Chapter 5: The Dream on Main Street
1016 Words
The smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls wafted through the farmhouse before dawn.
Becca pulled the last pan from the oven carefully and smiled.
Golden brown.
Soft.
Perfect.
She brushed melted butter on top before layering cream cheese frosting thickly over each roll. The frosting slowly melted into every swirl.
Craig wandered into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
He paused in the doorway.
“I think I just fell in love with you all over again.”
Becca laughed.
“I thought you already had.”
“I did.” He kissed her forehead. “But this frosting is making a very convincing argument.”
She cut one warm cinnamon roll and pushed it toward him.
He took a bite.
Closed his eyes.
Then looked up at her with utter seriousness.
“We’re opening the bakery.”
She laughed.
“You haven’t even swallowed yet.”
“I don’t need any more convincing.”
“This is it.” He said firmly.
---
A Little Encouragement
Later that morning, Sarah and Linda arrived to enjoy coffee.
Mrs. Henderson arrived a few minutes later carrying…
“Let me guess,” Craig said, grinning.
“A casserole?”
Mrs. Henderson’s grin turned proud.
“Breakfast casserole.”
Craig’s hands flew into the air.
“I knew it!” Everyone laughed.
Soon there were plates of cinnamon rolls surrounding the table.
Conversation came to a halt.
Sarah raised her gaze first.
“Oh, my goodness.”
Linda nodded in agreement.
“I’d pay for these.”
Mrs. Henderson reached for another cinnamon roll without saying a word.
Craig pointed right at her.
“They’re buying already.”
“I didn’t buy it,” Mrs. Henderson replied, grabbing the cinnamon roll.
“I simply reserved another one for myself.”
---
A Walk Through Town
Later that afternoon, Craig suggested they take a stroll downtown.
Sidewalks were full of weekend shoppers.
Families drifted into and out of small boutiques.
Children chased each other through the town square.
As they walked past an old brick building with oversized front windows, Becca slowed.
The building had sat empty for years.
Its paint faded from the sun.
Someone had long since removed its original sign.
Craig noticed her staring.
“What is it?”
“I’ve always imagined a bakery here.” Sunlight poured through dusty windows.
“It wouldn’t be big.” She reached her arms out wide to illustrate her point.
“But it would feel…” She searched for the word.
Warm. Inviting. Home.
Craig smiled.
“I can picture it.”
She laughed quietly.
“You’re just saying that.”
“No.” Craig shook his head. “I’m imagining display cases along that wall.” He pointed toward the front of the building.
“And tables by the windows.” Becca finished his sentence for him.
She looked up at him, surprised.
“You think about this?”
“I’ve been thinking about your dream.”
---
The Sign
There was a wrinkled piece of paper tucked into one corner of the window.
FOR LEASE
Becca’s heart skipped a beat.
Quickly, her eyes diverted.
“I shouldn’t be doing this.” She didn’t finish her sentence.
Craig didn’t answer.
Instead, he slipped his hand gently into hers.
“What are you scared of?”
She took a deep breath.
“Failing.”
“What if…”
“What if no one comes?”
“What if I lose money?”
Craig squeezed her hand.
“What if they do?”
---
A Small Surprise
Craig didn’t say another word and walked into the real estate office next door.
Becca blinked at him in confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“I have a question.”
He disappeared into the office for several minutes.
Craig returned with a small business card in hand.
“They are showing the building tomorrow morning.”
Her eyes widened. “You called and made an appointment?”
“I asked if we could see it.” He slid the business card across the counter to her.
She stared at it lying on the counter.
“You really think I should?”
Craig scooted down into a seat next to her on the kitchen counter.
“We can’t make any decisions.”
“What?” Her heart began to race.
“We’ll just take one step.” Craig calmly placed his hand over hers. “One step and see where it leads us.”
One step.
Those words suddenly didn’t sound so scary.
Not like opening a bakery.
---
Evening Reflections
That night Becca found herself washing dishes in the kitchen.
The heart-shaped stone Craig had found on their honeymoon sat atop the windowsill.
The recipe box sat beside her mixer.
Her engagement photo hung next to her wedding picture on the wall.
She realized her life had changed.
Not overnight.
But she had made one choice at a time.
Craig slipped his arms around her from behind gently.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked.
“Spending the first half of my life wondering if I was enough.” She giggled softly.
“And the second half?” He whispered.
“I don’t know.” Becca looked into his eyes. “I feel like I’m wondering what I’m capable of.”
He rested his chin on her shoulder lightly.
“I like that question.”
---
Looking Forward
Before bed, Becca opened the small notebook she had used to plan her wedding.
She flipped to a blank page in the back.
At the top of the page, she wrote three words.
Main Street Bakery
She kissed her husband softly on the lips.
This wasn’t a business plan.
It wasn’t even a promise.
It was permission.
Permission to dream.
As stars sprinkled across the night sky outside, the empty building on Main Street sat waiting under the streetlights.
Its dusty windows stared up at the heavens above.
Waiting.
Just as Becca had waited for so long to chase her dream.
Only now….
She was ready to open the door.
- Writer
