Sprinkled With Love

Chapter Twenty-one: The Reopening

    After spending the entire weekend with Morgan after meeting his parents, we finally confirmed our relationship. Now with the Reopening less than a week away I was officially in crunch mode. I had it all planned out, and I hoped it would work so that way I could take Thursday, the day before the reopening, off. Today Jane and I were tackling the last of the decorations, that way Tuesday and Wednesday we could get all of the recipes mixed together to be baked first thing Friday morning. I arrived at the bakery just after 8 am and carried in the boxes of new decor. Even though we only had about 2 weeks left of the fall season I had debated hard about whether to decorate for winter early or stick to fall. At the end of the little debate with myself I decided to stick to fall. I started hanging the new window leaf garlands first and was singing along to the music I had playing through the new speaker system in the shop, when Jane finally came in. She was carrying a box of new printed menus, that she fixed, since the ones I made before had been destroyed in the break in. 

   "Good morning Ari!" She said after she sat the box down.

   "Morning Jane," I smiled and went to look at the new menus. They were perfect and simple, instead of the bifolded menus we had before Jane made them so they were just a double sided piece of paper that were laminated and I really liked it. I got back to work after taking a small pause to look at them. I still had a few more garlands to hang so I finished that first before moving onto hanging wreaths on the walls, while Jane put the lights in the new display case. Tommy and I had worked together this time making a whole display/counter unit for where the old stuff used to be and I was happy. We stained it in a dark cherry color and the glass was crystal clear. Also the actual display case was bigger this time so I could put more baked goods in it, which made me happy. A knock coming from the back door echoed through as I was placing new center pieces on the tables. Jane went to check and came back about a minute later with Morgan in tow.

   "Look what I found at the back door," she smiled.

   "Hey baby!" I said and walked over to him after setting a center piece down. He wrapped his arm around me.

   "Hey beautiful, its looking amazing in here," he looked around then leaned down to kiss me. 

   "It really is looking amazing. So what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your handsome face this morning?" I asked. He had his uniform on and he had a bit of a 5 o'clock shadow. 

   "Just wanted to stop by and say hi, its a slow morning so I had a bit of time," he smiled and I fell just a bit more.

   "Well thats sweet of you but if you were hoping for a treat your out of luck today, that's tomorrow and Wednesday," I ran my hand across his stubble on his face. I liked it and hoped he was growing it out. I couldn't wait to see him with a beard. 

     "Damn guess I will have to come in tomorrow also." He nuzzled his face into my neck. "Well I will let you get back to work, call me when you get off," he kissed me and then left saying bye to Jane.

    "What the heck? My boyfriend doesn't come see me at work.." Jane said.

    "Your boyfriend also works at the bank all day and by the time he is off we are closed." I replied.

   "That is true." Jane was standing at the counter putting sugar packets into holders, and I was putting the napkins in the holders on the tables. 

   By the time we were done with everything it was 4 o'clock so I figured it would be a decent time to leave. Jane left about 15 minutes ago since she had a hair appointment, and we were pretty much done. Tomorrow and Wednesday would be busy baking days and I was excited to be able to have my bakery back open. As I was heading out the back door I called Morgan but he didn't answer so I figured I'd try calling again in a bit when I got home. My drive home was uneventful like always and I parked in the garage. I called Morgan again while I walked into the house and up the stairs to my bedroom.

   "Hello," he said when he answered his phone.

   "Hey handsome, you told me to call you when I was off." I said into the phone that I held up to my ear with my shoulder as I grabbed out comfy clothes.

   "I did, I'm still at work right now but what do you say I come over after with some take out from the diner?" He asked.

   "That sounds awesome, what time do you think you'll be here?" I asked as I put the phone on speaker and got undressed.

    "I get off in 15 minutes and then I'll go home to change really quick and I will pick the food up on my way out, so I'll probably get there about 6," he said and I looked at the clock it was only 4:45.

   "Okay that sounds good, I'll see you soon then," I smiled and I could tell he was smiling through the phone when we hung up. I got dressed in yoga pants and threw on a tank top. Then I headed downstairs to wait for Morgan, chosing to sit in the living room and watch a movie on the Hallmark channel.