Chapter 1
On the morning her mother's bakery was due to be auctioned, Vivian unlocked it for the first time in twelve years. Flour still dusted the blue counter. Beside the register, pencil marks recorded birthdays she had missed: her nephew at six, nine, twelve; her daughter at sixteen. Vivian set down the cashier's check that had cost her apartment and began cleaning. At nine, her brother entered with the auctioneer. "You can't buy forgiveness," he said. "I'm buying the bakery." He placed his own bidder card beside her check. "So am I."
Author: GutsDate: September 04, 2026