Dear Readers: Just a little note to thank you for reading this story. I appreciate all the power stones and golden tickets. I love reading your comments and reviews. :-)

Take care!

Michele

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SOPHIA

"You were the boy in the garden?" I asked.

I didn’t have a memory of the boy or the moment I announced to everyone that I wanted to marry him. I had always assumed, like everyone else, that I had been talking about Jace. He was the only boy at Amaranth Manor. It never occurred to me that it could someone else.

"You don’t remember, do you?" he asked. "When you got the Cardigill Ick, you nearly died from it. Afterwards, you didn’t remember me at all."

"I forgot you?" My heart broke at this revelation. I felt guilty about forgetting Nathan when he remembered me so well. "Nathan..."

"It’s not something to feel guilty about. You didn’t choose to get sick nor did you choose to forget me. I had to leave anyway for the Stonehart military camp. My uncle insisted. Maybe it was for the best. If you couldn’t remember, you couldn’t miss me, right?"

"Did you miss me?" I asked with a gentle smile. I expected him to say something droll or witty, but instead, he looked at me in all seriousness.

"Every day," he admitted. "As young as we were, butterfly, I had my heart set on you. And you alone. When I found out you were going to marry Jace, I..." He paused. Shook his head. "When I turned eighteen, I was named Duke of Golding, which is both the town and county where my family has lived for centuries. My castle, Silverkeep, is there."

"What were you going to say earlier? When you found out I was going to marry Jace, you what?"

He nodded toward the sandwich on my plate. "Eat, first. You’re too thin. After lunch, we’ll take a walk and talk some more, okay?"

"All right." I picked up my sandwich and took a bite. I really wanted to know what Nathan would say about me marrying Jace. The idea that he had been around in my first life, hovering around the edges watching me slip away from his grasp, made me feel sad.

Especially when I thought about how happy I could’ve been with Nathan. If only I’d known he not only existed, but also loved me. At the time, I felt so abandoned. So alone.

I wouldn’t wish that life on anyone.

Except for Jace and Penelope. I hope they both rotted in hell.

We finished lunch and took our leave. Nathan held my hand as we headed down the street in the direction of the school.

"We are we’re going?"

"Down memory lane," he said.

Mrs. Spool’s bakery came into view, and I looked at Nathan. I grinned. "I heard you used to take me here every day after school."

"Do you remember the cabin in the woods?" he asked.

I nodded.

"I lived there that year before you got the Cardigill Ick. My maternal grandmother lived in that house, and I took care of her. I volunteered because I knew I would be closer to you. To watch over you."

"So that cabin belonged to your grandmother?"

"Yes. My mother’s mother."

"The man in the mask was you," I said. "You took care of me even though I didn’t remember you."

"I will always take care of you, Sophia. I’m your backer. My strength is your strength. My power is your power."

"Is your cake my cake?" I asked as we entered the bakery.

"Yes," he said. "If it’s mine to give and you want, then it’s yours." He paused. "I will also give you things that are not mine if you want them."

"You would commit a crime if it made me happy?"

"Yes," he said again. "Even if you killed someone, I would bury the body for you."

"That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard," I said, fluttering my lashes. "A girl can’t resist a man willing to be an accomplice."

He tapped my nose. "I’m your willing everything, butterfly."

The bakery smelled so good, and it felt warm. Happy. It wasn’t too crowded, just a few people sitting at the tea tables. No one was browsing the store section. We went up to the counter, and the cheerful Mrs. Roberts that I’d met last time appeared.

"Well, now. If it isn’t my mysterious customer and the pretty Sophia Pagemoore." She smiled widely, and I noticed a swipe of flour on her cheek. "This is the boy, right? The one who bought you special ordered tea cakes every afternoon after school?"

I leaned against Nathan and smiled happily. "He is." I shook my head. "How did you know?"

"Because he came in earlier today and asked me to make them for you again. I wrote everything down this time." She winked. "I have a feeling I’ll be making them often enough now."

"Are they ready?" asked Nathan.

"Sure are. A box full of heart cakes coming up!" She bustled off to the kitchen, humming a jaunty toon.

"Do you remember her mother?" asked Nathan. "She was the same cheerful sort of lady. I always liked her."

"I don’t remember," I said. "It makes me sad, too. I’d love to have those memories back. The ones with you and I in them."

"We’re making memories right now," he said. "Though in the future, I hope our memories include less murder and mayhem."

"Agreed," I said. "It would be nice to have more rainbows and heart cakes in our future."

He hugged me, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. "More rainbows and heart cakes and everything nice for you, Sophia. I promise."

"Here we go, lovebirds." Mrs. Roberts brought a purple box and placed it on the counter. She lifted the lid. "Ta-da!"

A dozen red heart-shaped tea cakes. For me. "They look amazing," I said.

"Taste darn good, too," said Mrs. Roberts. "I tried one of the extras. Your man knows a good recipe."

"My grandmother’s," said Nathan. "But the heart shape was my idea." He put his arm around my shoulders. "Inspired by a little butterfly."

"The two of you are adorable," said Mrs. Roberts. "Why don’t you try one?" She pushed the box closer to us.

We each plucked one out the box and took bites. It tasted like strawberries and chocolate. So soft it melted in my mouth. "Oh sweet goddess. That is so good!" I took another bite, and closed my eyes. "Amazing."

"Very," said Nathan. "Just like you."