Have you ever made a giant, colossal, HUGE mistake? Well, I did. You might’ve heard about it. I was so excited to unpack my first round of supplies in my brand-new commercial kitchen that I did the thing my gram said to never do. I rushed it.
I can still hear her getting onto me about that. “If you rush, Claire, you defeat the purpose of baking. If you go slow, it’ll calm you down. And all the noise of the world will just... fall away.”
I wanted The Porch to honor her memory, and what did I do? I forgot one of the most important lessons she taught me before I even opened the doors.
I mixed up the salt and the sugar.
It was a terrible mistake. And one I really regret, not only because I let you down, but because I let her down. And because... in a lot of ways, baking has saved me this past year. I got divorced, moved to a new city, and took a huge gamble on opening my own bakery. One that will bring all the things I love about life in a small town right here to the heart of the city.
I get that you’re probably scared to give me a second chance, but what if I told you that second chance will cost you nothing?
This Saturday, we’ll be serving Porch Swing Sidewalk Samples all morning. Free treats the whole family will love... sure to get that salty aftertaste out of your mouth.
I truly believe that life is built on second chances... so come on out and help me build mine!
Minnie: Have you recovered?
Claire: Not really, but I will.
Minnie: I’m glad you didn’t quit.
Claire: Me too. But nervous for Saturday. What if no one comes?
Minnie: For free desserts? I don’t think you have to worry.
Claire:??
Minnie: I saw you deactivated your account on Matched.
Claire: Yeah, I think maybe I need to spend some time on the relationship I’ve neglected the most over the years...
Minnie: The one with yourself?
Claire: Yep. Tomorrow we’re going to the art museum, just the two of us.
I hope she likes me.?
Chapter 32
The last time I looked, which was about five minutes ago, the video had 325,620 views.
Lorraine shared it with her massive following, and all kinds of messages of love and support have flooded in. Zoey and Lennon were right—people respond to honesty.
It makes sense. I respond to honesty too. After everything I’ve been through, I crave it.
The main storefront is so close to being finished, but my focus is on the food. There is no room for error, only meticulous precision.
Which is why I spent the entirety of Wednesday morning in the kitchen, reorganizing, cleaning, andmaking sure the ingredients were properly labeled.
I also painted a wall by the bathrooms with chalkboard paint and wrote in big, swoopy letters:What Do YouReallyWant?It’s a place for people to write it down, even if they aren’t ready to say it out loud.
Somehow I think it’s going to be a focal point of this whole business.
After spending hours with flour and dough, icing and glaze, I give my brain a break and take myself out to the art museum.
There’s a Degas exhibit—the rooms are filled with his work. Such artistry and passion and color.
