Chapter 11: The Smell of Fresh Bread
1133 Words
The alarm sounded at four thirty in the morning.
For the first time in her life…
Becca didn’t hit snooze.
She practically jumped out of bed.
Craig blinked one eye open as she darted across the room.
“It’s still dark.”
“I know.”
“It’s also your day off.”
“I know.”
“So why are you acting like it’s Christmas morning?”
She grinned.
“Because today…”
“...I get to bake in my own bakery.”
Craig smiled and pulled the blankets back over himself.
“I’ll make coffee.”
---
Unlocking the Door
Main Street was deserted as the sun rose over the rooftops. Houses and storefronts began to come alive with light.
Becca stood outside Rose & Crumb Bakery, the brass key still warm from her pocket.
She took a deep breath.
“Ready?” Craig asked, jogging up beside her.
She nodded. Craig placed his hand over hers on the doorknob. The lock clicked. The bell above the door chimed.
For the first time…
She wasn’t unlocking an empty bakery.
She was unlocking her future.
---
The First Recipe
The commercial mixer shone under the warm bakery lights. Flour sacks lined up one wall.
Fresh eggs from their own chickens were arranged in tidy cartons.
Butter.
Sugar.
Vanilla.
Everything seemed to be waiting patiently for her.
Becca dug into her apron pocket and pulled out Grandma Rose’s cinnamon roll recipe.
She carefully placed it next to the mixer.
Craig noticed and raised an eyebrow.
“Starting with Grandma’s favorite?”
She smiled.
“I’m starting with home.”
---
Flour Everywhere
It wasn’t long before the first disaster.
Turning the dial too high on the mixer, a cloud of flour burst from the chute.
Craig laughed so hard he fell over backwards.
Standing still in a mound of white powder, she glared at him.
“You are not laughing.”
“I’m sorry,” he wheezed between chuckles. “I absolutely am laughing.”
She crossed her arms.
“Well then you could be helping me.”
“I was!”
“But then you looked like a powdered doughnut.”
He couldn’t stop. Neither could she.
Soon the entire bakery was filled with laughter.
The youngest walked into the kitchen minutes later with Sarah in tow.
She looked around at Becca. Then down at the floor covered in white.
Did the bakery sneeze?
Craig doubled over with laughter again.
---
The First Loaf
By midmorning, the scent of fresh bread filled the air. Warm. Comforting. Familiar.
Walking customers passing by Rose & Crumb slowed their pace.
Several stopped peeking through the front windows.
The barber from down the street even stopped to press his nose against the glass.
Craig waved him inside.
“We’re not open yet.”
“I know,” the barber said as he pulled away.
“I just wanted to smell the bread.”
Everyone laughed.
---
A Lesson from Grandma
Pulling Grandma Rose’s letter from her apron pocket again, Becca began to read.
One line stood out to her.
*Kindness is remembered much longer than pie crust. *
Looking around at the empty bakery, Becca had an idea.
“What if we had a kindness board?”
Craig wiped flour off a shelf and looked up at her.
“A kindness board?”
“The kind of board where people can leave notes?”
“Yes?”
“Thank-yous. Prayers. Stories. Encouragement. Whatever they need.”
Sarah smiled.
“That’s awesome.” The oldest added with a grin.
“It’ll help people know they belong.”
“Exactly what I’m going for.”
---
The First Customer… Sort Of
Later that afternoon, an older woman stopped outside of the bakery door.
Becca opened it and smiled at her.
“We’re not open yet.”
The woman chuckled.
“I know.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I smelled the bread from halfway down the street.”
She dug into her purse. “My husband passed away not too long ago.”
I haven’t baked since.”
Craig stuck his head in the door.
“We’ll be closed all afternoon.” He gestured to the sign hanging above his head.
The woman smiled sadly. “Your grandma was a good friend of mine.”
Becca’s heart sank.
“I’ll be praying for you.” She started to walk away.
“No, wait!” The woman called out.
She grabbed the pendulum hanging from Becca’s neck. “Stay right here.”
Quickly, she rushed back into her home and disappeared.
When she returned, Becca knew exactly what she had done.
The first loaf of bread Becca had baked that morning sat gently in her hands. Still warm from the oven.
She carefully wrapped it in brown paper and tied it with twine.
The woman looked at it, confused.
“I didn’t order anything.”
“I know.” Becca grabbed her shoulder and grinned. “It’s a gift.”
“Oh, honey.”
“You need to.”
With tears in her eyes, the woman took it from her.
“I don’t even know your name.” She sniffled.
“Rebecca.”
“I could tell.” Her voice broke. “Rebecca, my name is Evelyn.”
“I’ll remember that.” Smiling, she wiped her eyes and nodded. “And I think this bakery is going to be something special.”
After she walked away, Craig stuck his head back through the door.
“You just gave away your first loaf.”
“I know.” She shrugged and turned off the oven. “I have no idea what came over me.”
He laughed. “Any regrets?”
She pondered for a minute.
“None.” Sliding her hand into his, she smiled. “Well, maybe that I didn’t offer to bake her some bread too.”
“We should.” He nodded. “Tomorrow.”
---
A Wooden Sign
Later that evening, Craig hung the new wooden sign above the storefront.
The letters were carefully carved and painted white. Rose & Crumb Bakery
Tiny painted flowers decorated the edges of the wood.
A small painted loaf of bread sat sandwiched between their last names.
Perched at the very top, wildflowers curled up around the sign.
Becca stared up at it from the sidewalk.
“This is real.”
Craig climbed down and joined her beside the door. He wiped his hands on his jeans.
“It always has been.”
She shook her head no.
“Not my bakery.”
“What?”
“It lived in my heart.”
“Now.”
“It has an address.” Becca pointed at the sign. “Because of you.”
- Writer
