“It’s set in stone now,” Zaina said wearing a huge grin.
Nicole just waved and started to walk toward her home. “I’ll text you.”
Zaina walked back into her shop, the bell on the door jingling in the wind.
Thinking about calling and basically asking Sean out tomorrow made her stomach queasy, so she popped in her headphones and began listening to her audiobook. It was the latest book in the long running cozy mystery series “The Shirley Sharlock Murders.” If anything could distract her, it was Shirley Sharlock and her talking dog Doc Watson.
She was almost home when she noticed butcher paper was now covering the windows of the old dance studio. Written on the paper in big block letters it said:“Coming Soon, “Pupcakes and Clawssants.”Then in smaller writing “A bakery for man’s (and woman’s) best friend.”
Well, that’s different,a bakery just for dogs?She wondered if they also would have people baked goods, and what about cats? Suddenly, the dog bakery door flew open; a woman wearing a baseball hat and paint-splattered overalls stalked out right in front of Nicole. Oblivious to Nicole, the woman continued yelling in her phone.
“At least she isn’t on speakerphone,” Nicole mumbled to herself.
“You can’t be serious! You’re leaving me for some guy!? Oh yes, I know he’s not just any guy. He’s your f-ing boss! God, I don’t know what I ever saw in you. It will never last—” she turned to cross the street and saw Nicole. “What are you looking at?” she sneered.
Nicole’s jaw dropped. She was speechless.
The woman’s face crumbled. She put her phone against her chest and walked toward Nicole, “I’m so sorry. I’m not usually like this. Please don’t hold this against me, or my bakery. I can’t believe I let her get me so wound up. I’m ranting in the street in front of the business I’ve dreamed about opening for years.” She pressed end and put her phone in the top pocket of her overalls. “I’m sorry, my name is Kate Sterling, and this is my passion project.” She gestured at the storefront.
Nicole shook her hand; it was cold and clammy. “Thanks for apologizing. Everyone has bad days. I won’t hold it against you.”
Kate wiped a hand across her forehead, “Phew! I’ve only been in Marley Creek for a few weeks. I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.”
“I’m sure you haven’t. And even if you had, I like to think we are a forgiving bunch. Welcome to town.”
“Thank you so much, I appreciate it.” Kate adjusted the brim of her hat.
“No worries, I’ll let you get back to sorting things out…or painting?” Nicole gestured toward the storefront.
“Thanks. I’m hoping for more painting and less yelling.”
“Take care,” Nicole said, and continued on her way home.
Chapter Four
SEAN
Sean stood at the omelet station. Just like yesterday, a long line of patrons waited their turn. He’d been elated to see all the tables full, as well as a line for the buffet. Today, he kept looking at the door, hoping she might come back in. Sean plated another ham and American cheese omelet and then checked his watch. Brunch was almost over. He knew he should stop getting his hopes up, but he just wasn’t built that way. He’d always been a glass half full kind of guy. Heck, when he was a kid, his mom always called him her Sunny Sean. Sean cracked a couple of eggs into the waiting pan as he thought about his mom. He had always been a mama’s boy who wanted her approval. At least until the divorces started.
Sean, what’s with psychoanalysis? Maybe trying to date Nicole was a mistake. She'd said no and even now he was distracted thinking about her. His priority should continue to be the success of Jesse's Pub. He was building a life and career forhimself. He didn't want to wind up like his parents. Both of them could not handle being single and clung to anyone to avoid being alone. He cleaned his station and checked his watch again as a couple of teens in hoodies and pajama pants came up looking for scrambled eggs.
“Scrambled eggs are on the buffet over there.” He pointed with his spatula.
“Yeah, but we want them with onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes,” said the tallest teen of the group who tossed his hair in the direction of the vegetables.
“Gotcha, a couple of veggie scrambles coming up.” The teens went back to their phones and Sean got to work. He should have given Nicole his phone number, or better yet, he should’ve asked to enter it into her phone. Jasper would have done that.
The teens had been the last patrons in line. Sean looked around the dining room once more, just in case Nicole had slipped in while he’d been scrambling some eggs. His heart leapt. A woman with wavy auburn hair and a jean jacket was picking up an order. Could it be her? He quickly took off his gloves and rushed to the counter.
“It’s okay, I got it,” he said to the server who was about to process the order. He stepped around the counter and said, “Thanks for giving us a second chance—" He stopped when he saw who he was looking at. A woman wearing a Southern Illinois University Mom T-shirt stared at him quizzically.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ma’am. I thought you were someone else.”
“No problem,” she said and handed him her platinum card.
Sean shook his head and mumbled to himself, “You need to get a grip and focus on the job at hand.” He gave himself a shake and then went from table to table in the dining room and on the patio to make sure everyone was enjoying their brunch and to thank them for coming into Jesse’s. He tried to take his own advice and focus on the attitude of gratitude he’d heard discussed ontheHow to Make Your Restaurant Wildly Successfulpodcast. By the time the last brunch patron had left, he was energized, focused, and not thinking about the cute spray of freckles on the bridge of Nicole’s nose. Oh, who was I kidding.
He needed a fun non-threating way to approach her again, and he needed her to give him a chance. One date, one tea, was all he was asking for. He walked into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea and review his menu for this week’s half time buffet. Three kinds of flatbreads, mini sliders, and the yard-long charcuterie board should work for the football crowd.
