I’d almost forgotten about having that “I helped save your life” card in my pocket.
“Fine. She’s going to need a ride home tonight, and probably for the foreseeable future since she doesn’t have a car. Consider yourself on taxi duty.”
I turned to Jade with a grin. “I’m going to need to hang on to Brian’s truck for a little while longer.”
Jade mirrored my grin. “I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Just then the beeping of a smoke alarm went off and Lainey hopped off the stool she’d been sitting on behind the counter with an, “Oh shit!” before racing toward the kitchen.
Chapter Eleven
Jessica
I clicked on the side-table lamp in Lainey’s office, picked Ruthie up out of the crib, and got comfortable on the small sofa. After she latched to my breast, I popped my earbuds in and turned on my audiobook,The Simple Path to Wealth.
I’d started listening to financial help books when I’d realized I was going to be raising Ruth by myself. I’d thought I’d have a college degree to help me get where I wanted to go, but that had been derailed.
Temporarily.
In the meantime, I needed to keep trying to educate myself, so when I did have extra money, I’d know what to do with it.
Unfortunately, the words were lost on me as my mind was occupied elsewhere.
Namely the hot guy—whose name I didn’t even know—and his wrecked Henley.
I felt horrible about his shirt, but I felt even worse about the ruined cinnamon rolls. I’d cost the bakery money and that bothered me.
I wanted to do a good job for Lainey. She’d taken a chance on me, and I hadn’t wanted to let her down—especially on my first day.
Yet, that’s exactly what I’d done.
And I’d made a fool of myself in front of Lainey, Jade, and Gorgeous Guy in the process.
I could feel the vibrations of Ruthie’s cooing as she continued breastfeeding, and I looked down at her with a smile.
It was moments like this that I needed to remember to treasure. My sweet girl was happy and content—that’s what mattered.
Maybe I wasn’t a total fuckup.
Then the sound of the smoke alarm going off made both me and Ruthie jump.
~~~~
I came out of the office to the smell of burning bread and Lainey pulling the charred cinnamon rolls out of the oven.
Shit.
“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed as I moved Ruthie to my shoulder and patted her back.
“Why are you sorry? I’m the one who forgot.”
“I know, but I shouldn’t have put that on you—I was the one who put them in the oven. And now another batch is ruined, which I know costs you money, plus customers who come in for a to-go box won’t have them, and—”
Lainey set the baking pan on the counter and touched my arm. “Take a breath. This is not the end of the world. Things happen—it’s the cost of doing business. And it’s good to run out every now and then; it makes customers want them even more.”
Ruthie’s belly wasn’t full, so she began to cry.
My boss gestured toward her office. “Go finish nursing her, I’ll take care of this.”
