2. Indiana #2
I decide to wait in line—but I’m second-guessing that choice. Waiting in line feels awkward, but so does walking up to the front and looking like I’m cutting in front of everyone. While I’m contemplating what I should do, I hear “next!” and it’s already my turn.
“Hi!” I say brightly— maybe too brightly. “I’m the new manager-um, I’m Indiana. Hi.” Well, I botched that introduction perfectly.
“Hi! Oh my gosh, it’s so nice to meet you!
I’m Winnie,” she introduces herself, holding out a hand.
I take it, noticing she’s about my height of five foot one.
Her eyes are a warm amber that’s similar to the color of whiskey, and her smile reminds me of something, but I can’t put my finger on it.
She has her hair up on top of her head with a few dark curls escaping.
“It’s nice to meet you too. I’m so sorry I’m later than we originally talked about. ”
“Oh no worries.” She waves me off. “I have just a couple more orders to take and then it should be slowing down. Can I get you something while you wait? A coffee? Cinnamon roll?”
I glance in the display case, seeing a huge chocolate croissant.
“Could I have a hot tea? And maybe one of those chocolate croissants? They look too good to pass up.”
“Of course. I might be biased, but they’re a crowd pleaser and a personal favorite,” she tells me, and turns to fill my order. “Is Earl Grey okay?”
“Yeah, that’s perfect,” I reply, looking over my shoulder, seeing a couple of people in line behind me. Not staring exactly, but definitely curious.
“Here you go! Pick any place you want, and I’ll be over in just a few.” she tells me with a smile, and I nod, grabbing my cup and pastry before walking to a table by one of the windows.
Once I sit down, I take a look out at the town.
I’ve seen plenty of small towns—mostly on the Travel Channel—but there’s something about this place.
It has a very wholesome feel to it. I watch men and women walk in and out of the shops on the square, imagining what they’re up to, what their story is. I’ve always liked telling stories.
A smile makes its way to my face, thinking about the last one I told.
Han begged me for a bedtime story, and even if we’re not kids anymore, she’s still the baby, and I can’t say no to her.
The golden mermaid, whose magic scales were coveted, so she was forced to hide away so no one would discover her secret.
Taking a bite of my croissant, I groan at the taste of the flaky pastry and chocolate melting on my tongue.
I’m going to need five more of these immediately.
A hum comes from my mouth as I take my next bite of buttery goodness, admiring the cascading mountains in the distance.
When I stumbled across the job post, I spent a lot of time googling the area.
With each new link I clicked on I was shown waterfall trails and rock climbing and mountain lakes the color of turquoise.
I’ve been daydreaming of hiking here, of what it might be like, and if I’ll enjoy it.
I made a vision board and everything. I’ve never really been hiking—beyond the occasional walk in a park—but it’s one of the things I’m most excited about.
Maybe I’ve seen too many outdoor posters for Colorado, but being able to see the views I’ve been admiring in person sounds like a dream.
“Sorry about that,” Winnie says at my side, stirring me from my daydreams.
“No problem at all. I’m the one who had to change things around in the first place.”
“Your flight being canceled is a pretty decent excuse.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “So, as we talked about before, along with working from home three days a week on the website, you’ll be expected to work here two days as manager.”
I nod. “Absolutely. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been checking out the website and have some ideas already. I may not know much about the inner workings of a bakery,” I tell her. “But I am a very quick learner,” I rush to add.
“I have no doubt you’ll pick it up in no time,” she reassures me, then her expression turns worried—nervous, maybe? “So, um…I have one small thing that I need to make you aware of.”
“Okay…should I be worried? Is the bakery actually a front for illegal activity? Because I could be into that.”
She laughs, but there’s still an edge to it. “No. No, it’s nothing like that. The job is legit, although it’s good to hear you’d be down if it wasn’t. It’s your living arrangements. ”
“My living arrangements?” That wasn’t something I expected her to say.
“Yes. So originally I had planned to have you rent my cottage, and that is still the plan long term, but, well…it flooded last night, due to a clogged pipe or something ridiculous, and we just caught it this morning.”
“Oh. Okay.” Well, that’s disappointing. I had really been looking forward to settling into my own place tonight.
“I’m so sorry, Indiana. I don’t know how this could have happened. I swear everything has been fine for months… years even.”
“You mean you didn’t plan to offer me a job and a place to live, and then clog a pipe and flood it as soon as I settled in?” I tease, trying to make light of a bad situation.
“Rhett, that’s my fiancé, called his sister, and we have a room at the hotel in town for you tonight, but it’s full after tonight for at least the next month.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, I’ll just get on one of my apps and see if I can find something else more long-term,” I tell her. Inwardly, I want to have a little cry sesh, but the eldest daughter in me won’t make Winnie feel worse than she already does.
“There isn’t really anything for rent around here, but don’t worry, we found you another place to stay.” This conversation is starting to feel like a roller coaster.
“Hey, honeybee!” I glance up just in time to catch a bright smile and a flash of dark hair before a man bends in front of Winnie, kissing her thoroughly. Damn.
When he stands back up, Winnie’s face is comically flustered, cheeks flushed red. She clears her throat. “Rhett, this is Indiana, my new manager. Indiana, this is Rhett, my fiancé.”
“Nice to meet you, Indiana.” He holds his hand out to me. Holy fucking shit. This man can get it. Go, Winnie.
“Nice to meet you too.” I give his hand a shake.
“I was just about to tell Indiana about the place we found for her to stay,” Winnie tells him.
Rhett blows out a breath. “In that case, I think I’ll take off. Just wanted to say hi on my way home.” He leans in to plant another kiss to her lips. “Bye, darlin’,” he says against her lips. I grin. So they’re like really in love then.
He nods at me. “See you around, Indiana,” he tells me, then, under his breath, but also in a very distinct singsong voice adds, “if there’s anything left of you.” What?
“He’s being silly. There will be plenty left of you.” Again…what?
“I’m starting to feel like I’m missing something.”
“The place we found for you is on Rhett’s brother’s property.” That doesn’t sound so bad.
“Brother, huh? Blood related?” I ask, teasing but also not.
She lets out a laugh but nods. “You know, you’re not the only woman to ask me that in the last year, and the other woman ended up happily pregnant with the other brother.
” She sighs, staring at the opposite wall with a dreamy expression on her face.
“I get it though. Those are some damn good genes.”
“Hell yeah, they are. I’m looking forward to meeting this brother,” I tease.
She laughs at that. “He may be as easy on the eyes as Rhett, but their personalities could not be any more different.”
“Color me intrigued.”
“Intriguing is actually a really good word for him. In all honesty, I’m teasing more than anything. He’s a good man. The Holloways don’t raise bad ones.” She grins. I let that sink in. Meeting a good man isn’t really why I’m here, but it doesn’t sound half bad.
We spend the next four hours working alongside each other.
She shows me how to display pastries, where everything goes in the back, the office space I’ll be working in from time to time, and how to work the ovens.
At the end of my shift, I even try my hand at making chocolate muffins and am downright giddy over how they turned out.
“The hotel is just around the corner and down a block, The Holloway Hotel. I can walk you over if you want. Florence had to leave, but she made sure to tell the chef in the hotel to send you up dinner,” Winnie tells me when we’re done for the day. I’m guessing Florence must be the sister then.
“Thank you, I’m sure I can make it.”
“Okay, I’m sorry again about all of this.”
“It’s really okay. Sometimes things just happen.” And you can’t change them even though you wish you could.
“I guess you’re right, but I still feel bad. Go ahead, get some rest tonight. Call me if you need anything, I live just off the town square.”
“Okay, I will. Are you sure you don’t need me to stay?”
“I’m good. Promise. I’m sure you’re exhausted from traveling all day. I’ll see you in the morning.” I am exhausted.
“Alright, if you’re sure. See you tomorrow, Winnie.
” The bell chimes as I back out through the glass door onto the sidewalk that will lead me to my bed for the night.
I look back at the mountains, breathing in the cool air coming from them.
I grab my camera out of its case and snap a couple of pictures.
There’s an old yellow pickup parked on the street, adding the perfect pop of color.
Maybe I’m off to a slightly rocky start, but hey, there’s a reason they call em’ the Rocky Mountains.