Bittersweet
The figs, apricots, and finely chopped walnuts were soaked into grape wine. How could he forget to do this the night before? Braden’s nervous hands whisked the sugar and the butter together more rapidly, as he did not have much time left. This was not new. Braden had been doing this for the past 15 years; baking on Christmas Eve had always been a family tradition, and for heaven’s sake, he had been a chef and is now the owner of one of the best patisserie shops in town. But today was special, and everything had to be done perfectly and on time. As a little boy, Braden was always curious to help his mother in the kitchen; He started baking at home when the other kids of his age were more interested in spending time outdoors. The little hands would blend cookie dough into perfect malleable round forms like a pro or prepare a more casual eggy tart for the evening snacks; he would love to spend hours in the kitchen making palatable dishes. As a result, he was not only skillful but also a