#Chapter 133: A Change of Plans

Abby On the morning of the cook-off, I’m already awake before my alarm even starts buzzing. Last night, I hardly slept at all thanks to a combination of excitement over the cook-off and my wine-induced conversation with Karl. All night, his words swirled around my mind: “I’m really proud of you,” he had said. Hearing Karl say those words was so unexpected, yet so heartwarming at the same time. I can’t get them out of my mind, like a lost puppy who’s found her home, or a shipwreck survivor lost at sea who has found a lifeline. It’s strange how much of an impact it has had on me. As soon as my alarm goes off, though, I pop out of bed and thrust myself into cook-off mode. Today is not the day to be thinking about my ex-husband. Today, I need to focus on winning that cook-off, otherwise all of my efforts will have been for nothing. After a slightly-too-hot shower, I pull my hair back into a neat and tidy bun, then get dressed. I know I’ll be asked to change into a uniform fo