Here With You

2. Bake rush

7:15 am

"Oh good you're here, our contract for that party has been confirmed. I just got off the phone with the client."

Was the first thing I heard once I entered the front door of the bakery, weaving between the tables to get to the bakers station.

"Really? That's nice. It means the coming days to that party will be busy," I said already dreading the work ahead.

"I know, making 2000 cupcakes and a 4-layer cake with all those embellishments is no joke. Not to talk of the other orders we'll be getting," She replied stress covering her face, as leaned over the bakery counter to get a speck of dirt.

"Lol...seeing you this stressed takes me back to when we first started this. We've come so far."

I stopped right at the door that separated the customers side from the baker's station, took a good look around and smiled.

"Yeah, anyways enough reminiscing for now we've got work to do and Tommy will soon be here to help us with deliveries," She said snapping us both out of our trance before scurrying into the pantry and I to the baking counter.

"Let's get started on these croissants," I said to myself and got to work.

It wasn't long before the other staff arrived and started on some cupcakes.

An hour into baking customers began to troop in for their breakfast croissants, coffee, smoothies and milkshakes one by one.

The gentle ringing of the doorbell, setting the morning mood.

That changed in the afternoon and the once gentle bell became an annoying timer.

"Woah!"

"I know right, they are a lot in there," I said while carrying a box of cupcakes and 4 loaves of bread in my arms.

"Yeah! Well at least business is doing good which ultimately means more money for me," He chuckled and did a little happy dance.

"Yes Tommy, just please get these delivered. This is the address, and don't worry I've gotten the pay already. Just hope they give you a tip," I said with a smile.

"Will do. Don't worry I'll get it done and I'll get that tip too. Bye, and good luck with the customers, you guys will need it."

"Yeah...thanks and you too," I said before hurrying back inside to work on more cupcake orders.

...

4:47pm

"Today was hectic guys I can't wait to go home," Jerry said.

"Honestly! We've had rushes but not like this. I'm so tired," Elena added while cleaning the equipment.

"If we get rushes like this while doing those special orders, I think we'll all be in the hospital," Estelle said before dropping herself onto a chair.

Jackie laughed as she walked into the kitchen and said, "At least we made some good cash today."

"Yeah! Thanks you guys. You can go home, Jackie and I will close up. Also don't forget your croissants."

Their faces lit up when I said that and I could physically feel their joy and relief.

"Thank you."

"Thanks."

"I appreciate it."

"It's our treat, besides today was a minefield. It's the least we can do. So bye, see you guys later," Jackie said.

They all took their bags and left with a goodbye.

Once they were gone, we both let go of our fake strength and I started making us smoothies, while Jackie stuffed her face with a cupcake and then passed me a croissant.

We both ate in silence. As if soaking in the peace all around us, then Jackie spoke.

"What a day! I knew never knew it'd be like this."

"Same here. Talk about an eventful day."

"Yeah. Apart from the regulars, the newcomers were a lot. Almost like they all planned to be here," I said as shocked as she was.

"I just hope a lot of them become regulars too though. It would be awesome," She said a hopeful and excited glimmer in her eyes.

"Yes but for now, we need to go home and have a chill Friday evening."

...

I walked out of the bathroom feeling like a changed person and plopped myself on the bed. I stayed there for 5 minutes before I got dressed in some comfy clothes.

I grabbed my phone and found my way to the living room. Jackie hadn't come out yet so, I started on a proper dinner for us. Baked rice, chicken and mushrooms.

As I cooked, I heard the TV come on and Jackie's footsteps.

"That smells good Ren. You're bringing out your inner chef today, huh?"

I could feel her playfulness all around so, I played along.

"I'm not just the world's best baker you know?" I replied all sassy.

"An awesome baker...yes, but world best... I don't know about that." She said not attempting to hide her laughter as she slowly made her way from the living room to the kitchen.

"What's left?" She asked.

"Just the plating."

"Ok, I'll handle that."

We finished in the kitchen and decided to have our dinner in the living room while watching TV.

We put on the news for some reason and just enjoyed it as the TV made sounds, cause we weren't paying any attention to it. We just talked over the TV and scrolled on our phones.

"I'm cleaning up the kitchen, you clean up here." Jackie said as she took my plate while I mumbled an "OK", my face still glued to my phone.

I was about to get up and clean up a bit, but I got distracted by videos of cute puppies, kittens and aesthetic bakery setups.

"Yo! Renèe, I'm heading to my room. See you tomorrow...goodnight." I heard Jackie say and I suddenly remembered I was supposed to clean up too.

I yelled a "goodnight" back to her, hurriedly liked the bakery setup silently promising myself to have a good look at it again before I cleaned up, turned off the TV and made my way to my room.

Once I got in, I felt tired all over again just by seeing my bed. So, I plugged in my phone crawled into the bed and wrapped myself in the blankets. I didn't even bother changing into my pyjamas, I just drifted off to dreamland again.