Another year passed, and Jess decided to cut back the bakery's hours.
Her daughter had recently had a baby out of state, and Jess wanted to set aside a week every month to visit.
We talked it over several times. In the end, I rented the bakery's unused kitchen time, launched my own line of preorder desserts, and ran the street-facing counter during the hours we agreed on. The contract spelled out equipment use, fees, and responsibilities.
Before I signed, I had someone review the terms, and I calculated my costs at several possible sales levels.
'There's still risk involved. But it's a risk I've chosen for myself.'
My new sign was small and hung beneath the bakery's original name: Reed Bakery.
The night before opening day, I wiped down six chairs and arranged them around the long tab
