Run: 2026-02-16-01KHM5CQS7DJH2MK6HQGRYR68F

The bell above the door chimed, letting in a swirl of autumn air and the scent of fallen leaves. “Those cherry tarts look magnificent today. As always.” “Thank you. The secret is a dash of almond extract in the crust. A family recipe.” “Is it? I heard the original recipe came from a different family. The Hendersons, over on Maple Street.” The air grew still, thick with the smell of sugar and yeast. A rolling pin paused its steady rhythm on the marble counter. “That’s an interesting bit of town gossip. Where did you hear a thing like that?” “Oh, you know how it is. Old recipe boxes turn up in the strangest places. Attics, flea markets... sometimes they contain more than just instructions for pastry.” “Some things are better left tucked away. They can leave a bitter aftertaste.” “Not as bitter as a theft left unacknowledged for thirty years. I just came for a tart. And to see if you remembered.”