
She used Granny Smiths instead of the tart, tiny green apples that grew on the old tree behind the farmhouse. The crust was a crumbly, butter-logged mess that slumped over the tin like a tired sweater. She’d even set off the smoke alarm.
When they announced her as the winner, Kylie didn’t cheer. She just smiled, thinking of the dented bucket and the bad date butter and the kitchen that finally, once again, smelled like home.
When the timer beeped, the pie was golden and blistered in the most beautiful way. A single bubble of syrupy juice leaked through a vent, glistening like amber.
Her first attempt was a disaster.