9. Sutton

9

SUTTON

Sundays were golden days. A mix of hecticness and happiness. Even though the bakery would be a crush in the morning, the afternoons always slipped into a lazy haze with only the occasional customer coming in, even during the summer.

Luca stood on his specialty step stool that allowed him to cook or bake with Walter or me. Today, Walter was giving him a lesson on how to make his famous chicken and white bean chili.

“We want to get those onions cooked down nice and thorough so they’re almost caramelized,” Walter instructed.

Luca nodded, then cast a quick glance over at his teacher. “What’s caramelized? Like the candy?”

Walter chuckled and turned to me. “Smart cookie you’re raising over here.”

“Too smart for me to keep up with,” I called back as I spooned cake batter into muffin tins. It was true, too. Whatever sort of math they’d started teaching kids was over my head, and Luca was only through first grade, about to start second .

Luca’s nose scrunched the way mine did. “Candy onions do not sound good.”

Walter laughed harder. “Salty-sweet, my boy. Salty-sweet. Not to the point of sugar but it balances the dish. And when you top it with a sharp cheddar—” Walter kissed his fingers like an exaggerated Italian chef. “Perfection!”

Luca still looked skeptical.

“You’ll see when we do our taste test,” Walter promised.

Luca grinned at him, the gap from his missing tooth showing. “The taste tests are my favorite part.”

“Told you he was a genius,” Walter called as I put the cupcakes into the oven.

God, we were lucky to have found him. Walter had been born and raised in Sparrow Falls, only leaving to join the Army at twenty-two. But he’d opted to be a culinary specialist instead of walking out onto the front lines, saying, “ I’m a lover, not a fighter. ”

After coming home to Sparrow Falls, he’d worked in insurance for most of his days. But after retiring, he’d gotten bored quickly. And when I put a Help Wanted sign in the window of The Mix Up, he’d answered the call and had been with us ever since.

“Are you two mad geniuses going to keep it in line if I do a little paperwork?” I asked, wiping my hands on a towel.

“Duh, Mom,” Luca called.

I pinned Walter with a stare. “No more cupcakes until after chili.”

“ Mooooom ,” Luca protested.

“You’ve had two already today. Do you want me to go to mom jail for giving you too much sugar?”

Luca giggled. “Mr. Trace would never lock you up.”

I grinned, moving in to tickle his side. “I don’t know, Trace seems like a rule follower to me.” In every way. I’d noticed that he was a stickler for keeping things neat and tidy and always following through on his word. And while he expected a lot from others, he was hardest on himself .

Luca squealed, shifting out of my grasp. “Don’t worry, I’ll come visit and bring you cupcakes.”

“Best kid around,” I called as I headed for the main area of the café.

“Duh!” Luca yelled back.

“Love you more than bees love honey!”

“Double duh!”

I laughed as I grabbed a ham and cheddar croissant and my pile of paperwork, heading to a table in the corner. I stopped to check on our only patron at the moment, a woman who seemed caught up in what looked like an amazing book. She waved me off with a grin, and I headed for my destination.

Lowering myself into the chair, I let out a long breath. My muscles ached, and my head felt heavy. I knew I’d been pushing things a bit too hard lately, but I wasn’t sure what other choice I had.

The papers on the table glared up as if reminding me exactly why I’d been pushing so hard. I nibbled on my croissant as I looked over bank accounts and supply order forms. I crunched and re-crunched numbers. Even with paying the apartment rent week to week, managing it all would be impossible. I’d looked up the fees to consult a lawyer about the rent increase, but their hourly rates were worse than what I paid the landlord.

Tears pressed against the backs of my eyes, the pressure of them taunting me, trying to get me to break. But I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Not with Luca in the kitchen, and me needing to get through the rest of the day.

The bell on the door sounded, and my head jerked up to see Shep and Thea headed my way, shopping bags in tow. I forced a smile but knew instantly that Thea saw through it.

“What happened?” she demanded. “Is Luca okay?”

“He’s fine,” I assured her. “Making chili in the kitchen with Walter.”

Thea’s shoulders slumped in relief, and my heart squeezed at how deeply my friend loved my kid. Her gaze roamed my face. “What’s going on?”

I opened my mouth to lie and then realized it was no use. I’d have to move out of the apartment before long, and Thea wouldn’t miss that. I plucked up the letter from Rick and handed it to her.

She took it, her face reddening as she scanned the sheet. “That prickish asshole. He already raised your rent a few months ago.”

Shep moved in closer, his amber gaze moving between the two of us as he set the bags down. “May I?”

My face flamed with embarrassment, but there was no sense in hiding it from him either. “Sure.”

He took the paper from Thea and read it quickly, a muscle in his jaw beginning to tick wildly. Finally, his gaze lifted to mine. “This is illegal, Sutton. I know because I have a few rental properties myself. In Oregon, you can only raise the rent once in a calendar year. And you have to give your tenants thirty days’ notice when you do.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I’m month to month with the bakery now since it’s been over a year, but I’m week to week with the apartment. That’s always given me more flexibility?—”

“You don’t have to explain,” Shep said gently. “If you’re week to week, the same rules apply. After a year, he could raise your rent again, but he has to give you at least a week’s notice.”

My stomach cramped. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Rick was pulling something shady. He’d always seemed smarmy and pompous. “I still don’t think I can do anything about it. I can’t exactly afford a lawyer to take this to court.”

“How about I call that douche baguette and tell him where he can shove his rent money?” Thea offered.

Shep’s lips twitched. “Let’s not give Trace any reasons to arrest you, Thorn.”

She sent him an annoyed look. “I’d do the time. That guy’s a prick, and he always stares at Sutton’s ass when he’s in here.”

That had Shep stiffening and his gaze moving to me. “Does he make you uncomfortable? I’d be happy to call him on your behalf?—”

I shook my head quickly. “He gives me the ick, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Shep didn’t look all that appeased. “Reach out to him via email or text so there’s a record. If he gives you a hard time, I have a contact with the county who handles this sort of thing.”

God, Shep was a good one and exactly who my best friend deserved. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my phone and typed out a text.

Me

Hi, Rick. I think you must’ve made a calendar error in raising my rent. Mine was already raised in April, so it can’t be raised again until April of next year, according to the state of Oregon’s tenant rights. Let me know if you need anything else or a copy of that notice. Thank you!

My teeth tugged at my lip as I set my phone down. “See? All done.”

At least I had a few more months to figure out my next steps. But come next spring, I had a feeling Rick would raise my rent as much as was legally possible.

Thea pinned me with a stare. “You haven’t been sleeping enough.”

“I’m fine, Mom .”

Her hands went to her hips. “Don’t you take that tone with me, young lady.”

I chuckled. “Thanks for having my back. Both of you.”

Shep’s arm went around Thea’s shoulders, pulling her against him. The action was so effortless and comfortable it made my chest clench. I wanted that. The knowledge that I had someone to lean on, to count on. A true partner.

He sent me a kind smile. “If you need anything, just say the word. Rick isn’t exactly known for having a stellar reputation.”

Of course, that was who I’d ended up with for a landlord. It couldn’t be any other way. It was just how my luck ran. But I’d put far too much energy and money into this bakery and couldn’t just move buildings. I’d go under if I did.

My phone dinged, and I looked down. The second I read the text message, all the blood drained from my head.

Rick

This was me looking out for you, Sutton. I didn’t want to have to play hardball, but you’ve left me no choice. I need you to be out of the apartment above the business within the stipulated notice period in accordance with the state of Oregon. You have ten days.