A Chance to Choose

Chapter 1-1

Camden, Maine

1

“What in the world are you doing?” Chloe Terrison, owner of Camden Bakery inquired when she walked up to Ben Matney, her bakery assistant, who was sitting on the tile floor at the back of the shop.

He swallowed hard. “Eating my leftover dessert from lunch.”

“But why on the floor?” Chloe stood transfixed at his feet. “Are you worried about flying to London?”

Ben sighed, shoved the rest of his brownie into his mouth and slowly savored the last of the rich fudgy flavor.

“Well?” Chloe stood waiting for a reply as she rested her hands on her huge pregnant tummy.

Ben wiggled his shoulders, slumped against the brick wall and closed his eyes. “I was trying to hide from you.”

“You can’t hide in here. This shop is way too small for that,” she laughed as she slightly kicked the bottom of his shoe.

The bell above the front door chimed. “Someone’s here,” Ben snapped and jumped to his feet. “I’ll go wait on them.”

Chloe moved to her left to let him pass. “I’ll finish ordering our supplies.”

Like a madman, Ben dashed to the front of the bakery. White flowing sheers pulled back at the four oversized picture windows highlighted the sea-foam green walls. He glanced at the dark grey and white checkered floors that sparkled from the shop’s overhead fixtures. They seemed cleaner than usual on his way to the cash drawer. Regardless, they will still get mopped.

Streetlamps up and down East Main flickered and brightened the darkening skies over Camden, which meant the end of his workday was near.

His smile broadened when a nice-looking woman drew near the main display case. “Welcome to Camden Bakery.”

Like most of their customers, the young lady selected her favorites, paid him and drifted out of the bakery with two boxes tied with sea-foam green ribbons in hand. He stood by the front window and followed a stream of light on the floor, now prominent from the streetlamps that had brightened the night. He cupped his mouth and yelled, “I’m locking up.”

“Thank you,” Chloe echoed in reply.

Kandice Myers, the shop’s other full-time employee appeared with her purse over her shoulder. “I’m heading out. Have fun in London.”

“Yeah, okay,” he moaned in a low voice. As Ben looked at her, he noticed a flour smear on the hip pocket of her blue jeans. “You have flour on your pants, Miss Myers.”

Her brown eyes sparkled. With a wipe of her palm, she dusted off her slacks. “Did I get it?” She peered at him.

Her perfect olive complexion glowed as she moved closer. “Yeah, you got it.” To this day, she’d grown to become his closest friend since moving to Camden, Maine four years ago. Chloe, he thought, was a close second, but Kandice… she had a way of cheering him up when he felt down. Over the years, she had listened to his complaints and let him share his dreams. In return, he paid attention to her funny stories that had him doubled over in sidesplitting laughter almost every day.

Ben sprinted to her. “You also have a little flour on your nose, silly girl.” He wiped at the dust. “There, that’s better.”

Kandice rubbed at the spot. “Thanks. Why aren’t you thrilled about your trip? It will be great.”

“I’m just not.” Ben cut his words as his brow tensed.

She studied him. “I don’t get it. Ben, it will be fun.”

“I’ll spill it, okay, Miss Got-To-Know.” With an odd twinge of disappointment, he uttered, “I’m scared... Why? I can’t pinpoint it. But I keep getting these weird vibes.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “Do you think I should go?”

“Whoa! Don’t put that on me. What you’ve told me about that old girlfriend of yours, I wouldn’t go, but I’m not you.” She laughed and pushed him out of her way. “See you when you get back.”

He pulled on the belt loop of her washed out denims as she opened the door. “Aren’t you going to give me a hug goodbye?” He opened his arms.

She pivoted, threw her arms around him and fell against his embrace. “You are something, Mr. Matney.” She patted his back and let go. “Have a good time,” she iterated in a serious voice as she exited. With a knock on the front window, she stopped, put her thumbs in her ears and frantically waved her fingers back and forth making a funny face. “Have a good time,” she mouthed and stomped her foot.

Bubbly laughter escaped his chest as he struggled to not listen to her quirky laugh, but it was impossible. Got to love her. While he appreciated the sentiment, could a second chance at love be awaiting him in London? Listen to her, go and let the merriment begin.

Upon finding a clean cloth and a bottle of spray cleaner, he hastily polished every surface near him, then veered to the 15 tables out front and wiped them. He continued cleaning along the back-wall bar then looked around the shop and smiled he’d finished the task. It never gets old seeing a clean shop.

Ben thanked God for his job. Was his luck changing? He snickered remembering his mother telling him there was no such thing as luck, just blessings. He pondered. It was a blessing he worked at Camden Bakery. As for the women that had been a part of his life… he pursed his lips, nothing but bad luck had enveloped him. No blessing in that department came his way. He rocked his head as he contemplated his unfortunate relationships with every girl he’d chosen. Even at 12, his sweetheart Anna kissed Evan, his middle school best friend. That kiss happened at a school football game and it broke his heart. Then in high school, every girlfriend he’d had cheated on him. What is wrong with me? Girls in college weren’t worth dating until he met Tori Bailey and she too shattered his heart.

With the tables clean, he cruised to the back and grabbed the squeegee to scrub the floors. As he pulled and pushed back and forth, he realized that life had dealt him no luck at all or like his mother would call it, missed blessings. His head pitched upward as if he were gazing at God. Why aren’t blessings forth coming? Was God choosing to bypass showering him with blessings? Did He care? “God, it doesn’t have to be a thunderstorm, I’ll take a sprinkle.” A slight grin etched his face as he propped the squeegee against his hand. Maybe. Would going to London and seeing Tori bring back love he lacked?

With the bakery sparkling, he hurried behind the counter and scanned for any pickup orders that remained. One box left. He guessed they’d come tomorrow. As he was closing the sheers at the windows, the doorbell dinged. I forgot to lock up.

“Are you still open?” A high-pitched voice wailed from a small child who ran to him.

“Yes! What can I help you with?” Ben smiled and bent to the three-foot tall boy’s level.

“My mommy needs her brownies,” the kid hollered as he caught his breath.

Ben slid across the slick floor and pulled the single box from the rack. Under the sea-foam ribbon, holding the order slip, he glanced at the name.“Is your mommy’s name, Caroline Montgomery?”

“Yes, that’s her.” A bright smile appeared on the little one’s face.

Before Ben could get his next question answered, the door flew open a second time. A small girl with striking red hair slammed the door shut with both hands and halted. “Is my brother in here?”

Ben pushed his silky blond hair behind his ears and crouched to her level. “Well, hello there, little miss. Is this your brother?” Ben pointed at the other red head who stood two feet to his left.

He shook her tiny hand. She’s precious. Where’s their mother?

“Uh-huh. He’s my twin,” she responded. With a quickness, she ran to stand beside her carrottop brother who looked just like her.

The bell above the entrance sang sweet notes. With a hard thrash, his pulse thumped against his chest when the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen quietly shut the door.

“You’re closed, aren’t you?” She shifted her shoulders.

“Hello! Welcome to Camden Bakery.” Ben scrutinized her frown. He breathed in the heavenly scent of her perfume when she neared the counter. “I was about to lock up when this young man appeared. Then this little beauty came in.” Ben lifted his eyebrows.

“That’s Harry, and this is Penny,” announced the woman as she pointed towards her smiling, bursting with energy, red headed freckled faced children. “They’re my doppelgangers.”

“They’re adorable,” Ben asserted stealing another glance her way.

Penny held her hand high above her head to high five Ben’s hand. “Hey, Mister.”

Ben fell to his knees and popped her hand. “High five,” he shouted.

Penny laughed. “It’s nice to see you.” Her bright blue eyes twinkled. “May I have a cupcake?” She begged as she pointed at the display window. From cookies, cupcakes, muffins, donuts to blueberry scones, all the pastries were tantalizing.

Ben guffawed. “Mom?” He flashed his eyes towards her for approval and shrugged. “Please show me which one you’d like.” He led the precious Penny behind the counter. “Pick one and get your brother one, too.”

He guessed the woman was Caroline Montgomery.

She eased up to the display glass with Harry at her heels. “You don’t have to do that. It’s okay. Really! They don’t need it.”

With approving eyes, Ben admired her beautiful flowing reddish blond hair and blueish green eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’d be glad to oblige.”

She looked from one to the other, “It will spoil your dinner.” Her lips flat lined.

“Please, Mommy, please,” Penny screeched.

“Oh… all right.” Her eyes lit up as she glanced in Ben’s direction. She put her hand on Harry’s shoulder and stopped him from proceeding to where Ben and Penny stood.

Ben’s eyes froze on hers. “Are you Caroline Montgomery?”

“Yes.” A perplexed gaze crossed her face.

“Before you came in, your Mr. Harry confirmed your name from your order slip. You ordered brownies, right?”

“Yes, I did.” She opened her pocketbook.

“Let me get them for you.” She is drop dead gorgeous and not wearing a ring! Not only did she have perfect hair, her jaw line was stunning. Lingering for a second, Ben backed away and skedaddled to the shelf. “Here you are.” He placed her large box on the counter. “That will be $32.79.”

Ben watched her dig inside her purse.

“Oh goodness, I should have had my card ready.” From inside her oversized bag, she pulled out three cosmetic bags, two sets of keys, a small notebook and a tissue packet before she located her wallet. “Here it is.”

Ben took her credit card, swiped it and returned it. “You want your receipt emailed, printed, or sent by text?”

“You can text it,” Caroline uttered. She gave him her phone number as he entered it into the bakery computer system. “Okay, we’re all done.”

Caroline’s mouth spread into a grin. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Thanks for choosing Camden Bakery.” Where did that come from? Ben followed the three to the exit. Chills spiked his spine when he glanced at her gorgeous figure, curving and regal. She, with her striking leggings and blue top, created a grand fashion statement standing there.

Caroline rotated, “Thanks again.” Her gorgeous smile beamed.

“You bet. Please come back and visit us soon.”

He beheld the trio as they made their way to their car right outside the bakery door and waved to them. All three-gestured in return. Upon their departure, he turned the deadbolt.

The last time? He questioned that thought. He ambled to the display case and emptied the shelves of the unpurchased pastries. Various sized white and sea-foam green boxes were under the counter to his left. He snatched a piece of tissue paper, selected the largest size from the bunch and hoped the leftover cookies, donuts, muffins and blueberry scones would all fit. Satisfied he arranged every pastry with none of them being smashed, he closed the lid and tied a ribbon around it for the children’s home.

As he turned to put the box beside the cash register, he glimpsed his pink envelope, that must have slipped from his pocket, lying halfway under the ice machine. It’s the airline ticket Tori sent me. Why did that girl send me this ticket? What are her intentions? The fluorescent lighting sent a brilliant glimmer to the iridescent packet. Is it a sign of a happy ending? He yanked it off the floor, pulled the flap and located the flight departure for the third time that day. His heart pounded against his ribs. Trepidations? He would board the plane en route to England regardless of how he felt.