(Scarlett’s POV)
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The drive back from the orphanage is different from the trip there. The tension that sat heavy in the car earlier has lifted, reced by something warmer. Lily chatters nonstop about her flower bread, how she can’t wait to eat it tomorrow when it’s cooled properly.
“And Marcus’s elephant was so cool, Mama! Do you think I could make an elephant <i>next </i>
time?”
“You can make whatever your hands want to create,” I tell her, meaning every word.
In the rearview mirror, I catch James and ir exchanging a look. ir’s <i>eyes </i>are still bright from the afternoon, flour still dusting her sleeves. And I can tell from the expression on her face that she wants to say something.
“Scarlett?”
“Go on, what is it?” I say, and pray she doesn’t ask for the impossible.
Despite all the bonding these past weeks, I’m still not ready to forgive them.
“Thank you for letting us be part of today’s program.”
“Those children are lucky to have you,” James adds. “What you taught them today… it wasn’t just about baking. You gave them the confidence to take on the world on their own…just like you did four years ago.”
I nod, not trusting my voice. Though James doesn’t say anything else after this, there’s an unsaid sentence that hangs between us that makes me choke. <i>I’m </i><i>proud </i>of you<i>. </i>
These are the words I’ve always longed to hear from him, back when I was still his treasured daughter.
Now? It’s good he didn’t say them. I don’t know how I would’ve reacted hearing those words from his mouth after he almost practically disowned me four years ago.
“Scarlett,” Jasper suddenly says as he pulls into my parking lot. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
My stomach tightens<b>. </b>After everything with Dorian and Andrew, I’m not sure I can handle another conversation about what I should do differently.
But something in his voice blocks the words in throat.
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“Lily, can you go upstairs with Grandma and Grandpa?” I ask. “Show them your drawings from school this week. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Yes!“Lily bounces out of the car, already pulling ir toward the building entrance. “I made one of a castle! And one with horses!”
James follows them inside, leaving Jasper and me alone in the car.
“I owe you an apology,” he says without preamble.
I blink. “For what?”
“For not seeing what I saw today years ago.” He turns in his seat to face me fully. “Watching you with those children, seeing what you created in that kitchen… I finally understand what I was too blind to see before.”
My chest tightens. “Jasper-”
“You’re not just a baker, Scarlett. You’re not even just a business owner.” His voice carries something I haven’t heard in years – genuine admiration. “You’re someone who spreads love to those around you. You give hope where there’s none, and without realizing change so many lives.”
I stare at him, not sure how to respond.
“Do you know what Marcus told me today while we were waiting for the bread to bake?‘ 1 shake my head no. I’d probably been focused on guiding one of the other kids. “He said that before today, he thought baking was something only grown–ups did. But now he knows even he can bake. He wants to be a baker and open the biggest bakery in the world when he
grows up.”
Tears prick at my eyes. “He’s a special kid.”
“They all are. And you’re the one who saw that. You’re the one who gave wings to their dreams, evoked infinite possibilities in their limited reality,” Jasper runs a hand through his <b>hair</b>. “I spent three years married to you and I never truly saw you the way I should’ve
I stay silent, not sure how to respond to that. This might be one of the few times Jasper spoke highly of me. “You were dealing with your own things.”
“That’s not an excuse.” His voice is firm. “I should have taken the time to get to know you, to see beyond the rich girl image I created in my mind of you. As your husband, I should have been your rock, your support in the pursuit of your dreams. But I never did. Instead, I made you a housewife, and made you secondary to everything else in my life”
I don’t want to think about the past. Those days are ones I don’t ever want to revisit, and I
:
< Chapter 88
him the same.
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I look down at my hands instead, still faintly dusted with flour from the afternoon. The conversation I had with Dorian in his office earlier today resurfaces to my mind, the voices. telling me topromise and aim for sess grow louder and louder.
“Dorian says…business owners don’t pay attention to the small details. They look at the bigger picture. Do you also believe that?”
“Dorian is a businessman through and through. He sees dor signs and market opportunities when he looks at merchandise, not customers.” Jasper chuckles, turning in his seat. “But don’t concern yourself with what he says. You just think about what <i>you </i>did today. Think about the twenty–three children who will remember this afternoon for the rest of their lives. Who learned that their creativity matters, that their hands are also capable of crafting beautiful things.”
“But what if he’s right? I mean…without efficiency, I’ll always stay small, right?”
“How many people did Jesus feed with five loaves and two fish?” The question catches me off guard. “I’m notparing you to Jesus,” Jasper adds quickly, a slight smile in his voice. “But the point stands. Impact isn’t always about scale. Sometimes it’s about depth.”
I think about Emma’s lopsided bunny, about the wonder in her eyes when she held it up. About Marcus’s superhero elephant and Sarah’s carefully crafted rose. About the stories they told, the connections they made, the confidence they discovered in their own abilities.
“I keep thinking about what you said to the children,” Jasper continues. “About the secret ingredient being love. That’s not just baking, Scarlett. That’s you spreading your love to millions of people through your craft.”
Something clicks in my head. And I look up at him, stunned. “Is that what you think?”
“I don’t think, Scar. I know <i>you </i>do. Your love… I’ve felt it myself.” He looks down at his hands. “I’m sorry I made you feel invisible in the past. I’m sorry for not knowing you better sooner.”
The apology sits between us, unexpected and genuine.
“When Virginia kept having her emergencies,” I find myself saying, “when you kept choosing her over our ns… I started to think maybe my dreams, like me, weren’t worth protecting.”
“God, Scarlett.” Pain shes across his face. “Your dreams were the most beautiful thing about you. They are still the most beautiful thing about you. I was just too selfish and self–absorbed to see it.”
“You weren’t selfish. You were…” I search for the right word. “Confused. We both were.”
:
< Chapter 88
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“Maybe. But today, watching you teach those kids, seeing you light up when they molded their bread… I saw a glimpse of the woman I fell in love with. The woman I should have cherished instead of taking for granted all those years ago.”
The words settle deep in my chest, lessening the grievances I’ve held against him during our years of marriage. Peace settles over me. Not from forgiveness, but understanding. Recognition of what we lost and why.
“I’m not going back to the industrial methods,” I say suddenly. “Whatever that means for the
business.”
“Good.” His response is immediate, firm. “Don’t let anyone convince you topromise with your vision.”
“Even if it means turning down opportunities?”
“Especially then.” He meets my eyes directly. “Scarlett, what you have is rare, and precious. It’s what makes your baking stand out from the masses.”
I feel tears threatening again. “Thank you.”
“And thank you for reminding me what real value is.” He reaches across the seat, hesitating for a moment before gently touching my flour–dusted hand. “I don’t ask for a second chance. But I hope you’ll give me the permission to be in your and Lily’s life. To at least make up for my past negligence in one way or another.”
Violet Moon
”
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