Their house is infused with smells of tea loaves, biscuits and mince pies — because baking is Jennifer Quinn’s “superpower,” as Bernard tells anyone who will listen. Not a day goes by when she’s not measuring out flour and sugar on her old-fashioned kitchen scale, and turning out something sweet in their well-loved kitchen. She’s never had a career either, and watching Bernard fall asleep in front of the TV — and thinking of their marriage entering its final chapter — makes Jennifer yearn for something of her own. Spontaneously, secretly, she applies to be a contestant on “Britain Bakes,” the popular show Bernard pretends not to keep an eye on while reading. “I’ve spent my life being led less by great ambition and more by small victories,” she types on her application.

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Persons: Olivia Ford, Jennifer Quinn, you’ve “, Bernard, Jennifer’s, Jennifer Quinn’s, she’s, Olivia Ford’s, Jennifer, Poppy, She’s, —, Jennifer yearn, “ I’ve Locations: ”, Swiss, Alaska