“Oh wow, right after our opening.”
“Yeah, Ellie mentioned you guys are shooting to open in two weeks.”
Blowing out a breath through her cheeks, her eyes widen, and her shoulders tense. “Yeah. I’ve practically beenliving at the bakery. Is this how you felt? At the shop and never leaving? Overloaded with stress?”
I tilt my head back and forth. “Yeah, pretty much. I did ask for your help in the end, didn’t I? It’s more stressful for you because it’s the beginning stages for you guys. For me, I just had to learn every detail of everything my dad did. I should have been doing everything to begin with. I let my self-esteem get in the way of that.”
“And now?”
“And now—I’m a lot more confident in my work, thanks to you.”
She shakes her head. “I just helped organize. Everything else is because of you.”
We both go quiet again, and I don’t feel nervous anymore. A bit relieved. But there’s still so much that we need to talk about, and I don’t know when a good time is, considering everything that’s going on.
Maybe I can pull her aside and talk to her privately. Right when I'm about to ask, the waiter comes by, cutting off my thoughts.
For the rest of the night, we’re pulled into different conversations and enjoy our food. After dinner, Riley decides to hang out with Addie after Addie complains she hasn’t seen her in a while.
I don’t know when the next time will be that I can have her to myself. Our busy lives are a priority, but they’re also getting in the way of our communication.
Before we all go our separate ways, Riley sends me a gentle grin my way along with a small wave. I watch her until she disappears around the corner with Addie.
THIRTY-FIVE
RILEY
Seeing August made me realize how much more I’ve missed him. Ellie pushed us together again, having him sit next to me, and her excuse made me laugh.
I’m surprised he didn’t bring up his leaving my apartment after the night we had together. Maybe he changed his mind after all this time. I don’t think I came off too strongly before everything happened. Or did I?
He would have stopped me, though, right? If he didn’t want it to get that far. I’ve been too much of a chicken shit to sit down and talk with him. I’ve been avoiding him, giving him space. Giving myself space to think about what I’ve done.
“You can put that over there,” I say to the movers.
In the ten days I've been away from August, minus the dinner, I’ve poured all my focus into Honey Cakes. And in two days, the bakery opens.
Over the course of a month, I’ve been searching for furniture I’ve been dreaming of for this place. Any time I had a moment to myself; I’d browse websites or antiqueshops. There were times when I got so excited that I had the urge to send August whatever it was that caught my eye.
But I didn’t.
Two men place a classic faux-leather, powdered-blue love seat against the wall. Five of them sit in a row next to each other. Wooden, honey maple tables are placed in front of each one, a matching chair with a tufted cushion to sit on.
The sea foam and white mosaic tiles spread across the floor like a wave covering the sand. Similar wooden tables and chairs are placed within the shop, big enough to accommodate a large crowd for a bakery.
This interesting idea came to mind: a strip of fake greenery running down the ceiling. Pastel colored hydrangeas will disperse along the green foliage while three French vintage white-and-gold chandeliers hang in the middle of the ceiling. Three in a row. White and gold opal pendants create a glow, scattered along the ceiling.
Straight ahead is the long, marbled counter where customers will order drinks and baked goods. A beautiful display case with gold trim is the showstopper. Once the goods are filled in there, it will really make the bakery shine.
We converted one of the windowsills into a high table so people can enjoy the sun and view while they sit and eat. The other windowsill will display freshly made baked goods: cakes, pies, and tarts. I made sure to buy cake stands that go with the decor.
"This looks so good. I'm going to cry." Ellie fans her face with her hands, as if she’s trying not to cry.
I pull her into a hug because I know this is her dream, and it's coming true.
"I can't believe we're done.” She squeezes me. “This is it."
My chin sits on top of her head while we look around. I feel like I've been transported to France.
