Chapter 15 ( Jasper's POV ) More Rewards > " Welcome to Sunrise Bakes ! " a childish voice greets me as soon as I enter the shop . A little girl , no more than four years old , stands on a wooden stool that puts her at perfect height to see over the register . Her dark hair is pulled back in two neat braids , and she's wearing a tiny apron that's clearly been hemmed to fit her small frame . " What can I get for you today ? " she asks . My throat goes dry . Something about the way she tilts her head when she speaks , makes me freeze for a second . " I ... " I clear my throat . " I'm not sure what you'd recommend . " She claps her hands together , eyes lighting up . " Everything's good ! But the honey wheat bread is the best seller . Mama makes it fresh every morning ." Mama . My chest tightens . I crouch down to her level , studying her face . Big brown eyes framed by dark lashes . A stubborn little chin . I've never seen such a cute little girl before . " You help your mama run this place ? " She nods proudly . " I greet the customers . And help count the money sometimes , but only the big coins ' cause the little ones are too tricky . " Despite everything , I smile . " That's a very important job . " " I know . " She grins , then gets serious again . " So do you want the honey wheat ? It's really , really good . Like , the best bread in the whole world . " " If you say so . " I stand up , watching as she carefully climbs down from her stool and walks over to the bread display . She's so small she has to stand on her tiptoes to reach the loaf , her tongue poking out in concentration . This is exactly how old my child would be now . Four years , three months . Old enough to have real conversations , to help in a bakery , to charm customers with that gap - toothed smile . If Scarlett hadn't taken our baby and disappeared . " Here you go ! " The little girl presents the bread like it's a precious gift . " Mama says this one has honey from the farm down the road , and it makes everything taste like sunshine . " 1/3 < Chapter 15 More Rewards I take the loaf , and the weight of it feels familiar in my hands . When I tear off a small piece and taste it , the world stops . It's her . It's Scarlett's recipe , down to the last grain of salt . The same bread she used to make on Sunday mornings , filling our kitchen with the smell of home . The bread I'd find cooling on the counter when I came home late from work , wrapped in a tea towel with a note saying she hoped I'd had a good day . My vision blurs . " This is ... exceptional . " " I told you so ! " The little girl beams . " Mama's the best baker in the whole world . She makes everything taste like love . " Like love . That's exactly what this tastes like . Like Scarlett's hands kneading dough at five in the morning , like her humming while she worked , like the way she'd dust flour off her fingers before kissing me goodbye . " Where ... " I have to clear my throat again . " Where is your mama now ? " " She's in the back kitchen , making more bread ' cause we sold out of the cinnamon ones ." The little girl points toward a doorway behind the counter . " Do you want me to get her ? " Yes . God , yes . Every cell in my body is screaming yes . But what if I'm wrong ? What if this is just some cruel coincidence , another dead end in four years of searching ? " That's okay , " I manage . " I don't want to disturb her while she's working . " The bell chimes again as new customers enter , and the little girl's attention immediately shifts . " Welcome to Sunrise Bakes ! " she calls out , already moving toward them with that same professional enthusiasm . I walk toward the back of the bakery , my heart hammering against my ribs . Through the doorway , I can see flour - dusted counters and industrial ovens . The sound of someone moving around , the scrape of a pan against metal . This is it . After four years of searching , of flying to different cities , of hiring investigators who came back empty - handed . This could be the moment I finally find her . I'm three steps from the kitchen when a woman emerges , wiping her hands on her apron . My heart stops . She's about the right height , with dark hair pulled back in a messy bun . But when she looks up , I see unfamiliar green eyes and a face I've never seen before . 2/3 < Chapter 15 More Rewards > " Oh ! Sorry , I didn't see you there . " She smiles apologetically . " Are you looking for something specific ? Lily usually handles the front , but I can help if you need anything . " The disappointment hits like a physical blow . Of course it's not her . Of course I'm still chasing ghosts . " No , I ... " I force a smile . " Your daughter sold me some bread . She's very good at her job . " The woman laughs . " She's not mine , actually . I just work here . But yes , Lily's amazing . Her mother should be proud . " " Right . " I nod , feeling foolish . " Well , thank you ." I walk back toward the front , where the little girl - Lily - is still charming customers . She waves at me as I pass . " Come back soon ! " she calls . " Mama's making chocolate chip cookies tomorrow ! " " I will , " I lie , because I'll probably never see her again . Being around kids the same age my child would be makes the pain that much harder to ignore . And right now , the last thing I need is distraction . Outside , I lean against my car and laugh at myself . A bitter , hollow sound that echoes off the empty street . What did I expect ? That I would walk into a random bakery and find the woman I've been searching for years standing on the other side ? Just like that ? When did I become so foolish ? Stifling another mocking chuckle , I get back in the car and drive off . This can't go on . I need to find Scarlett . The need to meet my child is getting too much to bear . Violet Moon # Vote # ! 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