Chapter 3

I spotted the pizzeria's wooden sign before I even reached the place. Mom had painted it herself years ago, and now it was lying in the muddy street.

Ruby stood under Nigel's umbrella with one hand over her nose, looking disgusted as pans, bowls, and other kitchen equipment were carried out of the pizzeria.

"Nigel, this place is filthy. Are you sure you can really turn it into a pastry shop?"

"Don't worry, Ruby. I'll have the whole place sanitized. I'll even have them rip out the floor tiles and replace them. By the time we're done, you won't be able to smell any grease or food at all."

His voice was warm and gentle, nothing like the way he'd yelled at me the night before.

I pushed through the crowd and rushed toward the entrance. That was when I spotted the old wooden box sitting right on top of a pile of trash.

That box was everything to me. Inside was the secret pizza sauce recipe Mom had left me, along with a wooden spatula Nigel had carved for me with a pocketknife when he was 15.

He'd cut his hand while making it, but he'd still smiled and said, "Sasha, one day you'll be the chef, and I'll be your helper."

I rushed over without thinking and reached for the box.

"Sasha Tenney! What are you doing?"

Nigel grabbed me by the back of my collar and yanked me away. I lost my balance and fell straight into a greasy puddle. My knee slammed against a broken tile, and pain shot through my leg.

"Nigel, she's filthy! Don't let her touch me!" Ruby screamed and pressed closer to Nigel.

He immediately pulled Ruby behind him and looked down at me. "Sasha, have you lost your mind? I warned you last night. I'm shutting this place down whether you like it or not!"

I ignored him and scrambled toward the wooden box on my hands and knees.

But I was too late. A garbage truck was already backing toward the pile. Its massive mechanical arm came down and scooped up the trash.

"No! Stop! Something my mom left me is in there!"

I screamed until my voice cracked and tried to rush toward the truck.

Nigel wrapped both arms around my waist and held me back. "Enough, Sasha! It's just a pile of junk. Do you really have to make a scene and embarrass yourself in front of everyone?"

A sharp crack split the air. I could only watch as the wooden box splintered under the mechanical arm.

The wooden spatula, tied to so many memories of growing up with Nigel, snapped clean in half and tumbled into the reeking garbage truck. Mom's yellowed recipe book went with it, crushed beyond saving.

The world around me seemed to go quiet.

I stopped crying out and stopped struggling. I just let Nigel drag me over to the side of the road.

Seeing me suddenly go so still seemed to scare him. He let go, and for the first time, he sounded a little panicked.

"Sasha, don't do this. It was just a recipe book. I'll hire a great chef to put together another one for you. And that stupid wooden spatula? I'll go to the mall tomorrow and buy you one made of solid gold. Okay?"

I slowly looked up at the man I'd loved for 20 years.

He had no idea there had been a letter tucked inside that recipe book, written to him by his mother before she died.

I'd kept that letter safe for 10 years. I'd planned to give it to him next month for his 30th birthday, hoping it would finally help him let go of something he'd been carrying for years.

Now it was all gone.

I suddenly smiled. "Sure, Nigel. Solid gold. Don't forget."

My smile made him shiver. He reached out to touch my face, but I turned away before he could.