Page 27 of The Baby Dragon Bakery (The Baby Dragon #2)

“I mean it!” she protested. She really did.

He made a thoughtful sound, and she could tell that he didn’t really believe what she was saying. He never believed her when she told him how wonderful he was. Sometimes, like now, it seemed like he wanted to believe her—but he just couldn’t.

His parents had really messed him up. She couldn’t imagine what it was like for him to grow up in that environment. She saw it firsthand when he split his knee open when they were kids, and she thought maybe his parents would ease up as Theo got older, but they never did.

Even now, they were just as harsh and disappointed.

The thought devastated Lavinia. She wished there was some way to shield him from all that hurt. She wanted him to be happy.

She and her family had always done all they could to make him feel loved, but of course, they could only do so much. There were limitations—even now.

She couldn’t love him fully, the way she wanted to, wholeheartedly, and being unable to do that hurt, too.

“You do have a degree,” she reminded him.

He looked like he wanted to argue but then conceded the point. “What am I going to do? Make a career change at this age?”

“This age?” she repeated, gobsmacked. “As if we’re fifty! Please. Anyway, you can make a career change whenever you want if you’re not happy with what you’re doing. There’s nothing wrong with focusing on different things in different phases of your life.”

He blew out his cheeks. “I’m not happy,” he admitted. “I keep trying to convince myself that I am, that this feeling will go away, but it won’t.”

He furrowed his brows, his expression growing dark. For some reason, she had a sense that she didn’t fully understand the meaning of what he was saying.

“Maybe you can talk to Saphira,” Lavinia suggested. “I think you’d be perfect for what she’s looking for.”

Theo looked unsure. “But she’s our friend,” he said. “If I ask, she’d feel bad saying no to me, and then she would be stuck.”

Lavinia genuinely did not think Saphira would say no; actually, she thought Saphira would jump at the opportunity. It would solve both of their problems! But she knew Theo; he couldn’t see the value in himself, so he thought that merit didn’t exist.

Resolve bounded through her. Lavinia would talk to Saphira tomorrow herself.

Theo needed a little boost of confidence.

The next day, around midday, Lavinia was in the office at the Animal Hospital. Dr. Quan was out with a patient, and Lavinia was meant to be writing up the notes from her last patient’s visit, but instead, she pulled out her phone, dialing Saphira.

“Lavinia, hey,” Saphira said, picking up. “What’s up? Aren’t you at your internship?”

“Hi! Yes, but shh, don’t tell,” Lavinia said, keeping her voice lower than usual. “I had an idea, and I wanted to discuss it with you.”

“Please do!” Saphira said. “I love your ideas.”

“Okay, so, you know how you want to hire a managerial assistant to help with the cafe?” Lavinia asked, tapping her nails on her desk.

“Mhm.”

“And we both agreed that I couldn’t do it . . . But, I’ve been thinking—what about Theo for the role?” she said. “He’s a bit unhappy at the Rolling Pin and looking for something new, and he’s been around since the cafe opened, just like me!”

“Oh my god, really? I didn’t think of Theo because I knew he was busy with the Rolling Pin, but if he’s looking for something new, that would be perfect!

” Saphira exclaimed, as excited by the idea as Lavinia was, just like Lavinia knew she would be.

See, she was always right! “He has been around as long as you, and I completely trust him.”

“Exactly!”

“You know, last year, he did offer to help out with managing when I was struggling with getting things situated so I could pay off the last of the mortgage on the place. I didn’t have any funds to hire him for a proper job at the time but now , if I run the numbers—by which of course I mean if Aiden runs the numbers—I’m sure I could afford to hire him! ”

“Yes!” Lavinia said, sitting up. “I think that could work. You should talk to him about it and see what he says. He won’t bring it up himself because he doesn’t want to put you in an awkward position, but I knew that you’d think it was a good idea, which is why I’m meddling a little.”

Saphira laughed. “Don’t worry, I appreciate the meddling.

And he actually did mention it to me before when I brought it up with him, but I didn’t think about it too seriously because I didn’t realize he actually wanted to leave the Rolling Pin.

But now—this could be perfect! You really do have the best ideas! ”

“Yay!” Lavinia loved when things worked out the way she wanted them to. “Okay, now I have to get back to work before Dr. Quan comes back in here and finds me yapping. Talk soon!”

“Okay, byeeee.”

They hung up, and Lavinia got back to work, thankfully before Dr. Quan returned to the office.

When she was done with her internship about two hours later, she went to her car and called Theo while she drove to campus for class. He picked up after two rings, then said, “Wait, one sec.”

She heard a little muffled noise, then heard his voice again. “Hey, sorry, was just putting my headphones in. Am currently kneading cookie dough.”

“Ooh, yum,” Lavinia said. “I could go for some cookies right now.”

“When are you not in the mood for cookies?” he asked, laughing.

“Fair point. Anyway . I called because I was just casually talking to Saphira, and she said she had something she wanted to talk to you about—so did she?” Lavinia asked.

“Casually, huh?” Theo laughed. “Yes, I did talk to her. I was going to call you when you were done with class in the evening. Are you driving over to school now?”

“Yup,” she said. “So . . . what did she say?”

Theo snorted. “As if you don’t know,” he said, though he didn’t seem upset. On the contrary, his tone was fond. “I can recognize a Lavinia Williams Plan from a mile away.”

“Maybe I know a little bit,” she admitted, giggling. “So what do you think? Isn’t it a great idea?”

“It is!” He paused. “But what if it doesn’t work out? What if I’m not good at it?”

“You will be good at it!” she said. “You’re good at everything.” She paused. “Well, except for bowling. You’re pretty bad at that.”

“Hey! You know I had a hand-cramp that day!” he objected.

“But seriously . . . I’ve never worked a business type of job, you know?

” He released a breath. “And what about Suki? Plus, what if I miss the Rolling Pin when I leave? Things are comfortable as they are. What if I ruin a good thing and regret it?”

“It’s a big step!” she said, understanding his qualms. “You obviously don’t have to decide this second. Change is scary, and even if things are comfortable right now, you said you weren’t happy , so maybe a change is necessary.”

He groaned. “Ugh, I know you’re right. Thanks for the push—I’ll definitely think about it.”

“Good! I just want you to be happy, you know that, right?”

“I know.” His voice went soft. “Thank you, Lavinia.” He paused, and she heard him swallow. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

This was usually the moment she would tease, saying something like, “You’d be lost without me!” or “Of course you don’t!” but there was something in his voice.

Something she didn’t understand.