Chapter 21
“Kat?” Mom’s voice is gentle and quiet.
“Ma? Is everything ok? What time is it?” It’s still dark in my room, and I feel my body stiffen with the panic forming in my gut.
In my haze, I remember Mom asking me to help her last night and realize I forgot to set my alarm. Sitting up slowly, I see she’s already showered and dressed. “Sure, Ma. Do I have time to shower?”
“Of course. I’d like to leave in about thirty minutes, if that works for you.”
“Yeah, ok. I’ll be ready.” I watch Mom leave my room before I stretch and climb out of bed.
By the time I make it downstairs, Mom has a to-go mug full of coffee ready for me. Taking my first sip, I groan into my cup. She made it just the way I like it.
“Do you mind if we eat something at the bakery? We had some leftover croissants from Wednesday. I offered everything to Cassandra, but she only took a few things home with her. I probably should have brought everything else to the house and added it to the Thanksgiving feast we had.” I get the feeling she’s talking more to herself than to me by the end.
Mom gives the leftover baked goods to her employees. But on Wednesday, she worked with only one other person, and they closed early. Mostly selling rolls and desserts for Thanksgiving.
“I don’t mind at all. I love your croissants.” She makes amazing croissants. They’re so flaky and buttery, even when they’re a couple of days old. I’m secretly crossing my fingers that there are a couple of cream cheese ones left so I can devour them.
Mom’s bakery looks small from the outside.
It’s on one of the main shopping streets in Charleston, nestled in between a bookstore and a coffee shop, the perfect combination, in my opinion.
When the bakery opens, its windows are filled with glass displays showcasing the available items for the day. Right now, they’re empty.
I look up at the sign above the shop door, “The Little Loaf” is in pink letters with black whisks on each side. I’ve always loved the sign. I smile at it as we walk inside.
We’re the first ones here, so Mom unlocks the door, and we step inside. I’m immediately hit by the smell of sugar and flour. The scent is intoxicating and cathartic.
I spent a lot of my childhood in this shop.
When I was young, Mom would measure out ingredients, and I would get to dump them into the large commercial mixers.
As I got older, she let me knead the dough and shape cookies.
Now, I’ve helped Mom here so many times that I can make almost anything with her, as long as I have a recipe, that is.
I start wiping down the counters, cleaning the cases, and sweeping the floors. The shop is thoroughly cleaned at night before locking up, but Mom always likes to go over everything each morning to ensure it’s spotless.
She prepared croissants and muffin batter before locking up on Wednesday, so she pulls those out of the coolers, puts the muffin batter into muffin cups and into the pre-heated oven and lets the croissants proof before baking them.
She moves on to mixing ingredients for various items she plans on selling today.
Soon, Cassandra and Susie walk in the door and start helping to get things ready.
Now that everything is clean, I shift my attention to making frosting for the red velvet and chocolate cupcakes that will be ready soon.
Mom insists on using buttercream frosting on most of her cakes and cupcakes.
It’s one of my favorite things, and I may or may not have sampled the delicious frosting.
Before I know it, the bakery is packed with early shoppers. I spend the next few hours working the cash register and boxing up cakes and other baked goods. It isn’t until I sit down for a break that I realize it’s 2:00 p.m.. Checking my phone, I have a message from Sam.
I heard you are helping your mom this morning, but I'm hoping to sneak you away for a hike. What do you think?
I don’t want to leave Mom too soon, but things are slowing down now that the lunch rush is over. “Hey, Ma, Sam wants to pick me up to go hiking. Do you think you need me here much longer?”
She looks around before she answers, "I think we're in a pretty good spot now. Thanks so much for your help today." I kiss her on the cheek and type out a response to Sam.
Good timing. I can leave whenever you're ready. But can you pick me up here and take me back to my parents' house so I can change before we head out?
Be there in 10.
While I’m waiting for him, I walk over to the coffee shop and order a latte for myself and a tea for Sam.
As I’m waiting in line, I hear a familiar voice behind me.
“Kat? Is that you?” Turning around, I see Chris, an old friend from high school; I haven’t seen him in years.
Chris dated my friend Sophie for about a month during our senior year.
I always thought he was nice, just not a great match for Sophie.
She was all drama and very serious; Chris was a big goofball, always trying to make everyone laugh. His dark brown hair is cropped short and reminds me of the military haircuts I’ve seen. He has an athletic build but isn’t particularly muscled. He has dark brown eyes and dark skin.
“Chris! I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?” We hug each other briefly.
“I’ve been good. You look amazing. Your mom still owns the bakery next door, I take it?” He reaches up and brushes flour from my cheek. I blush at the contact and shrug, trying to act like it’s no big deal.
“Yeah. I was helping her this morning. It’s always busy the day after Thanksgiving.”
“That’s amazing. I was just finishing up some shopping with my sisters.
” He waves in their direction. “We’re grabbing coffee and then going over to your mom’s shop for some snacks before heading back to the house to take naps.
” I catch his sisters looking at us, so I smile and wave to them. “Maybe I’ll see you over there?”
“I’m actually on my way out. I’m just grabbing coffee first.” Hearing my name called, he walks with me over to the counter where the finished drinks are placed.
“How long are you in town for? I’d love to catch up.” He offers me a shy smile.
“I’m going back to Columbia tomorrow.” He frowns so I quickly add, “But I’ll be here for a week over Christmas. Maybe we can do something then?”
“I’d love that.” We say our goodbyes, and by the time I walk out, Sam is waiting at the curb.