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And Don’t Forget His Cookies

“Are you alright?” Phyllis asked as she locked the front door and pulled the shade.

“Sure, why?” Aundrea was dusting crumbs out of the nook where the muffin tree stood.

“You seem nervous today.”

“I don’t follow.” She swept the crumbs into a dustpan with her towel.

“Honey, you’ve been looking over your shoulder all day. What’s eating you?”

“I haven’t.” She shrugged and shook her head a little too fervently. “You’re reading into something that’s nothing.”

“Really, Aundrea?”

Aundrea took her dustpan to the trash can and tapped the crumbs into it. “Really.”

“Mm-hmm.” Phyllis said dubiously. “Shall I wrap up these cookies for you?”

“Are there a lot?” Aundrea shook the crumbs from her towel into the trash.

“Hmm, not so many. Just enough to make a care package for Jeb.” Phyllis snapped a wax paper bag open with a flick of her wrist.

Aundrea dropped her dustpan into the trash can with a startling clatter. “Jeb?” She wiped her hands nervously with the towel before reaching in to retrieve the dustpan.

“Uh-huh. Thought so.” Phyllis slid a cookie into the bag. “You’ve got Jeb on the brain, girl. Wanna talk about it?”

Her shoulders slumped helplessly. “Is it that obvious?”

“He’s a fine figure of a man. If I thought he went for cougars…”

“Phyl, you’re horrible!”

“And you’re being coy. It doesn’t suit you.” She plunked two more cookies into the bag. “Fess up.”

“Phyl, I don’t know what’s going on. I had everything under control until he walked in here. I haven’t seen him for years and now he not only comes in, he comes with a business proposition.”

“He does beautiful work. I don’t know how he manages to bring out those stripes in the wood.” She plunked the last few cookies into the bag.

“Never mind the wood, Phyl. He’s going to steal my soul.”

“Wait, what?” Phyl folded the edge of the bag and set it down on top of the cookie cabinet. “What kind of talk is that? He’s just a guy. An astounding guy, to be sure, but just a guy.”

“Are you kidding?”

Phyllis just shrugged. “He’s just a quiet guy with an old-fashioned line of work. You’re a pastry chef with a booming business. How is he going to steal your soul? It’s just a business arrangement.”

“You don’t understand.” Aundrea crossed her arms.

“You’re right. How about you explain it to me?” Phyllis began sweeping out the crumbs from the display cabinet.

“I’m just being silly.” Aundrea said as she hurried into the kitchen.

Phyllis waited a moment before following her boss into the back. “I agree. You’re being silly. That doesn’t explain anything because I still don’t understand. What is it that’s throwing you off?”

Aundrea was leaning on the prep table with both hands, trying to catch her breath.

“Aundrea, what’s the matter? Do I need to call 911?”

“No, I’ll be alright. I just need to catch my breath.”

“Let me grab you a chair.” Phyllis patted her gently on her shoulder before grabbing a folding chair from a rack in the corner.

“Sit down now and quit beating around the bush. What’s going on here?”

“I’m a mess, Phyl. I thought I had everything under control. I thought I had everything I’ve ever wanted and then he walked in.”

“So?”

“I remember him, Phyl, just sitting there in the stands watching me play. He was always there. He didn’t jump up and cheer or anything. I knew he was rooting for me anyway. It made me happy.”

“That’s nice. What’s the matter with that?”

“I always wanted him to take the next step. You know?”

“Such as?”

“Actually talking to me. Inviting me to take a walk. Coming with me to the batting cages. Letting me get to know him.”

“You felt like you missed out on what could have been.”

“We were kids. I guess he had his own life to live. I went away to Empire City for culinary school.”

“Did you ever…”

“I was busy with school and then all that insanity with the Sentinels and the Chaosians broke loose. The city was a complete war zone. I graduated and I got the heck out of Dodge.”

“I’m sorry that ruined your plans but I’m glad you came back.”

“Plans. I don’t think I ever really had any. I figured the school would lead to an exciting job somewhere but when I lost Mom and Dad, the only thing I wanted to do was come home and try to start over.”

“We were all heartbroken for you, honey. I was glad to see you start this place up. It’s so nice when you can find your happy place.”

“And now it’s ruined.”

“What? Why is it ruined?”

“Oh, Phyl, it’s totally ruined. I thought I was happy but I’ve been kidding myself. How can you be happy without someone to share it with?”

“There are all kinds of happiness, Aundrea. It’s nicer with someone special but you can still be happy simply being yourself. You’re a wonder in the kitchen and you’ve got a thriving business. Why shouldn’t you be happy?”

“Seeing him reminded me that this is all just a placeholder. I’m not getting any younger here, Phyl. I’d like to have a family again.”

“Sure you would, girl.” Phyllis knelt down to give her a hug. “Is he the one, though? You could wait until you’re older and grayer than me before he gets around to popping the question. He’s got his happy place way on the outskirts of town and you’ve got your happy place right here.”

“I wouldn’t mind being happy together somewhere. I think it could be good, Phyl.”

“Do you think he feels the same way? Seems like he’s really just looking for a batch of cookies and a place to sell his wooden doodads.”

“I don’t know.” Aundrea dabbed at her eyes with her apron. “I wish I did, Phyl. I don’t know how he feels or if he feels anything at all. He’s as mysterious as he’s always been, but he was always there for me. I don’t know if he was like that for anyone else but it felt…”

“How did it feel, honey?” Phyl looked her in her eyes.

“Reassuring. He was there and it felt like he was there just for me. Somehow, I always felt like he would be there for me when I really needed him.” She wept as Phyl wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I was probably just kidding myself but I thought I saw a bit of that when he came in.”

Phyllis took a deep breath and leaned in to hug her a little tighter. “He’s a tough nut to crack, kid. What do you think you ought to do?”

“I don’t know, Phyl. I’m afraid.”

“Afraid of what, honey?”

“Afraid of scaring him away. What if all he really wants is a batch of cookies and a place to sell his work?”

“If he just wants to be business partners, he wouldn’t smile at you like he does.”

“What?”

“You’re the only one with eyes around here? I know how he’s looking at you. I saw how he reacted when you keeled over. What he said was no accident. It was a Freudian Slip if ever there was one. If he looked at you at those softball games like he does when you’re puttering around this bakery…”

“So, you think I ought to take the initiative?”

“I honestly don’t think you have a choice. I don’t expect him to make the first move. He’s too set in his ways. He’ll just sit out there carving til the world comes to an end if you leave it up to him.”

“I suppose you’re right, but how do I make the first move? I wouldn’t want to do it when he comes to the store to drop off his pieces. That seems unprofessional.”

“I see him in church every single week. Maybe you should come.”

“Oh, I haven’t been to church in ages.”

“You don’t have to. I’m just saying he’s there. It changes the dynamic. Wouldn’t you say?”

“I guess you’re right.” She dabbed at her eye with her apron. “I suppose that if I happened to be there and he happened to be there…”

“Yeah, exactly. And don’t forget his cookies.”

“Phyl! I can’t give him stale cookies.”

“Aundrea, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He’d eat week-old bread with blue spots if you gave it to him.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“For one thing, he’s a guy. They believe in the Five Second Rule. For another thing, if you make it he’ll take it. He’s been your own personal peanut gallery since way back. That’s not about to stop over day-old cookies. He’ll be glad because they’re from you. Give it a try, girl. You don’t really have anything to lose.”

“If I come on too strong, I could very well lose him.”

“Well, it’s a gamble. It really is, but at least you’d know for sure one way or the other.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Have a little faith, kid. After all, you’re coming to church. Right?”

“I already feel weird.”

“Good. Love is weird. Faith is weird. Life is weird. It’s okay to embrace it, honey. You go on home. Okay? I’ll finish cleaning up here and see you in the morning.”