Free With Every Breath by Niecey Roy Page A

able to turn down a kolache. “Is Hillary here?”
    The girl studied Jaden’s face, as if she were trying to figure out who she was. “She’s in the back dropping a rack of kolaches in the oven. Would you like me to get her?”
    “I’m an old friend. Do you mind if I step back there to surprise her?”
    She didn’t even hesitate. “Sure.” She pointed around the corner. “Door’s that way.”
    Only in River Bend would it be okay to send a stranger nosing around.
    Before she could take a step, Hillary rounded the corner and stopped short to stare at Jaden. It took a second for her brain to register what she saw, and then Hillary’s pale blue eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
    “What the hell?” Her platinum blonde hair was tied up into a pony tail, ending in a short curl at the nape of her neck, and her cheeks were flushed pink from the heat of the kitchen.
    Jaden laughed and opened her arms, then stepped to pull Hillary into a tight hug. “I haven’t seen you in years and that’s the way you greet me?”
    “Yes, because I can’t believe you’ve taken this long to come back home,” Hillary chastised as she squeezed her. She leaned back to look Jaden over. “You look great, as always. Why didn’t you call me ahead of time?” She smoothed a hand over the bob of her ponytail, oblivious to the dusting of flour on her cheek.
    “It was an unplanned visit.” Jaden flipped a wrist at the bakery. “And look at you! This is amazing, Hills.”
    “Isn’t it?” Her eyes sparkled with pride. “There was a moment there when I almost gave up. I had this all-out battle with some real estate ass who tried to steal this place right out from under me.”
    “I’m always up for a good story, especially since it’s clear you won.” Jaden smiled and squeezed Hillary’s hand.
    “I sent my cousin after him.”
    “Gavin?”
    She shook her head. “Trevor. He’s an attorney now. Have you eaten?”
    “Breakfast, not lunch.”
    “Good. I have your favorite.”
    “Cottage cheese filling?” Hillary nodded and gestured to a table against the wall. “Sit. I’ll feed you. Are you staying with Mia?”
    Jaden nodded and rounded a table.
    “You’re probably starving over there. She’s got nothing but bird food and microwave dinners in that house.”
    “That part is true, but last night she brought home fried food and burgers from Pam’s. Then I woke up this morning to a huge breakfast spread bigger than either of us could finish off. I think she took the leftovers to her brother.”
    Hillary’s brows knitted together. “Um, Mia doesn’t cook.”
    Jaden lifted her hands, palms up. “I know, right? I couldn’t stop eating those damn hash browns.”
    Hillary’s lips twitched amusement. “Were they shredded or country-fried with onions and green peppers?”
    “Country-fried.”
    “That’s a new special at Pam’s. I bet she even served you wedges of wheat toast and sausage links.”
    “And the fluffiest scrambled eggs with a hint of mild cheddar cheese,” Jaden added with a laugh. “She’s really sneaky. I don’t know what she did with the takeout boxes.”
    “Recycle bin in the backyard.”
    She rubbed her stomach. “I ate my weight in potatoes this morning and almost went into a food coma. Your kolaches are going to send me over the edge.”
    “Good. If you’re comatose you can’t leave; you’ll have to stay here with us.” Hillary tapped the table before turning on the balls of her feet. She disappeared through a door at the back of the bakery. “I’ll bring you two,” she called out. “There’s no dieting on this vacation.”
    She reappeared with a tray of kolaches and set them behind the counter.
    “Do you want these in the display case?” Crystal asked.
    “Pack four up for Mrs. Lewis; she’ll be in to pick them up in about fifteen minutes. Put the rest in the case.” Hillary placed two rolls on a baby blue ceramic plate and returned to the table. She set the plate in front of