Elena’s heart pounded in excitement, the kind that felt like a sudden burst of sunlight after days of rain.

“Mom!” she called, her voice trembling with joy as she descended the stairs.

Her mom, who was still in the sitting room sorting through a small pile of order slips, looked up immediately. “Elena? What is it?”

Elena reached the last step and practically ran the rest of the way. “Mom—Mom, listen—he—he removed the bakery from the project!” she blurted out, her words ...