Chapter 1
“Backordered?” Jen Parker questioned to the customer service associate on the other end of the phone as she stood there behind the counter of her café. A cafe that was once owned by her great grand-mother, then her grandmother, and now her. “Look, I ordered that specific cake pan in October. It is now December. I need that for an upcoming party next week.” Jen said to the lady as she begin to get impatient. “I understand ma’am” The customer Service associate replied on the other end. “Will it ship anytime soon then, perhaps in the next day or so?” Jen asked with hope in her voice while she started off toward the back to look for a similar pan. “The problem with back orders is that we don’t have an exact time of when we will get it back in stock, or when it will ship out. We apologize. Is there anything else I can help you with?” The lady replied in her universal tone that all customer service people tend to use. “No. That was all I had called about. Thanks anyway.” Jen said as she hung up and threw her phone back into her apron pocket. She brushed her out of her face and then stood there observing all her other cake pans.
“Backordered.. you’ve got to be kidding me, and for what two months?” Jen said as she swatted more hair out of her face while frantically searching through her pile of pans on the bottom shelf. “Nothing remotely close.” She said as she stood up quickly nearly missing the shelf above her head at the sound of bells chiming at the front door signaling that someone had walked in. Jen quickly made her way upfront while fixing her brown hair, and apron. “Welcome to Hattie Cakes & Bakery!” she said with a smile plastered on her face which beautifully highlighted her dimpled cheeks. She stood behind the display case that housed just about anything you could imagine that a bakery would have. Cupcakes, Cakes, brownies, even different varieties of fudge. “What can I get for you?” She asked as she looked down at the older elderly man observe the items in the display case. He didn’t respond right away, instead he stood there looking at each item very carefully, making sure he would pick the right item for whatever it is he needed it for.
“I can help you, whenever you are ready. Take your time.” Jen responded in a rather friendly tone as she took a few steps back to patiently wait. After a good 10 minutes have passed, and a few “hm’s” later... he finally blurted out “I think I am ready” Jen quickly stepped forward with a bright white smile toward the display case. “What can I get for you today Sir?” ... “Well, today is my wife and I’s 65th anniversary” he said as he cleared his throat from a raspy tone. “Which of these cakes, do you think is more for that type of thing?” he questioned as he gestured toward the display case full of cakes.
“Well.” Jen said with a smile. She walked out from behind the counter to join him in front of the display case. They both stood there observing his options. “Well, this cake here is more for a birthday, so we wouldn’t want that one.” Jen said as she pointed to a cake that had confetti and balloons. “But, these other cakes would be able to be used for an anniversary.” she added while looking over at him. “If it were your anniversary what one would you have?” he asked while moving his cane and shifting his weight. “Well, I don’t mean to be too difficult, but I am not in any kind of relationship, I never even had a cake for an anniversary. But, perhaps you could go with her favorite color. I could add her name in that color?” Jen said with a smile.
“None of these cakes seem like a cake for her. He said with disappointment in his voice. “My Alice is bright; she cares for everyone before herself. She loves to garden, and loves family. She has done a lot in our marriage and I want to show that.” He said. Jen stood there listening intently with her hands in her apron pockets. “She sounds like a wonderful person” She added. “Can you wait here for just a minute?” she asked. The older man nodded then walked over to the table and chairs that sat alongside the brick wall facing the window that viewed the snow covered streets. Jen disappeared to the back room with thought on her face thinking of the cakes she had back there. “I have to have something. He can’t simply leave here empty handed, no customer should leave a store empty handed, or at least that is what grandma said... if they don’t buy something at least give them a business card so they aren’t leaving empty handed.” Jen said as she opened the back room fridge.
“Ah! Now this will do!” Jen walked back out to the bakery store front and saw the older man sitting by the window watching the cars drive by slowly on the snow covered streets. In Jen’s mind, all she could think about what was on his mind right now. What will his reaction be when he sees the cake? She walked to the table where he was sitting and laid the cake down on the table so he wouldn’t have to stand back up. “What do you think about this one?” Jen asked hesitantly. The cake was beautiful. It was covered in different colored flowers, it simply breathed life. “Now this cake is a cake for Alice. I’ll take it.” the older man said while trying to stand. “May I help you?” Jen asked as she walked closer. “I got it, I just take a few tries, this body is not as flexible as it used to be.” he said as he let out a little laugh.
As he went from a sitting to standing position, she grabbed the cake, and met him at the checkout counter. “How much dear?” he asks. “$3.00” Jen stated as she smiles and looks at the older man struggling to grab out his wallet. “This cake is more than that, the ones in the case are $30.00” he said as he manages to get his wallet out. He pulled out his check book and tried to reach for a pen in the pen cup. Jen quickly takes the pen cup and puts it away from his reach. “I appreciate customers like you. This is the reason my great grandma, opened this bakery is to create ongoing memories and have traditions we can bake for.”
“I must give something.” He continued. “How about we make this a community anniversary gift to you.” Jen said as she observed his hands quivering. It was a few seconds of a quiet stare, until he decided to close his check book. Jen smiled softly as she glanced out the front store windows and noticed the snow picking up. “How about I carry this to your car for you? Or is your driver coming?” Jen asked as she moved the cake from the counter to the table. “My driver?” the old guy questioned. “I have no driver.” he followed up.
“It’s brisk out, and the snow is really coming down right now” Jen said with concern. She grabbed her phone, glanced at it for a quick second and then went on to grab her jacket off the coat hook in the lobby sitting area and wrapped around her scarf. “How about I walk you out first?” Jen asked as she walked over to him as he was standing by the door watching the snow fall fiercely on 52nd street. “Would you like to zip up your jacket? It is mighty cold.” She asked with concern.
He didn’t respond, and kept watching the snow. Jen got in front of him and smiled “you probably should zip on up, Alice would want you nice and warm.” He promptly zipped up and looked over at the cake. “I’ll get the cake as soon as we get you in a warm car.” Jen said as she opened up the bakery door. She glanced over to her left to see his driver running to help. His driver opened the passenger seat door and helps put him in a nice warm car. “Thank you so much” his driver said as he buckled him in. “There is a cake in there on the table by the door.” Jen yelled to the driver as the snow was blowing all over. “I’ll run in and grab it.” The driver said as Jen stood there watching the old man. “Happy Anniversary!” She said with a smile and concern running through her eyes. The old man looked up at her with a smile and red nose “Thank you for helping me, you deserve happiness too. You will find the right person, like I found Alice”
Jen smiled and shook her head. The driver came walking out and placed the cake on the old man’s lap. He held that cake so tightly making sure nothing happened to it. He shut the door, and off they had driven. She stood there watching the car disappear into the distance down 52nd street as she started to lose feeling in her fingers. She let out a quick sigh then walked back into the bakery.
As Jen took off her soaked jacket and hung it up on the coat rack to dry a weather alert popped up on her phone. She had glanced down to read it “Great... It’ll be a fun drive home at 7.” she said as she walked in the back to wash up some dishes real quick. She had thought perhaps maybe if it was going to get bad she could cut out early. No one would even be out wondering the streets with how the weather is going to be soon. With her hands all soapy, she heard the bells to the bakery ring. She quickly dried off her hands and walked up front. “Hey you!” Jen said as she quickly gave her sister a hug.
Janice was in town for the holidays with her fiancé. Her parents were finally meeting him, after Jen introduced Janice to Thomas 4 years ago. Clearly, they were made for each other. Jen can sense when someone is good for another person of course but she can never seem to figure it out for herself. “What are you doing out in this weather?” Jen asked as she pulled out a chair for Janice then walking back behind the counter. “I wanted to see how things were going here, how you were? Just checking in on you being today is Grand Pop and Grandma’s Anniversary.” Janice said while watching Jen walk to the table with two cups of coffee. “I know.” Jen added while taking a seat across from her sister. “Grand Pop came in today looking for a cake for today” Jen said in a soft tone while reaching for some sugar. “He was just so determined to get the right cake for her and the magic in his eyes was warming” she continued on.
Janice placed her curled up fist under her chin and rested her elbow on the table. She looked down and stirred her coffee. “He still doesn’t remember anything?” Janice asked while glancing up at Jen. “It didn’t seem so. I didn’t have the heart to remind him that Grandma passed away. He would then question as usual who I was and carry on.” The lights began to flicker amongst the bakery. Janice turned swiftly around to look out the windows at the blizzard like conditions.
“You could have called to check on me. Now you might be here awhile if we don’t leave soon.” Jen said with a smile while taking a sip of her coffee. “Well, we have a lot of catching up to do, right?” Janice added. “True, but I also have deadlines for parties I have booked. Bills that need paid, and I need to figure out how I am going to get a pan that is backordered.” Jen said as she stood up and walked toward the kitchen to turn off lights. “Can’t you go with a different pan?” Janice asked while joining Jen. “No. This is a cake for their themed party; I can’t get it anywhere else but this store. I ordered it in October. This is a party I do every year, and one I cannot afford to lose.” Jen said as she looked at Janice.
“Maybe you can see if your client will be willing to switch to something else?” Janice asked as they both got their coats on and shut off the bakery lights. “But, I shouldn’t have to do something like that and then fear about losing a client.” Jen said while brushing the blowing hair out of her eyes and trying to keep her balance in the wind. “How far do you have to drive?” Jen yelled in a louder voice. “My hotel is a couple miles.” Janice said as she stumbled forward. Jen looked at the street and saw the road starting to drift. “Come home with me for tonight” Jen stated as they got into her car.
“I did not see this coming” Jen said as she sat in the driver’s seat then ran her hand up and down her arms to clear off the snow. She tried to turn on her windshield wipers to clear off the snow on the windshield, and to her dismay, nothing happened. “Jen, I think the snow is to wet and heavy.” Janice said with a laugh. “Right.” Jen got out of the car and as she scraped off all the snow Janice watched as the snow she scraped off, blow back into her face and onto her body. She threw the snow brush in the back seat then got back into the car. She glanced over at Janice as she was laughing. “I am sorry. But, snow doesn’t seem to agree with you” Janice giggled as she helped Jen brush off the snow.
They made their way home to Wilderness Ave, slowly but surely. As she pulled into her driveway, Janice’s eyes lit up with joy as if a child came down Christmas morning to a tree full of Christmas presents. Jen’s house was full of Christmas lights, it looked cozy and warm. From outside you could see a Christmas tree of silver and gold glowing in the window. Janice hadn’t had this much joy in Christmas decorations since she was a child living back here in Maple Valley, Washington.
