1
ELI WOODMAN
My hands push through the burning in my shoulders as I knead the dough for a special batch of bread I am going to make for my mom’s Sunday family dinner later this week. I could have easily tossed it into a mixer and let the machine do the job for me, but I woke up a little high strung this morning.
Something feels off and it’s irritating me.
So much that my employee and best friend, Tessa, announced she was going to take her lunch break early and that I should be in a better mood by the time she came back.
But that’s her way.
Tessa is a trip.
We’ve both been born and raised in Moonlit Pines. But where I left and served a six-year stint in the Army, she never did. When I returned to our hometown, it was her idea to put the baking experience I had as a cook in the Army to use and open up a bakery.
At first, I thought she was fucking insane. I was no baker. Not really.
But when she offered to help me out, I really looked at my life. I wasn’t happy, and I barely had hours as a part-time logger.The ski resort by the lake was barely holding on and not hiring. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. With her help and support, I took a chance. We started off small with a booth at the local farmer’s market.
To my surprise, week after week, we would sell out. I should have known better than to question her. Her ideas were usually right on the mark. Other than the one time she dared me to split a bottle of tequila, she was always on the money.
But something is bugging the hell out of me today, and I have no idea what the hell it is.
I’m fine.
My life is fine.
The bakery is in the black and thriving as we supply baked bread to the surrounding restaurants as well as sold out almost on a daily basis in our store.
But life is a little boring.Stagnant,a voice in the back of my head perks. I shake it away as I work the dough. Taking my frustration out on it.
Stagnant is a good word to describe my life lately. Nothing much has changed. Other than my older brother Reed finding the love of his life, everything else is the same.
My mom is still as meddlesome as always, trying to push Tessa and me together, which will never happen. She’s the second sister I never wanted. My actual sister Eden, is still as crazy as ever, getting into some kind of trouble or wild hair up her ass about helping someone or something. Protesting god only knew what. My other brother Owen is the same tech hermit he’s always been.
Nothing has changed.
Other than Reed finding his one.
His one.
I work the dough as my thoughts move to how happy he is. He actually leaves his house and workshop now. My recluse ofa brother who would only go to town if it was a dire emergency actually gets out. He actually fucking smiles and jokes around now. He almost reminds me of the man he used to be before he joined the Army.
Hell, he is in a better mood now than even that younger version of himself had ever been.
If I have to admit it, I’m a little envious of him. Of how happy he is. Not that I have any kind of feelings for Camila. She’s his perfect match. It’s more like wanting my own other half. Someone to share my life with. Someone to talk to at the end of the day. I laugh at myself thinking that stupid thought. I’m not a talker.
The bell chimes, and I put the dough to the side as I make my way up to the front of the shop.
“I’ll be right there,” I call out as I wash my hands.
My head still filled with stupid notions about what my life needs. I just need to go to the brewery and hook up with a tourist. It’s been a while, more than a while, since I had any kind of anything in my life. The bakery and early hours keep me busy and out of trouble.
Not only that but hooking up with tourists for a weekend got old fast when I came home from serving my time in the Army. It didn’t call me like it had when I was in my twenties. I have never been the relationship type of guy, but I wasn’t a player either.
Though recently, I was more monk than anything, according to Tessa.
I walk out, wiping my hands with a hand towel, completely oblivious to the customer who is in the shop. If I were paying attention, I would note the scent in the store that rises over the baked goods. Like spun sugar and warm vanilla swirled with apples and cinnamon.
