I peer out the little window in the kitchen door, seeing the man still finishing his coffee. He sits at the table in front of the tall wall mirror, and he’s been there for two hours. I hate kicking people out, but…
Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve never kicked anyone out.
I usually rely on them seeing me switch the sign on the door and start cleaning up for them to get the hint that I’m closing.
Here I am, though. Dishes are done, counters cleaned, trash taken out, dough prepped for tomorrow, and floors swept and mopped. I only have to pack up the leftovers for the day and count out the register, which I refuse to do when I’m alone in the shop with a customer I don’t know. Hailey, my cashier, and Noel, my barista, left hours ago.
But as if he can hear my thoughts, the lone guy rises, buttons his suit jacket, and tucks in his chair.Aw. Nobody does that. I smile as he pushes through the door, leaving the bakery.
“See you soon,” I call out.
He doesn’t reply, simply turns his head slightly, showing me the side of his face, and nods once.
Once he’s gone, I lock the door behind him and shut off the light. Heading to his table, I pick up his cup and saucer and swipe up his napkin to find a phone sitting underneath it.
I look to the windows, then to the phone, grabbing it as I set the dishes down and run to the door.
I open it and peer out. “Sir?”
I look both directions, but all I see are diners sitting outside to my right, at Rivertown Grill, and some cars driving by. He’s gone.
I lock the door again and inspect the phone, finally noticing how old it is. The gritty texture leaves patches of black on my hand, and I bring it to my nose, noticing the scent of fire. I flip it open, pressing buttons, but it’s dead. No one uses these anymore. What a strange thing to even carry.
I shrug. He’ll come back for it.
Swiping up the dishes again, I walk into the kitchen, set the phone on the counter, and place everything in the sink. I turn and move all the remaining pastries from a tray to a box.
But no sooner have I started than Dylan comes bursting through the swinging door, from the front of the shop.
I jump as she rushes me. “No, no, no!” she cries, running for the chocolate coconut donuts. “I need them!”
Hunter laughs, trailing in behind her, followed by Hawke and Aro, Hawke’s girlfriend.
Dylan barrels into me, and we take turns shoving each other with our hips for supremacy over the remaining baked goods.
I snatch one out of her hand before she takes a bite. “No, you need to take them to the senior center andhelp me out.”
I’m doing a test run for the summer to see if I can be a bakeryanddo some light fare for lunch too. Sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, soups….
I’m staying open way too late, though, and trying to be back here at three-thirty in the morning to bake is making it difficult to find time for exercise, my family, or any kind of sleep.
If I don’t get into a groove with my business soon, this trial will be a fail. I thought going to business school would teach me more practical applications, but I’m still struggling on time management. I learned marketing and accounting, and I’ve easily mastered things like strategy, taxes, and communication. But leadership? It would’ve been better for me to apprentice before jumping into my own bakery. Jared would tell me that real work experience trumps schooling every time. I don’t believe that, exactly, but I’d be better off if I’d slowed down.
Hunter stands on the other side of the counter, plucking a donut off the tray and handing it to his girlfriend. “We’ll take them,” he tells me, kissing Dylan on the temple.
“How’d you guys get in?” I look around at them. “I locked the front door.”
Aro won’t meet my eyes, Hunter gives me a tight smile, and Dylan leans her elbows on the counter, shrugging. “No, you didn’t.”
I cock an eyebrow as Hawke snorts, pulling a chocolate milk out of the fridge.
Hunter glances to him. “It’s time to tell her, man.”
“We’ll tell her when she’s ready to use it,” Hawke replies as if I’m not here.
Dylan stuffs her mouth with the pastry as she looks up at me with glee.
I point my finger around the room. “You know I’m older than all of you, right?”
