Page 113 of Cooking Up My Comeback

“And if she won’t listen?”

“Then you make sure she knows you’re not going anywhere. When she’s ready to stop running, you’ll be right here waiting to fight alongside her.”

Mom finishes packing up our supplies and heads toward her car. “I’m going to find a hotel for the night. You’re going to sit here and figure out exactly how to get your girl back.”

“Mom?”

“Yeah?”

“What if I can’t protect her from all this?”

She pauses at her car door, looking back at me with the expression she used to wear when I’d come home with scraped knees and wounded pride.

“Then you figure out how to face it together. Love isn’t avoiding the storm, honey. It’s learning to dance in the rain.”

And then she’s gone too, leaving me alone with a shut-down food truck and the most important mission of my life.

First things first. I pull out my phone and call the non-emergency police line. The stalking photos need to be reported, even if there’s not much they can do right now.

“Twin Waves Police, Officer Dunn speaking.”

“This is Brett Walker. I need to report harassment and possible stalking. Someone’s been taking photos of me and my business partner without our knowledge and sending threatening messages.”

“Can you come in to file a formal report? We’ll need to see the messages and photos.”

“I’ll be there within the hour.”

Next, I call Jack—because if anyone knows how to handle vindictive exes and small-town politics, it’s a man who’s been through his own complicated relationship battles.

Me: Need backup. Long story. Can you meet me at the police station in an hour?

Jack: On my way. Everything okay?

Me: Will be. Thanks.

Then I call the one person in town who probably knows more about local gossip and business politics than anyone else.

“Hazel? It’s Brett. I need your help with something. We got hit with a bogus health department complaint today. Any chance you know a good lawyer who handles that kind of thing?”

“Oh honey, I was wondering when this would surface. George Lawson’s wife is a food service attorney. Want me to call her?”

“That would be incredible. And Hazel? There’s more going on than just Chad being vindictive. Someone else is involved, but I can’t get into details right now.”

“Whatever’s happening, don’t let Amber face it alone. That girl’s been carrying too much by herself for too long.”

As I hang up, I realize Mom was right. This isn’t about avoiding the storm—it’s about making sure Amber knows she doesn’t have to weather it alone.

Time to remind her what partnership actually means.

Even if she’s too scared to believe in it right now.

But first, I’m going to make sure whoever’s been stalking us knows they’re dealing with someone who fights back.

TWENTY-FIVE

AMBER

I’m staring at my phone at three AM like it might spontaneously develop the ability to time travel and let me take back yesterday’s spectacular emotional meltdown.