She went into the kitchen, covered the coffee cake mix with plastic wrap, and tucked it into the cooler. It wouldn’t hurt for it to rest a few hours. If she couldn’t figure out how to fix her oven today, she would take the pan home and bake it there.
She flipped back to the oven page in her grandparents’ book. Eureka! Grandpa had penciled in a note about needing to replace the wonky heating element. He’d even purchased one before leaving. She prayed Dave would take his time in the front half of the store as she rummaged through the supply closet until she found the electrical piece.
Her heart pounding in her ears, she switched out the heating elements, an uncomplicated process helped along by the illustrated instructions on the package.
Dave took his time examining the front of the store. Then he spent an equally long time looking at the new sink area, even getting on his knees to check the drainage lines. The scratching sound of his pen on the clipboard ran across Robin’s nerves.
She busied herself with cleaning the equipment she’d been using for serving the few customers who came in.
When the front door jangled and Sammy came in, something let loose in her chest.
“I’m here for my shift.” He smiled at her. “I heard you pay in cupcakes.” His waffle-knit, green Henley fit close to his chest, and his jeans topped a pair of sturdy shoes perfect for working in a bakery.
When she walked back to the kitchen, Sammy in tow, Dave was fiddling with the knobs on her oven. “This doesn’t seem to be working.”
“I know. It just went out. I finished my bakes for this morning, but just barely. I replaced the element, but haven’t turned it on yet.”
“I’ve been telling your grandparents for years that they need to buy a new oven, bring it up-to-date. Elaine kept insisting this one was fine.”
She gave a weak laugh. “Sounds like Grandma.”
Dave was warming to his topic. “They have so many great ones now. Steam, convection, brick-lined, the list goes on. This one barely passes inspection every year. Tell your grandparents I don’t want to see this hunk of junk when I come again next year.”
She had to resist looking at Sammy. “I’ll tell them.”
The inspector flipped the oven knob to Bake before scribbling some more in his notebook.
“I’m glad she finally had the sense to upgrade her sink area. It never sat right with me to write that off every year.” The inspector tore a sheet off his notebook and handed it to her. Behind him, a curl of smoke puffed out of the oven. “Here’s your copy of my report. You’ll have to sign both copies. Keep yours on file.”
Robin started to speak.
Then the oven just…exploded.
Behind the glass door, sparks shot from the electrical fitting of the heating element.
With a pop, the glass tube burst into a million bits.
Dave hit the floor like he’d been shot.
Inside the oven, a fire raged, more sparks flying from the element.
“Where’s your fire extinguisher?” Sammy yelled.
Mutely, Robin pointed a finger at the cabinet. He dashed to it and yanked the extinguisher from its place.
There was a loud snap, and all the lights in the bakery blinked out.
“I think we blew a breaker.” Sammy pushed past Robin and Dave. He tugged the oven door open and sprayed inside, dousing the electrical fire. “Give me a hand here.”
Robin joined him, and they pulled the hot oven away from the wall and Sammy pulled the plug. “I think the fire was contained to inside the oven. Must have been a faulty element.”
On the floor, Dave groaned. Robin dropped to her knees beside him. “Are you okay?”
He patted his arms and chest. “I guess so. I thought I was a goner for sure.” He ran a hand across his face. “I’ve had some angry owners on the job before, but I’ve never been afraid for my life until today.” He stood, knees visibly trembling. “Obviously, you’ll have to get that oven fixed. Or better yet, replace it. I’m going to have to make your inspection provisional. Give me back your copy of the report.”
Fleetingly, she thought about hiding the paper behind her back. Gave herself a little shake, then handed it over.
“Sign here, and here.” Dave’s hand shook as he pointed to the additional lines on the form. She did so quickly, and he grabbed his copy, then pushed out the door without looking back.
