The sun shines down, warming Lily's face on an uncharacteristically pleasant early April afternoon. London is bustling as she exits the tube station and hurries down Broadway in Wimbledon. Since Aurora's surprise visit two days ago, Lily's wasted no time looking for potential storefronts to open her own bakery. She spent all of Friday researching areas in London and scouring realtor websites to find different options, making a variety of appointments the following day.
Maybe it isn't the best way to spend her last few days leading up to the Next Great Baker finals, but she needed a break from the kitchen. Mona was supportive when she'd asked for a couple of days off and didn't question why. Lily feels bad keeping her plans to herself, but she doesn't want to share her ideas until they are firm. She's been down this road once before and it's best not to get her hopes up.
As she continues down the street, Lily takes note of all the shoppers weaving in and out of the various businesses and joining the throngs of pedestrians cluttering the wide sidewalks. Traffic moves at a snail's pace as traffic lights don't last nearly as long as they should, preventing a decent flow of cars to move about. She continues checking the numbers outside each building until she finally approaches an abandoned storefront with brown paper covering the windows.
The sign from the previous tenant has long since been covered up with black paint and the sad little window front looks out of place compared to the rest of the vibrant shops surrounding it. As Lily waits for the estate agent to meet her, she takes a second look around to note the other businesses she'd be surrounded by. Lots of cafes and restaurants, various boutiques and even a cinema down the street. There's a small square with benches for tourists to rest and enjoy a treat if they want to sit outside, and Lily can already imagine setting up tiny tables in front of the shop's windows like you'd see at a Parisian patisserie.
The location gives Lily a good vibe, and she hopes the inside looks just as promising as what she's envisioning since none of the other four properties she's viewed yielded the same feeling.
"Ms. Evans?"
Lily turns to see a short, stout woman with curly blonde hair approaching her, a folder and clipboard tucked into her arms. She's wearing short, navy heels to match her beige skirt and tweed jacket, and despite the stuffy first impression the outfit gives off, her friendly smile puts Lily at ease.
"Yes, that's me. You must be Ms. Hopkirk?" Lily extends her hand in greeting.
"Please, call me Mafalda. So lovely to meet you. So, you're interested in this lovely little property?"
Lily nods. "I am, yes. It's been my dream to open my own bakery, and I've recently acquired the financial means to do so."
"That's wonderful! Shall we go in and take a look? I should warn you that this particular shop has been dormant for a little over a year now. The previous tenant sold specialty chocolates before they moved out."
"So, they didn't go out of business?" Lily frowns, her previous assumption having been debunked.
"Heavens, no! They simply moved locations. Their business was so strong they needed a larger storefront to keep up. We miss them here in Wimbledon, but they're doing quite well in Covent Garden. I've tried to persuade them to come back and open a secondary shop here. It breaks my heart to see storefronts unoccupied." The older woman shakes her head as she unlocks the door and gestures for Lily to enter.
As Lily steps into the once-quaint shop, she instantly feels at home. Despite its uninhabited, darkened state, she can envision what the front end of the store will transform into after a coat of fresh paint on the walls and sunlight streaming in through the windows. She'll have to purchase tables and chairs, but she's relieved to see that there are glass cases acting as the first barrier that separates the front of the shop from the back.
Mafalda walks over to the power, switching the lights on so Lily can get a better look. She wanders to the back of the shop where a smattering of empty spaces outlines the walls where appliances should be. There's a sizable walk-in cooler and a pantry, as well as a small room for an office.
"Well, the base of what I'm looking for is already here," Lily comments. "The website said £1,625 per month for rent?"
"That's correct, though it's been sitting on the market for so long, the owner of the strip has offered to go down to £1,500 for the first six months. They want to see a successful business in each of these storefronts as much as I do."
Lily digs in her bag. "It's perfect, I'll take it. I brought my business plan, credit scores, and a statement of good intentions from my bank to certify I have the funds to afford it."
"Brilliant! My office is a few blocks away. We can go get the paperwork started if you'd like?"
"That'd be great."
As Lily follows Mafalda out of her soon-to-be bakery, pride swells in her chest. Three months ago, she never would have believed all of this would be possible. But the pieces continue to fall into place, even despite the hardships and setbacks. Once the paperwork is signed, she can call the leasing agency back in Belfast to decline the space that has been secured for her.
She tries not to think too hard about who the 'anonymous donor' is. To be honest, she assumes it's Severus, though his arrogance would never allow him to admit he's done something good for someone else. He only cares about himself, which is probably the only reason he's even bothered to drop the 'charges' against her. His bruised ego needed a quiet cover-up from the events at Peverell, so Lily is led to believe that the money is more of a bribe so she won't say anything about what happened.
Lily shakes the thoughts from her head. She's not about to let them dampen this moment for her. Maybe someday she'll figure out what was behind his change of heart, but for now, she has papers to sign and a bakery to plan an opening for.
The following morning, Lily's a bundle of nerves as she walks down the stairs to get some coffee and attempt to eat something for breakfast. Despite the flurry of activity that's distracted her over the last few days, nothing is standing between the redhead and her final two bakes.
Winning the competition would be the icing on the cake to round out the unbelievable week she's had. Adding another £50,000 to her bank account would do loads to help kick start her business, but Lily chooses not to hold her breath over the thought. At some point, her luck is bound to run out. Or maybe it already has.
Because despite taking the next step in her career and finding a place where she truly belongs, there's still a gaping hole where James is missing. She's done her best to distract herself by focusing on the things she can control in her life, but the dull ache is ever-present, reminding her of everything she's lost. But there's nothing she can do except wait, and hope that James will return home soon.
He has to, right? For Dora's sake?
"Good morning, sunshine!" Marlene greets her with a wide smile, interrupting her thoughts. "Ready for the big day?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Lily responds with a nervous smile, reaching out to take the steaming mug Marlene hands her. "I think taking those last few days off has helped to clear my mind."
Mona smiles over the Sunday paper she's reading while Marlene shoots her a quizzical look. It's the first time Lily's said anything about what she was up to recently, not that she gave away anything. But apparently, it's enough of an opening for Marlene to run with.
"Yeah, what have you been up to anyway? The suspense is killing me."
Lily opens her mouth to respond but is saved by the ringing of the doorbell.
"Oh, that must be Sirius!" Marlene leaps up off her stool to go answer the door. "I'll be right back, so don't you think you've gotten away with anything!"
Laughter fills the room as Lily takes a sip of the warm beverage. She's planning on telling everyone her big plans during breakfast, figuring the news will help her focus on the upcoming task.
"Morning, everyone. Mona, thanks for having me for breakfast." Sirius nods as he enters behind Marlene.
"Of course, of course! Dora didn't want to come?" Mona asks as she pours Sirius a cuppa.
Sirius waves her off. "You know how teenagers are, always wanting a lie-in. She'll be 'round later for the screening." He looks over at Lily, a small smirk playing at the edges of his lips. "How ya doing, Red?"
"Fine." Lily takes a large bite of the cinnamon roll in front of her to avoid saying anything she might regret.
Sirius eyes her with curiosity but doesn't say anything more. As far as she knows, her late-night attempt to see James last week is still their little secret. Neither Remus nor Marlene has uttered a word on the subject, but maybe they simply pity her too much to say anything.
"So, Mona, is everything set for the screening? Do you need any help before I leave?" Lily changes the subject before anyone can question the awkward tension she feels with Sirius.
"No, no, I think between all the young company I'll have here we can figure it out." Mona smiles and pats Lily's arm. "You don't need to worry about anything except baking and impressing the judges."
"Yeah, and we'll be here ready to pop the champagne and celebrate with you when you return this evening!" Marlene adds.
Lily chuckles. "Or to give me a shoulder to cry on when I lose."
"That's not going to happen and you know it. You're going to come home £50,000 richer, book a ticket to Belfast and finally open up your dream bakery!" Marlene lets out an energetic whoop—far too energetic for seven-thirty in the morning—and pumps her fist in the air.
Mona offers a sad, but supportive smile as she sighs. "As much as I knew this day would come, I'm still not ready for it. I've enjoyed your company so much over the last few months, both here and at the bakery."
"Lily'll visit though, won't you, Lils," Marlene juts in before she can respond. "And even though I have to go back to Dublin for a bit until the boutique in London is ready, I'll be back sooner than you think. We can do tea at least once a week. By the way, Lils, our flight leaves Tuesday morning. I've got us flying into Belfast and then I'll take the train down to Dublin."
"Oh, you booked it already?" Lily knows she has to go back to Belfast soon to pack up her apartment, but she was banking on a little more time to get things squared away and find a new place to live if Mona wants her peace and quiet back.
"Yeah, I told you yesterday before you left. Do you not remember?"
"I—" Now that Marlene mentions it, she does remember some snippets of the conversation. "Sorry, I must have been distracted. I guess I can make that work."
"You guess?"
"Morning, everyone." Remus enters the kitchen, disrupting the conversation with a loud yawn. "What's going on?"
"I was just informing Lily of our travel plans since she seems to have forgotten that I was booking our flights yesterday." Marlene rolls her eyes.
"I didn't forget, Marls," Lily defends, but falters with Marlene's narrowing eyes and scrutinizing gaze. "Okay, maybe I did. But if I'd known you were booking so soon, I would have asked for more time!"
"I thought you'd be eager to get back once the competition ended! I can tell you're chomping at the bit to set a soft opening date."
"I am, I am! And I was trying to wait to tell you all, but my plans have changed a bit." Lily's teeth graze over her bottom lip as she looks down, guilt seeping through her skin from keeping something so big from the people she's closest to.
Mona looks up from the paper and Remus pauses mid-sip with his coffee to speak first. "What are you on about?"
"Well, I've done a lot of thinking lately, and while I still want to open my own bakery, my dream location has changed."
Marlene's eyebrows shoot up to her hairline in interest as Mona does her best to hide her smile. "It has?"
"Yes. Look, I know the Belfast location was handed to me on a silver platter and I'd be crazy not to take it, but…" she trails off, searching for the right words to say.
"But…" A chorus of voices echoes her last word. Everyone looks like they are sitting on eggshells while they wait for Lily to go on, even Sirius.
"But after living here for the past few months, this feels more like home to me. Going back to Belfast would feel like a step in the wrong direction. So, I spent the last two days researching available space around London and found the perfect location in the heart of Wimbledon. All of the paperwork went through yesterday."
Marlene erupts in excited squeals as she falls off her stool in her haste to wrap Lily in a tight hug. Remus's expression matches her excitement as his eyes light up, no doubt realizing the possibility that he'll be able to remain close to Dora, and Mona is clapping her hands in delight. Even Sirius can't hide the shit-eating grin that threatens his even-tempered expression.
"That means you're staying! And we'll both be Londoners! This is perfect, Lils, absolutely perfect!"
"Is there still a spot for me to work with you here?" Remus asks, much more awake than he was when he first entered the kitchen.
"Of course there is if you're willing to live here too. I should have come to you first, but I had to make sure things were going to go through before I said anything."
"Yeah! I think I could get used to London."
"Used to London or a specific Londoner?" Sirius interjects, making Remus's face turn scarlet with his insinuation.
"Oh, Sirius, leave him alone," Marlene chides.
"Someone's got to give him a hard time."
Contentment falls around the kitchen as everyone returns to their plates after coming down off the high of Lily's good news. Lily never doubted her friend's support of her decision, but she does wish that things could stop feeling like something's—rather, someone's—missing.
As if sensing Lily's thoughts, Marlene says what's on her mind. "Still no word from James?"
The question is directed toward Sirius, though Marlene offers an apologetic smile for bringing it up.
Sirius shakes his head. "No. It's not like him to leave Dora for an extended period of time if he can help it, so I imagine he'll turn up soon. Though, to be fair, I didn't think he was serious about leaving in the first place."
Remus snorts into his coffee. "That's the opposite of Dora's take," he mumbles, though it's loud enough for everyone to hear.
Lily eyes him curiously. "What's that supposed to mean, Rem?"
Remus's eyes widen like a deer in the headlights as he realizes what he's just let slip. "N-nothing! Just speculation about where he went, that's all. That she, uh, wasn't surprised when he left."
"Keep digging your grave, kid, you're doing a good job of it," Sirius sniggers behind his mug, though when Lily looks at him, he averts his gaze.
Why does it suddenly feel like everyone's in on a secret but her? Lily racks her brain to find some underlying meaning in Remus's words. What does Dora know? They never said when he left or where he took off to, but then out of the blue the words anonymous donor flash in Lily's mind, and now she's questioning the sudden turn of events.
She looks around the kitchen island, dread filling her senses as everyone seems to be avoiding her gaze. "He didn't" is all she can manage.
"Didn't what?" Remus responds, his voice is higher-pitched than normal.
The guilt that's threaded in his tone spurs Lily on. "Didn't go to Belfast and lease that bloody shop for me."
She doesn't dare utter her other thoughts. Thoughts that maybe James is behind Sev dropping the charges and sending her all the money he'd promised once upon a time. No, James knows how important her independence is. He would never…
"I wouldn't get worked up over it, Lils. The world's a big place. He could have gone anywhere," Marlene attempts to reassure her.
"Ah, but he did go to Belfast," Mona points out, setting the newspaper on the counter and flipping it around for Lily to see. "And I know where he's going next, too."
Everyone crowds around the latest copy of the blasted Daily Mail and Lily's heart simultaneously sinks into her stomach while somersaulting in excitement. As much as she's hoped he'd return for the finals, her thoughts are consumed with worry. Given The Daily Mail's track record, the thought crosses her mind that she's about to see him snogging some other woman, which breaks her more than the look on his face when she'd fled from him at Peverell.
"If he's with another woman, I don't want to see," Lily states, head turned in the opposite direction.
"He's not." Sirius is the one to answer, though his tone sounds more defensive than reassuring.
When Lily finally builds the courage to look down, she's met with a picture of James and three other people in front of a sign for the Belfast Food Bank. The caption reads:
On Thursday, James Potter was seen meeting with the head organizers of the Belfast Food Bank. Sources state that he made a sizable donation to the charity. Tom Holden, president of the food bank stated to the press that while the number was to remain private, it is enough to feed not only the Greater Belfast area but all of those who are in need in Northern Ireland, for at least the next five years. Potter declined to comment on the donation, but perhaps the charity is not surprising given his ties to the culinary scene. If you're looking for more of England's most eligible bachelor, you'll be able to see him soon on London's Next Great Baker, a televised event set to air this summer. He'll be on set as a guest judge at the Finals this Sunday.
Lily's heart catches in her throat. James was in Belfast. And he'll be at the finals today. She closes her eyes to keep the room from spinning. She's transported back to one of their early conversations.
Shall I give it all away then?
She thought he was joking when she voiced her displeasure with his wealth. Yet, here he was signing off on a large sum to help those in need from her home city. Maybe it's selfish, but she can't help but believe he's done it all for her.
Not only has he managed to free her of the invisible chains Severus had shackled her with following his presumptions and false accusations—because let's be clear, she knows he had a hand in making that happen—but he helped to secure her dream Belfast bakery location and unloaded a sizable sum just to help those in need.
James didn't have to do any of that, especially not after the way she left him there, but he did. Her heart feels like the Grinch on Christmas morning, swelling three times its size. He did this all for her, to give Lily her life back. Sure, her plans have changed and now her bakery will be in London and not Belfast, but that freedom of choice wouldn't be possible without his actions.
"He did this all for me," she breathes out, still barely able to comprehend it.
"That's a little presumptuous, don't you think, Red?" Sirius teases.
"It's not presumptuous if it's true," Mona clicks her tongue at him. "I told you he still cared, dear."
"Is he already home then?" Marlene asks Sirius, who shrugs.
"What's it matter? He's going to be at the finals," Mona reminds them.
The finals.
"I have to go." Lily jumps up from her seat. She's not late, but the thought of seeing James spurs her to get moving.
Maybe it's not too late to make things right. Maybe, just maybe, he still cares enough to at least hear her out. And even if he won't, she's got to try. Suddenly, there's so much more riding on today, and Lily couldn't be more excited for what's to come.