7
Zoe texted Sam first thing in the morning and asked him to pass along a message to Stephen. She wanted to meet him outside the bakery. He had kept his part of the bargain, though she had no idea why, and it was only right that she keep her promise. Today they’d talk business.
She opted for sandals instead of her rainbow boots, realizing they were too good for the likes of Stephen McAllister, and set out early. She loved being out before anyone else, with the sun just barely peeking above the hills in the distance, and feeling like the world belonged to her.
When Zoe reached the bakery, she was twenty minutes early, so she decided to walk the path that lined the park. She breathed in the cool morning air and smiled. It was going to be a good day.
“Do you come here often?” someone aske
