12. Dani
12
dani
This morning had seemed to drag at the bakery. Though it tended to do that when you are up and at ’em at five in the morning. It was nearing the end of my shift, and I was eager to get out to the barn to see Lady.
Not for any other reason.
“Employee lunch today!” Aveline announces, and I smile at her, wondering how someone can be so perky when they have a job that starts so early—she’s in by three almost every day—and a little toddler to take care of. “I’ll take half of you today, half tomorrow. Today is Alex.” She smiles at the nine-year-old, who technically doesn’t work here but comes to play with Jenna—Aveline’s three-year-old—to keep her busy for a while. Alex is a sweet kid, and I’ve been able to get to know her. It’s strange that she’s basically CT’s niece, and I work near her often, and I’ve heard nothing short of hero worship for “Uncle Cade.” I won’t admit it out loud, but it was a sweet thing to hear. “Tori and Dani. We’ll leave in about forty minutes.”
“Awesome.” Tori, the seventeen-year-old who helps manage the counter up front, gives a little fist pump and, like our boss, had more energy than I knew what to do with.
I smile and move toward Aveline. “There’s no reason to include me, Ave. I don’t have to come.”
She gives me an incredulous look. “Nonsense. You’ve earned it. I like doing this with my employees…” She pauses, grasping my shoulder and smiles at me. “Even my temporary ones.”
I smile back, relieved that there was still someone who knew I was planning on another future. I had feelers out for jobs, but I wasn’t thrilled with how far away they were. There was one that had opened up in Aurora, about twenty minutes south of Denver. Meaning about four hours from here.
Then there was one in Texas, another in Arizona, and one in Oklahoma. None had reached out to me and part of me was relieved.
I’d never considered that my dream job could take me away from my family. Then again, I had gone into it with too many assumptions .
I’d assumed that I would have a place to build my own business. I had assumed that Cade and I would be working together, hand in hand. He, with his training and me, with the therapy side of things.
And, well, you know what they say about assuming things.
Mom and Dad offered me a job at the store, and while it was familiar and I would have no problem coming on as an employee, my fear was that I wouldn’t know how to quit. That I would get stuck working there because it was comfortable.
There was nothing comfortable about working at five a.m. Plus, baking wasn’t really my thing, so I wasn’t inclined to stay here to learn or move forward in any way.
We walk as a group down the road to a little Mexican food joint that’s been here since the dawn of time. It’s a staple in our community and well-loved here.
Entering the delicious-smelling atmosphere, we grab our table and all shuffle around to take our seats. I’m surprised, but not really, when Alex’s mom shows up to eat with us.
“Hey all!” She smiles brightly at us and takes a seat next to her daughter. “Hope you don’t mind my joining you. ”
I smile and shake my head as I watch her ask Alex how her morning has been. Chatter fills our table as we talk about local gossip, what’s happening around town and the like. Quinn whispers in Alex’s, who’s seated near me, ear, and they hop up to switch seats.
“Hi!” Quinn smiles at me, and I return it. “I know we don’t really know each other, but I thought we could talk while we ate.”
“Sure,” I reply, smiling.
“I hope this isn’t weird, but I wanted to thank you for the work you’ve been doing with Graham.”
“Oh,” I reply, genuinely surprised. “It’s no trouble.”
Graham has had two more sessions since that first one, and he’s grown more confident with each one. I was sure the next session, he would be up on the horse, no problem. He was tackling his demons head-on, and it was inspiring to see.
“It is a big deal to him, though, which means it’s a big deal to me.” She shakes her head, lost in thought. “I’d mentioned wanting to learn to ride since Alex rides with CT, and he started to research ways to overcome his fear of it. CT was the one who not only recommended equine therapy but got you for us too. I think it’s all one big blessing in disguise. ”
I shrug slightly, shy in front of her. I feel like this lunch was a nice detail for Aveline to offer us, but I feel a bit put on the spot.
Quinn was practically Cade’s sister-in-law. My chest twinges at the thought. Jealousy wasn’t something I was expecting to experience so early in the day, yet here I am.
The discarded future bride of a Trevors man sitting by the future one.
Why was I letting this bother me so much?
“I’m glad I could help,” I say honestly. “Graham is like a brother to me.”
She nods, taking a sip of her drink while I speak. “He mentioned that you all go way back. He was shocked that CT had hired you.”
A blush I can’t hide rushes to my face. I’m embarrassed with how much everyone knows, especially when it’s someone fairly new to the area.
Perks of living in a small town.
With us working together again, it opens a new can of worms for people to get right back to gossiping about us again.
I should be used to it by now, but there was nothing normal about people butting in where they didn’t belong .
“I was too. But I’m grateful, nonetheless.”
Quinn smiles broadly, then shakes her head. “Sorry, I’m totally putting you on the spot. I blame Aveline and Amelia,” she says, mentioning Aveline’s cousin. “They bring out my nosy side, and I’m afraid they’ve taken me under their wing.”
I smile back at her and nod. “People in small towns tend to do that. Be nosy and rope you into their circles.”
“Well, that makes this next question far less weird then,” she replies, and I give her a quirked brow in question. She throws her auburn hair over her shoulder and turns to me. “Would you be interested in being roped into a group of ladies who lunch?”
I pause, my mouth hanging open in a weird, confused gape. “What does that mean?”
Quinn chuckles and nods to Aveline, who turns her attention away from Tori, who picks up her phone to text…whomever high schoolers text. “Oh, did you invite her?” Aveline asks like this was their plan all along.
“I did.”
“We just get together once a week or so and eat and gossip. It’s good clean fun,” Aveline assures me, making me wonder why she’s so intent on assuring me so thoroughly.
“It…sounds like a fun time,” I respond lightly. When Quinn and Aveline cheer, I wonder what I just agreed to. But another part of me warms at the thought of finally making some new, unbiased friends in this town.
Maybe this could be good.
Maybe this was a fresh start.
Or maybe…I’m setting myself up for more interrogations.