3. Winona
Winona
Chance encounters are what keep us going.
~ Haruki Murakami
The inside of Baker from Another Mother smells like cinnamon-sugar and warmth. I inhale and sigh. If I could, I’d bottle this scent and keep it in a vial around my neck to sniff whenever I wanted.
“Winona!” Emberleigh says from behind the counter. “What can we get you today?”
I step closer, eyeing all the baked goods through the glass.
“Today’s my day at the bookshop. I’m helping Daisy with some restocking. I thought I’d show up with treats.”
“That’s so sweet. Here.” Emberleigh grabs a pink bakery box and starts filling it. “Treats are on me.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
My friends know I’m in my last semester of nursing school. They not-so-subtly attempt to keep me from paying for anything whenever we’re together.
“It’s my pleasure,” she says, giving me a look that tells me my money’s not welcome here.
“Well, thanks.”
Syd comes through from the kitchen, pushing the swinging metal door open with her hip while balancing a tray of croissants in her hands.
“Those smell amazing,” I say.
“Double chocolate,” Syd says with a wag of her brows. “Want one?”
“Does Dolly love the Smokies?”
Syd laughs, setting the tray on the counter across from the glass display cases, picking up tongs and placing two croissants in the bakery box Emberleigh already had started filling for me.
“I’m not throwing a party. It’s just me and Daisy and Effie at the bookshop today.”
“Well, you can leave the extras out near the tea and coffee for customers,” Syd says.
“Thanks, you two.”
“Our pleasure,” Emberleigh says. “Consider it our payment for the entertainment.”
“Entertainment?”
“Watching you and Declan discuss football?”
“Oh.” A light rush of heat travels up my neck to my cheeks. “I wasn’t trying to be entertaining.”
“I know,” Syd says with a kind smile. “Not everyone’s into football. I’m guessing Declan’s not used to being around people who don’t know anything about his sport, though.”
“Are you a fan?” I ask.
“I watched games with my family growing up. I know the basics. Once Declan made it onto the Thunder, I started watching the occasional game. Local boy and all.”
“Am I the only clueless person when it comes to this sport?”
Emberleigh says, “Definitely not. Though, you are probably in the minority. You do live in Tennessee. College ball is a passion for a lot of people.”
“I prefer hiking. Or books. Or hanging out with you and the rest of our friends. Watching men run around with a ball?” I shake my head and make a face.
They both laugh.
Syd says, “See? That’s what I’m talking about.”
“Well, I’m glad I made you laugh,” I say.
I take the pink box out to my car and drive the few blocks to the old craftsman home turned bookshop.
I used to work full-time for Daisy when Moss and Maple was across town.
But then I got the idea to pursue nursing.
She’s been great about accommodating me and my changing schedule.
I’m thankful. Even working just one day a week helps bring in a little extra money.
Effie comes out from the back room when I walk in. “Good morning. Oooh. What have we here? Is that a box from Baker From Another Mother?”
“It is. Their treat. I’ve got my eye on this double chocolate croissant, but everything else is up for grabs.”
Daisy comes down the stairs. “Good morning, Winona. You know you don’t have to bring treats.” She stops in front of the open box. “But I’m not telling you not to.”
“Take what you want and then we can leave the rest out for customers.”
Daisy pulls out a pastry with strawberries, some sort of jam and powdered sugar. I grab my croissant and Effie takes a buttermilk donut. Then I set the box on the table near the coffee maker and teapot.
I spend the morning unboxing the new delivery, shelving books and entering them into the system. Customers come and go. I work the register while Daisy roams the shop, helping people who have questions.
During a lull, I pull up my bank app. My final tuition payment is due. And rent. I’ve got enough, but the rest of the month will be tight. Who am I kidding? The rest of the year will be tight. But I’ll make it work.
I could ask Daisy for another regular shift at the shop.
She’d gladly give it. But the thing is, I’m waiting for my next nurses’ aide assignment for my clinical hours.
Once my online nursing program is completed, I’ll take my licensing exam.
Then I’ll start earning a nurse’s salary.
Until then, it’s probably a diet of ramen and bananas …
and the occasional free pastry from my friends’ bakery.
“Winona?” Daisy’s voice rings through the shop.
“Back here!” I shout. “In the back room.”
I’m curled up in one of the oversized chairs Daisy put in this room that used to be a bedroom. Now it’s set up as a reading nook. Bookcases line the walls. Sunlight spills through the windows, casting everything in golden warmth.
Daisy comes into the room. “Taking a break?”
“Yes. But I can do whatever you need. I was just looking at my bank account.” I make a sour face that looks like that emoji with its tongue sticking out and its eyes squinched shut.
“I know how that feels,” she says. “Before Patrick and I were married—back when the shop was at the original location—I sometimes wondered how I’d make payroll.
I didn’t want to relocate, but it’s been good for business being closer to town.
And having a second household income has been nice too.
The perks of marriage.” She pauses. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I can always take out a loan. I’m just trying not to. I’d like to pay for school and walk out with my degree, not a debt.”
Daisy nods.
“You can always pick up another day here. I can always use the help. And I miss having you around.”
“I would, but I never know what my next assignment will be for my clinical hours. I don’t want to be unreliable.”
“What about doing some odd jobs around town? You have your online classes and work, but you could pick up some … dog walking?”
“Dog walking.” I mull the idea over in my head. “I do love dogs.”
“And you like kids.”
“I do. But I don’t think kid walking is a thing.”
Daisy laughs lightly. “No. But babysitting is. And housesitting.”
“Housesitting. Why do they call it sitting? Especially with babies. I don’t think you sit much. It almost sounds like you’re sitting on the baby.”
“I really don’t know,” Daisy says. “But I like this idea for you. With odd jobs, people could call you and if you’re available, you say yes. If not, you say no. It gives you flexibility and a little spare income.”
I think it over. “I like it too.” I take a deep breath, imagining my bank account balance being a little fluffier, and I sigh. “Yes. I like it a lot. Thanks, Daisy.”
“You could call it Winona for Hire.”
Effie walks into the room. “Winona for Hire?”
“Yes,” Daisy says. “It’s her new gig. Need your lawn mowed? Winona for hire.”
“Want your dog walked?” I say. “Winona for hire.”
“Need an extra hand passing hors d’ oeuvres at your next fancy party?”
We both say, “Winona for hire.”
“Want me to babysit without the sitting?” I say.
Daisy chuckles and all three of us say, “Winona for hire.”
“Let’s make some flyers,” Daisy suggests.
“I’ll print them on the printer. You can put your phone number on little tear-off tabs at the bottom.
Hang one on the community board at the deli.
Then ask Emberleigh and Syd if you can hang one in the bakery.
I bet you’ll get a call as early as this afternoon. ”
“You think?” I ask.
“I do. People know you. They trust you. And everyone has jobs they need to get done.”
Daisy turns to head upstairs to her office.
Effie says, “You go on up with her. I’ll man the shop. I’ll holler if anyone needs anything I can’t handle on my own.”
“Okay. Thanks,” I say, standing and following Daisy upstairs.
Fifteen minutes later, I’ve got two flyers in hand, the bottom row of each has tiny strips with my name and number.
“Go ahead and run over to the deli and the bakery,” Daisy says on our way back downstairs. “Hang these up and come back when you’re finished.”
“Are you sure?” I ask her. “I can always go after work.”
“Go now. That way people can see the flyers before the day is out. You know Waterford. Word will spread.”
“I bet you’re going to be busier than a feather merchant in a windstorm,” Effie says.
I consider that. “I hope I don’t have to chase feathers. That’s one job I wouldn’t want.”
Effie and Daisy laugh. Maybe they’re picturing me wildly skittering after feathers while the wind kicks them this way and that.
I gently grasp the two flyers and head out the door to post my offer.
Winona for Hire.
I smile to myself.
This just might be the thing to get me through until I’m licensed.
I call Emberleigh on my way back into Downtown Waterford.
“Hey,” she answers. “What’s up?”
“I’m coming back to the bakery. I have a favor to ask you.”
“More double chocolate croissants?”
“I’ll never say no to those. But I’ll pay you for my next one. Actually, I want to hang a flyer on the board near the cash registers.”
“Oh? What kind of flyer?”
“Winona for Hire.”
“Winona for Hire?”
“Yes. It’s the name of my new side hustle. Do you like it?”
“I love it. What are you for hire for?”
“This and that. Whatever people want. Except chasing feathers in a windstorm. That’s definitely out.”
She laughs lightly. “I don’t imagine that job being one people would ask you to do, so I think you’re safe.”
“So it’s okay?”
“Of course. Come on by.”
I don’t call the deli. I don’t really know how the community board ended up being housed there, but everyone knows it’s a spot to post rentals, things for sale, and events. We’ve got a town website too, but people around here check the board before they go online.
I park my car outside the deli and pick up one of the flyers, walking inside to find a spot on the board to pin it up.
At the top of the pink paper in a large bubble font, it simply says,
Winona for Hire.
Then, in a medium-sized font it says,
Need some help?