Baking Up Sparks

It was 4 AM and Jane's alarm was ringing. A groggy young lady hit the snooze button and didn't want to get out of bed. Just then, her roommate and cousin Kelli knocked on her door. "Hey, don't go back to bed because I need your help today!" Kelli yelled. With a groan Jane got out of bed and went to take a shower. She got dressed, then did her hair and makeup. When she came out of her room, Kelli was waiting by the door.

“Come on, we don’t want to be late!” Kelli said as she tossed Jane her keys. “Please tell me that your car will be fixed soon,” Jane replied. “My dad says that it will still be a few days,” Kelli answered. With a sigh, Jane put on her shoes and jacket, then left the apartment with her cousin. They drove to the small café that Kelli owned and Jane worked at for the time being. They pulled into the parking spot and Kelli hopped out of the car.

“How are you this awake before coffee?” Jane asked. “I don’t know! I just am!” Kelli answered. “The sun isn’t even out yet,” Jane commented. Kelli shrugged her shoulders and unlocked the door. The two went into the café. Jane punched in and started turning things on, while Kelli went into the office. Jane mainly helped out in the kitchen since she had a culinary and baking background.

Jane put on some music before she whipped up a few recipes and put them into the oven. While the first few items were baking, she whipped up two other batches of menu items and prepped them just before the timer went off. She took the first muffins out of the oven and put the second round in. While the second batch was baking, she washed the mixing bowls and started making more items. After an hour of hard work Kelli came into the kitchen to check on Jane.

“How’s it going cuz?” Kelli asked. “All the muffins are baked. Scones and biscuits are in now. Bagels are being mixed up, since the water is about to boil. Cinnamon and caramel rolls are after that. The special item today is coffee cake. That should complete today’s display case,” Jane answered. “Wow! I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to find someone as efficient as you,” Kelli mentioned. “Well this is only temporary until my business picks up,” Jane said.

“It will! Once you start doing farmers markets, the word will get out. Why don’t you post a flyer on the bulletin board?” Kelli suggested. “Are you ok with that?” Jane asked. “Yes! You’re helping me out since my baker quit, so it’s only fair that I return the favor,” Kelli answered. “Thank you,” Jane said. “Don’t forget, doors open at 6!” Kelli called as she left the kitchen. “I know,” Jane said looking at the clock that read 5:10 AM. She put on headphones and turned her music up, so she could knock out the bagels quickly.

While the bagels were baking, She whipped up the cinnamon and caramel rolls and put them in the oven as the other two cooks arrived. She couldn’t hear what they said and didn’t care since she had to make the coffee cake as quickly as possible. Working around the other two in the kitchen, she got the coffee cake into the oven at exactly 5:30 AM. “That was close!” Once cook commented. “It’s called time management Max,” Jane retorted.

Jane then started to fill the display case with the baked items that were already cooled down. Muffins, scones, biscuits and bagels all went into the case. She then frosted the cinnamon rolls and put those in the case with the caramel rolls. By that time, her timer was going off and she pulled out the coffee cake at 5:55 AM. Just as Kelli was coming into the kitchen. “Alright! We open in 5!” Kelli yelled. “Someone just barely made the cutoff. Out late last night?” Max teased.

“Yep with Devin. Right Devin?” Jane said sarcastically, looking at the second cook. “What? No! I have a girlfriend!” Devin argued. “Relax Devin, it was a joke,” Jane laughed. “I’m going to go unlock the doors now. Enough funny business. Jane will you hang around in case these two knuckleheads need help?” Kelli asked. “For a bit, sure!” Jane answered. “Thank you!” Kelli said before leaving the kitchen. Jane went to the flattop and started making herself an omelet. She took her breakfast out front and made herself a coffee.

The café wasn’t busy yet so Jane took her meal and sat down at a table by the front window. Since it was spring, the sun was just starting to light up the sky. She sat there and watched the sunrise while she ate. When she was finished she wiped down the table and went back into the kitchen. “Well, I think you two will be able to handle things. Call me if you need me,” Jane told the two cooks. “Does Kelli know you’re leaving?” Devin asked. “We can manage,” Max said. With a nod Jane punched out and drove back home.

When Jane got home, she changed into running gear and grabbed her headphones. She started out on her normal running route. When she reached a fork in the trail, she chose the other path instead of the regular one. The path took her around another lake and through a wooded area. She followed the path and it ended in a residential area. She glanced at her map to figure out her route back home. “Ok, so a left at this next street and follow it all the way. Take a right and I’ll be back to the last part of my route around the big lake,” Jane thought.

She was jogging through the neighborhood and admired some of the nice houses. She followed the directions back to her usual route and ran the last bit of her route around the lake. Her route brought her past the popular park with a beach. She saw a group of about 15 men exercising in the park. She slowed her pace slightly to watch them a bit longer as she jogged by. “Now that is not something you see everyday. Mm! Talk about a group of fit men. Oof! The one with his shirt off is super attractive! Damn!…Ok stop drooling. Finish your run,” she thought.

She had just reached her apartment when Kelli was calling her. “Hey! What’s up?” Jane asked. “Would you be able to come back in for a bit? I just got a call about a group of 12 coming in to the café in about 30 minutes. We’re going to need your help. Please?” Kelli begged. “Fine. I need to shower first though. I just got back from my run,” Jane said. “That’s fine. 30 minutes! Please be here!” Kelli said. Jane went and showered before changing back into work clothes. She pulled into to the café just as a couple other vehicles parked.

Jane walked into the kitchen and the two cooks were jamming out to some country music. Jane laughed at them and Max strode over to her singing the song. She went out front laughing to punch in. She saw a few guys walking towards the entrance. Jane went back to the kitchen as the song had changed. It was Kenny Chesney’s How Forever Feels and Jane started singing along with it since she knew every word. Max joined in and they were singing and dancing together making it a fun workplace.

“Table of twelve. Large order coming soon!” Kelli called to the kitchen. A few minutes later a very long ticket printed. Max whistled as it was printing. Jane took the ticket and started reading it out, “4 breakfast platters with eggs over hard, 2 deluxe omelets, 2 stacks of pancakes, 3 ham and cheese omelets, 1 Eggs Benedict with eggs over medium, double Canadian bacon and english muffin lightly toasted, please.” “Starting pancakes,” Max said. “Devin, 8 hash browns all day, 8 over hard eggs all day, 2 eggs over medium all day!” Jane called. “Got it!” Devin replied.

Seeing that they were struggling a little, Jane jumped in on the line started cracking the 10 eggs. “Firing eggs!” Jane called. “Hash browns on!” Devin called. “Pancakes mixed and ready to drop!” Max called. “Starting omelets!” Devin yelled. “Toasting muffin and frying Canadian!” Jane called. “Grabbing plates!” Max said as he grabbed a stack of plates and started setting them out on the counter behind them. “Plates ready!” Max called. “Hash browns 60 seconds out! Omelets are on!” Devin called. “Assembling Benedict!” Jane called as she pulled the lightly toasted English Muffin.

She then put the Canadian bacon on the muffin followed by the over medium eggs. “Where’s the hollandaise?” Jane asked. “Cooking now!” Max said. “Pulling eggs and bacon! Fire toast” Jane yelled. “Toast on!” Max called. “Pancakes stacking up! Omelets ready!” Devin called. “Plating pancakes,” Jane called back. “Plating Omelets!” Devin cried. “Plating platters!” Jane replied. “Serving hash browns! Plates in window!” Devin said. Kelli came and started bringing the plates from the window to the group of men sitting in the café.

“Where’s that hollandaise?” Jane asked. “60 seconds out!” Max answered. “Jane could you bring out that last plate please?” Kelli asked as she grabbed the rest of the plates in the window. “Yep!” Jane called after her. As she was waiting for the hollandaise sauce, Jane overheard Kelli say to the group, “The last plate will be out in just a moment. I’m so sorry for the delay, my head chef will bring it out personally.” Jane turned back to Max and said, “Sauce!” “Right here!” Max replied bringing over a pot and ladle. Jane ladled some sauce over the Eggs Benedict and wiped the plate with a clean rag.

She took off her apron and carried the plate out into the dinning area. She recognized the group of men. They were the ones that were in the park, while she was on her run. She walked up to the table and said, “I have an Eggs Benedict with eggs over medium, double Canadian bacon and the English muffin lightly toasted.” “Aren’t you lucky! You got served by the head chef!” A man said to the one getting the plate. “My apologies that it wasn’t ready with the others,” Jane remarked. “No apology is necessary,” the man said with a smile. “Enjoy your food gentlemen!” She replied as she headed back to the kitchen.

Kelli followed her into the kitchen and whispered, “They were totally checking you out!” “I’m sure. Did you need me anymore today?” Jane asked. “So long as we don’t have another 12 top, we should be fine!” Max stated. “Alright, but if we need you, I’m going to call you,” Kelli said. “Please try not to need me. I’m making another practice cake today,” Jane replied. “Hey, are you going out tonight?” Max asked. Jane shrugged her shoulders and said, “Not sure yet. We’ll see how I feel.” “We’re going to TK’s Bar and Grill tonight if you want to join us,” Devin said.

“We’ll see. I’m supposed to hang out with Will tonight since it’s Saturday. Maybe we’ll meet you guys there as long as Tawnya is coming,” Jane replied. “She’ll be there,” Devin answered as they waved Jane goodbye. She went home and put on some music before making a practice cake. After a few hours, she got a text from her best friend, Will. The text read, “Hey, wanna go out and grab a bite to eat tonight? Or just drinks and dancing?”

Jane laughed and texted back, “We could do both. Max and Devin asked if we wanted to meet them at TKs.” “I’m not sure about their food, but we can go there after dinner?” Will replied. “Ok,” Jane said. “Cool! I’ll see you in an hour. Wear that new top you bought last week! I’m sure you’ll get a few numbers, lol!” Will said.

Jane finished up the cake she was working on and took pictures of it. She had just finished cleaning up the kitchen when Will knocked on her door.

“You’re not ready yet?” He asked. “Sorry the cake took a bit longer than expected,” Jane said gesturing to it. “Damn girl! That looks amazing!” Will gushed. “Thank you, I’m gonna wash my hair quick and change,” Jane said going to her bathroom. Will followed her and watched as she bent over the tub and washed her hair. “Hey, where’s your cousin? I thought you were driving her everywhere,” Will inquired. “Yeah, but her boyfriend Tyler was going to pick her up and she’s supposed to be staying at his place tonight,” Jane answered as she grabbed her towel.

“Can I pick your top?” Will asked. “Sure!” Jane said rubbing her hair. She then turned on the blowdryer, flipped her head down and dried her hair. She spritzed it with a little hairspray and flipped her hair back over her head. “I’m not even straight and I thought that was sexy as hell,” Will commented. Jane laughed and held out her hand for the top. “You’ll need this too,” Will said tossing her a strapless bra. Then he handed her a pink bandeau and a straw colored mesh top to go over it.

Jane put it on and looked at herself in the mirror as Will came up behind her. “You might just convert me to being straight. With how your ass looks in those jeans along with that top, you will definitely get some numbers,” Will said with a wink. “Thanks, the outfit is great!” Jane said. “Come on, I’m hungry!” Will exclaimed. “Where do you want to eat?” Jane asked. “Oo! We should try that new Willy’s on the Water place!” Will suggested. “Alright, but we split the apps this time!” Jane teased. “I make no promises,” Will laughed. They went out and decided that they would take Will’s car instead of Jane’s SUV.