y8

One Week Later

Clémence went to the Damour kitchen to check up on the bakers. She was itching to work on the new savory line of sushi macarons, but Sebastien and Berenice were busy making eclairs. She felt as if she hadn’t been at work in forever, after all that had happened.

Rose had broken down and cried for two days after she learned about her mother. It was painful, but at least it gave her closure on one part of her life with Pierre. Now she would face the pain of her mother going on trial for murder, and then having a mother in prison. Clémence offered her apartment for Rose to stay in for as long as she wanted, but Rose needed to be with family, so Clémence helped Rose pack to live in Germany with her father for a while.

After Rose left, Clémence was able to see Arthur more often. They would cook dinner together, drink wine and talk into the wee hours. They were taking it slow, still getting to know each other more as friends first before they jumped into anything.

Their relationship was still a secret from their parents and friends. It was something they wanted to protect for now, but when Clémence walked into work, she couldn’t help but exude the happiness that she was feeling.

Celine, one of the hostesses, noticed her glow as soon as she came in through the salon door. She took her break and followed Clémence into the kitchen.

“Something’s up with Clémence,” she said to Berenice.

“It does look like you’re walking on a cloud,” Berenice said.

“Where’ve you been, Clémence?” Sebastien said. “I had to test out my inventions with these inferior taste buds.”

“I’ve been solving crimes,” Clémence said. “It takes up my time.”

“That was ages ago,” said Berenice. “And you haven’t been in to work since.”

“Somethin...

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...to gently roll and stretch out into a log. Transfer to the baking sheet. Repeat with other piece(s). Dust loaves lightly with flour. Dust a piece of plastic wrap with flour and drape it lightly over the baking sheet with the floured side down. Let the loaves rise until doubled, 1 to 1.5 hours.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F or as high as your oven will go. Place an oven-safe baking dish full of water into the bottom of the oven.

Use sharp kitchen shears to cut 4 or 5 angled slashes on the dough, poking down the sharp tips of dough left by the scissors. Spray loaves with water in a spray bottle.

Bake in the middle rack of the oven until baguettes are browned, 15 minutes, spraying loaves with water after 5 minutes and 10 minutes. Turn the pan around after the second spraying.

Transfer the baguettes to a cooling rack. Let cool to room temperature before serving.