Chapter 62.
The afternoon sun began to slant through the front windows of Knead To Know, casting long, golden bars across the flour-dusted floor. By five o'clock, the frantic, buzzing energy of the morning had settled into a weary hum. The display cases were nearly empty- save for a few lonely macaroons and a stray loaf of rye; and the atmosphere had finally dissipated into the mundane reality of closing time. Kiara, Briar’s only employee, was busy wiping down the espresso machine. She was a dark-haired woman with a quick wit and an even quicker hand with a steaming wand, and she had spent the last three hours watching Briar with a mixture of awe and concern. The bell chimed. It wasn't the tentative chime of a late-afternoon tourist. It was a firm, singular ring that announced a presence. Briar
- Writer
