TWENTY-TWO
Elijah
It’slate on Wednesday and I’m with Hartley at the grocery store. She had ordered most of the ingredients but she’s worried that she’ll run out of ingredients, so here I am helping her load up bag after bag of groceries that I’m pretty sure she won’t actually need. I’ve seen her apartment and the bakery. They’re both stocked full of ingredients.
“Is this all of it?” I ask as I close the truck bed shut and lean against the tailgate.
Hartley is frantically checking lists on her notepad and scanning her phone.
“Sweets.”
When she doesn’t look up, just gets closer and closer to hyperventilating as she continues to check her lists, I try again.
“Sweets. You have to calm down. The place is going to be a hit. You’re going to be a success. Trust me. There’s going to be nothing left but crumbs.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asks, looking up at me with panic shining in her clear blue eyes.
I brush some loose strands of hair away from her face.
“Sweets, I’ve tasted your cooking. I think we’re going to need more ingredients ‘cause you’re going to be selling out every day.”
Hartley steps closer and wraps her arms around my waist, laying her head against my chest.
“I wish I was as sure as you are.”
“Just wait, you’ll see on Saturday.”
I wrap my arms around Hartley, holding her for as long as she wants even though it’s freezing outside. We’re still in that pose when Sheriff Hull and his wife Maggie pull into the lot.
“Hartley!” Maggie calls as she steps out of the truck and heads our way.
Maggie wraps her arms around Hartley in a tight hug and I reach out, taking Hank’s hand in a firm handshake.
“It’s nice to see you, Elijah.”
“You too,” I say as the girls finally separate.
“Hartley, this is my husband, Hank. Hank, this is Hartley. She’s opening the bakery around the corner from Wayside Diner. Remember? We drove past it the other day.”
“Yeah, it’s nice to finally meet you, Hartley. Everyone in town is impatiently waiting for you to open,” Hank says with an easy smile.
“Yes! Only a few more days now. Are you excited?” Maggie asks as Hank pulls her into his side.
“More nervous than excited,” Hartley admits with a high-pitched laugh.
I can tell that she’s getting close to freaking out again, so I wrap my arm around her, nudging her closer to the passenger side door.
“It’s going to be great!” Maggie reassures her.
“We should let you go. We have to grab a few things before the store closes anyway,” Hank explains as they get ready to say their goodbyes.
“We’ll see you at the grand opening,” Maggie promises.
“See you there,” I say as I lead Hartley over to the passenger door.
I see Maggie signaling between us and giving Hartley a thumbs up, and I try to hide my grin as I help my girl up into the truck.
“I didn’t know you knew Maggie,” I say as I slide behind the wheel.