hair pulled back in a severe bun. She had a f

chmond. Her m

at, stepping off the porch. "Look

r grip on the shoppin

my daughter arrested! You turned the whole town against us! And now you're parad

rches, watching the spectacle. Dawn stood

"She's got new clothes. She mu

her hands reaching for the

race that surprised the older woman. Temperance

ted into rage. "Why, you little-" She raise

all these witnesses. If she hit Temperance, the fragile image of the

her body tilted at an impossible angle, her shoulder dropping. To the onlookers, it was a clumsy, terrified retreat. In reality, i

om

. Cason and Paige ran out,

ning himself between the old woman and his mother. He spread

uch my mother

h disgust. "Get out of my way, you little b

lations, the strategic retreat, the concern for her

touched

ance's wrist like a vise. She squeezed,

her eyes going wide

old woman's. Her eyes were no longer the eyes of a

said, her voice low and deadly. "Or