Olivia

When I get home Sasha sits on the steps of the stairs in our entry.

"What are you-" I start to ask as I close the door.

She jumps up and places a hand on my mouth. "So I tried to cover for you but mom saw through my lie and basically she's waiting for you in the living room and-"

I pry her hand away from my mouth. "Hey, it's okay. You tried." I didn't expect mom to fall for Sasha's lie. Especially since Sasha isn't that great of a liar and that mom is basically a lie detector.

Sasha nods. She wrings her hands together. "Are you sure? I really did try."

I nod and look towards the entrance to the kitchen/dining room. "I'm sure. Plus, it's probably about time that I have a talk with her anyways." I try to put on my best brave smile for her.

She doesn't seem to buy it though.

"Why don't you go upstairs and do some homework? Or read?" I place my hands on her shoulder. I'm doing this so she won't get in trouble, not when I roped her into lying for me.

She nods and turns to head up the stairs. "Good luck," she whispers.

I smile softly. "Thanks." Then I take a deep breath and head into our kitchen/dining room.

Mom's already sitting at our dining table. Her hands sit clasped before her on the table.

"How was Naomi's?" she asks. Her face is blank as she stares at me.

"It was good." Not a lie. I take a seat across from her.

"And you were there all day?" Here, she lifts an eyebrow.

I take a deep breath. This is it. I'm done lying. I'm done hiding what I've been doing and what I plan to do. "Only for a little bit."

Her brow goes higher. "And where were you for the rest of the day?"

"I was with Charlie."

Mom doesn't respond for a moment. Her gaze goes distant for a moment before realization seems to dawn on her. "The guy who offered to help you find a career?"

I nod.

She sucks in air. "I thought I told him we didn't want his help?"

"You did," I tell her. I look down at my lap, avoiding her gaze. "But I took his help anyway."

"And why would you do that? You already have a career."

We've been through this discussion so many times that I had hoped she would finally get it. But she still doesn't. Whether because she's stubborn or because she can't see the future being any other way. At this point I'm not sure anymore.

I resist the urge to reach up and play with my hair. I have to be serious about this. I have to appear confident about this. "That's the future you've always seen for me. I used to want that too." I remember when I was old enough to be brought to the bakery and sit there and behave. I remember the first few times where I got to help make the fudge, help customers, even sample some just for fun. "I used to see myself running the place," I tell her. "But the more time I spent there, day after day I just couldn't see myself doing it day after day after day."

"I still love the bakery," I say as a teary expression makes its way onto her face. "I just love it in a different way than I used to. So, I had been thinking of how I wanted my job there to continue."

"You're not quitting?" she whispers. The only time she's spoken since I've started my spiral.

I shake my head. "Not yet." I pinch and rub my ear. "I already have an idea of what I want to do for my career. I just have to get Charlie to help me try out a few more along that line to see if it's something I truly want.

"But, I was thinking I'd stay until I was done with university or college, whichever I decide to go to. Plus, that would give you help until Sasha can start training to take over."

There's more that I want to say, but that has to do with Sasha's and the bakery's future. So, I stop before I can get too ahead of myself.

Mom is silent. Her gaze focuses on one spot and doesn't waver. I can almost see the cogs turning behind her eyes. Almost see the smoking coming out of her ears.

I hold my breath. I don't know what kind of response I'm going to get. I have no idea if she'll be mad or if she'll like it or what will happen. She's been so stubborn about this for so long that I half expect her to just dismiss my idea again.

So when she opens her mouth I prepare for a mental slap.

"You've thought a lot about this?" she asks quietly.

I sigh in relief and release the tension in my shoulders. I nod.

She reaches out and grabs my hand. Her gaze is the softest I've seen it since we've talked about my future. "I wish you were the one to continue the legacy of the bakery."

I open my mouth but she beats me to it.

"I always had this dream of opening a bakery and handing it down to my oldest daughter and the two of us running it together. So when I bought the bakery and had you I was excited. I was going to achieve my dream." She smiles wistfully before it morphs into a frown. "But I can see why that would make you feel pressured. Why, I made you feel pressured." She sighs and looks down at the table. "I never meant for it to happen. Really. And I'm sorry that it did."

I nod. I'm not ready to accept the apology.

"I'm glad you have an idea of what you truly want to do. And trust me when I say I'll support you, okay?"

I nod and smile. "Thank you, mom."

She smiles. Her eyes flick to over my shoulder. "And Sasha?"

I look over my shoulder to find Sasha hiding in the doorway. She looks up, a look of fear and shame crosses her face.

Mom smiles softly. "I'm sorry that I never gave you a chance. If you know that you want to run the bakery I'll start teaching you and preparing for you to take over."

Sasha tiptoes her way into the kitchen. She glances at me and seems to ask is she for real?

I nod.

She turns to mom. "I'd love to run the bakery someday."

Mom smiles. Not one of her customer service ones, not one of her tentative smiles, but her proud one. "I'm so glad to have you two for my daughters."

I nod. Sasha beams.

"I love you girls."

"We love you."